Abstract
Background: Abatacept is a soluble human recombinant fusion protein that inhibits T lymphocyte activation by modulating the CD80/CD86: CD28 costimulatory signal. The clinical efficacy and safety of abatacept have been reported in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Objective: To assess the efficacy, safety,and tolerability of abatacept in RA patients. Methods: Patients with active RA and an inadequate response to TNF inhibitors, an IL-6 inhibitor, and/or MTX were administered abatacept (within 10 mg/kg). The efficacy of abatacept therapy was evaluated using disease activity score (DAS)-28. Abatacept was administered via 30-min intravenous infusion at weeks 0,2, and 4 and at 4-week intervals thereafter. The patients are still undergoing therapy. Results: The study population consisted of 35 patients (men, 6; women, 29). The mean age was 61.6 years, and the mean disease duration was 9.3 years. Four patients did not respond to abatacept therapy. These patients did not respond to former biologic drug therapy either. Thirty-one patients responded well to abatacept and are still undergoing therapy. Serious adverse effects were not observed in abatacept-treated patients in this study. Conclusions: Biologic-naïve patients and former biologic-refractory patients both achieved a good response to abatacept therapy. The results suggest that abatacept therapy is a useful drug therapy option for patients with RA.
