[Adverse events in rheumatoid arthritis patient with etanercept therapy: the appearance of osteomalacia].

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease of unknown origin that predominantly involves synovial tissue. RA affects 0.5-1% of the global population, with females affected more frequently than males. Patients receiving standard care for RA have significantly better status in 2000 than in 1985, associated with aggressive treatment strategies, prior to the introduction of biologic agents. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) decrease clinical signs and symptoms in RA. Methotrexate, leflunomide and biological agents are analyzed. Glucocorticoids have long been recognized to have beneficial effects in RA. Rickets and osteomalacia are metabolic bone diseases due to a mineralization defect as principal pathophysiology. The Authors present a case report on a female patient with RA in treatment con etanercept and with osteomalacia (secondary?).