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. 2003 Jul;52(7):998–1002. doi: 10.1136/gut.52.7.998

Infliximab in moderately severe glucocorticoid resistant ulcerative colitis: a randomised controlled trial

C S J Probert 1, S D Hearing 1, S Schreiber 2, T Kühbacher 2, S Ghosh 3, I D R Arnott 3, A Forbes 4
PMCID: PMC1773722  PMID: 12801957

Abstract

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 ⩽2 and/or Baron score of 0 at week 6. Patients not in remission were offered open label infliximab 10 mg/kg and reviewed two weeks later.

Results: After two weeks, there was no statistically significant difference between the infliximab and placebo groups in the proportion of patients with a Baron score of 0 (13% (3/23) v 5% (1/19) (95% confidence interval (CI) −9% to 24%); p=0.74). After six weeks, remission (UCSS ⩽2) rates were 39% (9/23) versus 30% (6/20) (95% CI −19 to 34%; p=0.76). The median improvement in UCSS was 3 for the infliximab group and 2.5 for the placebo group (p=0.82, Mann-Whitney U test). A Baron score of 0 was likely in either group (26% (6/23) v 30% (6/20) (95% CI −30% to 23%); p=0.96). Improvement in the IBDQ and EuroQol was not significantly different between the groups (p=0.22 and 0.3, respectively, Mann-Whitney U test). Twenty eligible patients were given open labelled infusions. Remission was achieved in 3/11 (27%) patients initially treated with infliximab and in 1/9 (11%) patients treated with placebo.

Conclusion: These data do not support the use of infliximab in the management of moderately active glucocorticoid resistant ulcerative colitis.

Keywords: ulcerative colitis, infliximab, clinical trial, inflammatory bowel disease, glucocorticoids, steroids

Glucocorticoid resistance affects up to 30% of patients with severe ulcerative colitis.1–3 Although it may be possible to predict failure to respond to glucocorticoid therapy in some patients,1,2 little can be done to alter glucocorticoid resistance at present. Some of these patients may respond to cyclosporin3,4 but are likely to undergo colectomy within the next 6–12 months.5,6 The role of increased production of tumour necrosis factor α (TNF) has been established in the pathophysiology of both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease: in 1991, Murch et al reported that, during relapse, serum concentrations of TNF in patients with inflammatory bowel disease were significantly greater than those in healthy controls.7 Median serum concentration of TNF in ulcerative colitis (27 pg/ml) was substantially greater than that in Crohn’s disease (16 pg/ml). Increased concentrations of TNF have also been reported in the mucosa of patients with active ulcerative colitis.8–10

Increased levels of TNF production have given rise to the development of therapies to neutralise this cytokine. The benefits of several monoclonal antibodies against TNF have been established in Crohn’s disease.11–14 Infliximab, a chimeric anti-TNF monoclonal antibody, is a potent anti-inflammatory agent that effectively blocks the action of TNF. Onset of the clinical effect is usually seen within days.11,15 The mechanism of action may include neutralisation of TNF, lysis of activated immune cells,16 and induction of apoptosis in activated macrophages17 and T cells.18 Application of an antibody to TNF was effective in an animal model of colitis.19 Watkins et al reported a similar benefit in cottontop tamarins that can develop a disease resembling human ulcerative colitis spontaneously.20

There are very few clinical data on the role of antibodies to TNF in the therapy of ulcerative colitis.21 During the course of our study, several reports have appeared. Most were open studies that suggested some benefit from infliximab. However, one was a controlled trial that was terminated prematurely due to poor recruitment.22 There are also several case reports with a range of outcomes.

We conducted a double blind, randomised, placebo controlled trial of infliximab in the treatment of moderately severe glucocorticoid resistant ulcerative colitis.

METHODS

Study design

In a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study conducted in four centres in the UK and Germany, we evaluated the role of infliximab in the treatment of patients with moderately severe glucocorticoid resistant ulcerative colitis. The study protocol was approved by the research ethics committee for each centre and all patients gave written informed consent prior to recruitment.

