Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Adalimumab is effective in inducing and maintaining response/remission in patients with Crohn's disease either naive to biological therapies or after secondary failure of infliximab.
AIM: To present the first 'real-life' survey data from England and Ireland on the use of adalimumab.
METHOD: A retrospective audit conducted through a web-based questionnaire in England/Ireland.
RESULTS: We analysed data on 61 patients (35 female, 26 male) with a median age of 33 years (range 17-71 years) and an average follow-up of 8 months. The maximal maintenance dose was 40 mg every other week in 84% of patients, 40 mg weekly in 13% and 80 mg weekly in 3%. Maintenance adalimumab achieved remission in 57% of patients. The ongoing response rate was 83.6%. An additional 8% had a secondary loss of response after an average of 8.4 months (range 2-17). Adverse effects were observed in 23% of patients: of which there was local pain in 29%, infection in 36%, headaches in 14%, leucopenia (on azathioprine) in 7%, a painful rash in 7% and serum-sickness-type reaction in 7%. Adverse events led to discontinuation in two patients.
CONCLUSION: This English/Irish audit shows an acceptable response/remission and safety profile of adalimumab in the treatment of Crohn's disease. In contrast to earlier data from Scotland, dose escalation was only observed in 16% of patients. The majority of responders were steroid-free at follow-up.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 334-9 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 2010 |
Keywords
- Adalimumab
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents
- Antibodies, Monoclonal
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
- Crohn Disease
- Drug Utilization Review
- England
- Female
- Gastrointestinal Agents
- Health Care Surveys
- Humans
- Internet
- Ireland
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Practice Patterns, Physicians'
- Remission Induction
- Retrospective Studies
- Steroids
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- Time Factors
- Treatment Outcome
- Young Adult
- Journal Article
- Multicenter Study