title: Infliximab in patients with severe steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis: Indian experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of infliximab in the treatment of acute severe ulcerative colitis is established. However, all the data available in the literature are from western countries. This is the first report on the use of infliximab in patients with severe steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis from India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of 28 patients who had received infliximab therapy for induction of remission, with three doses of 5 mg/kg at 0, 2, and 6 weeks, was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-four (85.6 %) patients had shown a clinical response by week 8 and, hence, avoided urgent colectomy. In 2 years of follow up, 9/16 (56 %) patients had not required colectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infliximab averted colectomy in a proportion of patients with severe steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis.
authors.affiliation: Dayanand Medical College, DMC Road, Tagore Nagar, Ludhiana, 141 001, India, ajitsood10@sify.com.
authors.forename: Ajit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sood
authors.forename: Vandana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Midha
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Neena
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sood
authors.forename: Manu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bansal
authors.forename: Amandeep
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thara
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khanna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D000069285:Infliximab