Predictive factors of response to infliximab therapy in Brazilian inflammatory bowel disease patients

Background: Biological therapies have revolutionized the treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Infliximab (IFX) has been shown to be effective in inducing and maintaining remission in patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. However, about one-third of the patients are primary non-responders, and up to half can lose response over time. Hence, it is important to assess which factors are related to treatment failure.

Objectives: We aimed to identify factors predicting clinical and endoscopic remission with IFX treatment during maintenance therapy in a Brazilian IBD referral center.

Design: We conducted a cross-sectional study to describe demographic, clinical, and IBD therapy-related characteristics of IBD patients treated with IFX for at least 6 months in a Brazilian referral center. Subsequently, we evaluated factors associated with clinical and endoscopic remission (primary and secondary outcomes, respectively).

Methods: We used descriptive statistics to summarize the essential demographic and clinical characteristics of the population. The association of sociodemographic and clinical variables with outcomes was analyzed using multivariable logistic regression.

Results: A total of 131 IBD patients (the mean age 41.7 years) were enrolled in this study. Clinical and endoscopic remission were observed in 79.4% and 58.2% of the patients, respectively. In the multivariable analysis, IFX therapy duration and higher albumin levels increased the likelihood of clinical remission, while previous surgery decreased its chance. Prior use of adalimumab and higher C-reactive protein levels reduced the likelihood of endoscopic remission.

Conclusion: In summary, this study has enhanced our understanding of the predictive factors of treatment response to IFX in a well-characterized Brazilian IBD population.

Trial registration: 4.254.501 and 2.903.748.