Efficacy of infliximab for extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease.

Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), collectively referred to as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are associated with extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) in approximately 40% of patients. Infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody to tumor necrosis factor-alpha, is effective for induction and maintenance of remission of CD and UC. The role of infliximab for EIMs related to IBD has been less studied, but it is likely as effective.

Infliximab dose intensification in Crohn's disease.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) patients who lose response to infliximab may benefit from an increase in dose or decrease in interval between infusions. The aims of this study were to determine the proportion of CD patients who require dose intensification and factors associated with dose intensification.

Methods: All CD patients who received at least 8 doses of infliximab at the University of Pittsburgh infusion center were included in an analysis to determine the need for dose intensification.

Assessment of reliability and validity of IBD phenotyping within the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) IBD Genetics Consortium (IBDGC).

Background: The NIDDK IBD Genetics Consortium (IBDGC) collects DNA and phenotypic data from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) subjects to provide a resource for genetic studies. No previous studies have been performed on the reliability and validity of phenotypic determinations in either Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) using primary records. Our aim was to determine the reliability and validity of these phenotypic assessments.