South African Rheumatism and Arthritis Association 2024 guidelines for the use of biologic and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs

Authors

  • E van Duuren Jacaranda Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
  • J Potts Netcare Greenacres Hospital, Gqeberha, South Africa
  • U Brijlal Mediclinic Milnerton, Cape Town, South Africa
  • S Botha Mediclinic Winelands Orthopaedic Hospital, Stellenbosch, South Africa
  • S Didi Rheumatology Division, Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa
  • K Makan Department of Medicine, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
  • M van Dam Axial Spondyloarthritis Association of South Africa
  • K Chinniah Ahmed Al-Kadi Private Hospital, Durban, South Africa
  • B Hodkinson Rheumatology Division, Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i10.2599

Keywords:

targeted synthetic therapy, biologic, South Africa

Abstract

Biologic and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) target a specific pathway of the immune system, and are usually prescribed after failure of conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug therapy. The choice of b/tsDMARD depends on the disease profile and comorbidities, patient preference, registered indications of the drugs, and risks associated with therapy. It is recommended that b/tsDMARDs for immune-mediated inflammatory rheumatic diseases are prescribed by a rheumatologist, and all patients must be included in the South African Rheumatism and Arthritis Association biologic registry. Knowledge of and vigilance for adverse events, particularly infections, associated with b/ts DMARD therapies are of paramount importance.

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2024-09-02

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van Duuren E, Potts J, Brijlal U, Botha S, Didi S, Makan K, et al. South African Rheumatism and Arthritis Association 2024 guidelines for the use of biologic and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. S Afr Med J [Internet]. 2024 Sep. 2 [cited 2024 Dec. 12];114(9):e2599. Available from: https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/2599

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