The American Journal of Medicine
Volume 118, Issue 5 , Pages 515-520 , May 2005

Infliximab therapy in established rheumatoid arthritis: An observational study

  • Paraskevi V. Voulgari, MD

      Affiliations

    • Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
    • ,
  • Yannis Alamanos, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
    • ,
  • Spyros N. Nikas, MD

      Affiliations

    • Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
    • ,
  • Dimitrios V. Bougias, MD

      Affiliations

    • Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
    • ,
  • Themistoklis I. Temekonidis, MD

      Affiliations

    • Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
    • ,
  • Alexandros A. Drosos, MD

      Affiliations

    • Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
    • Corresponding Author InformationRequests for reprints should be addressed to Alexandros A. Drosos, MD, Professor of Medicine/Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.

References 

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  5. Maini R , St Clair EW , Breedveld F , et al.  ATTRACT Study Group   Infliximab (chimeric anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha monoclonal antibody) versus placebo in rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving concomitant methotrexate (a randomized phase III trial) . Lancet . 1999;354:1932–1939
  6. Lipsky PE , van der Heijde DM , St Clair EW , et al.   Infliximab and methotrexate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (anti-tumor Necrosis Factor Trial in Rheumatoid Arthritis with Concomitant Therapy Study Group) . N Engl J Med . 2000;343:1594–1602
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  13. Geborek P , Crnkic M , Petersson IF , Saxne T  South Swedish Arthritis Treatment Group . Etanercept, infliximab, and leflunomide in established rheumatoid arthritis (clinical experience using a structured follow up programme in southern Sweden) . Ann Rheum Dis . 2002;61:793–798
  14. Temekonidis TI , Georgiadis AN , Alamanos Y , et al.   Infliximab treatment in combination with cyclosporin A in patients with severe refractory rheumatoid arthritis . Ann Rheum Dis . 2002;61:822–825
  15. Ferraccioli GF , Assaloni R , Di Poi E , et al.   Rescue of combination therapy failures using infliximab, while maintaining the combination or monotherapy with methotrexate (results of an open trial) . Rheumatology . 2002;41:1109–1112
  16. St Clair EW , Wagner CL , Fasanmade AA , et al.   The relationship of serum infliximab concentrations to clinical improvement in rheumatoid arthritis (results from ATTRACT, a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial) . Arthritis Rheum . 2002;46:1451–1459
  17. Schuerwegh AJ , van Offel JF , Stevens WJ , et al.   Influence of therapy with chimeric monoclonal tumor necrosis factor α antibodies on intracellular cytokine profiles of T lemphocytes and monocytes in rheumatoid arthritis patients . Rheumatology . 2003;42:541–548
  18. Kroesen S , Widmer AF , Tyndall A , Hasler P . Serious bacterial infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis under anti-TNF therapy . Rheumatology . 2003;42:617–621
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  20. Kindler V , Sappino AP , Grau GE , Piguet PF , Vassalli P . The inducing role of tumor necrosis factor in the development of bactericidal granulomas during BCG infection . Cell . 1989;56:731–740
  21. Mohan VP , Scanga CA , Yu K , et al.   Effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha on host immune response in chronic persistent tuberculosis (possible role for limiting pathology) . Infect Immun . 2001;69:1847–1855
  22. Keane J , Gershon S , Wise RP , et al.   Tuberculosis associated with infliximab, a tumor necrosis factor alpha—neutralizing agent . N Engl J Med . 2001;345:1098–1104
  23. De Rycke L , Kruithof E , Van Damme N , et al.   Antinuclear antibodies following infliximab treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or spondylarthropathy . Arthritis Rheum . 2003;48:1015–1023

PII: S0002-9343(05)00072-0

doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2005.01.029

The American Journal of Medicine
Volume 118, Issue 5 , Pages 515-520 , May 2005

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