Melek J, Štanclová M, Dědek P, Malý J, Bayer M, Pozler O, Bureš J. Infliximab plus azathioprine is more effective than azathioprine alone in achieving mucosal healing in pediatric patients with Crohn's disease.
J Dig Dis 2020;
21:705-710. [PMID:
32755026 DOI:
10.1111/1751-2980.12927]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Over the past few years, mucosal healing (MH) has emerged as a promising goal in the treatment of pediatric patients with Crohn's disease (CD). We aimed to assess whether combination therapy with infliximab (IFX) + azathioprine (AZA) was more effective than AZA therapy alone in achieving mucosal healing in pediatric patients with CD.
METHODS
Newly diagnosed pediatric patients with CD at the Department of Pediatrics in University Hospital in Hradec Králové were retrospectively recruited (2000-2014). The patients were divided into two groups according to the therapy: (a) IFX + AZA ± corticosteroids ± 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) (n = 16); and (b) AZA ± corticosteroids ± 5-ASA (n = 40). The patients were also divided into two groups: "MH" and "no MH," according to their MH status. MH was defined as the complete endoscopic disappearance of all mucosal ulcerations (including aphthous ulcerations) and the absence of any sign of mucosal inflammation in the terminal ileum and the large bowel.
RESULTS
Of 56 patients, MH was observed in 56% (9/16) treated with combined therapy in comparison with 15% (6/40) of patients in the AZA group (P = 0.006). The median dose of AZA in both groups was 2.1 mg/kg per day. We observed eight adverse events in seven patients from the IFX + AZA group. Adverse effects were less common in the AZA group (P = 0.002).
CONCLUSION
Combined therapy (IFX + AZA) was more effective in achieving MH in pediatric CD than treatment with AZA alone.
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