Abstract | OBJECTIVES: METHODS: Thirty patients with active SpA (16 psoriatic arthritis, 12 ankylosing spondylitis and 2 undifferentiated) received 6 infliximab infusions. Patients had substantial axial disease (mean BASDAI at baseline 5.5). Concomitant therapy ( methotrexate or prednisolone) remained stable throughout treatment period. The mean initial dose of infliximab was 3.5 mg/kg/infusion. Clinical efficacy was assessed by BASDAI. The criterion for dose adjustment was a BASDAI improvement of less than 50%. The primary end-points were the proportion of patients requiring a dose adjustment and the percentage of patients achieving 50% improvement in BASDAI after 6 infusions. RESULTS: In this cohort, 2 patients discontinued therapy, 1 for pulmonary infection and 1 for allergic reaction. Twelve patients (40%) showed 50% improvement in BASDAI between baseline and prior to the 7th infusion, while 15 patients (50%) had an improvement > 2 points. To achieve clinical response the frequency and/or the dose of infliximab infusions were increased in 63% of patients. The mean infliximab dose increased from 3.5 mg/kg at the first infusion to 4.3 mg/kg (p < 0.001) at the 7th infusion, resulting in a cumulative dose at the end of the study period comparable to the recommended one. CONCLUSIONS: In the majority of our SpA patients low starting doses of infliximab required subsequent adjustment. In these patients infliximab should be administered at the recommended dose of 5mg/kg/infusion.
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Authors | P Sidiropoulos, H D Kritikos, P Siakka, M Mamoulaki, H Kouroumali, K Voudouris, D T Boumpas |
Journal | Clinical and experimental rheumatology
(Clin Exp Rheumatol)
2005 Jul-Aug
Vol. 23
Issue 4
Pg. 513-6
ISSN: 0392-856X [Print] Italy |
PMID | 16095121
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Antibodies, Monoclonal
- Antirheumatic Agents
- Infliximab
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Topics |
- Adult
- Antibodies, Monoclonal
(economics, therapeutic use)
- Antirheumatic Agents
(economics, toxicity)
- Arthritis, Psoriatic
(drug therapy, economics, physiopathology)
- Cohort Studies
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Female
- Health Status
- Humans
- Infliximab
- Male
- Severity of Illness Index
- Spondylitis, Ankylosing
(drug therapy, economics, physiopathology)
- Treatment Outcome
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