[Optimizing effect of infliximab upon inflammatory bowel disease]

To explore the optimal therapeutic effect of infliximab (IFX) upon inflammatory bowel disease.

Eight patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including 5 Crohn's disease (CD) and 3 ulcerative colitis (UC), were treated with IFX of 5 mg/kg body weight at 0, 2 and 6 weeks, followed by scheduled maintenance therapy every 8 weeks and followed up for a long-term period. Of these patients, 5 cases were resistant to corticosteroid, 2 cases corticosteroid dependency and one naive patient.

All patients responded well to the scheduled program of 5 mg/kg infusion of IFX. Two CD cases achieved a complete remission. Two CD patients responded clinically; one was difficult to judge the result; of the UC patients, one achieved a complete remission and 2 responded. There were no serious side effects during the course of therapy.

Selecting the proper drug indications and therapeutic protocol, determining the doses and course of IFX on the basis of therapeutic response, combining IFX with other immunomodulators (esp. budesonide) and assessing the therapeutic efficacy of IFX by endoscopic mucosa healing rather than symptoms prevent disease recurrence and decrease side effects.