Infliximab in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Infliximab was the first monoclonal antibody to human necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) developed for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This chimeric antibody binds with high affinity to both soluble and trans-membrane TNF and is able to reduce synovial inflammation, bone resorption and cartilage degradation. The efficacy of infliximab has been observed in active RA despite treatment with multiple disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and in early disease with no prior treatment by methotrexate (MTX). Infliximab has been shown to reduce joint inflammation and to slow radiographic progression, in both clinical and non-clinical responders. Recent data suggest that using infliximab early in RA treatment increases the percentage of clinical remission and allows infliximab discontinuation. The recommended dosage of 3 mg/kg could be increased up to 10 mg/kg with partial efficacy of the dose escalation. Antibodies to infliximab have been observed in 7% to 61% of patients and are associated with a low trough level of infliximab and secondary response failure. Their occurrence could be prevented by co-medication with MTX. The combination of DMARDs other than MTX with infliximab was found to be safe and efficacious. Infections, principally tuberculosis, are increased in treated patients, and the risk is greater at higher dose. Even if the treatment is generally safe and well tolerated, patients treated with infliximab should be closely monitored.

Keywords:

• infliximab
• rheumatoid arthritis
• disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease characterized by an immune mediated inflammatory synovitis leading to joint cartilage and bone destruction.¹ The inflammatory cells of synovial RA release numerous cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin 1 (IL-1) and interleukin 6 (IL-6).² The key factor in inflammation and matrix destruction is TNFα, whose level has been found to have a strong relationship with the extent of the synovitis and with erosion in RA joints.³ In RA patients, TNF blockade has shown a remarkable efficacy in reducing joint inflammation, slowing radiographic progression of joint damage, and improving physical function.⁴ Today there are three registered TNF antagonists, infliximab, etanercept and adalimumab. Clinical trials are ongoing for two others, certolizumab and golimumab.⁵ Infliximab, initially called cA2, was the first TNF antagonist authorized for the treatment of RA, in 1998 in the US. Infliximab is a chimeric anti-TNF monoclonal antiboby, with murine variable regions and human IgG1 constant region.⁶ This review evaluates the therapeutic use of infliximab in RA, summarizing data on its mode of action, efficacy and safety.

What is the place of TNF in the pathogenesis of RA?

In RA pathogenesis, TNF plays a central role in the pro-inflammatory cytokine cascade. It induces the production of other inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1 and IL-6; recruits inflammatory cells into the joints, stimulates the expression of adhesion molecules in the synovial endothelium and the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases by chondrocytes and synovial fibroblasts and amplifies bone resorption by promoting osteoclast differentiation.^3,7,8

TNFα is released from synovial macrophages as a soluble cytokine (sTNFα), a homotrimer of 17 KDa monomers, after being enzymatically cleaved from its cell surface-bound precursor, the transmembrane TNFα (tmTNFα) by TNFα– converting enzyme (TACE). Both sTNFα and tmTNFα are biologically active and interact with either of two distinct receptors, TNFR1 (p55, CD120a) and TNFR2 (p75, CD120b). Both sTNFα and tmTNFα play an important role in the pro-inflammatory functions of TNFα.⁸ Receptor-mediated effects of TNFα can lead alternatively to cell activation or apoptosis, depending on the metabolic stage of the cell. TmTNFα can also receive signals and act as a receptor.⁹ TmTNFα binding by TNFRs or TNFα antagonists can induce a reverse signaling and trigger cell activation, cytokine suppression or apoptosis, depending on the density of tmTNFα expression, and the ability of cross linkage.

TNF antagonist therapy reduces many of the hallmarks of chronic inflammation, such as leukocyte recruitment and the production of inflammatory mediators.⁷ Fixation of sTNF or tmTNF by TNF antagonists can induce two mechanisms of action: blockade of the TNFR-mediated mechanisms and induction of the tmTNF-mediated mechanisms.⁸ Each TNF antagonist is able to bind to sTNF and tmTNF. However, the binding affinity of the different TNF blockers for TNF is not the same. Infliximab binds with a high affinity to both the 17 kDa monomer and the 51 kDa trimer forms of sTNF. As a bivalent monoclonal antibody, infliximab binds two sTNF trimers simultaneously which allows multimeric complexes to form. Infliximab can also bind strongly to tmTNF on human cells and stimulate reverse signaling. Binding of tmTNF by infliximab bivalent monoclonal antibody can favor the cross-linkage of tmTNF and cell signal triggering, depending on the density of tmTNF on the cell surface.⁸

TNF blockade in RA joints regulates the action of TNF on three targets: synovial tissue inflammation, bone erosion and cartilage destruction.

