Rapid Test for Infliximab Drug Concentration Allows Immediate Dose Adaptation.

Objectives: Therapeutic drug monitoring of infliximab improves treatment outcomes, but available assays to monitor infliximab lack speed to implement treatment algorithms immediately. Our aim is to validate a rapid, lateral flow-based assay (LFA) for quantitative determination of infliximab and to assess thresholds associated with mucosal healing in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Methods: Samples (n=190) from 29 anti-tumor necrosis factor naive patients with ulcerative colitis starting infliximab induction therapy between June 2010 and February 2012 were prospectively collected.

Thromboembolism as an important complication of inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a higher risk of developing thromboembolic events (TE) compared with the healthy population.

Aim: This study aimed to describe a cohort of IBD patients with a history of TE focusing on recurrence of TE, disease activity and IBD medication at the time of TE and surgery before TE.

Materials And Methods: In a retrospective monocentric cohort study, we included IBD patients in whom an arterial and/or venous TE occurred.

Identification of an inflammatory bowel disease patient with a deep vein thrombosis and an altered clot lysis profile.

Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by flares and remission, are prone to develop thrombosis. The mechanism behind this prothrombotic state is not completely understood but is definitely multifactorial and linked with excessive inflammation observed in these patients. So far, no biomarker exists to select among IBD patients those with and increased risk for thrombosis.

The Occurrence of Thrombosis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Reflected in the Clot Lysis Profile.

Background: The occurrence of thromboembolic events (TE) is an important extraintestinal manifestation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to compare fibrinolysis and clot lysis parameters between (1) patients with IBD and healthy controls and (2) patients with IBD with TE (IBD + TE) and without TE (IBD - TE).

Methods: One hundred thirteen healthy controls and 202 patients with IBD, of which 84 patients with IBD + TE and 118 patients with IBD - TE, were included in this case-control study.

Short-term effect of infliximab is reflected in the clot lysis profile of patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a prospective study.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is recognized as an independent risk factor for thrombosis. First, we investigate whether the concentration of fibrinolysis inhibitors is increased in patients with IBD. Second, we investigate the effect of infliximab induction therapy on the hemostatic profile.

Active PAI-1 as marker for venous thromboembolism: case-control study using a comprehensive panel of PAI-1 and TAFI assays.

Background: Both activated Thrombin Activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor (TAFI) and active Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) attenuate fibrinolysis and may therefore contribute to the pathophysiology of Venous ThromboEmbolism (VTE). Whether increased TAFI and/or PAI-1 concentrations are associated with VTE is unclear.

Objective: To study an association of impaired fibrinolysis and VTE using a comprehensive panel of in-house developed assays measuring intact TAFI, activation peptide of TAFI (AP-TAFI), PAI-1 antigen, endogenous PAI-1:t-PA complex (PAI-1:t-PA) and active PAI-1 levels in 102 VTE patients and in 113 healthy controls (HC).