Autoantibody formation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with anti-TNF alpha

• Background: Research on autoantibody formation in patients treated with TNFα inhibitors has produced contradictory results. Objective: To study the prevalence of autoantibodies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with the TNFα inhibitor infliximab. Methods: 53 patients (48 female, 11 male) treated with infliximab for rheumatoid arthritis were followed for autoantibody production before treatment and after 14, 30, and 54 weeks. Six patients treated with etanercept were studied for comparison. The analyses included antibodies against nuclear antigens (ANA), extractable nuclear antigens, double stranded (ds)DNA (by ELISA, IIF on Crithidia luciliae for IgM and IgG, and Farr assay), nucleosomes, cardiolipin, smooth muscle, mitochondria, proteinase 3, and myeloperoxidase antigens. Results: The number of patients treated with infliximab who developed antibodies against dsDNA of both IgG and IgM class (tested by IIF) increased significantly. The prevalence of patients positive for IgG class increased to 66% at 30 weeks and 45% at 54 weeks, and of IgM class to 85% and 70%, respectively. The titre and number of patients expressing antibodies against nucleosomes and ANA also increased significantly. The number of rheumatoid factor or anticardiolipin positive patients was stable and there was no increase in antibodies against the other antigens. A lupus-like syndrome was seen in one patient. No patient treated with etanercept developed any of these autoantibodies. Conclusions: Patients treated with infliximab may develop anti-dsDNA antibodies of both IgM and IgG class, anti-nucleosome antibodies, and ANA, with a gradual increase until 30 weeks.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Immunologi inom det medicinska området (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Immunology in the medical area (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Reumatologi och inflammation (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Rheumatology and Autoimmunity (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Adult

Aged

Antibodies; Antinuclear/biosynthesis

Antibodies; Monoclonal/adverse effects/*immunology/therapeutic use

Antirheumatic Agents/adverse effects/*immunology/therapeutic use

Arthritis; Rheumatoid/drug therapy/*immunology

Autoantibodies/*biosynthesis

DNA/immunology

Drug Hypersensitivity/etiology

Drug Therapy; Combination

Female

Humans

Immunoglobulin G/biosynthesis

Immunoglobulin M/biosynthesis

Male

Middle Aged

Clinical immunology

Klinisk immunologi

Rheumatology

Reumatologi

Clinical Immunology

klinisk immunologi

reumatologi

rheumatology

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

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