Study: Early Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis With Remicade & Methotrexate Gives Long-Term Benefits

Early treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with a combination of Remicade® (infliximab) and methotrexate appears to provide long-term benefits, according to a study reported in the February issue of the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.

A team of American and European researchers found that early intervention with this combination in patients with the disease who failed previous therapy with methotrexate alone appears to prevent radiographic progression and preserve the integrity of afflicted joints.

The study involved 82 patients who had had rheumatoid arthritis for three years or less. The patients were either given a combination of methotrexate plus Remicade or methotrexate plus a placebo every four to eight weeks for 102 weeks.

The researchers found that the erosion and joint space narrowing scores from the beginning of the study to week 102 in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis decreased significantly with each dose of infliximab and methotrexate compared with the methotrexate-placebo regimen. Consistent benefit was seen in the joints of both hands and feet.

"Infliximab combined with methotrexate inhibited the progression of structural damage in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis during the two-year period of treatment," concluded the researchers.

Other sources: Annals of Rheumatic Diseases. 2004 Feb; 63(2): 149-155