Application of Genetic-Engineering Biological Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients in the Republic of Kazakhstan

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to conduct a clinical-laboratory and radiological evaluation of the combined administration of infliximab and methotrexate to rheumatoid arthritis patients. The research is based on a retrospective analysis of medical records of inpatients, who underwent treatment at the S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University Department of Ambulatory-Out-Patient Therapy and the city rheumatologic centre (CRC) of Almaty. The main group was injected with infliximab and methotrexate, while the control group – with methotrexate as background therapy. The groups were comparable in terms of age-related, gender, and clinical-laboratory indicators. The research used DAS28 and its standard components and the Larsen index. It was established that the aggregate clinical-laboratory effectiveness of the combined background therapy is determined by a significantly greater reduction of the DAS28 (p<0.05), and a high probability of transition from the average and high to the low level of disease activity (OR – 4.90 [2.47-9.75]), compared to monotherapy. The study proved the significant effect of infliximab and methotrexate on radiological signs of osseous lesion – erosion count (p<0.05) and Larsen index (p<0.05), and the high probability of prevention of osteochondral progression, compared to a mono-component background therapy (OR – 2.66 [1.42-5.01]). The combined administration of infliximab and methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis patients has greater clinical-laboratory and radiological effectiveness, compared to background monotherapy.