Journal article

Infliximab Maintenance Therapy for Fistulizing Crohn's Disease

BE Sands, FH Anderson, CN Bernstein, WY Chey, BG Feagan, RN Fedorak, MA Kamm, JR Korzenik, BA Lashner, JE Onken, D Rachmilewitz, P Rutgeerts, G Wild, DC Wolf, PA Marsters, SB Travers, MA Blank, SJ Van Deventer

New England Journal of Medicine | MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SOC/NEJM | Published : 2004

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Infliximab, a monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor, is an effective maintenance therapy for patients with Crohn's disease without fistulas. It is not known whether infliximab is an effective maintenance therapy for patients with fistulas. METHODS: We performed a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of infliximab maintenance therapy in 306 adult patients with Crohn's disease and one or more draining abdominal or perianal fistulas of at least three months' duration. Patients received 5 mg of infliximab per kilogram of body weight intravenously on weeks 0, 2, and 6. A total of 195 patients who had a response at weeks 1..

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University of Melbourne Researchers