Formation of antibodies against infliximab and adalimumab strongly correlates with functional drug levels and clinical responses in rheumatoid arthritis

• Published in: Annals of the rheumatic diseases Vol. 68; no. 11; pp. 1739 - 1745
• Main Authors: Radstake, T R D J, Svenson, M, Eijsbouts, A M, van den Hoogen, F H J, Enevold, C, van Riel, P L C M, Bendtzen, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and European League Against Rheumatism 01.11.2009; BMJ Publishing Group; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adalimumab; Aged; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic - biosynthesis; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic - blood; Antibodies, Monoclonal - blood; Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; Antibodies, Monoclonal - therapeutic use; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - blood; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - drug therapy; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical trials; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Drug dosages; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Immunomodulators; Indicator organisms; Inflammatory joint diseases; Infliximab; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Prospective Studies; Radioimmunoassay - methods; Rheumatism; Rheumatoid arthritis; Rheumatology; Severity of Illness Index; Studies; Treatment Outcome; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - antagonists & inhibitors; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Immunopathology; Antibody; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Antipsoriatic agent; Rheumatology; Autoimmune disease; Inflammatory joint disease; Immunomodulator; Chronic; Infliximab; Rheumatoid arthritis; Immunosuppressive agent; Adalimumab
• ISSN: 0003-4967; 1468-2060
• DOI: 10.1136/ard.2008.092833

Background:Tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) neutralising antibody constructs are increasingly being used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Objective:To determine potential differences in clinical responses, soluble drug levels and antibody formation between patients with RA receiving infliximab and adalimumab.Methods:69 patients with RA fulfilling the 1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria and about to start treatment with infliximab or adalimumab, were enrolled consecutively. All patients had active disease (28-joint count Disease Activity Score >3.2). Infliximab was given intravenously at 3 mg/kg at baseline and after 2, 6 and 14 weeks. Adalimumab was administered as 40 mg biweekly subcutaneously. Concomitant drug treatment was monitored and continued at constant dosage during the study. All serum samples were tested for infliximab/adalimumab levels and anti-infliximab/anti-adalimumab antibodies.Results:35 patients received infliximab, 34 received adalimumab. At 6 months, 15 (43%), 6 (17%) and 14 (40%) of the infliximab-treated patients fulfilled the EULAR criteria for good, moderate and non-responders, respectively, whereas the corresponding figures for adalimumab-treated patients were 16 (47%), 8 (24%) and 10 (29%). Clinical responses correlated with the levels of S-infliximab/adalimumab and the formation of anti-infliximab/anti-adalimumab antibodies.Conclusion:The clinical response to two anti-TNFα biological agents closely follows the trough drug levels and the presence of antibodies directed against the drugs. Further studies that focus on the underlying pathways leading to antibody formation are warranted to predict immunogenicity of these expensive biological agents and treatment outcomes.