The effect of anti-TNFα drugs on the regulation of synovial tissue inflammation and the relative roles of reduced cell influx, apoptosis or cytotoxicity has not yet been clearly elucidated.^10,11 However, in RA patients, infliximab therapy is quickly followed by a reduction in swollen joint numbers in parallel with a reduction of the cellularity in the inflamed synovial tissue as a consequence of the action of TNF antagonists on cell trafficking.¹¹ Apoptosis of synovial infiltrating cells has also been observed, but not in the early stages after infliximab infusion. Complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) or antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) could also play a role in reducing synovial cellularity.⁸

Another action of infliximab is the regulation of immune responses by restoring the altered regulatory T (Treg) cell function in RA.¹² The function of CD4 + CD25 + Treg is the suppression of auto-reactivity and the regulation of immune response. This function is reduced in patients with RA compared to healthy individuals.¹³ Several recent clinical studies have provided evidence that infliximab could restore the capacity of Treg to suppress proinflammatory cytokine secretion by activated T cells and monocytes in RA patients.^14–16

The most compelling clinical manifestations of the efficacy of TNF antagonists in RA patients are the slowing and even the complete arrest of bone destruction.⁶ Bone erosion is mediated by osteoclasts, multinucleated cells derived from monocytes-macrophages osteoclast precursors. Osteoclast-mediated bone resorption is promoted by TNF, in synergy with RANKL (Receptor Activator of Nuclear factor Kappa B Ligand).¹⁷ RANKL is a growth factor for osteoclast lineage cells.¹⁸ The maturation of the precursors, and the differentiation, activation and survival of osteoclasts, depend greatly on RANKL. RANKL is produced mainly by osteoblasts in healthy individuals and also, in RA patients, by activated T cells and fibroblast-like synoviocytes. TNF promotes osteoclastogenesis by directly acting on osteoclast lineage cells, but also indirectly, by promoting synovial inflammation and RANKL production. TNF blockade has been shown to decrease osteoclast formation.^19,20 Infliximab could directly inhibit osteoclast formation and activity in vitro.¹⁹ Furthermore, infliximab inhibits the expression of RANKL.⁸ Finally, the rapid reduction in synovial macrophage numbers after TNF blockade may help in reducing the numbers of osteoclasts.⁸

Cartilage destruction is mediated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and other enzymes produced by synovial cells and chondrocytes when stimulated by cytokines, such as TNF, IL-1 and IL-6. TNF plays a critical role in the induction of these matrix-degrading enzymes in RA and TNF blockade reduces MMP production.^8,20

Efficacy of infliximab in RA

Data from clinical trials

Since 1992, infliximab has been used in different clinical trials to assess its efficacy and safety in RA patients with various disease durations.^6,21,22 In the first infliximab studies, patients had active disease of long duration that had not adequately responded to one or more classical disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), more often methotrexate (MTX). Infliximab was administrated as an intravenous infusion with a dosage ranging from 1 to 20 mg/kg, alone or in combination with MTX at a dose of 7.5 to 20 mg/week. These first trials showed that removal of excess TNF using infliximab was efficacious and well tolerated in RA patients and the combination of infliximab with MTX gave a more efficacious and durable response.

The efficacy of infliximab therapy on RA clinical symptoms was assessed in the pivotal ATTRACT (Anti-TNF Trial in Rheumatoid Arthritis with Combination Therapy) trial.^23–25 This trial enrolled a total of 428 RA patients with active disease despite MTX therapy. The baseline demographic characterization of the trial population indicated that patients suffered from active erosive disease despite treatment with multiple DMARDs (average 3.6 including MTX) over a mean duration of more than 8 years. Patients were randomized into five parallel groups: four groups were treated with infliximab at 3 or 10 mg/kg every 4 or 8 weeks plus MTX, and the fifth group was given MTX with placebo infusion every 4 weeks. The efficacy of infliximab was evaluated at week 30, based on the ACR20 response,²³ and at week 54 for joint damage.²⁴ The main results indicated that patients receiving infliximab in combination with MTX presented a rapid improvement of their signs and symptoms: ACR20 response criteria were achieved in 50% of patients receiving infliximab compared with 20% of patients on placebo.²³ The radiological data showed a significantly higher rate of bone erosion in patients treated with placebo than those treated with infliximab.²⁴ Patients included in ATTRACT continued to receive infliximab and MTX, or MTX alone unblinded during a second-year extension.²⁵ The response rates observed during the ATTRACT trial were maintained over 102 weeks. In addition, the infliximab plus MTX regimens resulted in a significantly greater improvement in HAQ and SF-36 physical component summary scores, and a lesser radiological progression.²⁵

