High intraindividual week-to-week variability in BASDAI and BASFI values: are several evaluations needed before starting or stopping TNFalpha antagonist therapy for spondyloarthropathies?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate intraindividual variability of the BASDAI, BASFI, and HAQ in patients with spondyloarthropathies.


METHODS
The three variables were collected prospectively in 24 patients, once a week for 30 weeks. They were also collected retrospectively in 31 patients on stable infliximab regimens with a mean of 11.5+/-4 injections, starting at the fourth infusion.


RESULTS
The BASDAI and BASFI showed high intraindividual variability from week to week; SDs greater than 1 were found for the BASDAI in 14/24 patients and for the BASFI in 10/24 patients, and ranges greater than 4/10 occurred for the BASDAI in 13/24 patients and for the BASFI in 10/24 patients. Although the mean BASDAI was greater than 4 in only 6/24 patients, values greater than 4 occurred on one or more occasions in 19 (79%) patients. The retrospective study of infliximab-treated patients from the fourth infusion onward also showed high variability of BASDAI and BASFI values, with SDs greater than 1 in 18/31 patients and ranges greater than 4 in 14/31 patients and greater than 2 in 22/31 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Repeated determination of the BASDAI and BASFI by the patients (using paper forms or personal digital assessments) may help to identify candidates for treatment intensification, to optimize infliximab injection regimens in good responders, and to avoid unnecessary switching from one TNFalpha antagonist to another.
Berthelot
Jean-Marie
JM
Hôtel-Dieu Teaching Hospital, Nantes, France.
Tortellier
Laetitia
L
Lavy-Bregeon
Delphine
D
Le Goff
Benoît
B
Maugars
Yves
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D025242:Spondylarthropathies / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab