WHO CAN ACCESS ETANERCEPT?
1. Initial treatment by a paediatric rheumatologist, or under the supervision of a paediatric rheumatology treatment centre, of patients under 18 years, • who have severe active polyarticular course juvenile chronic arthritis; AND • whose parent or authorised guardian has signed a patient agreement form indicating that they understand and acknowledge that PBS?subsidised treatment will cease if the pre?determined response criteria do not support continuation of PBS?subsidised treatment AND • who have demonstrated • severe intolerance of, or toxicity due to, methotrexate (see below for definition of severe intolerance and toxicity) OR • failure to achieve an adequate response to one or more of the following treatments regimens: – oral or parenteral methotrexate at a dose of at least 20mg/m2 weekly, alone or in combination with oral or intra-articular corticosteroids for a minimum of 3 months; OR oral methotrexate at a dose of at least 10 mg/m2 weekly together with a least one other disea