Figure 5

Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors decreased levels of soluble interleukin-18 receptor α in sera of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Twenty-nine rheumatoid arthritis patients (two males and twenty-seven females) were treated with the tumor necrosis factor inhibitor etanercept (25 mg once or twice weekly). The 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) (C-reactive protein (CRP) level), DAS28 (erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), soluble interleukin-18 receptor α complex in the sera, CRP level and ESR were evaluated before and 6 months after treatment with etanercept. *P < 0.05 vs. baseline.