Bone mineral density in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with infliximab

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Abstract
This open cohort study consisted of consecutive patients with RA, who were treated with infliximab in the Slotervaart Hospital and the VU University Medical Centre. All patients fulfilled the ACR 1987 criteria of RA and had active disease (defined by the modified 28 joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS28) of at least 3.2). Infliximab was given intravenously at 0, 2, 6, 14, weeks and from the fourth infusion every 8 weeks in a dose of 3 mg/kg. At each visit the DAS28 was calculated and changes in drug treatment were recorded. BMD measurements (g/cm2) of the hip (total hip) and lumbar spine (L1–4) were performed at baseline and after 1 year on a Hologic 4500.