Influence of immunogenicity on the efficacy of long-term treatment with infliximab in rheumatoid arthritis
Open Access
- 22 March 2011
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Rheumatology
- Vol. 50 (8), 1445-1452
- https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/ker124
Abstract
Objective. To analyse the clinical relevance of the production of anti-infliximab antibodies (anti-infliximab Abs) in patients with RA undergoing infliximab treatment over a prolonged period of time. Methods. Clinical characteristics, serum trough infliximab and antibody levels were evaluated in 85 RA patients treated with infliximab for a median of 4.42 (interval 0.4–10.2) years. DAS in 28 joints (DAS-28), EULAR response criteria and survival of treatment were assessed at 3 time points (6 months, 12 months and >4 years). Results. Antibodies against infliximab were detected in 28 (32.9%) patients and were present in all EULAR non-responder patients. Antibody levels were higher in EULAR non-responders throughout the study period (P = 0.05 at 6 months, P = 0.02 at 1 year, P = 0.003 at >4 years) compared with EULAR (good and moderate) responders. Nine (10.5%) patients, all of them with high-serum anti-infliximab Ab levels, developed infusion-related reactions. Patients with anti-infliximab Abs more often required increased infliximab doses (51.7%) (P = 0.032) and median survival time on treatment was shorter (4.15 vs 8.89 years) (P = 0.0006). MTX co-therapy was not associated with lower proportion of anti-infliximab Ab-positive patients, but those receiving both infliximab and MTX had lower levels of anti-infliximab Abs (P = 0.073) and longer survival (P = 0.015) on treatment. Conclusion. The formation of anti-infliximab Abs during treatment with infliximab is associated with a loss of clinical response, the appearance of infusion reactions and discontinuation of treatment.Keywords
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