[Efficacy and safety of infliximab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy and safety of Infliximab (IFX) plus methotrexate (MTX) combination therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
Prospectively observe refractory RA patients who were treated with combination therapy of MTX and IFX. IFX was infused at the dosage of 3 mg/kg, in week 0, 2, 6, and then every 8 weeks. During treatment, clinical variables, disease activity and adverse effects were evaluated.


RESULTS
After treatment, 69.8%, 52.4%, 29.5% and 7.2% RA patients achieved ACR20, ACR50, ACR70 and ACR90 respectively. There were significant statistical differences in the changes of swollen joint counts, tender joint counts, VAS scale, patient' s global assessment, and physician's global assessment before and after therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Infliximab plus MTX achieved significant efficacy and safety in refractory RA patients.
Zhang
Wen
W
Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China. zhangsamfc@hotmail.com
Shi
Qun
Q
Wu
Dong-hai
DH
Bao
Chun-de
CD
Yang
Nan-ping
NP
Li
Zhan-guo
ZG
Zhu
Ping
P
Zhang
Xiao
X
Huang
Ci-bo
CB
He
Dong-yi
DY
Ye
Zhi-zhong
ZZ
Tao
Yi
Y
Fang
Yong-fei
YF
Gu
Jie-ruo
JR
Wu
Hua-xiang
HX
Sun
Ling-yun
LY
Yang
Xiu-yan
XY
Huang
Feng
F
Xu
Hu-ji
HJ
Zhao
Dong-bao
DB
Zhang
Miao-jia
MJ
Zheng
Yi
Y
Ai
Mai-xing
MX
Lu
Jun
J
Zhang
Feng-chun
FC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D000069285:Infliximab; D008727:Methotrexate