Austrian infliximab experience in Crohn's disease: a nationwide cooperative study with long-term follow-up

To determine the nationwide experience with infliximab for the treatment of Crohn's disease in Austria.

National multicentre retrospective postal questionnaire survey.

All institutions using infliximab for Crohn's disease in the years 1999 and 2000 were identified by the registry of the local provider of this drug.

Response after first treatment course according to physician global assessment, number of subsequent infliximab infusions, disease activity at end of follow-up, avoidance of steroids, frequency of surgery for Crohn's disease, and adverse events.

Questionnaires were returned by 32/35 (91%) centres approached. A total of 748 infusions were administered to 153 patients. After the first treatment course an excellent or good response occurred in 48/58 (83%) patients with luminal disease, and in 67/95 (71%) patients with fistulous disease (P < 0.05). After the first treatment course 108 (71%) patients received further infliximab therapy. At a mean follow-up of 29 months, 50% of patients had improved since baseline without requiring surgery for Crohn's disease. Steroid withdrawal was achieved in 25% of patients. Surgery had been performed in one-third of patients and was associated with lacking response to the first treatment course (P < 0.001) and with fistulous disease (P = 0.012). Co-medication with azathioprine favoured the initial response and steroid withdrawal (P < 0.05). One patient died from myocarditis; other adverse events were consistent with that seen in other studies of infliximab.

The Austrian experience with infliximab for Crohn's disease is in general accordance with results from clinical trials and post-marketing studies from single centres. A substantial subgroup of patients appear to have a prolonged benefit from infliximab therapy.