Anti-FK-506 polyclonal antibody

What is known and objective The effects of the body size condition (overweight and underweight) on the outcome of antirheumatic drugs are unclear. The aim of this study was to elucidate the relationship between body size and treatment outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with biological antirheumatic drugs. Methods A retrospective observational descriptive study was conducted at Tokyo Women's Medical University, Medical Center East, from June 2015 to May 2018. Primary and secondary outcomes were defined as antirheumatic treatment ineffectiveness and antirheumatic treatment discontinuation due to any side effects, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for the outcomes and to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and the 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results and discussion A total of 297 patients were included. Primary and secondary outcomes were observed in 42 (14%) and 11 (4%) of the patients, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that a body mass index (BMI) >= 25 kg/m(2)(OR = 4.22, 95% CI; 1.69-10.5,P = .002) was associated with rheumatoid arthritis treatment ineffectiveness and that BMI <18.5 kg/m(2)(OR = 5.87, 95% CI; 1.25-27.5,P = .025) and tacrolimus use (OR = 9.06, 95% CI; 1.37-60.1,P = .022) were associated with antirheumatic treatment discontinuation due to any side effects. The cut-off dose for tacrolimus was 0.5 mg/day. What is new and conclusion Overweight affects antirheumatic drug efficacy. Underweight and tacrolimus use increased the discontinuation of antirheumatic drugs due to side effects. A validation study is needed to confirm the reliability of these results.

Objective: Treatment of severe ulcerative colitis (UC) is challenging. Although the efficacy of tacrolimus (TAC) and infliximab (IFX) have been evaluated in patients with severe UC, the safety and efficacy levels of sequential therapies (TAC. IFX/IFX. TAC) in these patients remain unclear. The aim of this study was to assess short-term and long-term outcomes in patients with severe UC treated with TAC and IFX. Methods: From October 2001 to February 2014, 29 patients with consecutive severe UC treated with TAC or IFX were retrospectively evaluated. Median follow-up duration was 27 months (range 0.5-118 months). The primary end point was short-term outcomes at 8 weeks after induction of TAC (TAC group, n=22) or IFX (IFX group, n=7). The secondary end point included longterm outcomes and colectomy-free survival. The clinical response was evaluated based on a partial Mayo score. Results: The clinical remission (CR) rate at 8 weeks in the TAC and IFX groups was 63.6% and 71.4%, respectively. In 13 of the 29 patients (10 in the TAC group, 3 in the IFX group), sequential therapies were used in their clinical courses. In 9 of these 13 patients (6 in the TAC group, 3 in the IFX group), CR was achieved and maintained by sequential therapies. Overall cumulative colectomy-free survival was 79.3% at 118 months. Conclusions: TAC and IFX had similar effects on remission induction in patients with severely active UC. Sequential therapies could rescue patients with UC who failed initial treatment with TAC or IFX. In clinical practice, sequential therapies might be deliberately performed.