Efficacy of dashboard driven dosing of infliximab in inflammatory bowel disease patients; a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: Loss of response (LOR) to infliximab (IFX) remains a challenge in the management of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Proactive dosing strategies to achieve and maintain predefined IFX trough levels (TL) may prevent LOR. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of dashboard driven IFX dosing compared to standard dosing in a prospective trial in IBD patients.

Higher anti-TNF serum levels are associated with perianal fistula closure in Crohn's disease patients.

Anti-TNF agents are effective to treat perianal Crohn's disease (CD). Evidence suggests that Crohn's disease patients with perianal fistulas need higher infliximab (IFX) serum concentrations compared to patients without perianal CD to achieve complete disease control. Our aim was to compare anti-TNF serum concentrations between patients with actively draining and closed perianal fistulas.

Similar Short- and Long-term Colectomy Rates with Ciclosporin and Infliximab Treatment in Hospitalised Ulcerative Colitis Patients.

Background And Aims: Ciclosporin A [CsA] and infliximab [IFX] are similarly effective in preventing short-term colectomy in ulcerative colitis [UC] patients, but long-term data are scarce. We aimed to compare short- and long-term efficacy of CsA and IFX by analysing colectomy rates and failure of remission-induction treatment as outcome parameters for treatment success.

Methods: We retrospectively studied hospitalised UC patients who received CsA or IFX for moderate-to-severe UC, between January 2000 and April 2014.

Serum Concentration of Anti-TNF Antibodies, Adverse Effects and Quality of Life in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Remission on Maintenance Treatment.

Background And Aims: High serum concentrations of infliximab [IFX] and adalimumab [ADA] may be associated with adverse effects in patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. We aimed to investigate whether high anti-tumour necrosis factor [TNF] trough levels [TLs] were associated with toxicity and impaired quality of life [QoL].

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study in IBD patients in clinical and biochemical remission on IFX or ADA maintenance therapy.

Adalimumab combined with ciprofloxacin is superior to adalimumab monotherapy in perianal fistula closure in Crohn's disease: a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled trial (ADAFI).

Objective: To assess whether a combination of adalimumab and ciprofloxacin is superior to adalimumab alone in the treatment of perianal fistulising Crohn's disease (CD).

Design: Randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled trial in eight Dutch hospitals. In total, 76 CD patients with active perianal fistulising disease were enrolled.

[Primary sclerosing cholangitis].

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a cholestatic liver disease of unknown cause, with genetic predisposition in combination with environmental factors possibly playing a role. The diagnosis is made on the basis of a liver enzyme profile indicating cholestasis and characteristic bile duct abnormalities in cholangiography or the liver biopsy after excluding other causes. Approximately 80% of patients have concurrent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), specifically ulcerative colitis in most patients.

Geographic pathology of Helicobacter pylori gastritis.

Background And Aim: Helicobacter pylori is etiologically associated with gastritis and gastric cancer. There are significant geographical differences between the clinical manifestation of H. pylori infections.