Quality of life evaluated by Short Form-8 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were receiving infusion of infliximab

In this study, influences of infliximab to health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and active status of RA were assessed. Between 2003 and 2006, 22 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) began receiving infusion of infliximab. Of all the patients, 17 patients who were followed for at least 30 weeks (102 weeks at maximum) after the start of infliximab were included in this study. The mean age was 54.6 ± 10 years. HRQOL was evaluated with use of the SF-8™, which is a simple version of the Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36. As an index of active status of RA, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and rheumatoid factor (RF) were collected. CRP and ESR significantly improved at the final follow-up, but RF did not. All subscales of the SF-8 were significantly improved after the start of infliximab. However, there were three patients whose laboratory data were improved, but HRQOL was not. We should not be prepossessed only with laboratory data in treating patients with RA. We recommend that the SF-8 to evaluate HRQOL of patients with RA in busy outpatient clinics because it is both simple and convenient.