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Retreatment and maintenance therapy with infliximab in fistulizing Crohn's disease.

AbstractOBJECTIVES:
Infliximab has clearly demonstrated its efficacy in the short-term treatment of fistulizing Crohn's disease. We present here the results of retreatment and long-term maintenance therapy.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
Eighty one consecutive patients with active fistulizing Crohn's disease, in whom previous treatments had failed, were treated with infliximab. All patients received as the initial treatment of 5 mg/kg i.v. infusions (weeks 0, 2, and 6). Those patients who failed to respond after the initial cycle (group 1, n = 25), or those who relapsed after having responded (group 2, n = 13), received retreatment with three similar doses (weeks 0,2, and 6). Those who responded to retreatment were included in a long-term maintenance programme (n = 44), with repeated doses (5 mg/kg i.v. infusions) every eight weeks for 1-2 years.
RESULTS:
In the initial treatment 56% of the patients responded partially; this response being complete in 44%. In the retreatment, 28% of group 1 (non-responders) presented a complete response, compared to 77% in group 2 (relapsers) (p < 0.0001). In the maintenance treatment, the global response was 88% (39/44). The mean number of doses per patient was 4.4 +/- 2 (range 1-9) with a duration of 36 +/- 12 weeks (range 8-72). Adverse effects were not significantly increased in either treatment.
CONCLUSIONS:
Both retreatment and long-term maintenance therapy with infliximab, are highly effective and well tolerated in fistulizing Crohn's disease patients.
AuthorsL Rodrigo, J M Pérez-Pariente, D Fuentes, V Cadahia, A García-Carbonero, P Niño, R de Francisco, R Tojo, M Moreno, E González-Ballina
JournalRevista espanola de enfermedades digestivas : organo oficial de la Sociedad Espanola de Patologia Digestiva (Rev Esp Enferm Dig) Vol. 96 Issue 8 Pg. 548-54; 554-8 (Aug 2004) ISSN: 1130-0108 [Print] Spain
PMID15449986 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)
Chemical References
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Gastrointestinal Agents
  • Infliximab
Topics
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Algorithms
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal (therapeutic use)
  • Crohn Disease (complications, drug therapy)
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Agents (therapeutic use)
  • Humans
  • Infliximab
  • Intestinal Fistula (drug therapy, etiology)
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retreatment
  • Time Factors

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