Treatment of active refractory rheumatoid arthritis with humanized monoclonal antibody CAMPATH-1H administered by daily subcutaneous injection.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the dose tolerance and potential clinical activity of a humanized antilymphocyte monoclonal antibody, CAMPATH-1H (C1H), in patients with active, refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Thirty adult patients with active, refractory RA were treated in an open-label, 3-center, dose-escalation study of subcutaneously injected C1H. Six patients were assigned to each of 5 dosage groups (0.3, 1.0, 3.0, 10.0 or 30.0 mg/day), and received 10 daily injections of C1H over a 12-day period. RESULTS: Side effects occurred primarily during the first 1-2 days of dosing, and included mild fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, headache, and, in a minority of patients, hypotension. All patients developed some discomfort at the injection site. Self-limited infections occurred in 5 patients during the 6-month study period. Peripheral blood lymphocyte counts fell promptly after initial dosing and recovered slowly, usually over 2-3 months. Serum antibodies to C1H developed in 54% of patients following treatment. Clinical improvement was observed in 56% of patients, based on the composite Paulus criteria, with a median time-to-response of 22 days and a median response duration of 32 days. CONCLUSION: C1H is a lymphocyte-depleting antibody that exhibits biologic potency when administered subcutaneously to patients with refractory RA. Its use is associated with mild to moderate toxicity and short-term amelioration of disease activity.
Duke Scholars
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- Treatment Outcome
- Middle Aged
- Male
- Lymphocyte Subsets
- Injections, Subcutaneous
- Humans
- Glycoproteins
- Female
- Drug Administration Schedule
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Citation
Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Treatment Outcome
- Middle Aged
- Male
- Lymphocyte Subsets
- Injections, Subcutaneous
- Humans
- Glycoproteins
- Female
- Drug Administration Schedule
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug