Review and clinical perspectives for the use of infliximab in ulcerative colitis.
Infliximab is a chimeric, monoclonal anti-tumour necrosis factor-alpha antibody. It has been previously demonstrated to be an effective treatment for patients with Crohn's disease who do not achieve the desired response with conventional treatments. Although the etiology of ulcerative colitis (UC) differs from that of Crohn's disease, randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that infliximab is also beneficial for the treatment of moderate to severe UC in patients who are either intolerant of or refractory to immunosuppressant agents or steroids, or those who are steroid-dependent. A review of the literature is followed by practical recommendations regarding infliximab that address the needs of clinicians and UC patients. Where there is a lack of evidence-based information, the expert panel provides its combined opinion derived from the members' clinical experiences.
Panaccione
R
R
University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
Fedorak
R N
RN
Aumais
G
G
Bernard
Edmond-Jean
EJ
Bernstein
C N
CN
Bitton
A
A
Croitoru
K
K
Dieleman
L A
LA
Enns
R
R
Feagan
B G
BG
Franchimont
D
D
Greenberg
G R
GR
Griffiths
Anne-Marie
AM
Marshall
J K
JK
Pare
P
P
Patel
S
S
Penner
R
R
Render
C
C
Seidman
E
E
Steinhart
A Hillary
AH
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000075202:Contraindications; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012074:Remission Induction; D018570:Risk Assessment
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D000069285:Infliximab