DRUG TO TREAT CROHN'S DISEASE
Originally published by Mayo Clinic Health Letter, January 1999
A drug is available specifically for Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel disease that affects about half a million people in the United States. Infliximab (Remicade) has been approved for use by people with moderate to severe Crohn's disease who have not responded well to more traditional treatments, such as corticosteroids and azathioprine (Imuran).
Infliximab is a genetically engineered substance. It neutralizes a natural protein in the body called tumor necrosis factor that promotes inflammation.
In clinical trials, more than 60 percent of those treated with a single intravenous dose of infliximab experienced improvement in their Crohn's disease after 4 weeks. However, the benefits from the drug decreased during following months. Infliximab also helped reduce the number of open, draining holes (fistulae) that can form from the intestine all the way through the skin.
Mayo Clinic doctors say infliximab is an exciting breakthrough for the treatment of Crohn's disease in people who don't respond to other treatments. They add, though, that because the drug is new, its long-term safety is still uncertain. Research is planned to determine how safe and effective the drug is when used for longer periods.
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