Proactive Infliximab Monitoring Improves the Rates of Transmural Remission in Crohn's Disease: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

Background Few patients can reach transmural remission in Crohn's disease (CD) with currently available therapies. Proactive optimization of infliximab (IFX) based on trough levels may potentially improve these results.Methods Retrospective cohort study including consecutive CD patients starting treatment with IFX. Rates of transmural remission were compared between patients with and without therapeutic drug monitoring (target level: 5-7 mu g/mL). A propensity score-matched analysis was performed to adjust for potential confounders.Results A total of 195 CD patients were included, 57.9% receiving proactive therapeutic drug monitoring. The rates of transmural remission were higher in patients under proactive therapeutic drug monitoring (37.2% vs 18.3%; P = .004) with similar results in the propensity score-matched analysis (34.2% vs 17.1%; P = .025). In multivariate analysis, proactive therapeutic drug monitoring was independently associated with transmural remission (odds ratio, 2.95; 95% confidence interval, 1.44-6.06; P = .003).Conclusions Proactive optimization of IFX based on trough levels increases the rates of transmural remission in CD.

Automated summary

This study suggests that proactive optimization of infliximab based on trough levels can increase the rates of transmural remission in Crohn's disease patients.