Analysis of the clinical outcome of rheumatoid arthritis patients who discontinued infliximab therapy

Abstract

Objective: To predict the cessation of infliximab in advance at the time administration is started.Method: Among 282 RA patients, 145 discontinued and 137 continued infliximab between Aug 2003 to Aug 2009.
Results: The cause of discontinuation was: (ⅰ) loss of efficacy in 73 cases; (ⅱ) adverse reactions in 47 cases; (ⅲ) 6 cases at patient’s request; (ⅳ) change of hospital in 17 cases; (ⅴ) remission in 2 cases. Patients’ profiles were similar among groups (ⅰ), (ⅱ) and those who continued infliximab. The disease activity of groups (ⅰ) and (ⅱ) at the time of start was higher than that of patients who continued therapy. Cessation due to infection was most frequent 6 weeks after the start of therapy. Cessation due to loss of efficacy was most frequent 6 months after the start of therapy.