Aim: To investigate the effectiveness of early infliximab use for induction and maintenance therapy in pediatric Crohn's disease.
Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 36 patients with Crohn's disease. Ten patients (group A) were treated with mesalamine after induction therapy with oral prednisolone, and 13 patients (group B) were treated with azathioprine after induction therapy with oral prednisolone. Thirteen patients (group C) received infliximab and azathioprine for induction and maintenance therapy for the first year, and were treated with azathioprine after 1 year. All patients were followed for at least 24 mo. Efficacy was determined by the relapse rate using the pediatric Crohn's disease activity index score in each group at 12 and 24 mo.
Results: At the 1 year follow-up, the relapse rate (23.1%, 3 of 13 patients) in group C was lower than that (61.5%, 8 of 13 patients) in group B (P = 0.047). At the 2 years follow-up, the relapse rate (38.5%, 5 of 13 patients) in group C was lower than that (76.9%, 10 of 13 patients) in group B (P = 0.047). Adverse events in group C were fewer than in groups A and B.
Conclusion: Early induction with infliximab at diagnosis, known as "top-down" therapy, was effective for reducing the relapse rate compared to conventional therapies for at least 2 years.