Rheumatology Medical News about systemic lupous erythematosus;TNF-blockade;infliximab

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Adverse events and efficacy of TNF- blockade with infliximab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: long-term follow-up of 13 patients
Rheumatology, 09/15/09

Aringer M et al. – Short-term therapy with four infusions of infliximab in combination with AZA was relatively safe, and had remarkable long-term efficacy for lupus nephritis and, potentially, also interstitial lung disease. Long-term therapy with infliximab was associated with severe adverse events in two out of three SLE patients. This may have been provoked by infliximab and/or by their long-standing refractory SLE and previous therapies.

Methods

Analysed charts of 6 patients
Treated in an open-label safety trial
7 patients treated with infliximab on a compassionate care basis for uncontrolled SLE organ inflammation

Results

6 patients with lupus nephritis had a long-term response after 4 infusions of infliximab in combination with AZA
Lasted for up to 5 years
All patients with lupus arthritis responded
Response did not last for >2 months after last infusion
1 additional patient had long-lasting improvement in SLE interstitial lung disease
No symptoms suggestive of infliximab-induced SLE flares occurred
Short-term treatment relatively safe
1 patient developed DVT and several infections
2 patients had life-threatening or fatal events, namely CNS lymphoma and Legionella pneumonia with long-term therapy
Retreatment and treatment without concomitant immunosuppression led to drug reactions

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