title: [Efficacy of infliximab in the treatment of korean patients with crohns disease].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sai Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Suk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Kyung Jo
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun Hee
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soon Man
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Byong Duk
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Jeong Sik
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Byeon
authors.forename: Seung Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Myung
authors.forename: Jin Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069285:Infliximab