title: Prospective observational analysis of the efficacy and safety of low-dose (3 mg/kg) infliximab in ankylosing spondylitis: 4-year followup.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although there are now compelling data that infliximab is effective for the treatment of AS, most studies have evaluated a dose of 5 mg/kg rather than the 3 mg/kg dose recommended for patients with RA. We assessed the effectiveness and safety of a 3 mg/kg dose of infliximab in normal clinical practice over several years of followup.
  
  
  METHODS
  All consecutive patients with AS starting infliximab therapy at 3 mg/kg IV at 0, 2, and 6 weeks and q 2 months between April 2000 and December 2004 were included. Data were systematically collected at baseline, at 14 weeks, and every 6 months thereafter to 4 years or withdrawal. Data included demographic characteristics, Bath AS indices, adverse events, and reasons for withdrawal. Survival taking low-dose infliximab was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method with withdrawal for lack of efficacy and/or adverse events and requirement for dose escalation constituting the endpoint.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-four patients (M:F = 26:8), mean age 44.9 years, mean disease duration 17.1 years, and mean BASDAI of 6.4, were studied, of whom 17 had active peripheral synovitis. Median duration of treatment with low-dose infliximab was 1507 days. Fourteen discontinued therapy after a median of 91 days, 6 for adverse events, 6 for lack of efficacy, and 2 were lost to followup. Five (14.7%) patients required dose escalation. Effectiveness demonstrable at 1 year was maintained over 4 years. We did not identify any significant baseline predictors of maintenance on low dose infliximab for > or = 2 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-dose (3 mg/kg) infliximab therapy is associated with sustained effectiveness in patients with AS in the real-world setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keeling
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oswald
authors.forename: Anthony S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Walter P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Maksymowych
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D015996:Survival Rate; D013585:Synovitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D000069285:Infliximab