Adalimumab for Crohn's disease in clinical practice at Mayo clinic: the first 118 patients

We sought to assess the effectiveness and safety of adalimumab for the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD) in clinical practice.

Demographic, clinical, and treatment data were abstracted from the medical record. The primary outcome was clinical response to induction therapy with adalimumab for CD (complete, partial, or nonresponse).

In all, 118 patients were prescribed adalimumab for CD between January 2003 and June 2007. All but five subjects (96%) had received prior infliximab and 50 were on systemic corticosteroids at the time of initial adalimumab dose (44%). A complete response was achieved in 53 patients and 20 patients had no response. The cumulative probability of any response (complete or partial) was 81.3% at 1 year. Dose escalation was required in 59 patients (1-year cumulative probability, 54.0%). Among patients with complete response, 18 lost response during follow-up (1-year cumulative probability, 21.4%). Among 50 patients on corticosteroids at baseline the median daily dose was 20 mg, which decreased to a median of 0 mg during treatment. Sixty-four patients (54%) experienced a total of 117 adverse events. Thirteen patients (11%) experienced 15 serious adverse events. Sixteen patients (14%) discontinued adalimumab due to an adverse event.

Adalimumab was both effective and well tolerated for the treatment of CD in this tertiary practice with a high prevalence of past infliximab exposure. This experience largely predates FDA approval of adalimumab for CD.