Anti-Cytokine Therapy Centre

The department is part of the Therapeutic and Diagnostic Complex located at: 13-15, Kadetskaya Line, Vasilyevsky Island.
It contains: eight inpatient beds; a medical treatment room; a physiotherapy room; a chiropractic treatment room; and an acupuncture room.

Outpatient Department № 1

At the end of 2021, Anti-Cytokine Therapy Centre was opened at the Department. The services target patients with rheumatic disorders. Patients are evaluated and treated using genetically engineered biological products.

A major benefit for patients, especially under Covid-19 restrictions, is a thorough clinical examination and a fast assessment of patients’ health needs carried out at the multidisciplinary Pirogov Clinic.

In just a few months, over 250 patients (on quotas) received treatment funded through the federal healthcare budget.

Anti-cytokine therapy is recommended for patients with: ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis; and some rarer diseases, such as adult-onset Still’s disease and giant cell arteritis (Horton’s disease). In all patients, a positive effect of the therapy is evident. The patients’ condition is continuously monitored by the Centre’s doctors to assess the efficacy and safety of the therapy with genetically engineered biological products.

In future, the Centre’s activities are to be expanded to include other nosologies:

• rheumatology: axial spondyloarthritis; ankylosing spondylitis; rheumatoid arthritis; psoriatic arthritis; psoriatic spondylitis; systemic lupus erythematosus; systemic scleroderma; systemic vasculitis;
• dermatology: moderate–severe psoriasis; atopic eczema;
• gastroenterology: inflammatory bowel disease; Crohn’s disease; and ulcerative colitis;
• pulmonology: asthma.

The main objectives of the Anti-Cytokine Therapy Centre at the Pirogov Clinic of High Medical Technologies at St Petersburg University are:

1. 1. Selection of patients of clinical profiles: rheumatology; dermatology; gastroenterology; or pulmonology – for treatment with biological agents, based on the evidence of: steroid resistance; negative response to immunosuppressive therapy with basic immunosuppressants and glucocorticosteroid drugs; adverse side effects; or life-threatening conditions.
2. 2. Improving patients’ quality of life and life expectancy.
3. 3. Patient clinical evaluation and selection of therapy based on the patient’s current clinical data, medical history and restrictions imposed by comorbidities.
4. 4. Treatment and monitoring of the efficacy and safety of the therapy.
5. 5. Implementing patient registries by nosological form and type of therapy.
6. 6. Scientific research, with the research findings reported in leading Russian and international scientific journals.

What is anti-cytokine therapy?

Anti-cytokine therapy is one of the greatest achievements of the modern medicine. The regular use of biological agents helps to achieve a durable remission of the disease and a significant improvement in the patient's quality of life. Currently, anti-cytokine therapy is quite expensive; however, the state provides financial support to patients in need. The indications and contraindications for this therapy are determined by medical experts, based on the physical examination and thorough clinical evaluation of a patient. The anti-cytokine therapy is administered under the supervision of healthcare professionals in the Outpatient Department.

You can schedule a consultation with our rheumatology specialists by phone: 8 (812) 676 25 25, or 8 800 250 3032 (from 8am to 9pm daily)