Patients

The trial involved male and female patients aged 18 years or more. Patients had (i) an established diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, (ii) failed to respond to conventional treatment with glucocorticoids, and (iii) were not in need of urgent colectomy. Diagnosis and extent of ulcerative colitis were established prior to the present active phase for which the patient was being treated when recruited. Patients had to have received conventional treatment with at least 30 mg prednisolone (or equivalent) for at least one week, for relapse, but still had clinical activity that qualified for inclusion in the study. At screening, all patients had to have an ulcerative colitis symptom score (UCSS)23 of 6 or more and a sigmoidoscopy score of at least 2 on the Baron scale.24 In addition, all patients had a biopsy taken showing histological changes of acute ulcerative colitis.

Patients were excluded from the trial if they had fulminant disease likely to require colectomy. We specifically excluded patients with severe disease rather than give them either an unlicensed drug or placebo. Women who were pregnant or were planning a pregnancy during or within six months of the trial were excluded. Patients who had received cyclosporin, any therapeutic agent used to directly reduce TNF, or any investigational drug within three months of enrolment, as well as those who had recently commenced treatment (within the last three months) with 6-mercaptopurine or azathioprine were also excluded. However, patients who were receiving a stable dose of 6-mercaptopurine or azathioprine for more than three months were not excluded. All patients underwent stool examination; any patient with a gastrointestinal infection was excluded. Those with known serious infections (such as hepatitis, pneumonia, pyelonephritis, or an opportunistic infection) in the previous three months were excluded. Patients with past or current colorectal dysplasia in the opinion of the local pathologist, malignancy, or Crohn’s disease were excluded. Finally, prior intestinal resection, other than appendicectomy, or the presence of a stoma were also exclusion criteria.

Recruitment and randomisation

Consecutive patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited. Each centre was allocated a series of patient numbers by Schering-Plough. Each number was randomly assigned to either treatment group based on blocks of four within each centre. The local pharmacists and investigators were blinded to the treatment each patient received.

Treatment

All patients were randomised to receive a blinded infusion of infliximab 5 mg/kg body weight or placebo at week 0 and a second identical infusion at week 2. At week 6, all patients were reassessed and those who continued to have active ulcerative colitis were offered open label treatment with 10 mg/kg infliximab. The second infusion was given to see whether it offered any additional benefit over the first. The option to receive open label treatment was included to ensure non-responders who may have received placebo had the opportunity to have active treatment, in addition to determining whether the third dose could bring about remission in those patients who failed to respond to the first two doses. Importantly, at that stage, the investigators remained blinded to the nature of the earlier infusions.

Infliximab was administered according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The placebo was identical in appearance and contained 2.2 mg monobasic sodium phosphate monohydrate, 6.1 mg dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate, 500 mg sucrose, and 0.5 mg polysorbate-80. Infusions were delivered over a two hour period. After infusion patients were observed for a further two hours.

Antirheumatic drugs, antibiotics, and antidiarrhoeal drugs were forbidden during the study. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) was used if analgesic medication was required. The dose of 5- aminosalicylic acid was kept stable throughout the study. The dose of glucocorticoids was kept stable during screening but was then allowed to be changed according to clinical demands. The aim was to reduce the daily dose of glucocorticoid by 5 mg of prednisolone equivalent each week. Azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine doses were kept constant.

Outcome measures

Disease activity was assessed at recruitment and six weeks after the first infusion using the UCSS.23 The UCSS is calculated from four observations: stool frequency, rectal bleeding, sigmoidoscopic appearance, and the physician’s global assessment. Sigmoidoscopic assessment of disease activity was performed at recruitment, two, six, and eight weeks after the first infusion, using the Baron scale.24 The same endoscopist, who was blinded to the treatment, was used at each of the centres throughout the study. Two hard end points were utilised to indicate remission: clinical remission defined as UCSS ⩽2 and sigmoidoscopic remission as a Baron score of 0.

