title: Efficacy, safety, and predictors of response to infliximab therapy for ulcerative colitis: a Korean multicenter retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Infliximab is currently used for the treatment of moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC) with an inadequate response to conventional agents. The efficacy and safety of infliximab in Korean patients with UC were assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective multicenter study including all adult patients who received at least one infliximab infusion for UC. Short- and long-term clinical outcomes and adverse events of infliximab therapy were evaluated, and predictors of response were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 134 UC patients were included. The indications for infliximab therapy were acute severe UC in 28%, steroid-dependency in 38%, and steroid-refractoriness in 33%, respectively. The rates of clinical response and remission were 87% and 45% at week 8. In multivariate analysis, we found significant predictors of clinical remission at week 8: immunomodulator-naïve (odds ratio [OR] = 4.89, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.44-16.66, P = 0.01), hemoglobin ≥ 11.5 g/dL (OR = 4.47, 95% CI: 1.48-13.45, P = 0.008), C-reactive protein ≥ 3 mg/dL (OR = 4.77, 95% CI: 1.43-15.94, P = 0.01), and response at week 2 (OR = 20.54, 95% CI: 2.40-175.71, P = 0.006). Long-term clinical response and remission rates were 71% and 52%, respectively, and mucosal healing was the only factor influencing long-term response. Adverse events related to infliximab occurred in 15% of patients, and most of them were mild and transient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infliximab is effective and safe in the treatment of active UC in Korea. No history of previous immunomodulator use and high baseline C-reactive protein are independent predictors of good response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, St. Vincent's Hospital, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Kang-Moon
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yoon Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Jeen
authors.forename: Ju Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Chang Kyun
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ja-Seol
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Dong Il
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jong Pil
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Soo Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: You Sun
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Tae Oh
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Suck-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Byung Ik
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Ji Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Sook
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Eun-Soo
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang Hwan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hyo Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab
keywords: efficacy; infliximab; predictor of response; safety; ulcerative colitis