title: Effect of adalimumab on an enterocutaneous fistula in patients with Crohn's disease: a case series.
abstract: Crohn's disease (CD) is characterized by transmural inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, which predisposes patients to the formation of a fistula. The efficacy of adalimumab (ADA) for an enterocutaneous fistula remains unclear. In this report, we present a case series of 3 patients with enterocutaneous fistulizing CD treated with ADA. ADA treatment achieved sustained complete fistula closure in one patient. The other two cases, which failed to achieve fistula closure, had intestinal stenosis and were not receiving concomitant azathioprine. Combination therapy with ADA and azathioprine may be a useful option and an alternative to surgery for enterocutaneous fistulizing CD.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Medical College, Japan.
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yorifuji
authors.forename: Munetaka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iguchi
authors.forename: Taisuke
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakanaka
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Narabayashi
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kakimoto
authors.forename: Sadaharu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nouda
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Toshihisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Kazuhide
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Higuchi
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000068879:Adalimumab