Secondary end points were changes in UCSS, Baron score, quality of life (QOL), and serum C reactive protein (CRP) levels, and change in daily glucocorticoid dose. QOL was measured using the QOL index for inflammatory bowel disease (IBDQ)25 and EuroQol26 at the start of the study and six weeks after the first infusion.

The outcome of patients in each arm receiving open label treatment with 10 mg/kg infliximab at week 6 was also recorded. Serious adverse events during the study period and the following 30 days were recorded in compliance with good clinical practice. Serious adverse events were defined according to the latest International Committee on Harmonisation. This included patients who underwent colectomy during the study period and the following 30 days.

Statistical analysis

Descriptive statistics are presented. Standard deviations are shown when means have been calculated or compared. Interquartile ranges are shown with medians. χ2 tests were performed with Yates’ continuity correction for 2×2 tables, or without correction for larger tables; 95% confidence intervals (CI) are shown for differences in proportions. The Mann-Whitney U test (MW) was performed using SPSS software by an independent statistician. No centre effects were seen.

Sample size calculations were based on assumptions from published trails of infliximab in Crohn’s disease. Targan and colleagues11 reported an 81% response rate to treatment with infliximab 5 mg/kg for Crohn’s disease. A placebo response rate of 30% may be expected for patients with ulcerative colitis.27 Sample size calculations showed that 44 patients were needed to show a difference of 51% with 95% confidence and 90% power.

RESULTS

Patient population

Forty three patients were randomised: 13 from Bristol, 15 from St Mark’s Hospital, eight from Kiel, and seven from Edinburgh. Population demographics and disease characteristics are summarised in table 1 ▶. These characteristics were similar in both groups. All had received at least 30 mg prednisolone (or equivalent) daily for one week or longer in the course of their current exacerbation. In fact, 33/43 (77%) had received glucocorticoid treatment for 14 days or more and median duration of such treatment was 28 days in both groups. Such was the concern about the duration of glucocorticoid treatment that although 33 patients continued to receive 30 mg or more at the time of inclusion, in 10 cases failure to achieve satisfactory remission from glucocorticoid therapy had led to commencement of weaning from glucocorticoids to minimise drug induced morbidity.

Table 1.

Demographic and disease characteristics of the patients at week 0

Placebo group Infliximab group
Age 40 (29–43.5) 41 (35.5–50.5)
Weight (kg) 72 (60–8) 66 (61–78)
Extensive UC 13 14
Left sided disease 3 5
Distal colitis 4 4
Duration of UC (months) 59 (35–96) 75 (39–141)
Azathioprine use (%) 35 26
Prednisolone equivalent (mg/day) 30 (25–30) 30 (30–30)
Duration of steroid treatment (days) 28 (14–45) 28 (11.5–42)
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Data are shown as medians (interquartile ranges). Glucocorticoid doses have been converted to prednisolone equivalents for those patients receiving 6-methyl prednisolone.

UC, ulcerative colitis.

Clinical end points

After six weeks, there was no statistically significant difference between the rate of remission (UCSS ⩽2) in the infliximab and placebo groups (39% (9/23) v 30% (6/20) (95% CI for difference −19 to 34%); χ2=0.09; p=0.76) (table 2 ▶). One patient from the placebo group underwent colectomy during the intervention period and was recorded as a treatment failure. The mean improvement in UCSS was 4 (SD 3) for both groups (table 2 ▶). The median improvement in UCSS was 3 for the infliximab group and 2.5 for the 18 assessable members of the placebo group. This difference was not statistically significant (MW, p=0.82).

Table 2.

