title: Does infliximab short infusion have a beneficial impact on the quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases? A single centre prospective evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Infliximab (IFX) is an anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha agent used in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) therapy. Usually, it is administered over a 2-hour intravenous infusion. However, shortening the infusion duration to 1 hour has proved to be feasible and safe. In the present study we evaluated whether shortening the IFX infusion could affect the patients' quality of life (QoL) compared to the standard protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects affected by IBD receiving IFX were prospectively recruited. The main criterion to shorten the infusion was the absence of IFX-related adverse reactions during the previous three 2-h infusions. For each patient, demographic, clinical and anthropometric data were collected. A questionnaire investigating their overall/job/social/sexual QoL was administered. Ordinal regression was performed with odds ratios (OR) for significant independent variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-one patients were included (46 with ulcerative colitis - UC, 35 with Crohn's disease - CD). Sixteen received the 2-h infusion due to previous adverse reactions, and the remaining 65 underwent the 1-h schedule. Shortening the infusion to 1 hour determined a better QoL (OR=0.626). However, the QoL was negatively influenced by age (OR=1.023), female sex (OR=2.04) and severe disease activity (OR=7.242). One-hour IFX infusion induced a better outcome on work (OR=0.588) and social (OR=0.643) QoL. Long-standing disease was correlated with a slightly better sexual QoL (OR=0.93). Conversely, older age (OR=1.046), severe clinical score (OR=15.579), use of other immunomodulators (OR=3.693) and perianal CD (OR=3.265) were related to an unsatisfactory sexual life. The total number of infusions (OR=0.891), proctitis (OR=0.062) or pancolitis (OR=0.1) minimized the perception of infusion-related side effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 1-h short infusion improves overall, social and job QoL, so that, when indicated, it should be recommended.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Section, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. b.principi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mariabeatrice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Principi
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Section, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Losurdo
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Section, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosa Federica
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: La Fortezza
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Section, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lopolito
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Section, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lovero
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Section, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grillo
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Section, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bringiotti
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Section, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ierardi
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Section, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Leo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology; D000069285:Infliximab / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab