Effectiveness of infliximab in Brazilian children and adolescents with Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis according to clinical manifestations, activity indices of inflammatory bowel disease, and corticosteroid use.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to evaluate the response to infliximab in children and adolescents with Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis up to week 22.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 21 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) received 5 mg/kg of infliximab at weeks 0, 2, 6, and 14. The following parameters were evaluated: clinical manifestations; activity indices of IBD, including the Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index for Crohn disease, the Lightiger Colitis Activity Index and the Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index for ulcerative colitis, and the modified Harvey-Bradshaw Index for Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis; and the reduction or suspension of corticosteroid use.

RESULTS

All of the patients had improvements in clinical manifestations after the first infusion of infliximab. At week 22, 18 of 21 (85.7%) patients were categorized as being in remission, 3 of 21 (14.3%) patients were categorized as having clinical improvement, and none of the patients were categorized as having no response. There was a statistically significant difference in all of the IBD activity indices at weeks 2, 6, 14, and 22 compared with time 0. The corticosteroid use was completely discontinued in 6 of 15 patients by week 22.

CONCLUSIONS

Infliximab is effective in the treatment of Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis in children and adolescents up to week 22.