title: [Infliximab in aggressive and refractory rheumatoid arthritis. A pilot study].
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease with a progressive course, that frequently provokes permanent incapacity if not adequately treated. Rheumatoid arthritis may be not responsive to the common second line drugs. This study was aimed to treat 15 patients affected by severe refractory rheumatoid arthritis with infliximab.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis were treated with infliximab--monoclonal antibody direct to TNF alpha--in association with methotrexate or azathioprine. Infliximab was administered at the dosage of 3 mg/Kg at the weeks 0, 2 and 6 and then every 8 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About half patients ameliorated in agreement with both ACR 20 criteria and DAS28 evaluation. The clinical improvement was accompanied by a reduction of the steroid daily dosage. No relevant side effects were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infliximab is effective in a significant number of patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis, with a good tolerability.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Reumatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università, Verona.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caramaschi
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Canestrini
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Biasi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carletto
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scambi
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scarperi
authors.forename: Lisa Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Bambara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone; D008727:Methotrexate