Original article—alimentary tractInfliximab for Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Denmark 1999–2005: Clinical Outcome and Follow-Up Evaluation of Malignancy and Mortality
Section snippets
Patient and Background Population
In Denmark, infliximab is administered only to hospitalized patients or in hospital-based outpatient settings in accordance with the National Board of Health. To identify all IBD patients treated with infliximab in Denmark between January 1, 1999, and January 1, 2005, we contacted all Gastroenterology Departments. The combination of free hospital care in Denmark, administration of infliximab limited to few Gastroenterology Departments nationwide, close research collaboration between these
Patient Characteristics
In all, 23 departments reported the use of infliximab in patients with IBD during 1999–2005. Medical records were available for 651 of 670 (97.2%) IBD patients (619 with CD, 15 with UC, and 17 with colonic IBD type unclassified (IBDU). A total of 385 patients (59%) were females and 64 (10%) were children younger than 18 years of age, and 23 (4%) were younger than age 15. The median age at first infusion was 31.6 years (range, 9.7–92.4 y). Disease duration before the first infusion was a median
Discussion
In this population-based national cohort study of patients with IBD, infliximab was used both for induction, maintenance treatment, and on-demand treatment. Efficacy was higher in CD and UC than in IBDU. The frequency of infusion reactions was reduced significantly by concomitant treatment with azathioprine/methotrexate, but not by treatment with steroids/paracetamol/antihistamine. The frequency of severe adverse events (such as pneumonia, sepsis, and demyelinization) was 3.3%. No increased
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Dr Bendtsen and Dr Munkholm are members of an advisory board for Schering-Plough, Denmark, and Dr Wewer and Dr Caspersen have received travel grants and payment for oral presentations from Schering-Plough. The present study has received an unrestricted grant from Schering-Plough, Denmark, as well as financial support from the Vibeke Binder & Poul Riis' Foundation and the Pia Munkholm's Foundation.