Effect of treatment with infliximab or placebo

Week 0 Week 6 Improvement
Group Placebo (n=20) Infliximab (n=23) Placebo Infliximab Placebo Infliximab
Prednisolone equivalent (mg/day) 28 (7) 32 (11) 14 (10) 13 (12) 14 (12) 19(15)
C reactive protein 12 (10) 9 (9) 13 (14) 9 (8) −1 (10) 0 (10)
UC severity score 8.5 (2) 8 (2) 5 (3) 5 (3) 4 (3) 4 (3)
Baron score 2.4 (0.5) 2 (0.5) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1)
IBDQ 114 (29) 127 (40) 139 (43) 163 (40) 25 (28) 36 (49)
EuroQol 49 (17) 52 (16) 54 (23) 59 (19) 4 (16) 7 (17)
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Data are shown as means (standard deviation). Glucocorticoid doses have been converted to prednisolone equivalents for those patients receiving 6- methyl prednisolone.

UC, ulcerative colitis; QOL, quality of life; IBDQ, QOL index for inflammatory bowel disease.

Sigmoidoscopic end points

After two weeks, there was no statistically significant difference between the infliximab and placebo groups in the proportion of patients with a Baron score of 0 (13% (3/23) v 5% (1/19) (95% CI for difference −9% to 24%); χ2=0.10; p=0.74). In 17 (74%) patients in the infliximab group and 12 (63%) in the placebo group, the Baron score did improve, as defined by a decrease in score of at least 1 (95% CI for difference −14 to 42; χ2=0.17; p=0.68).

At week 6, there was no statistically significant difference between the infliximab and placebo groups in the proportion of patients with a Baron score of 0 (26% (6/23) v 30% (6/20) (95% CI for difference −30% to 23%); χ2=0.003; p=0.96) (table 2 ▶). The mean improvement in Baron score was 1 in each group (SD 1 for each group). Thirteen (57%) patients in the infliximab group improved, seven (30%) remained the same, and three (13%) deteriorated such that the score increased by at least 1 point; 11 (58%) patients in the placebo group improved, seven (37%) remained the same, and one underwent colectomy (χ2 without Yates’ continuity correction=0.79; p=0.67). One patient refused sigmoidoscopic assessment but by other clinical measures was deemed to be a treatment failure.

C reactive protein

From week 0 to week 6, median levels of CRP rose in patients who received infliximab, from 6.5 to 10 mg/l, but the median value did not change in the placebo group. When changes in CRP were compared, no difference was found (MW, p=0.96).

Quality of life

Mean IBDQ rose by 36 in the infliximab group (SD 49) compared with 25 in the placebo group (SD 28). The results suggest a modest benefit from infliximab (MW, p=0.22) (table 2 ▶).

Mean improvement in EuroQol was 7 in patients who received infliximab (SD 17) and 4 in whose who received placebo (SD 16), (MW, p=0.3).

Glucocorticoid use

Most patients in each group were able to reduce their dose of glucocorticoid. Mean reduction in daily dose of glucocorticoid in the infliximab group was equivalent to 19 mg prednisolone (SD 15) compared with 14 mg (SD 12) in the placebo group (table 2 ▶). This difference was just statistically significant (MW, p=0.037).

Effect of disease extent and immunosuppressive agents

The groups were well matched for disease duration and extent. Extent of disease had no bearing on remission rate. Of those patients who received infliximab, 5/14 (36%) with total colitis went into remission, 3/5 (60%) with left sided colitis and 1/4 (25%) with distal colitis (χ2 without Yates’ continuity correction=1.3; p=0.5). When remission rates of patients with total disease in each of the two groups were compared, no significant difference was found (χ2 without Yates’ continuity correction=0.02; p=0.9).

The difference in remission rate among the 12 patients who were receiving azathioprine did not reach statistical significance (2/6 (33%) receiving placebo v 4/6 (67%) receiving infliximab (95% CI for difference −79% to 45%); χ2=0.02; p=0.89) although the study was under powered to adequately address this issue.

