Objective To investigate the clinical outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who discontinued infliximab (IFX) treatment at our hospital.

Methods Among 249 patients receiving IFX from 2007 to 2015, we retrospectively investigated the clinical courses of 18 who discontinued IFX after achieving the 28-joint disease activity score based on the erythrocyte sedimentation (DAS28-ESR) clinical remission (CR) and whose clinical courses were available continuously for 96 weeks after discontinuation.

Results At IFX introduction, the median age was 56.9 (range 36.1-72.4) years, and the disease duration was 5.2 (0.4-25.6) years. The median duration of maintaining either CR or a low disease activity (LDA) with IFX was 37.2 (4.0-91.4) months, and the total duration of IFX therapy was 45.8 (17.1-96.9) months. After discontinuation, 8 patients (44.4%) maintained CR/LDA for 96 weeks (no-flare group), and 10 (55.6%) experienced flares (DAS28-ESR≥3.2) within 96 weeks (flare group). In the no-flare group, six patients receiving intensified conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (csDMARD) therapy to prevent flare ups simultaneously either with or immediately after discontinuing IFX. In the flare group, four patients received intensified csDMARD therapy. Six patients restarted biological DMARDs (bDMARDs), and all achieved CR again. Ultimately, 12 patients (66.7%) maintained a Bio-free disease control for 96 weeks. A comparison of the clinical backgrounds between the flare and no-flare groups showed no marked difference in their disease duration, IFX dosage, duration of maintaining CR with IFX, or concomitant csDMARDs use.

Conclusion Irrespective of the RA disease duration, more than half of all patients maintained a Bio-free condition for 96 weeks. Continuing LDA with IFX for a sufficiently long period of time before discontinuation and preventive intensification of csDMARD therapy may help maintain a Bio-free condition.