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Clinical trial: cyclophosphamide pulse therapy - a promising therapeutic alternative in refractory Crohn's disease
K J Schmidt1, K Fellermann, P Wellhöner
1Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany. klausjuergen.schmidt@uk-sh.de
Background:
In severe steroid-refractory Crohn's disease (CD), established therapies fail in a relevant proportion of patients. Recent pilot studies indicated the efficacy of cyclophosphamide pulse therapy in these patients.
Aim:
To provide further and substantial evidence for the rationale to apply cyclophosphamide pulse therapy as therapeutic option in severe courses of CD.
Methods:
Fifteen patients with steroid-refractory (n = 13) or steroid-dependent (n = 2) CD received 2-6 (median 3) monthly pulses of 750 mg cyclophosphamide in an open-label fashion. Eleven patients were on concomitant immunosuppression (azathioprine/mercaptopurine n = 9; methotrexate n = 2).
Results:
Thirteen of 15 patients (87%) had a clinical response (CDAI decrease >100). Ten patients (67%) went into remission (CDAI <150) after 8 weeks. Steroid-free remission was achieved in eight patients (54%). Two patients (13%) failed to respond. Median CDAI decreased from 420 (245-550) to 100 (26-538) at week 8. Remission lasted 16 months (median, range 4-40). In three patients, arthritis, erythema nodosum and episcleritis completely resolved. Cyclophosphamide pulse therapy administration was well tolerated in all subjects.
Conclusions:
Cyclophosphamide pulse therapy is safe and highly effective for induction and maintenance of remission in steroid-refractory/-dependent CD. There is a strong need for additional experience to improve the setting of the encouraging cyclophosphamide treatment in CD.
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