For a patient on etanercept therapy for rheumatoid arthritis, which lab values should be monitored regularly?

For a patient on etanercept therapy for rheumatoid arthritis, which lab values should be monitored regularly?

• A. White blood cell counts and platelet counts
• B. ALT and AST
• C. Creatinine and BUN
• D. Serum lipids

Answer: (B)

Etanercept is a biologic therapy that can affect the liver, so watching for hepatotoxicity is important. Monitoring liver enzymes—ALT and AST—helps detect early liver injury, even if the patient doesn’t feel unwell. Baseline liver tests are typically obtained before starting therapy, with periodic rechecks during treatment to catch any rising transaminases promptly and adjust treatment if needed. While blood counts and kidney function are also important in overall safety surveillance and infections risk is a key concern with TNF inhibitors, the lab values most specifically targeted to ongoing monitoring for this drug class are the liver enzymes ALT and AST.

Etanercept is a biologic therapy that can affect the liver, so watching for hepatotoxicity is important. Monitoring liver enzymes—ALT and AST—helps detect early liver injury, even if the patient doesn’t feel unwell. Baseline liver tests are typically obtained before starting therapy, with periodic rechecks during treatment to catch any rising transaminases promptly and adjust treatment if needed. While blood counts and kidney function are also important in overall safety surveillance and infections risk is a key concern with TNF inhibitors, the lab values most specifically targeted to ongoing monitoring for this drug class are the liver enzymes ALT and AST.