[Infliximab in aggressive and refractory rheumatoid arthritis. A pilot study]

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease with a progressive course, that frequently provokes permanent incapacity if not adequately treated. Rheumatoid arthritis may be not responsive to the common second line drugs. This study was aimed to treat 15 patients affected by severe refractory rheumatoid arthritis with infliximab.

Fifteen patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis were treated with infliximab--monoclonal antibody direct to TNF alpha--in association with methotrexate or azathioprine. Infliximab was administered at the dosage of 3 mg/Kg at the weeks 0, 2 and 6 and then every 8 weeks.

About half patients ameliorated in agreement with both ACR 20 criteria and DAS28 evaluation. The clinical improvement was accompanied by a reduction of the steroid daily dosage. No relevant side effects were observed.

Infliximab is effective in a significant number of patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis, with a good tolerability.