title: Efficacy of Switching from Infliximab to Subcutaneous Golimumab in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis to Control Disease Activity or Adverse Events.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Some rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients initially respond to treatment with infliximab (IFX), but subsequently their responsiveness decreases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of switching from IFX to subcutaneous golimumab (GLM-SC) in RA patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three patients who had been treated for a mean 4.4 years with IFX (3-6 mg/kg/8 weeks) were switched to GLM-SC to control disease activity or adverse events. The patients with low disease activity (LDA) or remission were divided into two groups: the LDA group and the LDA every 8 weeks (q8w) group, which included patients with LDA or remission who switched to GLM therapy with 50 mg at 4- and 8-week intervals, respectively. The moderate disease activity (MDA) group included patients with MDA who switched to GLM therapy with 50 mg at 4-week intervals. Effects of the IFX to GLM-SC switch were evaluated at weeks 12, 24, and 52 after switching.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean disease activity score 28-ESR and -C-reactive protein values in the LDA and LDAq8w groups were maintained from baseline throughout the 52-week treatment period. The mean disease activity score 28 values at 12, 24, and 52 weeks in the MDA group were improved significantly compared with baseline. Treatment discontinuations due to adverse events occurred in one patient in the MDA group, and no serious adverse events occurred during the observation period in the LDA group or the LDAq8w group. The GLM continuation rates at 52 weeks were 100% in the LDA and LDAq8w groups and 83.3% in the MDA group. Thus, GLM-SC treatment regimens were effective in controlling disease activity and improving the clinical response related to adverse events caused by IFX.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical efficacy of GLM-SC was sustained or improved in patients who switched from IFX without serious safety concerns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan. whiroki@clin.medic.mie-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wakabayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Suzuka General Hospital, Suzuka, Mie, Japan.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inada
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Institute for Rheumatic Disease, Shima, Mie, Japan.
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishioka
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kusuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishioka
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sudo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; C529000:golimumab; D000069285:Infliximab