[Coxib: a feasible therapeutic alternative in patients with intolerance or hypersensitivity to acetilsallicilic acid, non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs and paracetamol].

Aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and paracetamol are the most frequent drugs used worldwide for the management of pain, inflammation and fever associated with many acute and chronic conditions. Despite of its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties, all display adverse effects mediated by the same mechanisms by which they control pain, inflammation and fever. A relatively frequent problem with the use of NSAIDs and/or aspirin, and less frequently with paracetamol, is the development of intolerance and hypersensitivity reactions, a situation for which diverse alternatives have been proposed.

[Guidelines in RA treatment: concepts on safety and recommendations using anti-TNF-alpha inhibitors. Grupo de Estudio de Nuevas Terapias de Enfermedades reumáticas (GENTE)].

Recommendations for the use of Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARD) with both conventional and biological agents in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) must be based on their safety profile, adverse effects, risks, and advantages. With the purpose of presenting the most updated information about the safety of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) antagonists, in this article we summarize the literature published during the last three years about this sort of biological agents in specific clinical situations, such as risk of developing infections, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and autoimmunity; as well as their administration to patients who will undergo surgical procedures, pregnant and/or breast-feeding women, and patients who need immunizations. Likewise, in this analysis we offer specific recommendations, based on evidence, for the best anti-TNF-alfa management.

[Treatment guidelines for ankylosing spondylitis and its effect on Mexican rheumatology].

We describe the guidelines for the current treatment of ankylosing spondylitis with an emphasis on the role and outlook of the Mexican rheumatologic community. The topics we analyze include: epidemiological as well as professional, financial, health status, and quality of life aspects. We propose to acknowledge that axial spondyloarthritis is the earliest form of ankylosing spondylitis.

[A review of interferons: fifty years later (1957-2007)].

Initially identified as a defense mechanism against viral infections, in the last 50 years interferons have been defined a group of substances belonging to the cytokine family indispensable for the normal functioning of the immune system. Derived from their pleiotropic functions interferons were the first biological products used to treat several diseases. Their properties have progressively placed them as the first treatment choice for chronic infection with hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, multiple sclerosis, some forms of leukemia, melanoma, etc.