[Infliximab combined with methotrexate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].
Infliximab is a chimeric anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF-alpha) monoclonal IgG1 antibody successfully used for the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) not completely controlled with methotrexate or other disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. We evaluated both clinical efficacy and safety of infliximab in 63 patients with persistently active RA (Disease activity score > or = 3.7). All the patients received infliximab (3 mg/Kg) at week 0, 2, 6 and then every 5 weeks in combination with methotrexate (7.5-10 mg/week) in an open label study. At week 14th, ACR 20% response criteria have been fulfilled by 43 (91.4%) out of 47 patients, 31 (72%) of them achieving also an ACR 50% and 9 (21%) an ACR 70% response. At the time of this report 33 patients touched 22 weeks of treatment: ACR 20% response was achieved in 95%, while ACR 50% and ACR 70% were respectively found in 78% and 39% of the cases. Only 1 case of bronchopulmonary mycosis and 2 of mild urticaria were observed. The initiation of infliximab therapy in patients with active RA resulted in a rapid and sustained improvement of articular manifestations and quality of life. Even though, major adverse events were rare, clinicians should be aware of this possibility.
Sfriso
Paolo
P
Cattedra e Divisione di Reumatologia, Istituto di Medicina Interna, Università, Padova.
Botsios
Costantino
C
Ostuni
Pierantonio
P
Todesco
Silvano
S
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D000069285:Infliximab; D008727:Methotrexate