To evaluate objectively therapeutic potentialities of a novel method of biological therapy--blocking interferon gamma (IF-gamma)--by means of a comparative analysis of using antibodies to IF-g (anti-IF-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF-alpha) in resistant rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
A double blind trial included 55 patients with resistant RA. They received 5 intramuscular injections of anti-IF-gamma (n = 20), anti-TNF-alpha (n = 20) and placebo (15 patients). The results were assessed on the treatment day 7 and 28.
16 patients withdrew because of the treatment uneffectiveness (2 from the group on anti-IF-g, 3--on anti-TNF-alpha, 11--on placebo). To the treatment day 28 the patients given anticytokines achieved significant improvement of all clinical indices while placebo group had no improvement. The highest response was observed in the group on anti-IF-gamma (ACR 70). As shown by ultrasound investigation, a significant reduction of the synovial membrane thickness took place also in administration of anti-IF-gamma. Most frequent side effect of the anticytokine therapy was mild dermatitis at injection site on treatment day 8-11.
Therapeutic efficacy of anti-IF-gamma was comparable with efficacy of anti- TNF-alpha and even was superior in some aspects. The block of IF-gamma holds much promise in the treatment of RA.