BACKGROUND: Conventional treatment options for patients with severe steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis include intravenous cyclosporine, which is frequently burdened by toxicity, or colectomy. Preliminary data suggest a benefit from anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha (Infliximab) therapy in patients with steroid refractory ulcerative colitis. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of Infliximab in the treatment of severe ulcerative colitis refractory to conventional therapy PATIENTS AND METHODS: A series of 13 patients with severe ulcerative colitis, refractory to therapy with methyl-prednisolone, 60 mg daily for seven or more days, were treated with a single intravenous infusion of Infliximab 5 mg/kg. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Of these 13 patients, 10 (77%) had a clinical response to therapy defined by a clinical activity index 10 on two consecutive days. In 2 patients (15%) total colectomy was necessary on account of clinical worsening whilst one patient refused surgery and was lost to follow-up. All patients who responded showed very rapid clinical improvement, within 2 to 3 days of infusion. Infusion with Infliximab produced no significant adverse events. The mean time of follow-up was 10.1 months (range 5-12; during this time, 9 out of 10 patients (90%) maintained clinical remission and were able to discontinue corticosteroid therapy. Infliximab appears to be an effective agent for inducing long-standing remission in refractory patients with severe ulcerative colitis.
BACKGROUND: Conventional treatment options for patients with severe steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis include intravenous cyclosporine, which is frequently burdened by toxicity, or colectomy. Preliminary data suggest a benefit from anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha (Infliximab) therapy in patients with steroid refractory ulcerative colitis. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of Infliximab in the treatment of severe ulcerative colitis refractory to conventional therapy PATIENTS AND METHODS: A series of 13 patients with severe ulcerative colitis, refractory to therapy with methyl-prednisolone, 60 mg daily for seven or more days, were treated with a single intravenous infusion of Infliximab 5 mg/kg. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Of these 13 patients, 10 (77%) had a clinical response to therapy defined by a clinical activity index 10 on two consecutive days. In 2 patients (15%) total colectomy was necessary on account of clinical worsening whilst one patient refused surgery and was lost to follow-up. All patients who responded showed very rapid clinical improvement, within 2 to 3 days of infusion. Infusion with Infliximab produced no significant adverse events. The mean time of follow-up was 10.1 months (range 5-12; during this time, 9 out of 10 patients (90%) maintained clinical remission and were able to discontinue corticosteroid therapy. Infliximab appears to be an effective agent for inducing long-standing remission in refractory patients with severe ulcerative colitis.
Authors: Benjamin Coquet-Reinier; Stéphane V Berdah; Jean-Charles Grimaud; David Birnbaum; Pierre-Alain Cougard; Marc Barthet; Ariadne Desjeux; Vincent Moutardier; Christian Brunet Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2010-01-28 Impact factor: 4.584
Authors: John K Triantafillidis; Apostolos E Papalois; Aikaterini Parasi; Emmanuel Anagnostakis; Stavros Burnazos; Aristofanis Gikas; Emmanuel G Merikas; Emmanuel Douzinas; Maria Karagianni; Helen Sotiriou Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2005-11-21 Impact factor: 5.742
Authors: R Panaccione; R N Fedorak; G Aumais; Edmond-Jean Bernard; C N Bernstein; A Bitton; K Croitoru; L A Dieleman; R Enns; B G Feagan; D Franchimont; G R Greenberg; Anne-Marie Griffiths; J K Marshall; P Pare; S Patel; R Penner; C Render; E Seidman; A Hillary Steinhart Journal: Can J Gastroenterol Date: 2008-03 Impact factor: 3.522