Low-dose glucocorticoid therapy decreases risk for treatment-limiting infusion reaction to infliximab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
Treatment-limiting infusion reactions to infliximab have not been fully explained in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Our main objective is to investigate the role of daily oral glucocorticoids use on such reactions.


METHODS
Forty-three patients with immediate-type infusion reactions were identified in a large registry-based cohort. These patients were then compared with the entire cohort (n = 639) and, in a separate analysis, to a nested matched control group (n = 43). The following base-line variables were compared: use of oral glucocorticoids, health-assessment questionnaire, 28-joint count-based disease activity score, duration of disease and number of failed disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.


RESULTS
The proportion of infusions associated with infusion reactions decreased significantly during the study period (p = 0.0024). Fifty per cent of the patients in the cohort were treated with daily low-dose glucocorticoids at baseline. 15/326 (4.6%) patients had an infusion reaction as compared with 28/324 (8.6%) of patients without glucocorticoid treatment (p = 0.057). In the matched comparison, 15/43 (35%) of the cases were on low-dose glucocorticoids as compared with 27/43 (64%) of the controls (p = 0.017). The use of low-dose glucocorticoids was associated with a significantly lower risk for a treatment-limiting infusion reactions in a Kaplan-Meier analysis (p = 0.04). The number needed to treat to prevent a treatment-limiting infusion reaction was 25 (95% CI: 13 to 527) in the cohort.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of daily low-dose glucocorticoids is associated with a lower risk for treatment-limiting infusion reactions to infliximab. Overall, treatment-limiting infusion reactions have become significantly less common during the past 5 years.
Augustsson
Jenny
J
Department of Rheumatology, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. jenny.augustsson@apoteket.se
Eksborg
Staffan
S
Ernestam
Sofia
S
Gullström
Eleanor
E
van Vollenhoven
Ronald
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone; D000069285:Infliximab