ArticleBMC gastroenterology2022
Combined therapy with early initiation of infliximab following drainage of perianal fistulising Crohn's disease: a retrospective cohort study.
Article in BMC gastroenterology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 10 citations in OpenAlex.
- Perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease: Clinical practice update from Colitis and Crohn's Foundation (India).Indian journal of gastroenterology : official journal of the Indian Society of Gastroenterology · 2026Guideline
- Perianal Crohn's Disease in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Diagnosis, Assessment and Treatment.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Epidemiology, treatment patterns, and associated risk factors in perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease: A systematic literature review.World journal of gastrointestinal surgery · 2025Article
- Perianal Crohn's disease: Still more questions than answers.World journal of gastroenterology · 2024Article
- Comparison of endoscopic healing and durability between infliximab originator and CT-P13 in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease.Frontiers in immunology · 2024Article
- The Optimal Management of Fistulizing Crohn's Disease: Evidence beyond Randomized Clinical Trials.Journal of clinical medicine · 2022Review
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7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
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Abstract
backgroundRecent studies have confirmed that combined surgery and anti-TNF therapy could improve outcomes in patients with perianal fistulising Crohn's disease (PFCD). However, the optimal timing for infliximab infusion after surgical intervention is uncertain. We aimed to determine the long-term efficacy of early initiation of infliximab following surgery among PFCD patients.
methodsWe performed a retrospective cohort study of PFCD patients who received combined infliximab and surgical treatment between 2010 and 2018 at a tertiary referral hospital. Patients were grouped according to the time interval between surgery and infliximab infusion, with < 6 weeks into early infliximab induction group and > 6 weeks into delayed infliximab induction group. The primary outcome was to compare surgical re-intervention between early and delayed infliximab induction groups. The secondary outcomes were fistula healing and predictors associated with these outcomes of early infliximab induction approach.
resultsOne hundred and seventeen patients were included (73 in early infliximab induction, 44 in delayed infliximab induction). The median interval between surgery and infliximab initiation was 9.0 (IQR 5.5-17.0) days in early infliximab induction group and 188.0 (IQR 102.25-455.75) days in delayed infliximab induction group. After followed-up for a median of 36 months, 61.6% of patients in early infliximab induction group and 65.9% in delayed infliximab induction group attained fistula healing (p = 0.643). The cumulative re-intervention rate was 23%, 32%, 34% in early infliximab induction group and 16%, 25%, 25% in delayed infliximab induction group, at 1, 2, and 3 years respectively (p = 0.235). Presence of abscess at baseline (HR = 5.283; 95% CI, 1.61-17.335; p = 0.006) and infliximab maintenance therapy > 3 infusions (HR = 3.691; 95% CI, 1.233-11.051; p = 0.02) were associated with re-intervention in early infliximab induction group. Presence of abscess at baseline also negatively influenced fistula healing (HR = 3.429, 95% CI, 1.216-9.668; p = 0.02).
conclusionAlthough no clear benefit was shown compared with delayed infliximab induction group, early initiation of infliximab after surgery could achieve promising results for PFCD patients. Before infliximab infusion, durable drainage is required for patients with concomitant abscess or prolonged infliximab maintenance therapy.
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