title: Induction and Maintenance Infliximab Therapy for the Treatment of Crohn's Disease with Perianal Fistulas in Children: Retrospective, Multicenter Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infliximab is a biological drug used for the treatment of Crohn's disease in children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this retrospective study was the estimation of effectiveness and safety of infliximab in the treatment of Crohn's disease with perianal fistulas in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis comprised 50 children with Crohn's disease with perianal fistulas aged 9 to 18 years (16 girls and 34 boys) who failed to respond to conventional therapy. The children were divided into two groups: the first group contained 23 children with simple fistulas and the second - 27 children with complex fistulas. All children were treated with infliximab, administered in the dose of 5 mg per kilogram of the body mass. In the induction phase infliximab was administered at weeks 0, 2 and 6 and after clinical response in maintenance phase the drug was administered every 8 weeks; together for 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 76% of children after induction therapy with infliximab and in 71.87% after maintenance therapy the complete closure of fistula occurred. During the first year after the treatment a recurrence of a fistula was observed in 30.43% of the children. In two children anaphylactic shock was observed during injection of infliximab. The remaining children tolerated the drug well.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The treatment with infliximab was effective in the majority of fistulazing Crohn's disease and caused the closure of perianal fistula which improved quality of life.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department and Clinic of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland.
authors.forename: Barbara M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Iwańczak
authors.affiliation: Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warszawa, Poland.
authors.forename: Józef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ryżko
authors.affiliation: Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warszawa, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jankowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Jagiellonian University School of Medicine, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sładek
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Jagiellonian University School of Medicine, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wasilewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Disorders, Poznan Univeristy of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szczepanik
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Edyta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sienkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Allergology and Gastroenterology, L. Rydygiera Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szaflarska-Popławska
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Silesia, Gastroenterology Unit, Upper-Silesian Child Health Care Center in Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Więcek
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Silesia, Zabrze, Poland.
authors.forename: Jarosław
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kwiecień
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, State Hospital No. 2 in Rzeszów, Poland.
authors.forename: Bartosz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Korczowski
authors.affiliation: Province Children's Hospital, Kielce, Poland.
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maślana
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D060828:Induction Chemotherapy; D000069285:Infliximab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D060046:Maintenance Chemotherapy; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012003:Rectal Fistula / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D000069285:Infliximab
keywords: Crohn’s disease; infliximab; perianal fistulas