Methotrexate Reduced TNF Bioactivity in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Treated with Infliximab

Figure 1

Evolution of TNF bioactivity, IFX trough concentration, ATI concentration during IFX treatment, distribution of TNF bioactivity according to EULAR response, and effect of methotrexate on ATI concentration and TNF bioactivity. TNF bioactivity (a) decreased strongly at W6 with a slight increase afterwards. TNF bioactivity was lower in patients with methotrexate compared to patients with other csDMARDs (b). ATI (c) were detected at W22 and W54 and ATI concentration was lower in patients with methotrexate compared to patients with another csDMARDs (e). IFX trough concentration (d) strongly increased at W6 and then slightly decreased afterwards. The box plots show the median values and the first and third quartiles at each time. The T bars represent the rest of the data with a maximum of 1.5 times the interquartile range. Circles represent values lower or higher than 1.5 times the interquartile range. TNF: tumor necrosis factor; ATI: antibodies towards IFX; W: week; csDMARDs: conventional synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)