Objective: The aim of this study was to retrospectively examine the pattern of utilization in clinical practice and the costs of therapy of infliximab in the treatment of refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods: Ninety-five RA patients (22 newly treated and 73 maintenance patients) who received at least one infliximab infusion during a selected observation period of one year were studied. After induction phase, infliximab was given at initial dose of 3 mg/kg every 8 weeks. Based on clinical efficacy measured by Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS 28) index, dose adjustments were performed by increasing pro kg dose and/or reducing infusion interval. Overall one-year's treatment costs were also examined.
Results: Sixteen (17%) out of 95 patients discontinued treatment before the end of the study owing to lack of efficacy (15) or adverse events (1). Thirteen (59%) out of 22 newly treated patients experienced treatment escalation in the first year of therapy by increasing dose (13.6%), reducing interval (9%), or both (36.3%). The mean infliximab dose administered to all the patients was 3.57 mg/kg and the mean infusion interval was 50 days. Considering all expenditure items, the mean year treatment cost per patient was euro 8454,65. Infliximab vial optimization allows us to reduce this amount to euro 7505,85, with a significant saving of euro 948,80 per patient/year.
Conclusions: In this observational study, adjustments in infliximab treatment in the first year of therapy were common. Despite dose escalation, the mean dosing schedule does not significantly differ from those recommended in the product label. The cost of treatment could be reduced by using infliximab vial optimization.