998
INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE
Infliximab in moderately severe glucocorticoid resistant ulcerative colitis: a randomised controlled trial C S J Probert, S D Hearing, S Schreiber, T Kühbacher, S Ghosh, I D R Arnott, A Forbes ............................................................................................................................. Gut 2003;52:998–1002
See end of article for authors’ affiliations
....................... Correspondence to: Dr C S J Probert, University Division of Medicine, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Marlborough St, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK;
[email protected] Accepted for publication 21 March 2003
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Background: Tumour necrosis factor production is increased in the mucosa of patients with active ulcerative colitis. The benefits of infliximab in Crohn’s disease are established. We investigated its efficacy in ulcerative colitis. Methods: We conducted a randomised placebo controlled trial of infliximab (5 mg/kg) in the treatment of glucocorticoid resistant ulcerative colitis. Infusions were given at weeks 0 and 2. Disease activity and quality of life were recorded over eight weeks of follow up. Remission was defined as an ulcerative colitis symptom score (UCSS) of
