title: Open-label study of infliximab treatment for psoriatic arthritis: clinical and magnetic resonance imaging measurements of reduction of inflammation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate infliximab efficacy and safety in disease-modifying antirheumatic drug-unresponsive psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a 54-week, open-label, compassionate-use study, 10 patients received intravenous infliximab (5 mg/kg; weeks 0, 2, 6; individualized dosing after week 10). Patients continued their current therapy (stable dose) until week 10. Assessments were performed at weeks 2, 6, 10, and 54. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) objectively measured joint inflammation at weeks 0 and 10.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients achieved a 20% improvement according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria (ACR20) in all patients by week 2; 8 patients improved 70% (ACR70) at week 10; 6 patients maintained ACR70 after week 54. Week 10 MRI revealed an 82.5% mean reduction in inflammation from baseline, and psoriasis area and severity index scores were reduced by 71.3% +/- 16.7%. There were no significant adverse events, severe infections, or infusion reactions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infliximab was effective, safe, and well tolerated in PsA. Arthritis and psoriasis improved in all patients during the 54-week evaluation. Further investigation of the use of infliximab for PsA and psoriasis is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine III, Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen, Germany. christian.antoni@med3.imed.uni-erlangen.de
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Antoni
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dechant
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Hanns-Martin Lorenz
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wendler
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ogilvie
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lueftl
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kalden-Nemeth
authors.forename: Joachim R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kalden
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Manger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D003287:Contrast Media; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA