Mayo Clinic Study Shows Crohns Disease Patients Benefit From Infliximab Plus Azathioprine

The use of infliximab (IFX) plus azathioprine (AZA) and infliximab monotherapy increase the likelihood of patients achieving long-term steroid-free clinical remission in patients with moderate to severe Crohns disease, according to a new study. This study represents the first time longer term outcome data has been available to show the advantages of the combination therapy and IFX monotherapy. Crohn's disease causes inflammation of the lining and wall of the large and/or small intestine. When inflamed, the lining of the intestinal wall is red and swollen, becomes ulcerated, and bleeds. Results of this study will provide practitioners and their patients with more clinical data on how to use these drugs most appropriately to most effectively treat Crohns disease, said William J. Sandborn, MD, AGAF, professor of medicine and vice chair of the Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester. For the first time, we have longer term outcome data on the advantages of combination therapy that will help guide our treatment of patients with Crohns disease.