Abstract
Background
Biotherapy result of spectacular advances in genetics and research in molecular and cellular biology, has considerably improved the management of rheumatic and autoinflammatory diseases in children. The Objective is to assess the efficacy and tolerance of biotherapy in pediatrics
Methods
A retro-prospective study was carried out in the Pediatric Department B at the pediatric rheumatology consultation, university hospital center. An operating sheet was drawn up including epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical and therapeutic data of the cases diagnosed as well as their evolution on biotherapy.
Results
26 children received treatment with biotherapy. 73% presented with JIA (54% systemic, 19% polyarticular with positive RF, 19% severe uveitis, and 4% familial Mediterranean fever. 4% behçet disease
The mean time to start biotherapy was 12 months [2–48]. There is a clear clinical and biological improvement for 93% of patients. Etanercept was effective in polyarticular-progressive JIA, Adalimumab in oligoarthritis with severe uveitis, Tocilizumab in systemic forms of JIA and Anakinra in familial Mediterranean fever resistant to colchicine and systemic arthritis.
The adverse reactions noted were: one case of tuberculosis, hepatic cytolysis in 4 cases, and one case of psoriasis.
Conclusion
The introduction of biotherapy in pediatric has considerably improved the management of inflammatory rheumatic diseases and transformed the prognosis of these chronic diseases. The maintenance of the good response to treatment and the good tolerance of biotherapy must be evaluated prospectively over the long term.
Autoinflammatory diseases
