title: Persistent clinical response to the anti-TNF-alpha antibody infliximab in patients with ankylosing spondylitis over 3 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Infliximab, a monoclonal antibody against tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), is approved in Europe for the treatment of patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) who have responded inadequately to conventional therapy. This report provides analyses from a 3-yr extension study, as a follow-up to both the 1- and 2-yr open label extensions of the original 3-month randomized controlled trial of infliximab in patients with AS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of the 49 patients with AS who completed the second year of the study, 46 continued treatment with infliximab 5 mg/kg every 6 weeks up to week 156. The Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), the Bath AS Functional Index, the Bath AS Metrology Index, patient's and physician's global assessments, quality of life (Short Form-36), C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were assessed throughout the study period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The improvement of signs and symptoms observed in the majority of the patients during the first and second year was sustained throughout the third year of the study. Forty-three patients (62% of the 69 patients enrolled at baseline and 93% of the patients who started the third year) completed week 156. In the intention-to-treat analysis, an ASAS '5 out of 6' and ASAS 40% response was seen by 46% and 50% of the patients, respectively. The scores for other efficacy assessments were similar to the values observed at weeks 54 and 102. Median CRP levels remained low (1.5 mg/l at week 156). There were no relevant side-effects and no discontinuation because of drug-related adverse events during the third year of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with AS receiving infliximab for 3 yr showed a durable clinical response without loss of efficacy. Long-term infliximab treatment was well tolerated by patients in this study.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Medical Center, Ruhrgebeit, Herne, Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany. J.Braun@Rheumazentrum-Ruhrgebiet.de
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Baraliakos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Listing
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zink
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alten
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burmester
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gromnica-Ihle
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kellner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sörensen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zeidler
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sieper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001799:Blood Sedimentation / Q000187:drug effects; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D053319:Tumor Necrosis Factor Decoy Receptors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D053319:Tumor Necrosis Factor Decoy Receptors; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000069285:Infliximab