Use of a novel biologics-infliximab in the treatment of ten patients with Crohn's disease / 中华消化杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of a novel biologies-infliximab in the treatment of patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Methods A prospective study was conducted in 10 patients with CD(8 with active refractory CD and 2 with severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding caused by CD). All patients were intravenously infused with infliximab of 5 mg/kg body weight in an induction regimen of 3 doses at week 0, 2 and 6, followed by maintenance dosing every 8 weeks beginning at week 14. The clinical and endoscopic efficacy of infliximab were evaluated by follow-up of 30 weeks. Results ① Five out of 8 patients with active CD had initial clinical response at week 2. Clinical remission was found in 4 patients at week 30, (3 of them in symptomatic remission without corticosteroids). ② Two patients with severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding caused by CD were in control of bleeding and absence of further recurrence by 30 weeks follow-up. ③ Endoscopy was performed in 6 patients at week 30 to evaluate the healing of mucosal ulceration. Four patients were evaluated for complete or almost mucosal healing. ④ Adverse events were seen in 7 out of 10 patients with infliximab treatment, among whom 2 cases had severe side effect including pneumonia in one and delayed hypersensitirity reaction in the other. Conclusion Infliximab has efficacy for the induction and maintenance of remission in part of patients with active CD. Some patients achieved mucosal healing with infliximab therapy and low incidence of serious adverse events.