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Infliximab Cuts Steroid Use in IBD Patients: Presented at UEGW By Jill Stein PARIS, FRANCE -- October 31, 2007 -- Infliximab treatment decreases overall steroid use in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who are treated outside of a study setting when steroid reduction is not imposed, according to data released on October 29 at the 15th United European Gastroenterology Week (UEGW). Heidi Thompson, MBA, Researcher, Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Centocor Inc., Horsham, Pennsylvania, United States, and associates conducted a study to determine whether steroid reduction with infliximab could be demonstrated in a non-study IBD population when steroid reduction is at the discretion of the treating physicians. A retrospective analysis was conducted using United States medical and pharmacy claims data gathered in a large database between January 1, 2000 and June 30, 2005. Overall, 971 Crohn's disease (CD) patients and 274 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients received infliximab. Their mean Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score was 1.9 for CD and 2.4 for UC. Results showed that in the year prior to the infliximab index date, 58.6% of CD patients had a prescription for an oral steroid versus 45.1% in the year after the infliximab index date (P <.05). The figures were 69.7% for UC patients in the year prior to the infliximab index date versus 52.1% in the year following the infliximab index date (P <.05). The analysis also revealed significant decreases in the mean number of corticosteroid prescriptions for both CD (1.9 vs 1.4, P <.05) and UC (2.5 vs 1.8, P <.05) and the number of days in which a corticosteroid was available for CD (49.9 vs 36.2, P <.05) and UC (70.3 vs 48.6; P <.05) during the post period for infliximab-treated patients. Immunomodulators showed no such steroid-sparing effects. The mean number of steroid prescriptions per patient and the mean number of days for which a steroid was available were not statistically different for patients with CD or UC following initiation of immunomodulators. Thompson said that infliximab treatment should be considered in IBD patients who are steroid dependent, have steroid toxicity, or who respond inadequately to steroid treatment. She added that the findings support prior data showing that infliximab is a steroid-sparing IBD therapy. [Presentation Title: Infliximab Is Clinically Effective in Reducing the Need for Steroids in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Abstract Mon-G-211] E-mail this page to a friend or colleague! To print, use this version