Romanian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences
 

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THE OCCURRENCE RISK OF DEMYELINATING LESIONS IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND ANTI-TNF α BIOLOGICAL THERAPY

ANA MARIA BUMBEA 1, ANCA EMANUELA MUȘETESCU 1*, DANA MARIA ALBULESCU 1, ROXANA CARMEN DUMITRAȘCU 2, BOGDAN ȘTEFAN BUMBEA 2, DORIN POPESCU 3, CARMEN VALERIA ALBU 1

1.University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 2-4 Petru Rareș Street, Craiova, Dolj, Romania
2.University Clinical Hospital of Craiova, 1 Tabaci Street, Craiova, Dolj, Romania
3.University of Craiova, Faculty of Automation, Computers and Electronics, 13 A. I. Cuza Street, Craiova, Dolj, Romania

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The aim of the study was to evaluate the occurrence risk of demyelinating lesions in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with anti-TNF α biological therapy. The study was undertaken on 45 patients with rheumatoid arthritis distributed in two groups. The study group consisting of 25 patients received anti-TNF α therapy, while the control group consisting of 20 patients, received only conventional synthetic drugs. All patients were evaluated every two years using cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from the beginning of therapy for all 6 years of study. We noticed an increase in the number and dimensions of demyelinating lesions in the study group, but inactive, without gadolinium enhancement and without neurological clinical correspondence. Anti-TNF α biological therapy could be a favouring factor in the development of demyelinating brain lesions, but without any clinical correspondent and imaging inactive.