P Bartolucci1, J Ramanoelina, P Cohen, A Mahr, P Godmer, C Le Hello, L Guillevin. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, French Vasculitis Study Group, UPRES Recherche Clinique et Thérapeutique, Hôpital Avicenne, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, 125 route de Stalingrad, 93000 Bobigny, France.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Evidence indicates that tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is a major agent in the pathogenesis of vasculitis. We studied the short-term effect of anti-TNF-alpha antibody in systemic vasculitis patients refractory to steroids and immunosuppressive agents. METHODS: Ten patients refractory to corticosteroids and at least one immunosuppressant and who had persistently active disease or a new flare were included. Seven had Wegener's granulomatosis, two had rheumatoid arthritis-associated vasculitis and one had cryoglobulinaemia with mean duration of 9.1, 21.5 and 17 yr. They received infliximab (5 mg/kg) on days 1, 14, 42 and then every 8 weeks. Immunosuppressants were stopped between days 0 and 42 for eight patients, while the steroid dose was maintained or lowered. The treatment response was evaluated clinically with the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score 2000 (BVAS). RESULTS: Complete or partial remission was observed in all patients. The mean BVAS at entry was 9.1 (range 4-15) and had declined to 1.9 (range 0-4) by day 42 and 1.3 (range 0-4) at 6 months; BVAS of 0 was recorded for four patients on day 42 and for five at 6 months. The only adverse effect was cutaneous eruption in two patients. CONCLUSION: Anti-TNF-alpha successfully induced prompt symptomatic responses in patients with systemic vasculitis not responding to conventional treatment. Infliximab was well tolerated during the short-term follow-up.
OBJECTIVE: Evidence indicates that tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is a major agent in the pathogenesis of vasculitis. We studied the short-term effect of anti-TNF-alpha antibody in systemic vasculitispatients refractory to steroids and immunosuppressive agents. METHODS: Ten patients refractory to corticosteroids and at least one immunosuppressant and who had persistently active disease or a new flare were included. Seven had Wegener's granulomatosis, two had rheumatoid arthritis-associated vasculitis and one had cryoglobulinaemia with mean duration of 9.1, 21.5 and 17 yr. They received infliximab (5 mg/kg) on days 1, 14, 42 and then every 8 weeks. Immunosuppressants were stopped between days 0 and 42 for eight patients, while the steroid dose was maintained or lowered. The treatment response was evaluated clinically with the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score 2000 (BVAS). RESULTS: Complete or partial remission was observed in all patients. The mean BVAS at entry was 9.1 (range 4-15) and had declined to 1.9 (range 0-4) by day 42 and 1.3 (range 0-4) at 6 months; BVAS of 0 was recorded for four patients on day 42 and for five at 6 months. The only adverse effect was cutaneous eruption in two patients. CONCLUSION: Anti-TNF-alpha successfully induced prompt symptomatic responses in patients with systemic vasculitis not responding to conventional treatment. Infliximab was well tolerated during the short-term follow-up.
Authors: Bernhard Hellmich; Oliver Flossmann; Wolfgang L Gross; Paul Bacon; Jan Willem Cohen-Tervaert; Loic Guillevin; David Jayne; Alfred Mahr; Peter A Merkel; Heiner Raspe; David G I Scott; James Witter; Hasan Yazici; Raashid A Luqmani Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2006-12-14 Impact factor: 19.103
Authors: Oliver Flossmann; Paul Bacon; Kirsten de Groot; David Jayne; Niels Rasmussen; Philip Seo; Kerstin Westman; Raashid Luqmani Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2006-05-25 Impact factor: 19.103