Infliximab dependency in a national cohort of children with Crohn's disease.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to evaluate the pattern of responsiveness and to monitor side effects of episodic administration of infliximab in children with active Crohn's disease (CD) treated in Denmark from 1999 to 2003.


METHODS
The National Danish Crohn Colitis Database of infliximab was used to identify all Danish CD patients treated at pediatric departments with infliximab. The clinical outcome was assessed by pattern recognition of the disease course 30 days after the first infliximab infusion and 90 days after intended end of treatment.


RESULTS
During a 3 year period, infliximab was given to 24 CD patients (9 male/15 female) aged median 15.4 (range 9.8-18.6) years with a median disease duration of 26 (range 0.7-93) months and a median number of infusions of 6 (range 2-11). Five milligrams of infliximab per kilogram infusions were given intravenously. Immediate response was as follows: 8 (33%) patients achieved complete response (CR), 10 (42%) partial response (PR), and 6 (25%) no response (NR). Long-term response was as follows: 7 (29%) patients achieved prolonged response (PRO), defined as maintenance of CR or PR, 10 (42%) were infliximab dependent (ID), defined as relapse of symptoms requiring reinfusions of infliximab to regain CR or PR, and 6 (25%) had NR. Six (25%) patients needed surgery during or after treatment with infliximab. Side effects were seen in four (17%) patients. No serious events were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Seventy-one percent of the children appeared to benefit (PRO or ID) from infliximab treatment with minor side effects when given episodically. Among these patients, two response patterns were recognized: PRO after ending infliximab treatment (29%) or dependency on reinfusions of infliximab (42%).
Wewer
Vibeke
V
Department of Pediatrics and Medical Gastroenterology, H:S Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hvidovre, Denmark. vibeke.wewer@hh.hosp.dk
Riis
Lene
L
Vind
Ida
I
Husby
Steffen
S
Munkholm
Pia
P
Paerregaard
Anders
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D000069285:Infliximab