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Infliximab safe, well-tolerated in children with Kawasaki disease
SAN DIEGO — Infliximab may soon be a treatment addition for Kawasaki disease, as it was found to be safe and well-tolerated and also reduced IV immunoglobulin reaction rates, data presented at ID Week 2012 indicate.
Adriana H. Tremoulet, MD, of Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, and colleagues conducted a phase 3, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial in which they evaluated the addition of single 5 mg/kg dose of infliximab to standard therapy — IV immunoglobulin and aspirin — in 196 children with Kawasaki disease.
According to background information in the abstract, 10% to 20% of patients will have persistent fever despite timely treatment for Kawasaki disease. These children also have an increased risk for coronary artery abnormalities.
Among the children who received infliximab, IV immunoglobulin infusion reactions were present in 5.1%, compared with 19.6% of the children who received placebo. There were no adverse effects related to the infliximab infusion. This was true also for the 11 infants aged younger than 12 months who received the treatment.
The primary outcome of the trial, treatment resistance, will be completed soon.
For more information:
Tremoulet A. #LB-9. Presented at: ID Week 2012; Oct. 17-21, 2012; San Diego.
Disclosure: Tremoulet reports no relevant financial disclosures.