Efficacy of infliximab was also observed in RA patients with early disease (≤3 years) and no prior treatment with MTX, in the ASPIRE (Active controlled Study of Patients receiving infliximab for the treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis of Early onset) study.²⁶ This was the largest trial with infliximab, including 1049 patients, randomized into three groups, MTX with placebo or MTX with infliximab (3 or 6 mg/kg). Patients were evaluated on the basis of percentage of ACR improvement (ACR-N) from baseline to week 54. At week 54, the median improvements in ACR-N were significantly higher in patients receiving infliximab than in placebo. In the same way, ACR20, ACR50 and ACR70 response rates were significantly higher in infliximab compared with placebo recipients. The infliximab groups showed less radiographic progression than the placebo group. Finally, physical function (assessed by HAQ) improved more in infliximab groups than in the placebo group.

The third large study investigating the efficacy of infliximab in early RA was the BeST study (BeST is a Dutch acronym for “Behandel Strategieën”, treatment strategies).²⁷ The aim of BeST was to define the best treatment strategy for preventing the outcome of functional ability (as measured by Health Assessement Questionnaire, HAQ) and the radiographic progression in early RA patients. The BeST study combined early introduction of treatment with intensive therapy adjustments based on programmed disease monitoring (every 3 months) using a disease activity score based on 44 joints until low disease activity of RA (defined as a score <2.4). The BeST study compared four treatment strategies: sequential monotherapy (group 1), step-up combination therapy (group 2), step-down strategy (group 3 and 4) using tapered high dose prednisone, MTX or sulfazalasine (group 3), or infliximab with MTX (group 4). After 2 years of treatment, there was no difference in clinical symptoms between the four groups: the goal of Disease Activity Score (DAS) 44 low activity was reached by more than 75% of RA patients in each group, and a clinical remission was observed in 40% to 45% of RA patients.²⁸ Nevertheless, in this population of early RA, the radiographic progression was less important in groups 3 and group 4 than in groups 1 and 2. After 1 year, the median increase in the total Sharp score was 2 in group 1, 2.5 in group 2, 1 in group 3 and 0.5 in group 4.²⁷ After 2 years, 40% of patients in group 1, 34% in group 2, 20% in group 3 and 18 % in group 4 had a damage radiographic progression greater than the smallest detectable difference.²⁸ Of importance, more patients in groups 3 and 4 were able to taper and discontinue drugs of the initial combination therapy, because of a continuous low disease activity.²⁹ In group 4, 67% of patients having a DAS < 2.4 for over 6 month were able to discontinue initial infliximab. The follow up of these patients for 5 years suggested that the remission reached in patients treated early with infliximab could be more sustainable than remission obtained in patients treated with infliximab as a second or more line of treatment.³⁰ The importance of early intervention with infliximab in RA has also been highlighted in a Japanese study³¹ which suggests that infliximab treatment in early RA could be advantageous for both achieving clinical remission and for discontinuing infliximab after clinical remission.

Infliximab and structural damage

The ATTRACT and ASPIRE studies provide evidence that infliximab is capable of slowing down structural joint damage.^24–26,32 These two studies also provide an opportunity to examine the relationship between inflammation and bone damage. In both studies, infliximab in addition to MTX has shown a remarkable efficacy in preventing radiographic progression, with a similar efficacy in both clinical responders and non-responders.^32–34 On the other hand, in ASPIRE, MTX was also able to slow down radiographic progression, but only in patients who were in remission after 3 months of treatment.³⁴ In clinical non-responders, MTX used in monotherapy led to a markedly worse radiographic progression. These observations are consistent with a direct role of TNF in inflammatory joint destruction. They also support the concept that efficacies against clinical disease and against joint damage could be dissociated from each other in patients treated by TNF antagonists.⁸

The efficacy of infliximab in preventing joint destruction has also been observed with imaging techniques more sensitive than radiography.^35–37 Evolution of RA synovitis was evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in RA patients treated with MTX, with symptom duration less than 12 months.^35,36 After 1 year, the combination of MTX plus infliximab was superior to MTX monotherapy for reducing MRI-detected signs of synovitis, bone edema and erosion score. Another study used ultra-sonography in 24 RA patients, with disease duration <3 years.³⁷ Sonography enabled the evaluation of synovial thickness. This study also showed a significant improvement in the infliximab group compared with placebo.

