[Efficacy of infliximab in the treatment of korean patients with crohns disease].
OBJECTIVE
Infliximab has been proven to be effective for refractory luminal and fistulizing Crohns disease (CD). We performed this study to demonstrate the efficacy of infliximab in Korean CD patients.


METHODS
Medical records of 40 CD patients who had been treated with infliximab were reviewed retrospectively.


RESULTS
Among 40 patients, 11 (27.5%) patients were treated for refractory luminal disease, 14 (35%) for fistulizing disease, and 15 (37.5%) for both types. Clinical response rate was higher in 26 patients with refractory luminal disease (Complete response (CR), 73.1%; Partial response (PR), 23.1%) than in 29 patients with fistulizing disease (CR, 41.4%; PR, 31%) (p=0.024). The clinical response rate tended to be higher in 28 patients with external fistulas (CR, 46.4%; PR, 32.2%) than 4 patients with internal fistulas (PR, 25%; NR, 75%) (p=0.064). Among patients with external fistulas, the response rate of 8 patients with enterocutaneous fistulas (CR, 50%; PR, 12.5%) was not different from 20 patients with perianal fistulas (CR, 45%; PR, 40%). Among 20 patients with perianal fistulas, the response rate of 6 patients with perianal fistulas without a history of operation (CR, 83.3%; PR, 0%) was higher than 14 patients with perianal fistulas resistant to previous surgical treatment (CR, 28.6%; PR, 57.1%) (p=0.044). As for adverse reaction, 7 patients experienced mild infusion reaction, and 2 patients developed serious infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Infliximab is more effective for refractory luminal disease than for fistulizing disease. In addition, clinical responses to infliximab are different according to subtypes of fistulas. These findings should be considered for the proper use of infliximab.
Kim
Sai Hui
SH
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Yang
Suk
S
Kim
Kyung Jo
KJ
Kim
Eun Hee
EH
Yoon
Soon Man
SM
Ye
Byong Duk
BD
Byeon
Jeong Sik
JS
Myung
Seung Jae
SJ
Kim
Jin Ho
JH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044466:Asian People; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069285:Infliximab; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069285:Infliximab