Long-term infliximab therapy for ulcerative colitis

The aim of the study is to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy of long-term infliximab treatment for patients with refractory ulcerative colitis (UC). Materials and methods. The study included 48 patients with refractory UC who had been receivinginfliximab treatment from 2008 to 2014. Steroid-associated or steroid-refractory UC was diagnosed in 40 (83.3%) patients. Eight (16.7%) patients were resistant to azathioprineor 6-merkatopurinetherapy. We used induction therapy with infliximab in a regimen of 5 mg/kg at 0.2 and 6 weeks, and continued the supportive therapy every 8 weeks.Results. After induction courses, 3 (6.3%) patients did notdemonstrate the clinical response to infliximab induction therapy and were excluded from the study. 25 (55.5%) patients in state of clinical remission up to the present day continued to receive infliximab in a regimen of 5 mg/kg every 8 weeks among 45 patients responded to therapy. 4 (8.8%) patients after 18 months therapy became non-responder, and we had to use its intensification. We increased the dose of infliximab in 2 times (to 10 mg/kg of body weight) in 2 patients and we shortened the time between the regimens from 8 to 4 weeks in other 2 patients. The changing in the therapy was successful: all 4 patients had been staying in state of clinical remission up to the present day. Asa result the maintenance infliximab therapy was successful during 64 months in 29 (64.4%) patientsamong 45 providing to increase its intensity if necessary.Conclusion. The results of long-term usage of infliximab in patients with UC study confirmed the international data concerningthe high efficiency in terms of achieving clinical response, the induction of the clinical remission, the ability to heal the mucous membranes lining the colon and decrease the frequency of relapses.

infliximab, ulcerative colitis