Time-course of health status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis during the first year of treatment with infliximab

Abstract

Objectives A longitudinal study was performed to examine changes in health status in comparison with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) inflammation in patients with RA during the first 54 weeks of infliximab (IFX) treatment. Methods Health status in active RA patients ( n = 13) was assessed monthly using the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale 2 (AIMS2) and the VAS-GH during the first year of IFX treatment. Simultaneously, RA activity was assessed using inflammation markers, MMP-3 and the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS-28) based on CRP [DAS-28(CRP)] and ESR[DAS-28(ESR)]. Results Serum CRP and ESR decreased significantly from 2.14 ± 0.52 mg/dL and 56.9 ± 6.96 mm/h, respectively, at baseline to 0.24 ± 0.11 mg/dL and 31.6 ± 4.39 mm/h, respectively, at 2 weeks after initiation of IFX. Other inflammatory markers and MMP-3 were also suppressed significantly after 2 weeks of IFX treatment. DAS-28(CRP) and DAS-28(ESR) were also significantly decreased after 2 weeks and suppression of both DAS values remained significant until 54 weeks of IFX treatment. After initiation of IFX, patient-reported general health also showed a significant improvement based on the changes in the six summary component scores on the AIMS2 (physical, affect, symptom, role, social interaction, and patient satisfaction). These scores all improved progressively until 14–18 weeks after initiation of IFX treatment, and then exhibited a temporary but insignificant exacerbation. The six components of the physical score also improved in a time-dependent manner until 14–18 weeks, but the scores for walking and bending, hand and finger function, arm function, self-care, and household tasks showed significant exacerbation at 22–30 weeks. The score for mobility level did not show this change. Conclusion IFX treatment significantly improved both RA disease activity and health status in active RA patients. Time-dependent improvement of ADL until 14–18 weeks after initiation of IFX treatment, as reflected in the six components of the physical score, might have contributed to the temporary exacerbation of health status thereafter in these patients.