Gut Liver.  2018 May;12(3):255-262. 10.5009/gnl17290.

Early Infliximab Yields Superior Long-Term Effects on Linear Growth in Pediatric Crohn's Disease Patients

• Choi J
• Kang B
• Kim MJ
• Sohn I
• Lee HJ
• Choe YH

• KMID: 2411670
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5009/gnl17290

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Information regarding the efficacy of early infliximab treatment in pediatric patients with Crohn's disease (CD) is limited. We aimed to evaluate the impact of early combined immunosuppression on linear growth in pediatric patients with CD by performing step-up comparisons.
METHODS
This retrospective study included pediatric patients with moderate-to-severe CD, who received a combination therapy with infliximab and azathioprine for at least 3 years and sustained corticosteroid-free remission without loss of response. The z-scores of the growth indicators obtained at the time of diagnosis and annually for 3 years thereafter were compared between the two groups.
RESULTS
The early combined immunosuppression group displayed significantly increased linear growth 3 years after diagnosis (p=0.026). A significant difference was also observed in the linear growth 3 years after diagnosis between subgroups of Tanner stages 1-2 (p=0.016).
CONCLUSIONS
The early introduction of biologics should be considered to improve linear growth in pediatric patients with CD.

Keyword

Infliximab; Growth; Height; Tanner stage

MeSH Terms

Azathioprine
Biological Products
Crohn Disease*
Diagnosis
Humans
Immunosuppression
Infliximab*
Retrospective Studies
Azathioprine
Biological Products
Infliximab