PReS-FINAL-2090: Efficacy of anti-TNF drugs from the perspective of growth velocity: a single center experience

Results The group of 20 patients with expected growth (boys vs. girls: 10 vs. 10; etanercept vs. adalimumab: 16 vs. 4) was assessed. The mean age at anti-TNF treatment initiation was 12.03 years (SD ± 4.44). Median duration of disease was 3.25 years (range 0.89-10.23), 15 patients received corticosteroids in mean dose 0.273 mg/kg/day. All patients were identified as “responders” (ACR Paed 30) at 3 months. One patient was a ...secondary nonresponder” at 6 months, but completed 12 months of treatment. The daily dose of corticosteroids at 12 months was significantly reduced to 0.07 mg/kg/day (p < 0.001) and could be stopped in 10 of 15 patients. Growth catchup was observed in 16 of 20 patients with median growth velocity being 0.325 (range -0.2 to 0.94). Two patients did not show growth during the first year of treatment.