Combination Methotrexate and Infliximab

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Combination Methotrexate and Infliximab:Influence of immunogenicity on the efficacy of infliximab in patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Detailed Description
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Forty consecutive patients will be recruited from the rheumatology clinic of the Prince of Wales Hospital with AS meeting the modified New York criteria with active disease as defined (see below). They will be randomized to receive MTX 7.5 mg/week initially with a weekly 2.5mg increment until 15mg/week dosage is reached,( i.e by week 6) or a placebo together with folic acid 5mg daily for a period of 16 week. After 16 weeks, all patients will receive infliximab at 5 mg/kg per dose, at weeks 16, 18, and 22 (3 doses), and will continue with MTX 15 mg/week or placebo. Thereafter, they will be followed up at week 30, 38 weeks. MRI changes in the sacroiliac joints (SI) before and after infliximab treatment.

Official Title
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The Efficacy of Combination Methotrexate and Infliximab in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis:A Clinical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Correlation

Conditions
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Ankylosing Spondylitis

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Infliximab and MTX


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Fulfilled the AS:meeting the modified New York criteria Active disease despite NSAID treatment defined as: Spinal inflammation ≧ 30 and a score of 30 on at least two of the other three domains Back pain Patient global assessment of disease activity Physical function Informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Complete ankylosis of the spine On sulphasalazine Previous use of TNF inhibitors Multiple use of NSAIDS Prednisolone > 10mg/day Changes of NSAIDS or dose of prednisolone within 2 weeks of baseline Little or no ability for self-care Received intra-articular,intramuscular, or intravenous corticosteroids in the 4 weeks before screening Infected joint prosthesis during the previous 5 years Serious infections, such as hepatitis, pneumonia, pyelonephritis in the previous 3 months Any chronic infectious disease such as renal infection, chest infection with bronchiectasis or sinusitis Active tuberculosis requiring treatment within the previous 3 years Opportunistic infections such as herpes zoster within the previous 2 months Any evidence of active cytomegalovirus; active Pneumocystis carinii; or drug-resistant atypical mycobacterial infection Known hypersensitivity to murine proteins Current signs or symptoms of severe,progressive,or uncontrolled renal, hepatic, haematological, gastrointestinal, endocrine, pulmonary, cardiac, neurological, or cerebral disease A history of lymphoproliferative disease including lymphoma or signs suggestive of disease, such as lymphadenopathy of unusual size or location (ie,lymph nodes in the posterior triangle or the neck, infraclavicular epitrochlear, or periaortic areas); splenomegaly; Any known malignant disease except basal cell carcinoma currently or in the past 5 years. A hemoglobin level < 8.5 gm/dl, a white blood cell count < 3.5 × 10^9/liter, a platelet count < 100 × 10^9/liter, a serum creatinine level > 150 µmol/l, serum transaminase levels 1.25 times the upper limit of normal, or alkaline phosphatase levels > 2 times the upper limit of normal.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Quadruple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Placebo Comparator: 2<br>placebo with infliximab | Drug: Infliximab and MTX<br>* MTX 15mg weekly Infliximab 5mg/kg given at day 0, wk 2, wk6<br>* Other names: remicade;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The number of patient exhibited an ASAS 20 response to treatment at week 20. |  | wk52 | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Proportion of patients with 50% and 70% improvement in disease activity.Patient global assessment of disease activity and pain;BASFI;early morning stiffness;physician global assessment of disease activity.Changes in the pre and post infusion MRI. |  | wk52 | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Ankylosing Spondylitis, MTX, Infliximab