ASAS20 at week 2 predicts subsequent improvement as well as the rate of relapse of ankylosing spondylitis infused with three pulses of infliximab / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the clinical parameters that can predict whether a patient can get significant improvement at the 10th week,or whether a patient can have an extended length of remission after discontinuing the infusion in ankylosing spondylitis(AS)patients treated with three standard infusions of in- fliximab.Methods Sixty-three AS patients were given three infusions of 5 mg/kg of infliximab at week 0,2 and 6;and were evaluated serially before each infusion and week 10.Afterwards.patients were followed by telephone interview until their disease activity was≥60% of the baseline level.At that point,disease was con- sidered to relapse.Clinical parameters at baseline as well as at week 2 were used to identify factors which might predict an improvement at week 10,or predict a delayed relapse.A predictor was regarded as being use- ful if the area under the curve(AUC)more than 0.75 when analyzed by receiver operator calculations(ROC). Results No parameters at baseline have sufficient predictive value.However,ASAS20(Assessment in Anky- losing Spondylitis International working Group criteria)at week 2 predicts improvement at week 10.and also duration of remission after discontinuing the infliximab at week 6.Conclusion The response to one pulse of infliximab is the best predictor of subsequent response as well as rate of relapse after discontinuing the inflix- imab.