Infliximab improves quality of life in the short-term in patients with fistulizing Crohn's disease in clinical practice.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of infliximab on quality of life in a series of patients with fistulizing Crohn's disease.


METHODS
A prospective observational study was made. A total of 25 patients with single or multiple draining abdominal or perianal fistulas were selected for the study. All received an intravenous infusion of infliximab at a dose of 5 mg per kilogram of body weight in weeks 0, 2, and 6. The clinical activity was calculated every two weeks over a 10-week follow-up. HRQOL (SF-36 and IBDQ scores) were compared at baseline and at weeks 4 and 10.


RESULTS
Sixty-four percent of patients had a clinical response to treatment with infliximab, with complete closure of fistulas. The mean values of CDAI decreased during follow-up, with a significant difference between weeks 0 and 10 (p < 0.01). Health-related quality of life (HRQOL), as measured by means of SF-36, showed an overall improvement in the physical domain (PCS) after 4 and 10 weeks (p < 0.05). An increase was also observed in IBDQ overall score on comparing the results obtained at week 0 and week 4 (p < 0.01). The social functioning domain of IBDQ was not significantly changed with treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with infliximab in active fistulizing Crohn's disease results in a significant increase in the quality of life of patients at short-term.
Cadahia
V
V
Service of Digestive Diseases, Hospital of Central Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.
García-Carbonero
A
A
Vivas
S
S
Fuentes
D
D
Niño
P
P
Rebollo
P
P
Rodrigo
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D000069285:Infliximab