title: Comparison of the therapeutic efficacy and safety between tacrolimus and infliximab for moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis: a single center experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Both tacrolimus (Tac) and infliximab (IFX) are effective for moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this study was to compare the therapeutic efficacy and safety of both drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective analysis of 46 patients with moderate-to-severe UC who were treated either by Tac (n = 21) or IFX (n = 25). We compared the remission and response rates for 10 weeks between the two groups. In patients who achieved a clinical response, the subsequent relapse rate was compared. The overall adverse events were also compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The remission and response rates at week 10 did not differ between patients treated with Tac (67% and 86%, respectively) and patients treated with IFX (76% and 92%, respectively). Among 41 patients showing a clinical response, eight of 23 patients treated with IFX and eight of 18 patients treated with Tac showed a subsequent relapse. The risk of relapse was not different between the two groups. While no serious adverse events were observed, the incidence of adverse events was higher in patients treated with Tac than in those treated with IFX.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tac and IFX may be equally efficacious for the induction and maintenance of remission in patients with UC while minor adverse events are more frequent with the former treatment.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences , Kyushu University , Fukuoka , Japan ;
authors.forename: Yoichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nuki
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences , Kyushu University , Fukuoka , Japan ;
authors.forename: Motohiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esaki
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences , Kyushu University , Fukuoka , Japan ;|b Department of Endoscopic Diagnostics and Therapeutics , Kyushu University Hospital , Fukuoka , Japan ;
authors.forename: Kouichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences , Kyushu University , Fukuoka , Japan ;
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maehata
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences , Kyushu University , Fukuoka , Japan ;
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Umeno
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences , Kyushu University , Fukuoka , Japan ;
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moriyama
authors.affiliation: c Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine , Iwate Medical University , Morioka , Japan.
authors.forename: Shotaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: c Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine , Iwate Medical University , Morioka , Japan.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences , Kyushu University , Fukuoka , Japan ;
authors.forename: Takanari
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kitazono
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D057186:Comparative Effectiveness Research; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D060828:Induction Chemotherapy; D000069285:Infliximab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D060046:Maintenance Chemotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069285:Infliximab; D016559:Tacrolimus
keywords: Infliximab; short-term efficacy; tacrolimus; ulcerative colitis