OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to report the clinical outcome and adverse events in the first 100 patients with refractory inflammatory and/or fistulizing Crohn's disease treated with infliximab at the Mayo Clinic. METHODS: Patient data was abstracted from medical records. Clinical response was classified as complete response, partial response, and nonresponse. RESULTS: Indications for infliximab therapy were: inflammatory disease (61 patients), fistulizing disease (26 patients), or both (13 patients). Patients received one to seven infusions of infliximab (5 mg/kg) for a total of 242 infusions. In all, 50 patients had complete response, 22 had partial response, and 28 had nonresponse. Median time to response was 7 days (range 1-21 days). Median duration of response was 10.3 weeks (range 3-25 wk). A total of 95 patients received concomitant treatment with immune modifiers. Steroid withdrawal was possible in 29/40 patients (73%). Median time of follow-up was 34 wk (range 14-48 wk). Clinically significant adverse events after infliximab included: abscess formation in two patients (perianal, peristomal), pneumonia in two patients, varicella zoster in three patients, candida esophagitis in one patient, and infusion-related reactions in 19 patients. A total of 23 patients were continued on infliximab as maintenance treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides additional evidence that infliximab is safe and beneficial in clinical practice for refractory Crohn's disease.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to report the clinical outcome and adverse events in the first 100 patients with refractory inflammatory and/or fistulizing Crohn's disease treated with infliximab at the Mayo Clinic. METHODS:Patient data was abstracted from medical records. Clinical response was classified as complete response, partial response, and nonresponse. RESULTS: Indications for infliximab therapy were: inflammatory disease (61 patients), fistulizing disease (26 patients), or both (13 patients). Patients received one to seven infusions of infliximab (5 mg/kg) for a total of 242 infusions. In all, 50 patients had complete response, 22 had partial response, and 28 had nonresponse. Median time to response was 7 days (range 1-21 days). Median duration of response was 10.3 weeks (range 3-25 wk). A total of 95 patients received concomitant treatment with immune modifiers. Steroid withdrawal was possible in 29/40 patients (73%). Median time of follow-up was 34 wk (range 14-48 wk). Clinically significant adverse events after infliximab included: abscess formation in two patients (perianal, peristomal), pneumonia in two patients, varicella zoster in three patients, candida esophagitis in one patient, and infusion-related reactions in 19 patients. A total of 23 patients were continued on infliximab as maintenance treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides additional evidence that infliximab is safe and beneficial in clinical practice for refractory Crohn's disease.
Authors: R Caprilli; M A Gassull; J C Escher; G Moser; P Munkholm; A Forbes; D W Hommes; H Lochs; E Angelucci; A Cocco; B Vucelic; H Hildebrand; S Kolacek; L Riis; M Lukas; R de Franchis; M Hamilton; G Jantschek; P Michetti; C O'Morain; M M Anwar; J L Freitas; I A Mouzas; F Baert; R Mitchell; C J Hawkey Journal: Gut Date: 2006-03 Impact factor: 23.059
Authors: Christopher W Teshima; Adrienne Thompson; LeRose Dhanoa; Levinus A Dieleman; Richard N Fedorak Journal: Can J Gastroenterol Date: 2009-05 Impact factor: 3.522