Tuyển tập các báo cáo nghiên cứu về y học được đăng trên tạp chí y học General Psychiatry cung cấp cho các bạn kiến thức về ngành y đề tài: Seven-year follow-up of infliximab therapy in rheumatoid arthritis patients with severe long-standing refractory disease: attrition rate and evolution of disease activity. | Vander Cruyssen et al. Arthritis Research Therapy 2010 12 R77 http content 12 3 R77 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Seven-year follow-up of infliximab therapy in rheumatoid arthritis patients with severe long-standing refractory disease attrition rate and evolution of disease activity Bert Vander Cruyssen 1 Patrick Durez2 Rene Westhovens3 and Filip De Keyser1 Abstract Introduction This study is based on the results from a Belgian expanded access program in which patients with active refractory and erosive rheumatoid arthritis RA were treated with intravenous infusions of infliximab in combination with methotrexate. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the continuation rate of infliximab and its clinical effect over a 7-year period and to document the reasons for discontinuation. Methods Between 2000 and 2001 511 patients with severe and refractory RA were enrolled and treated with infliximab. After 7 years apart from routine clinical follow-up treating rheumatologists were asked to complete a questionnaire designed specifically for the present study to evaluate the current therapy with infliximab the level of disease activity Disease Activity Score in 28 joints DAS28 and the reasons for infliximab discontinuation. Results After 7 years 160 of 511 patients 31 were still on infliximab treatment. The major reasons for infliximab discontinuation included lack of efficacy 104 patients adverse events 107 patients and elective change of therapy 70 patients . The majority of cases of treatment discontinuation for safety reasons occurred during the first 2 years. In contrast discontinuation due to ineffectiveness showed a more constant rate over the 7-year period. Mean DAS for patients still on treatment with infliximab decreased from standard error SE at baseline to SE at year 4 and remained that low until year 7 SE . Low disease activity defined as DAS28 was present in of patients and achieved remission .
