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Short‐term study of infliximab treatment for Crohn's disease in China
Author(s) -
ZHENG Jia Ju,
ZHI Pang,
WANG Yu Ming,
ZHU Fan,
GU Wei,
XING Yi Chen,
ZHOU Chun Li,
SHEN Bi Wu
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of digestive diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.684
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1751-2980
pISSN - 1751-2972
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-2980.2011.00485.x
Subject(s) - medicine , infliximab , adverse effect , gastroenterology , erythrocyte sedimentation rate , anemia , crohn's disease , surgery , disease
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness and safety of short‐term treatment of infliximab (IFX) in a group of Chinese patients with active Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS: Patients with established diagnosis of active CD were treated with IFX intravenously with a dose of 5 mg/kg at week 0, 2, 6. Clinical assessments were performed at baseline (week 0) and every week after IFX infusion until 8 weeks after the induction dose. RESULTS: Fourteen patients (nine male, five female) with a mean age of 29.7 years (range from 15 to 65 years) were included in the analysis. The mean subjective scores were decreased from 2.85 ± 0.57 at baseline to 1.3 ± 0.4 at week 14 ( P < 0.05). The mean Harvey‐Bradshaw index was 7.9 ± 1.5 at baseline and 2.3 ± 1.0 at week 14. The levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum C‐reactive protein, total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) were significantly improved during the 14‐week period. Colonoscopy showed a remarkable improvement. Mild and transient adverse events including skin itching, headache and elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate transaminase were each observed in one patient. Severe anemia, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia at week 27 after three infusions of IFX were observed in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with three infusions of IFX at a dose of 5 mg/kg was effective for induction of remission for active CD patients who failed to respond to conventional therapies. Study of long‐term efficacy and safety of IFX therapy is warranted for further investigations.