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Complement activation in plasma before and after infliximab treatment in Crohn disease

E Zimmermann-Nielsen1, J Agnholt, O Thorlacius-Ussing

  • 1Dept. of Surgery K, Hospital of Funen, Svendborg Sygehus, Svendborg, Denmark. erzn.shf-post1@fyns-amt.dk

Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology
|November 19, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Infliximab treatment for Crohn disease reduced immune activation markers, including complement system (C) pathways. This suggests Infliximab down-regulates inflammation in Crohn disease patients.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Crohn disease involves intestinal inflammation, often linked to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha).
  • The complement system (C) may also contribute to sustained inflammation in Crohn disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the complement system in Crohn disease.
  • To assess the impact of Infliximab treatment on complement activation in Crohn disease patients.

Main Methods:

  • Collected plasma from 26 Crohn disease patients with fistulizing ano-rectal disease before and after three Infliximab infusions.
  • Measured complement C3-activation capacities (C3-AC) and other inflammatory markers.

Main Results:

  • Before treatment, C3-AC levels in Crohn disease patients were similar to healthy controls.
  • Infliximab treatment significantly decreased classical complement pathway C3-AC, mannan-binding lectin C4-AC, leucocyte count, C-reactive protein, and Crohn Disease Activity Index.
  • These changes were observed 8 weeks after the first Infliximab infusion.

Conclusions:

  • All three complement pathways were within normal ranges before Infliximab treatment.
  • The reduction in classical pathway C3-AC post-Infliximab indicates a general down-regulation of immune activation in Crohn disease.
Abstract

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