OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of adalimumab in the healing of draining fistulas in patients with active Crohn's disease (CD).

DESIGN

A phase III, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled study with an open-label extension was conducted in 92 sites.

PATIENTS

A subgroup of adults with moderate to severely active CD (CD activity index 220-450) for >or=4 months who had draining fistulas at baseline.

INTERVENTIONS

All patients received initial open-label adalimumab induction therapy (80 mg/40 mg at weeks 0/2). At week 4, all patients were randomly assigned to receive double-blind placebo or adalimumab 40 mg every other week or weekly to week 56 (irrespective of fistula status). Patients completing week 56 of therapy were then eligible to enroll in an open-label extension.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Complete fistula healing/closure (assessed at every visit) was defined as no drainage, either spontaneous or with gentle compression.

RESULTS

Of 854 patients enrolled, 117 had draining fistulas at both screening and baseline (70 randomly assigned to adalimumab and 47 to placebo). The mean number of draining fistulas per day was significantly decreased in adalimumab-treated patients compared with placebo-treated patients during the double-blind treatment period. Of all patients with healed fistulas at week 56 (both adalimumab and placebo groups), 90% (28/31) maintained healing following 1 year of open-label adalimumab therapy (observed analysis).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with active CD, adalimumab therapy was more effective than placebo for inducing fistula healing. Complete fistula healing was sustained for up to 2 years by most patients in an open-label extension trial.