Open label infusions

Open labelled infusion of infliximab 10 mg/kg body weight was given to 20 eligible patients with continued active disease at week 6. Clinical remission was achieved in 3/11 (37%) patients who had received prior treatment with infliximab at week 0 and week 2 and 1/9 (11%) patients previously treated with placebo. Thus 1/9 (11%) patients who received treatment with infliximab for the first time went into remission. The median improvement in the Baron score was 1. CRP fell in four patients and rose in one. The median change in CRP was 0.

Serious adverse events

Two serious adverse events, which qualified as life threatening or severe, were recorded. Both affected the placebo group. One patient suffered septic complications. Another underwent colectomy because of toxic exacerbation and spontaneous perforation. All other serious adverse events were rated as mild and were not significantly different in frequency between infliximab and placebo treated patients. No significant infusion reactions were seen.

DISCUSSION

Twenty three patients received infliximab for moderately severe glucocorticoid resistant ulcerative colitis. By week 2, sigmoidoscopic remission was apparent in three patients who had received infliximab compared with one who had received placebo, and by week 6 this value had increased to 6 for both patient groups. By most outcome measures, there was no statistically significant difference between the infliximab and placebo groups. While the IBDQ improved slightly with infliximab, this was not statistically significant. However, there was a significantly greater reduction in the dose of glucocorticoid in patients who received infliximab but this is difficult to interpret as the tapering schedule was not standardised and was dependent on the physician’s assessment. Infliximab was well tolerated and there were no serious adverse events among those patients who received active treatment.

An indicator of the poor outcome of the trial was that 20 patients elected to have open labelled treatments for continued active disease. An infusion of 10 mg/kg body weight infliximab did not result in a substantial increase in the frequency of endoscopic remission.

There were no adverse reactions to infusion, which for 11 patients was their third in six weeks. Ongoing glucocorticoid therapy and the high frequency of infliximab infusions may have protected patients from potential infusion reactions mediated by antibodies to infliximab, which have been described in other clinical trials. The main adverse reactions, sepsis and colectomy because of worsening disease, both occurred in the placebo group.

In the first report of anti-TNF antibody to treat ulcerative colitis, 15 patients received open label treatment with CDP571.21 A significant reduction in the Powell-Tuck score was noted one week after infusion but this benefit was not sustained. The improvement in sigmoidoscopic score and in the number of liquid stools was not statistically significant. Chey and colleagues28 reported a series of eight patients treated with a single dose of infliximab. All apparently responded extremely well, entering and remaining in remission for up to five months. Both studies used open label treatment and appeared to show some benefit to patients. Some patients who received study drug in our study also improved. However, the rate of improvement of patients in the active treatment arm was no better than that in the placebo arm. This emphasises the crucial role of randomised placebo controlled trials in the evaluation of new drugs.

In the trial reported by Sands and colleagues,22 eight patients were randomised to receive infliximab (three receiving 5 mg/kg, three 10 mg/kg, and two 20 mg/kg), and three patients received placebo: 50% of infliximab treated patients were reported to have responded by two weeks. Failure to respond was defined as failure to achieve a clinical response based on the Truelove and Witts assessment score, if the patient had to receive an increased dose of glucocorticoid or immunomodulator because of a lack of clinical response, or if the patient underwent colectomy or died. Of the treatment failures, one underwent colectomy during the first two weeks and three had a colectomy during the follow up period. In a tacit acknowledgement that the study was under powered, no statistical analysis was offered by the authors.

Some open studies have suggested the infliximab may be efficacious.28–30 Two studies of glucocorticoid resistant ulcerative colitis in similar populations came to opposite conclusions: Kohn and colleagues30 reported that 10/13 (77%) patients had a clinical response to a single infusion of infliximab, nine of whom (70% of the total) had a sustained response. Conversely, Actis and colleagues31 found that 4/8 patients (50%) responded initially and only two had a sustained response. More recently, Su and colleagues32 reported open treatment in 27 patients; remission was achieved in 12 (44%). However, they observed that remission or partial response was only achieved in 3/9 (33%) of what they termed “steroid refractory” patients. Two patients in their series developed serious adverse events, one of whom died.

