To study effectiveness and tolerance of monoclonal antibodies to tumor necrosis factor (the drug remicade) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Remicade treatment results are considered for 25 RA patients receiving methotrexate the activity of which was inadequate for these patients. Remicade was infused intravenously in a dose 200 mg 4 times for 22 weeks.
Remicade produced positive clinical and laboratory effects as early as the first infusion. The response was observed during 22 weeks of the treatment in 17 of 25 patients. Remicade tolerance was good. One patient failed the treatment because of development of collapse.
Pilot results of remicade trial point to its high therapeutic potential and perspectives in rheumatology.