Efficacy of infliximab in Crohn's disease. Results of a retrospective multicenter study with a 15-month follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate prescription practices and response to infliximab treatment for Crohn's disease (CD).


METHODS
The files of CD patients treated with at least one infusion of infliximab treated in gastroenterology units belonging to university teaching hospitals of the Parisian hospitals group (Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) during the year 2000 were analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
One hundred and thirty-seven patients (36.0 +/- 12.7 years, 92 females) from 12 centers were studied. Indication for treatment was fistulae or perianal disease in 39% of patients, active Crohn's disease in 45% and mixed conditions in 16%. Mean follow-up was 15.2 +/- 7.2 months. The overall response rate was 85%. No predictive factor of sustained remission could be identified. The mean time to relapse was to 3.9 +/- 3.1 months. Thirty-eight patients were on maintenance therapy at the end of the follow up; 37% exhibiting progressive lost of response to treatment. Immunosuppressive therapy was added to infliximab in 78% of cases but response to infliximab was not modified by addition of immunosuppressive drugs. Adverse events, most frequently minor, were noted in 23% of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
This retrospective study confirms the efficacy and safety of infliximab in CD.
Poupardin
Cécile
C
Services d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, AP-HP, Hôpital Louis Mourier, Colombes.
Lémann
Marc
M
Gendre
Jean-Pierre
JP
Sabaté
Jean-Marc
JM
Marteau
Philippe
P
Chaussade
Stanislas
S
Delchier
Jean-Charles
JC
Bouhnik
Yoram
Y
Chaput
Jean-Claude
JC
Poupon
Raoul
R
Soulé
Jean-Claude
JC
Benhamou
Yves
Y
Grangé
Jean-Didier
JD
Coffin
Benoît
B
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D000069285:Infliximab