Infliximab dose adjustement in daily practice

Infliximab is the only licensed TNF blockade that is administered by infusion, with a dosage adapted to patient weight. The recommended posology for infliximab in RA is 3 mg/kg given as an intravenous infusion followed by additional 3 mg/kg infusion doses at 2 and 6 weeks after the first infusion, then every 8 weeks thereafter. Methotrexate should be given in combination with infliximab. One feature of infliximab compared to other anti-TNF blockades is that the dosage can be adjusted in case of insufficient response or secondary response failure. The dose of infliximab can be increased up to 10 mg/kg or the treatment interval can be decreased to every 4 weeks.²⁴ The efficacy of dose or dose frequency adjustments of the infliximab therapies has been reported in literature.^38–48 In several studies, including a meta-analysis of 8510 RA patients treated by infliximab, 50% to 60% of patients required dose escalation.^38,42,43 The average dose is 5 mg/kg, increasing most rapidly until the end of the first year.³⁸ The elapsed time to dose escalations ranged from 128 to 254 days. The dose increase was more frequent than the shortening of interval between infusions⁴² but the reason for this was not clearly explained. It has been hypothesized that patients who flare during the 8-weekly interval eliminate infliximab more rapidly than patients with a constant response pattern and need a interval shorter than 8 weeks.⁴⁷ On the other hand, higher infliximab doses appeared to be more effective than standard 3 mg/kg dose for patients with severe disease activity.⁴⁸ Nevertheless, efficacy of the dose adjustments was observed, with a range increase of ACR20 response from 27% to 36% and an improvement in DAS. The available data support partial effectiveness of the infliximab dose adjustement in case of secondary response failure.

Immunogenicity of infliximab

Infliximab being a chimeric molecule, human anti-chimeric antibodies (HACA), also called antibodies to infliximab (ATI) may appear.⁴⁹ Trough level assessments of anti- TNFα drugs and measurements of antibodies against these biologicals are among the parameters that best predict the response of individual RA patients.⁵⁰ Several studies have shown that secondary response failure was associated with low trough levels of anti-TNFα biologicals and the development of antibodies against these drugs.^49–51 Moreover, AT correlate with trough levels of circulating infliximab and subsequently with response failure.⁵⁰

ATI has been demonstrated in 7% to 61% of the patients with psoriasis, Crohn’s disease and RA.^52,53 These widely diverging incidences of ATI development can be attributed to the varying risk factors for their development and the association with other drugs in the treatment protocols. The schedule of infliximab administration has been reported to influence of ATI development. Loading the infliximab therapy with three infusions at weeks 0, 2 and 6 is probably less immunogenic that only one starting dose. Also, maintenance treatment (an infusion every 8 weeks) is generally advised instead of on demand treatment to prevent ATI formation.⁵³ The dosage of infliximab (3 or 5 mg/kg) does not seem to influence the formation of ATI or the development of infusion reactions. However, the low dose of infliximab (1 mg/kg) used in the first trial was associated with an increased of ATI formation.²¹ Co-medication with immuno-suppressants is thought to reduce the immunogenicity of infliximab.^49,52 ATI formation was significantly lower in patients co-treated with MTX.^54,55 Nothing is known about ATI formation in the combination of infliximab with other DMARDs.

Combination of infliximab and DMARDs

Infliximab has been approved for use only in combination with MTX. This combination reduces immunogenicity and improves efficacy of the TNF blocker. However, combination of infliximab with DMARDs other that MTX has also been reported.^56–62 The most studied combination is infliximab in association with leflunomide.^56–61 In the first published studies, with few patients, a high frequency of cutaneous reactions, skin rash and vasculitis was observed, even though the efficacy of such a combination was also reported.^56,57 Nevertheless, these side effects were not reported in others studies. In open-label or retrospective studies,^58,59,61,62 good efficacy and no increase in the side effects were observed with such combination. More recently, in a longitudinal observational study of a population-based cohort of RA patients, it has been demonstrated that the combination infliximab plus leflunomide present the same efficacy and tolerance profile as the combination MTX plus infliximab.⁶¹ The combination of infliximab with other DMARDs has also been studied, with the same profile of efficacy and tolerability as the infliximab and MTX combination.^59–61 However, the effects of such combinations on ATI formation are not known.

