Therapeutic experience with infliximab in a patient with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis and uveitis.
A pediatric patient with prolonged seronegative polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and concomitant aggressive, anterior uveitis refractory to any conventional antirheumatic therapy was treated with infliximab. Arthritis and C-reactive protein (CRP) values showed prompt positive effects but, after 6 weeks, returned gradually to initial values despite ongoing therapy. In contrast, a more sustained therapeutic effect was observed on the uveitis, with increased visual acuity and reduced inflammatory signs of the affected eye. However, this benefit was also lost at week 30, after which infliximab had to be discontinued due to side effects. To conclude, in polyarticular seronegative JIA, infliximab showed a transient beneficial effect which was more pronounced on uveitis than arthritis.
Mangge
Harald
H
Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnosis, University Clinic of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria. harald.mangge@uni-graz.at
Heinzl
Bernd
B
Grubbauer
Hans-Michael
HM
El-Shabrawi
Yosuf
Y
Schauenstein
Konrad
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014606:Uveitis, Anterior / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000069285:Infliximab