Infliximab (IFX) is a monoclonal tumor necrosis factor-α-inhibiting antibody used in children with refractory arthritis and uveitis. Immunogenicity is associated with a lack of clinical response and infusion reactions in adults; data on immunogenicity in children treated with IFX for rheumatic diseases are scarce. We aimed to describe the prevalence of anti-IFX antibodies and determine co-factors associated with anti-IFX antibodies in children with inflammatory rheumatic and ocular diseases.
Consecutive children treated between August 2009 and August 2012 with IFX at our department were included. Blood samples were collected every 6 months before IFX infusion and tested for anti-IFX antibodies by radioimmunoassay. Patients' charts were retrospectively reviewed for clinical features and analyzed for associations with anti-IFX antibodies.
Anti-IFX antibodies occurred in 14/62 children (23%) and 32/253 blood samples (12.6%) after a mean treatment time of 1084 days (range 73-3498). Infusion reactions occurred in 10/62 (16%) children during the treatment period. With continuation of IFX, anti-IFX antibodies disappeared in 7/14 children. In the bivariate analysis, the occurrence of anti-IFX antibodies was associated with younger age at IFX treatment start (mean age 7.01 vs 9.88 yrs, p = 0.003) and infusion reactions (OR 15.0), while uveitis as treatment indication was protective against development of anti-IFX antibodies (OR 0.17), likely because of higher IFX doses. In the multivariate logistic regression, all 3 covariates remained highly significant.
Anti-IFX antibodies occurred commonly at any time during IFX treatment. Anti-IFX antibodies were associated with younger age at IFX start, infusion reactions, and arthritis as treatment indication.