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Infliximab showed no benefit in children with Kawasaki disease

SAN DIEGO — Children with Kawasaki disease who were treated with infliximab along with standard therapy was found to be safe and well-tolerated. However, there was no difference in failure to respond rates, according to data presented at ID Week 2012.

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 (Remicade, Janssen) 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, but there was no significant difference in coronary artery measurements among the children who received infliximab, and the failure to respond rate was 11% in both treatment groups.

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.