Infliximab for Induction and Maintenance Therapy for Ulcerative Colitis

Infliximab is a monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor α and is effective in the treatment of Crohn's disease. This article reports the results of two randomized, placebo-controlled trials of infliximab in patients who had active ulcerative colitis despite conventional therapy. Infliximab was more effective than placebo in achieving and maintaining clinical response and remission. This article reports the results of two randomized, placebo-controlled trials of infliximab in patients who had active ulcerative colitis despite conventional therapy. Infliximab was more effective than placebo in achieving and maintaining clinical response and remission. Ulcerative colitis is characterized by mucosal ulceration, rectal bleeding, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Pharmacologic management of ulcerative colitis has relied mainly on 5-aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants, including purine antimetabolites and cyclosporine. 1 , 2 Corticosteroid dependence is a clinically important problem 3 ; furthermore, the probability of colectomy within the first five years after diagnosis ranges from 9 percent in patients with distal colitis to 35 percent in patients with total colitis, most commonly because of failed medical therapy. 4 The cumulative risk of recurrent inflammatory bowel disease in the form of pouchitis ranges from 15.5 percent 1 year after the procedure to 45.5 . . .