The Handbook of Biological Therapy

Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) blocking therapy has recently been introduced as an important new class of biologic therapy for rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's disease, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. This class of drugs, currently comprised of three different agents, is being increasingly used for these around the world. Intensive clinical research is also defining new areas in which these drugs will be used in the future. These new indications for TNF-blocking therapy will increase the number of physicians using this class of drug. This guide provides a comprehensive distillation of the clinical experience with these drugs combined with the diverse available databases to provide practical information about the use of these drugs in daily practice. Much of the literature currently available has come from the clinical trial setting with an academic emphasis. This book is rigorously practical and is the guide that every physician including all rheumatologists, and gastroenterologists and dermatologists who treat patients with this class of drugs, will want to have on hand to answer their questions that arise every day.

Dr. Bruce Kirkham is currently Clinical Lead in Rheumatology/Lupus at Guy's & St. Thomas' Hospital Trust, London. His clinical research interests focus on optimising the use of drugs for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis. Arthur Kavanaugh, MD, is a Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine and Director of the Center for Innovative Therapy in the UCSD Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology. He is also a fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI), and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). Scott Plevy, MD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. He is the Director of the University of North Carolina FOCIS Center of Excellence. Jonathan Barker has been Academic Head of St John's Institute of Dermatology since 2002. He is co-director of the Skin Therapy Research Unit and head of the Psoriasis Service at St John's Institute of Dermatology. His research interests focus on inflammatory skin diseases, particularly psoriasis.