Published in:
01-02-2019 | Original Article
High-Dose Infliximab Rescue Therapy for Hospitalized Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis Does Not Improve Colectomy-Free Survival
Published in: Digestive Diseases and Sciences | Issue 2/2019
Login to get accessAbstract
Background and Objective
Optimization strategies with infliximab (IFX) are increasingly used as rescue therapy for steroid refractory acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC). We aim to determine if intensified IFX induction improves colectomy rate and identifies outcome predictors.
Methods
Hospitalized adult patients who received IFX for ASUC between 2010 and 2016 were identified. We compared standard inductions (5 mg/kg) vs high-dose induction (10 mg/kg) with 3-month colectomy rate as primary outcome.
Results
Seventy-two patients (62.5% male, median age 38.5) were identified. Thirty-seven patients (51.3%) received 5 mg/kg IFX and 35 received 10 mg/kg. Baseline clinical, biochemical and endoscopic parameters were well matched between these two groups. 10 mg/kg was more likely to be used by clinicians from 2014 onwards (p < 0.001). Three-month colectomy rate was 9.7%; which was not significantly different between the standard (5.4%) and high-dose (14.3%) IFX induction (p = 0.205). CRP ≥ 60 (OR 10.9 [95% CI 1.23–96.50], p = 0.032), hemoglobin ≤ 90 g/L (OR 15.6 [95% CI 2.61–92.66], p = 0.036) and albumin < 30 g/L (OR 9.4 [95% CI 1.06–83.13], p = 0.044) were associated with increased risk of colectomy at 3 months in univariate regression analysis.
Conclusion
Use of high-dose infliximab rescue therapy did not improve 3-month colectomy-free survival in this cohort. Tailored use in high-risk patients may be beneficial although further validation is required.