Safety of infliximab in RA patients

The three TNFα blockers, including infliximab, have proven to be well tolerated in their clinical development programs. Additional information about the safety profiles of infliximab was provided by a large placebo-controlled trial, the START study (Safety Trial for Rheumatoid Arthritis with Remicade infliximab Therapy), whose aim was to assess the safety of infliximab treatment,⁶³ and by postmarketing surveillance.

Infusions reactions

During and after intravenous administration of infliximab, infusions reactions can occur, as with other foreign protein-derived treatments. Infusion reactions during infusion or in the first 24 hours afterwards are defined as acute reactions.⁵³ The majority occur during or in the first 2 hours after infusion, and include headaches flushing, fever, chills and, more rarely, urticaria, dyspnea or hypotension. Delayed reactions are those occurring between 24 hours and 14 days after infusion, most after 5 to 7 days. Mild to moderate infusion reactions may occur in up to 20% of patients and many can be treated by slowing the rate of infusion.⁶³ More severe infusion reactions occur in 2% to 3% of patients and may lead to discontinuation of therapy.⁶⁴ The presence of ATI increases the incidence of infusion reactions.⁴⁹ In RA, treatment with infliximab without MTX is an independent risk factor for development of infusion reactions: 16% of patients with MTX developed infusion reactions compared to 40% without MTX.⁵³

Infections

Infections are the main adverse event reported with the use of TNF blockers, with a spectrum of pathogens ranging from common bacteria to more opportunistic organisms such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (tuberculosis).^5,64 The risk of infections has been analyzed in the large START study,⁶³ which included 1084 RA patients, randomized into 3 groups: MTX with placebo, or with infliximab, 3 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg. At week 22, taking account of corticosteroid treatment, the relative risk (RR) for developing a serious infection was 2.0 (95% CI 0.8–5) in combined group of patients receiving infliximab. In the 3 mg/kg group, the RR of serious infections was 1 (95% CI 0.3–3.1), increasing up to 3.1 (95% CI 1.2–7.9, p = 0.013) in the 10 mg/kg group. The most common infectious adverse event was respiratory tract infections.^65,66 In a meta-analysis published in 2006 by Bongartz et al⁶⁷ the pooled odd ratios for serious infections based on 3493 and 1512 patients who had received anti-TNFα antibody or placebo, respectively, was 2.0 (95% CI 1.3–3.1) for anti-TNF antibody therapies. This risk of infections is enhanced by the presence of pre-existing infections, long-standing RA, extra-articular manifestations, comorbidities and prednisone therapy.⁶⁴ The risk increases with high dose therapy of infliximab.⁶³ However, the frequency of infections is also increased in RA patients without biological treatment, compared to healthy controls.⁶⁸

Tuberculosis (TB) is the most frequent opportunistic infection that has been reported with TNFα antagonists. During the first years following the launch of infliximab, postmarketing surveillance in Crohn’s and rheumatoid diseases reported 70 cases of TB with some clinical characteristics: the median interval between the start of infliximab and the onset of TB was short, about 12 weeks; the median number of infusions until diagnosis of TB was 3; 40% of the patients had extra-pulmonary disease, 17 with a disseminated disease.⁶⁹ According to these data, it was suggested that infliximab was associated with the development of TB. Most of these TB infections occurred in the first 6 to 8 months of use, although a more variable latency period was observed if etanercept was used compared with infliximab. This chronology suggests reactivation of latent TB with the use of anti-TNF antibodies.^64,69–71 Now there is an emerging consensus for a 5- to 10-fold increased risk of TB reactivation by anti-TNF antibodies but no or only a slightly increased risk of reactivation is associated with the use of the anti-TNF soluble receptor etanercept.^64,71 TNFα plays a role in host defence against M. tuberculosis, notably in stimulating the granulomatous inflammation necessary for the containment and sequestration of these pathogens.^70–73 Anti-TNFα antibodies are able to disrupt the integrity of granulomas and exacerbate TB infections. Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of latent and active TB in patients treated with anti-TNFα agents have emerged.^74–77 These guideless include the screening methods to be used in these patients and the prophylactic treatments. Adherence to the recommendations is able to reduce the reactivation of latent TB.⁷⁸ Some opportunistic infections have also been reported with the use of infliximab, including histoplasmosis, listeriosis, pulmonary, aspergillosis and pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.^5,64

