RESEARCH - Study of the tolerance of Remicade infusions with or without betamethasone premedication

November 2, 2005

Ann Rheum Dis. 2005 Nov;64(11):1647-9.

Study of the tolerance of infliximab infusions with or without betamethasone

premedication in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.

Sany J, Kaiser MJ, nsen C, Trape G.

j-sany@....

OBJECTIVES: To assess the incidence of infusion reactions in patients with

rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving infliximab treatment with and without

betamethasone premedication. To determine whether patients with an atopic

diathesis had a better response to corticosteroid pretreatment than those

without, and the course of patients' functional capacity and quality of

life. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective, multicentre, randomised, double

blind phase 4 study of 355 patients with RA in two groups: group A received

betamethasone and group B placebo, before a 36 week infusion treatment with

infliximab. Incidence and severity of infusion reactions from infliximab

treatment were assessed. RESULTS: The incidence of reactions to infliximab

infusion was <5%. More infusion reactions occurred with betamethasone

pretreatment than with placebo. Response to infliximab of patients with

atopic backgrounds did not differ in the presence or absence of

betamethasone from that of non-atopic patients. Mean Health Assessment

Questionnaire score improved by 47% at week 24, quality of life assessed by

Short Form-36 improved in mental and physical component subscales.

CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of infusion reactions with infliximab was low and

their severity generally mild, but betamethasone pretreatment did not

decrease the incidence and severity of infusion reactions. Betamethasone,

therefore, is not recommended as a systematic prophylactic measure, even in

atopic patients.

PMID: 16227416

6227416 & dopt=Abstract

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

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