Combination therapy of the chimeric monoclonal anti-tumor necrosis factor a antibody (infliximab) with methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

C. Antoni, J.R. Kalden

Institute of Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine III, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.

ABSTRACT
Infliximab, a chimeric anti-TNFa antibody, showed in two double-blind placebo-controlled trials efficacy in combination with methotrexate (MTX) in patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Whereas in the first trial low-dose MTX or placebo was compared to infliximab alone and in combination, the second trial compared infliximab to placebo in patients with active RA despite maximal tolerated MTX treatment. Infliximab showed synergistic effects in combination with MTX. The immunogenicity of infliximab was reduced by the combination. Infliximab in combination with high-dose MTX is effective and safe in long-term treatment up to 54 weeks.

Key words
Infliximab, methotrexate, tumor necrosis factor, combination treatment, rheumatoid arthritis, efficacy, side effects, immunogenecity.

Please address correspondence and reprint requests to: Prof. J.R. Kalden, Medizinische Klinik III mit Poliklinik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Postfach 3560, 91023 Erlangen, Germany.

Clin Exp Rheumatol 1999; 17 (Suppl. 18): S73 - S77.
© Copyright Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 1999.