Overview of biologic therapies in autoimmune rheumatic diseases

First-line treatment of autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD) ranging from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), through small and large vessel vasculitides to Behçet's syndrome, is still based upon the use of traditional immunosuppressive drugs. Increasingly, the newly developed biologic agents are used as second-line treatments of these diseases. This summary article highlights the biologic agents that are used in clinical practice as well as their indications, contraindications and adverse effect profiles. Efficacy of these biologic agents is tabulated in accordance with current evidence of open-label studies and trials, and new advances in the biologic treatment of several ARDs are also discussed. Overall, this paper highlights the contribution that the biologic therapies have made to progressive advancements in the treatment of ARD.