title: Anti-TNF antibody in Crohn's disease--status of information, comments and recommendations of an international working group.
abstract: The chimeric anti-TNF antibody Remicade (Infliximab) has recently been approved for human use by the FDA and is now available on the market. Since there is considerable interest in this kind of treatment among patients with Crohn's disease, an international working group has summarized the presently available information about efficacy, side effects and possible problems of this treatment. Studies show that Remicade is effective in the treatment of active Crohn's disease, maintaining remission and fistulae. The working group does not see Infliximab as a first-line treatment for Crohn's disease. It may be used in active phase recurrent disease, chronic active disease and fistulae if standard treatment was not successful. For the surveillance special attention has to be given to the unknown malignancy rate of Infliximab. Infusion should be performed in an institution, routinely performing intravenous infusions and a two-hour surveillance of the patients should be guaranteed to recognize anaphylactic reactions or acute side effects. There is presently no information indication that the combination with immunosuppressants might increase risks or side effects of this treatment. Due to the limited information available the working group would prefer to use Remicade in studies only and recommends central collection and documentation of all data on efficacy and side effects for the next year.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie und Endokrinologie, Charité, Medizinische Fakultät der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lochs
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beglinger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duchmann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Emmrich
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ewe
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gangl
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gasché
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kaskas
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Malchow
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pohl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raedler
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Renner
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schölmerich
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schreiber
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stange
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tilg
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vogelsang
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Weigert
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeitz
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D017277:Drug Approval; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000069285:Infliximab; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology*; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab