TY - JOUR
T1 - Combination of infliximab and methotrexate therapy for early rheumatoid arthritis
T2 - A randomized, controlled trial
AU - St.Clair, E. William
AU - Van Der Heijde, Désirée M F M
AU - Smolen, Josef S.
AU - Maini, Ravinder N.
AU - Bathon, Joan M.
AU - Emery, Paul
AU - Keystone, Edward
AU - Schiff, Michael
AU - Kalden, Joachim R.
AU - Wang, Ben
AU - DeWoody, Kimberly
AU - Weiss, Roberta
AU - Baker, Daniel
PY - 2004/11
Y1 - 2004/11
N2 - Objective. To compare the benefits of initiating treatment with methotrexate (MTX) and infliximab (anti-tumor necrosis factor α [anti-TNFα] monoclonal antibody) with those of MTX treatment alone in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of ≤3 years' duration. Methods. RA patients were eligible if they had active disease and no prior treatment with MTX or a TNFα inhibitor. One thousand forty-nine patients were randomly assigned in a 4:5:5 ratio to 3 treatment groups: MTX-placebo, MTX-3 mg/kg infliximab, and MTX-6 mg/kg infliximab. MTX dosages were rapidly escalated to 20 mg/week, and infliximab or placebo infusions were given at weeks 0, 2, and 6, and every 8 weeks thereafter through week 46. Results. At week 54, the median percentage of American College of Rheumatology improvement (ACR-N) was higher for the MTX-3 mg/kg infliximab and MTX-6 mg/kg infliximab groups than for the MTX-placebo group (38.9% and 46.7% versus 26.4%, respectively; P <0.001 for both comparisons). Patients in the MTX-3 mg/kg infliximab and MTX-6 mg/kg infliximab groups also showed less radiographic progression than those receiving MTX alone (mean ± SD changes in van der Heijde modification of the total Sharp score at week 54: 0.4 ± 5.8 and 0.5 ± 5.6 versus 3.7 ± 9.6, respectively; P <0.001 for each comparison). In addition, physical function improved significantly more in the MTX-3 mg/kg infliximab and MTX-6 mg/kg infliximab groups than in the MTX-placebo group. Infliximab therapy was associated with a significantly higher incidence of serious infections, especially pneumonia. Conclusion. For patients with active RA in its early stages, combination therapy with MTX and infliximab provides greater clinical, radiographic, and functional benefits than treatment with MTX alone.
AB - Objective. To compare the benefits of initiating treatment with methotrexate (MTX) and infliximab (anti-tumor necrosis factor α [anti-TNFα] monoclonal antibody) with those of MTX treatment alone in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of ≤3 years' duration. Methods. RA patients were eligible if they had active disease and no prior treatment with MTX or a TNFα inhibitor. One thousand forty-nine patients were randomly assigned in a 4:5:5 ratio to 3 treatment groups: MTX-placebo, MTX-3 mg/kg infliximab, and MTX-6 mg/kg infliximab. MTX dosages were rapidly escalated to 20 mg/week, and infliximab or placebo infusions were given at weeks 0, 2, and 6, and every 8 weeks thereafter through week 46. Results. At week 54, the median percentage of American College of Rheumatology improvement (ACR-N) was higher for the MTX-3 mg/kg infliximab and MTX-6 mg/kg infliximab groups than for the MTX-placebo group (38.9% and 46.7% versus 26.4%, respectively; P <0.001 for both comparisons). Patients in the MTX-3 mg/kg infliximab and MTX-6 mg/kg infliximab groups also showed less radiographic progression than those receiving MTX alone (mean ± SD changes in van der Heijde modification of the total Sharp score at week 54: 0.4 ± 5.8 and 0.5 ± 5.6 versus 3.7 ± 9.6, respectively; P <0.001 for each comparison). In addition, physical function improved significantly more in the MTX-3 mg/kg infliximab and MTX-6 mg/kg infliximab groups than in the MTX-placebo group. Infliximab therapy was associated with a significantly higher incidence of serious infections, especially pneumonia. Conclusion. For patients with active RA in its early stages, combination therapy with MTX and infliximab provides greater clinical, radiographic, and functional benefits than treatment with MTX alone.
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U2 - 10.1002/art.20568
DO - 10.1002/art.20568
M3 - Article
C2 - 15529377
AN - SCOPUS:8444239359
VL - 50
SP - 3432
EP - 3443
JO - Arthritis and Rheumatology
JF - Arthritis and Rheumatology
SN - 2326-5191
IS - 11
ER -