We have found no statistically significant benefit to patients from adding infliximab to standard therapy. It is possible that our definition of glucocorticoid resistance was not strict enough and that waiting longer may have selected out a more resistant group of subjects but the median period for which patients had received glucocorticoid therapy prior to recruitment was 28 days. There is no internationally accepted definition of glucocorticoid resistance; some investigators have used failure at 14 days rather than seven. In our study, 77% of patients would have met that stricter definition. Furthermore, the rate of complete remission at week 6 was poor in both the infliximab and placebo arms of the study (39% and 30%, respectively, using the UCSS, or 26% and 30% using sigmoidoscopy scoring alone) suggesting that patients were resistant to glucocorticoid therapy and the definition was reasonable. We would expect that a less restrictive definition of glucocorticoid resistance may be associated with a higher response rate to immunosuppression (including infliximab) than a more restricted one. The placebo response in the trial presented here is not at odds with the rates of 16–52% cited by Hanauer.27 This is interesting when compared with the 33% response rate to infliximab among “steroid refractory” patients reported by Su and colleagues.32

Our end point of remission, based on the endoscopic score or UCSS, was stricter than the efficacy measure used by Sands and colleagues.22 We would argue that any new treatment must make an impact on the remission rate if it is to be used in this setting. Simply prolonging glucocorticoid therapy with or without other therapeutic agents exposes patients to potentially harmful side effects. For patients in whom remission is not achieved in a reasonable period of time, colectomy should be considered.

Forty three patients were randomised (20:23) in our study, resulting in 90% power to find a 51% difference (30% placebo to 81% 5 mg/kg infliximab) with 95% confidence. Thus it was not powered to find a smaller difference, raising the possibility of a type II error, although a lower response rate would have to be balanced against the potential side effects of therapy with infliximab.32,33 Importantly, if the lack of statistical significance were simply due to a lack of power, then a numeric difference in remission rates or any of the secondary end points studied would be evident. However, the summary data for each group at each time point (CRP, response rates, QOL) remained remarkably similar with no trend in favour of infliximab evident.

It might be argued that some benefit was evident at week 2. When the proportions of patients from each group in endoscopic remission were compared, confidence intervals were wide and suggested a benefit of up to 24% in favour of infliximab. By week 6, the upper confidence limit for the benefit from infliximab was 34% when assessed by UCSS ⩽2. However, the benefit was reversed when remission at week 6 was assessed by endoscopy alone: the upper confidence limit for the benefit was 23%, associated with placebo. Hence while the post hoc power calculation indicated that the study should be able to detect a 51% difference, mirroring the improvement found in patients with Crohn’s disease, the study may have been inadequately powered to be sure that there is no clinically relevant benefit from infliximab.

Our data do not support the widespread use of infliximab in the management of glucocorticoid resistant ulcerative colitis. The small advantage of infliximab in glucocorticoid sparing deserves further exploration in controlled trials. It is possible that, with refinement of laboratory techniques, a subgroup of responders may be found, but clinical observation alone has not shown any role for this drug in unselected glucocorticoid resistant patients with ulcerative colitis.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Jochen Grebe, Meron Jacyna, Dick Mountford, Susanna Nikolaus, Max Pitcher, and Ajeya Shetty for their contributions to case selection and clinical care. Institutional grant support was received from Schering-Plough and from the BMBF Competence Network “Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease” (Germany). We are indebted to Hazel Taylor for performing the statistical analysis. We wish to thank Schering Plough Ltd (UK) and Essex Pharma (Germany) for providing the drugs used in this Investigator Instigated Study.

Abbreviations

  • TNF, tumour necrosis factor α

  • UCSS, ulcerative colitis symptom score

  • QOL, quality of life

  • IBDQ, QOL index for inflammatory bowel disease

  • MW, Mann-Whitney U test

  • CRP, C reactive protein

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