title: Effect of Humira® on Intestinal Anastomotic Response in Rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the strength and degree of inflammation in small intestinal anastomoses in rabbits after repeated preoperative treatment with the TNF-α antibody, adalimumab (Humira®), compared to placebo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three New Zealand white female rabbits were randomized to three weeks of weekly subcutaneous injections of adalimumab (n = 24) or placebo (n = 9). After this treatment regime, two end to end anastomoses were performed in the ileum. Following euthanasia on postoperative day 5 the anastomoses were evaluated for minimal tensile strength (MITS) and histological parameters of wound healing using a modified Verhofstad Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant differences between the adalimumab and placebo groups in terms of MITS or histological parameters. Multiple regression analyzes revealed that there was no association between MITS and treatment, numbers of sutures, length of surgery, preoperative weight gain, postoperative weight loss or histological score. On the day of surgery the median serum concentration of adalimumab was 5.4 μg/ml (3.4-8.6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Repeated preoperative treatment with adalimumab had no significant influence on MITS or histological score in anastomoses in the small intestine of the rabbits.
authors.affiliation: University of Southern Denmark , Odense M , Denmark.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Strebel
authors.forename: Susanne R H
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biagini
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Qvist
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D057868:Anastomotic Leak / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004751:Enteritis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects / Q000601:surgery*; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000068879:Adalimumab
keywords: adalimumab; intestinal anastomoses; intestinal healing; minimal tensile strength