Efficacy and safety of infliximab and adalimumab in Crohn's disease: a single centre study.

BACKGROUND: Infliximab and adalimumab are highly effective in Crohn's Disease (CD). This is supported by clinical trials and open-label studies using either infliximab or adalimumab, thus not allowing a proper comparison between these anti-TNFs in CD. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of infliximab and adalimumab in active CD. METHODS: In a longitudinal study, CD patients with indication for anti-TNFs were treated with infliximab or adalimumab. RESULTS: Ninety-three patients were treated with infliximab (n = 44) or adalimumab (n = 49). In the infliximab group, the induction was completed by 77.3% of patients, due to no response (n = 2), delayed hypersensitivity reactions (DHR) or infusion reactions (n = 8). Maintenance with infliximab was completed by 60% of patients, due to clinical worsening or loss of efficacy (n = 5), DHR or infusion reactions (n = 5). In the adalimumab group, all patients completed the induction, while maintenance was completed by 67% of patients, due to clinical worsening or loss of efficacy (n = 8), DHR (n = 1), other causes (n = 7). In both groups, the CDAI significantly reduced at baseline vs. each visit (P < 0.04). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis performed to evaluate the risk of steroid-free remission in patients treated with infliximab vs. adalimumab detected no differences (log-rank test P = 0.4). Cox proportional-hazards regression identified two predictors of steroid-free remission using anti-TNFs: no smokers [HR = 2.94 (1.52-5.70), P = 0.001] and non stricturing non penetrating behaviour [HR = 3.116 (1.06-9.13), P = 0.03826]. CONCLUSIONS: Infliximab and adalimumab showed a similar efficacy. No smoking and non-stricturing non-penetrating behaviour were predictors of steroid-free remission.