Malignancies and lymphomas

The second major concern has been malignancies. Spontaneous postmarketing surveillance identified a number of cases of lymphoma under anti-TNFα antagonists. The FDA’s postmarketing adverse event surveillance system collected and published 26 cases of lymphoma, 18 patients on etanercept and 8 on infliximab.⁷⁹ The estimated lymphoma rate among patients was evaluated to be 6.6 cases in 100 000 for those being treated with infliximab. The majority of cases were Non-hodgkin’s lymphomas and the median interval between the initiation of anti-TNFα antagonists and the development of lymphoma was short, only 8 weeks.⁷⁹ This rapidity of lymphoma development raises the possibility that the anti-TNF agents might reveal a latent lympho-proliferative disorder. Others reports have also suggested an increased frequency of lymphomas in patients treated with anti-TNF antibodies: In a meta-analysis of malignancies under anti-TNFα antibodies, the pooled OR was estimated to be 3.3 (95% CI 1.2–9.1) and the risk was higher in patients treated with higher doses than in those receiving lower doses of monoclonal antibodies.⁶⁷ However, the relationship between anti-TNF blockers and the appearance of lymphoma is not clear. The risk of lymphoma is increased in RA patients without anti-TNF blockers, with and without MTX.^80,81 The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) for lymphoma was calculated from the national databank for rheumatic disease in the US. In patients with RA, the overall SIR for lymphoma was 1.9 (95% CI 1.3–2.7), whereas SIR for biological treatments was 2.9 (95% CI 1.4–4.5). The SIR was 2.6 (95% CI 1.4–4.5) for the use of infliximab, 1.7 for the use of MTX and 1.0 for RA patients not receiving MTX or biologicals.⁸⁰ There is also strong evidence that the increase risk of lymphoma in RA patients is related to disease activity itself, independently of treatments.⁸² However, eight cases of a rare cancer, hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTL), were recently described in young patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated by infliximab and concomitant immunosuppression.⁸³ Treatment with infliximab necessitates a close monitoring of the patients.

For solid cancers, no overall increased risk has been reported in registry studies. However, an increase of skin cancers has been observed with biologics^67,81 and the skin should be carefully watched.

Taken together, the data do not support an increased risk for solid cancer, except for the skin, but a slightly increased risk for lymphoma for patients receiving anti-TNF agents.

Demyelinating diseases

Multiple sclerosis (MS), optic neutitis and others forms of demyelinating neurological dysfunction have been reported with use of anti-TNF blockers.^64,84,85 Observed adverse events include new onset and exacerbation worsening of pre-existing demyelinating diseases. Other than a prior history of demyelinization disease, no predictive factor has been identified. Partial or complete resolution was obtained with cessation of anti-TNFα therapy. The mechanisms that could explain such neurological events remain unclear. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that the anti-TNFα treatments should be stopped when neurological events occur, and strictly avoided in patients with pre-existing demyelination diseases. Peripheral neuropathy with varying degrees of motor and sensory involvement were also described in RA patients receiving infliximab.⁸⁵

Drug-induced auto-immunity

Increased frequency of auto-antibodies has been reported after treatment with anti-TNF, the frequency being greater with infliximab.⁸⁶ In the ATTRACT study, 23% of patients developed antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and 16% became positive for anti double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibodies.²² In the ASPIRE study, 39.6% and 34.3% of patients receiving infliximab 3 and 6 mg/kg, respectively, became positive for ANAs.²⁶ However, in clinical practice, the development of these antibodies is not associated with the occurrence of systemic auto-immune diseases.⁸⁷

Other side effects

Anti-TNFα therapies have been associated with congestive heart failure and these biological treatments are contra-indicated in patients with a history of NYHA III or IV heart failure.^74,88 An increase in the liver function test, and pancytopenia, has also been associated with anti-TNFα use.⁶⁴ Congenital anomalies have recently been observed in children born to mothers taking TNF antagonist.⁸⁹ Anti-TNF antagonists must be stopped before pregnancy.

Conclusion

After more than 10 years of commercialization, infliximab is a leading treatment of RA, with a good efficacy and high tolerance. Infliximab is the only licensed TNF antagonist given by infusion, enabling dose adjustment and, for some patients, some rescue of response failure. The favorable results with infliximab use opened the way for the development of new anti-TNF biodrugs and for the use of new biological agents in RA treatment. Today, patients with secondary response failure to one anti-TNFα drug could benefit from switching to another anti-TNFα drug or another biological.⁹⁰ However, the use of infliximab, like the other anti-TNFs, is associated with an increase in side effects, especially infections, and close monitoring of the treated patients is needed.

Disclosures

The author discloses no conflicts of interest.