EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF COMBINATION TREATMENT WITH ABATACEPT AND METHOTREXATE AND MONOTHERAPY WITH METHOTREXATE IN PATIENTS WITH POLYARTICULAR JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS

The results of efficacy and safety study of abatacept and methotrexate combination therapy (n=12) in comparison with methotrexate monotherapy (n =41) in patients with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis at the age of 4–17 years old are shown in this article. The duration of the observation was 1 year. Abatacept was introduced at a dose of 10 mg/kg at 1st, 2d and then — every 4th week. In 48 weeks clinical remission and decrease of laboratory markers of activity was registered in 35% of patients treated with abatacept and methotrexate and in 16% of patients treated only with methotrexate.