Infliximab as rescue therapy in hospitalised patients with steroid-refractory acute ulcerative colitis: a long-term follow-up of 211 Swedish patients

• DOI: 10.1111/apt.12387
• Publication Date: 2013-06-25T22:14:49Z
• Authors: M. Sjöberg; A. Magnuson; J. Björk; C. Benoni; S. Almer; I. Friis-Liby; E. Hertervig; M. Olsson; P. Karlén; A. Eriksson; G. Midhagen; M. Carlson; A. Lapidus; J. Halfvarson; C. Tysk
• Keywords: Rescue therapy; Refractory (planetary science)

Background Rescue therapy with infliximab (IFX) has been proven effective in a steroid-refractory attack of ulcerative colitis (UC). The long-term efficacy is not well described. Aim To present retrospective study IFX as rescue UC. Primary end points were colectomy-free survival at 3 and 12 months. Methods In this multicentre study, 211 adult patients hospitalised between 1999 2010 received 5 mg/kg due to steroid-refractory, moderate-to-severe Exclusion criteria duration current flare for >12 weeks, corticosteroid treatment >8 weeks before hospitalisation, previous or Crohn's disease. Results Probability months was 0.71 (95% CI, 0.64–0.77), 0.64 0.57–0.70), years 0.59 0.52–0.66) 0.53 0.44–0.61). Steroid-free, clinical remission achieved 105/211 (50%) 112/209 (54%) respectively. Of 75 colectomies during the first year, 48 (64%) carried out 14 days, 13 (17%) on days 15–90 (19%) There three (1.4%) deaths Conclusions Infliximab an treatment, both short- long-term, Most failures underwent surgery which calls studies how optimise induction IFX. Serious complications, including mortality, rare.