Therapeutic efficacy and safety profile of infliximab in active systemic lupus erythematosus.
Since levels of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) are significantly increased in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and may be involved in the disease pathogenesis, we report on the safety and efficacy of infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody directed against TNFalpha, given to a patient with difficult-to-treat active nonrenal SLE. This patient, who failed to remit with full doses of glucocorticoids, hydroxychloroquine, methotrexate, and azathioprine, went into sustained remission with the addition of infliximab infusions. Glucocorticoids could be tapered off completely.
Hayat
Sawsan Johar
SJ
Department of Medicine, Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Ministry of Health, Jabriya, Kuwait.
Uppal
Sukhbir Singh
SS
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab