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Classic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in combination with infliximab. The Finnish experience

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Abstract

To assess the performance of infliximab in a clinical setting, 364 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients from the National Register of Biological Treatment in Finland (ROB-FIN) were analysed. Corticosteroid usage and dose diminished (p<0.05 and 0.001, respectively) in patients on infliximab, of whom 51% also used one, 28% two and 16% three other concomitant DMARDs. A 34% of the RA patients used methotrexate ± corticosteroids without any other DMARD. Methotrexate was most frequently used with sulphasalazine and/or hydroxychloroquine. Non-methotrexate patients most frequently used leflunomide or azathioprine combined with corticosteroids. The clinical effect of these combinations was similar to that of infliximab with methotrexate alone. The results indicate that infliximab can be used together with other DMARDs than methotrexate alone, quite according to the philosophy of the combination drug therapy, as the effectiveness is as good as or even slightly better than that of methotrexate and infliximab.

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Acknowledgements

The expert data processing and statistical assistance by Dr Viljami Laine and secretarial assistance by Secretary Taina Käyhkö, are greatly appreciated. This study has been supported by Finska Läkaresällskapet, the Victoria Foundation and the Perklen Foundation. The ROB-FIN register has been financially supported by grants from Schering-Plough, Wyeth, Amgen and Abbott.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Haartmanink. 4, 00290, Helsinki, Finland

    D.C. Nordström

  2. ORTON Orthopaedic Hospital of the Invalid Foundation, Helsinki, Finland

    L. Konttinen

  3. COXA Joint Replacement Hospital, Tampere, Finland

    L. Konttinen

  4. Division of Rheumatology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland

    M. Korpela

  5. Division of Rheumatology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

    T. Tiippana-Kinnunen & K. Eklund

  6. Joensuu Central Hospital, Joensuu, Finland

    S. Forsberg

  7. Hämeenlinna Central Hospital, Hämeenlinna, Finland

    K. Ilva

  8. Department of Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland

    O. Kaipiainen-Seppänen

  9. Department of Internal Medicine, Seinäjoki Central Hospital, Seinäjoki, Finland

    T. Malmi

  10. Division of Rheumatology, Turku University Central Hospital, Turku, Finland

    T. Ylä-Kerttula

  11. Rheumatism Foundation Hospital, Heinola, Finland

    V. Honkanen

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  1. D.C. Nordström
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  2. L. Konttinen
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  3. M. Korpela
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  4. T. Tiippana-Kinnunen
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  5. K. Eklund
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  6. S. Forsberg
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  7. K. Ilva
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  8. O. Kaipiainen-Seppänen
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  9. T. Malmi
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  10. T. Ylä-Kerttula
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  11. V. Honkanen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to D.C. Nordström.

Additional information

D.C. Nordström and L. Konttinen: Equal contribution

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Nordström, D., Konttinen, L., Korpela, M. et al. Classic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in combination with infliximab. The Finnish experience. Rheumatol Int 26, 741–748 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-005-0054-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-005-0054-7

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