Cytokine correlates of clinical response patterns to infliximab treatment of ankylosing spondylitis. Issue 1 (12th December 2003)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stone, M A; Payne, U; Pacheco-Tena, C; Inman, R D
• Is Part Of: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. Volume 63:Issue 1(2004)
• Page Start: 84
• Page End: 87
• Publication Date: 2003-12-12
• Subjects: ankylosing spondylitis -- infliximab -- tumour necrosis factor α -- cytokines -- C reactive protein; ANOVA, analysis of variance -- AS, ankylosing spondylitis -- ASAS, AS Assessment Study -- BASDAI, Bath AS Disease Activity Index -- BASFI, Bath AS Spondylitis Index -- CRP, C reactive protein -- DMARD, disease modifying antirheumatic drug -- ELISA, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay -- ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate -- IFNγ, interferon γ -- IL, interleukin -- NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug -- PBMC, peripheral blood mononuclear cells -- SpA, spondyloarthropathy -- TGFβ, transforming growth factor β -- TNFα, tumour necrosis factor α -- VAS, visual analogue scale; Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.723005
• DOI: 10.1136/ard.2003.006916
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-4967

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To identify clinical and immunological markers of response to treatment with infliximab in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: Baseline and sequential cytokine levels (IL1, TNFα, IFNγ, TGFβ and IL10) were examined after 52 weeks of infliximab treatment 5 mg/kg in 22 patients. Results: At week 52, 18 patients were responders and four non-responders according to ASAS group criteria. Clinical measures of disease activity between the two groups at baseline were similar, apart from a trend towards longer disease duration in non-responders (p = 0.08). Baseline CRP and TNFα levels were higher in responders than non-responders (p<0.01 and p<0.006, respectively). The two groups had similar baseline cytokine levels, apart from TNFα. Baseline CRP levels did not correlate significantly with baseline cytokine levels in responders, but a strong correlation was noted between baseline CRP and IL1, IFNγ, and IL10 in non-responders. Apart from an early rise in TGFβ and a decrease in IL10 in responders after the first infusion, sequential cytokine analysis for the first six months of treatment was not related to clinical disease activity measures. Conclusion: Although sequential cytokine analysis does not appear to be informative, baseline CRP and TNFα levels are useful markers of clinical response patterns in patients with AS treated with infliximab.