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Review article: efficacy of infliximab in Crohn’s disease — induction and maintenance of remission
Author(s) -
Rutgeerts P.J.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2036.1999.00025.x
Subject(s) - medicine , infliximab , crohn's disease , maintenance therapy , gastroenterology , disease , population , monoclonal antibody , inflammatory bowel disease , monoclonal , surgery , immunology , antibody , chemotherapy , environmental health
The primary goals of treating patients with Crohn’s disease are to induce a clinical remission, maintain the remission, and prevent associated complications. Various treatment regimens for patients with Crohn’s disease induce a response and remission; however, most prove ineffective for maintenance of the clinical effect. A therapeutic agent that can induce and maintain remission, while promoting the restoration of intestinal mucosa, would prove to be most beneficial in such a patient population. Several studies with infliximab have clinically demonstrated that the antitumour necrosis factor‐alpha therapy rapidly reduced the signs and symptoms in patients with moderate‐to‐severe Crohn’s disease. In acute studies with the chimeric monoclonal antibody, clinical benefit was associated with healing and reduction of inflammation in the bowel mucosal tissue. In a maintenance study, retreatment with infliximab maintained remission of the active disease. Additionally, treatment with the lowest infusion dose of infliximab (5 mg/kg) provided a high degree of clinical benefit with a long‐term outcome.