Biologic treatments for adult-onset Still's disease

Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a systemic inflammatory disorder that is a diagnosis of exclusion. It is characterized by high spiking fevers, arthritis or arthralgia, and an evanescent salmon-coloured rash. Many other systemic manifestations and laboratory test abnormalities may occur. Biologic drugs, TNF-alpha inhibitors, and IL-1 and IL-6 blockers have been used for the treatment of patients with AOSD refractory to conventional treatment or those with life-threatening manifestations aiming for better disease control. Data on biologic treatments in AOSD are limited and consist mainly of case reports, small case series and retrospective studies. Using biologic agents (anti-TNF-alpha, anti-IL-1 and anti-IL-6) with traditional immunosuppressive drugs resulted in significant improvement of disease outcomes. IL-1 and IL-6 inhibitors seem to be more efficient than TNF-alpha inhibitors.