The Health Technology Board forScotland (HTBS) (now part of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland) issued advice onthe use of etanercept and infliximab on the following dates:17 May 2002 - Comment on theNational Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) Technology Appraisal Guidancenumber 35 on the use of etanercept for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.17 May 2002 - Comment on theNICE Technology Appraisal Guidance number 36 on the use of etanercept and infliximabfor the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.28 June 2002 - Comment on the NICE Technology Appraisal Guidance number40 on the use of infliximab for Crohn’s disease.The comments can be accessedat www.nhshealthquality.org.On 12 July 2004, the Scottish MedicinesConsortium (SMC) issued advice to NHSScotland about the use of infliximab for thetreatment of ankylosing spondylitis in patients who have severe axial symptoms,elevated serological markers of inflammatory activity and who have responded inadequatelyto conventional therapy.