Efficacy and safety of interferon-gamma-targeted therapy in Crohn's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Summary Aims To evaluate the efficacy and safety of interferon-gamma-targeted therapy in Crohn's disease (CD). Methods Keyword and MeSH searches of MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Database, Science Citation Index and the Chinese Biomedical Database, from the inception of each database to March 2012, were used to identify all available randomized controlled trials. Summary estimates of treatment effects and safety were produced with Review Manager, using relative risks (RR) of clinical response, clinical remission and adverse events rates. Results Only three randomized controlled trials comparing anti-interferon-gamma therapy with placebo were qualified for the meta-analysis according to inclusion criteria. There were significant differences in clinical remission rates between groups (at week 6: RR = 2.01, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18–3.45; at week 8: RR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.17–3.33). There was also a significant difference in clinical response rates at week 8 (RR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.12–2.27). However, there was no statistically significant difference between anti-interferon-gamma therapy and placebo on adverse events rates (RR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.79–1.20). Conclusions Anti-interferon-gamma therapy is safe and effective for treating active CD despite slow onset of action.