title: Treatment of ulcerative colitis with adalimumab or infliximab: long-term follow-up of a single-centre cohort.
abstract: Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2010; 32: 522-528 Summary Background Randomized, controlled trials have demonstrated that anti-TNF agents are efficacious in inducing remission in cases of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. However, response rates for anti-TNF agents in 'real life' clinical practice are less well-defined. Aims To examine the response rates and long-term outcomes of infliximab and adalimumab treatment for out-patients with ulcerative colitis and to study the variables associated with response rates. Methods In a prospective study, a single-centre out-patient cohort was treated and followed up according to a structured protocol of clinical care. Response to treatment was assessed using a physician's global assessment that focused on normalization of bowel frequency, absence of blood with defecation and tapering of corticosteroids to zero. Results Fifty-three ulcerative colitis patients were included in the study. Responses to induction therapy were 96.4% (27/28) for infliximab and 80% (20/25) for adalimumab (P = 0.0889). Responses to maintenance therapy were similar: infliximab 77.8% (14/18) and adalimumab 70.0% (14/20) (P = 0.7190). Multivariate analyses of the induction and maintenance responses did not reveal confounding elements. No new safety signals were identified. Conclusions This long-term follow-up of a single-centre cohort of ulcerative colitis patients demonstrates that 'real-life' out-patient treatment with infliximab and adalimumab is effective in induction and maintenance of response.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gies
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Kroeker
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Fedorak
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010045:Outpatients; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068879:Adalimumab