Management of Crohn's disease of the ileoanal pouch with infliximab.
OBJECTIVE
The occurrence of Crohn's disease (CD) in a patient with an ileal-pouch anastomosis (IPAA) often results in severe morbidity and significant chance of reservoir loss. We report our experience of the use of infliximab in these patients.


METHODS
Medical records of 26 patients with an IPAA and CD-related complications were reviewed. The median time between the IPAA and the diagnosis of CD was 4.5 yr (range 0.1-16 yr). The main reasons for changing the original ulcerative colitis diagnosis to CD were complex perianal or pouch fistulizing disease in 14 patients (54%), prepouch ileitis in five (19%), and both prepouch ileitis and complex fistula in seven (27%). Patients received one to three doses of infliximab over 8 wk as induction therapy. Subsequently the patients received a variable number of maintenance infusions.


RESULTS
At a short term follow-up, 16/26 patients (62%) had a complete response, six of 26 (23%) had a partial response, and four of 26 (15%) had no response. Information regarding long term follow-up was available in 24 patients. After a median follow-up of 21.5 months (range 3-44 months), eight patients (33%) either had their pouch resected or had a persistent diverting ileostomy. The pouch was functional in 16/24 (67%) patients, with either good (n = 7) or acceptable (n = 7) clinical results in 14/24 (58%). Of those 14 patients, 11 were under long term, on demand, or systematic maintenance treatment with infliximab.


CONCLUSIONS
Infliximab is beneficial in both the short and long term treatment of patients with an IPAA performed for a presumed diagnosis of ulcerative colitis who subsequently develop CD-related complications. Good pouch function requires long term treatment with infliximab in most patients.
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Jean-Frederic
JF
Colombel
Elena
E
Ricart
Edward V
EV
Loftus
William J
WJ
Tremaine
Tonia
T
Young-Fadok
Eric J
EJ
Dozois
Bruce G
BG
Wolff
Richard
R
Devine
John H
JH
Pemberton
William J
WJ
Sandborn
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D039021:Colonic Pouches / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019449:Pouchitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016737:Proctocolectomy, Restorative / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D000069285:Infliximab