[Infliximab in aggressive and refractory rheumatoid arthritis. A pilot study].
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.
Caramaschi
Paola
P
Cattedra di Reumatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università, Verona.
Canestrini
Sabrina
S
Biasi
Domenico
D
Carletto
Antonio
A
Scambi
Cinzia
C
Scarperi
Anna
A
Bambara
Lisa Maria
LM
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
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