THE ASSORTMENT CONTOUR OF BIOLOGICAL AGENTS FOR THE TREATMENT OF JUVENILE ARTHRITIS

Introduction. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), a chronic inflammatory joint disease in children under 16 years of age with unknown etiology and complex pathogenesis, constitutes a significant proportion among rheumatic diseases. Biological agents (BAs) are increasingly being used to treat the disease now. In this connection, questions are acutely raised as to the proper organization of pharmaceutical care and to the rational use of these drugs.Objective: to justify and propose the regional assortment contour of BAs for the treatment of JRA. Material and methods. The investigation used the content analysis of an information database of drugs approved for use in Russia, scientific publications, data of clinical trials; a sociological method (questionnaire survey, expert evaluation), and marketing analysis of the pharmaceutical market. Results. Analysis of the scientific literature showed that the innovative BAs proved to be very effective in treating the known types of JRA. There are presently 7 pharmacological groups of BAs at the pharmaceutical market. The regional BA assortment contour formed in accordance with the anatomical therapeutic chemical classification is represented by 12 drugs belonging to 4 groups: tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors, interleukin inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and selective immunosuppressants. Of them, 10 drugs were most effective in treating JRA. Conclusion. The main groups of drugs to treat JRA were established. Innovative BAs occupy a special place in its therapy. The assortment contour of these agents is significant on the regional pharmaceutical market and is represented by 10 drugs from 6 pharmacotherapeutic groups.