Table 1.
Prognostic indicators of response to anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment in ulcerative colitis
At initiation of treatment | During treatment |
Clinical and epidemiological parameters | |
Severity of the disease | Early clinical response |
Younger age | |
Duration of colitis < 3 yr | |
Extensive colitis | |
Laboratory indicators | |
CRP | Low CRP at week 12 |
Hemoglobin | Drop of serum CRP |
Serum albumin | Fecal calprotectin |
Immunological and genetic markers | |
p-ANCA | Gene expression profiling |
Pre-treatment mucosal TNF-α expression | Percentages of regulatory T cells |
Mucosal expression of IL-17 and IFN-γ | |
Genetic polymorphisms | |
Endoscopic findings | |
Mucosal healing | |
Treatment-related factors | |
Pharmacological history | Number of IFX infusions |
Exposure to immunosuppressants | Co-administration of immunosuppressants |
Response to prior treatment with infliximab | Escalation of anti-TNF therapy |
IFX trough levels | |
Antibodies against anti-TNF |
CRP: C-reactive protein; p-ANCA: Perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmatic antibodies; TNF:Tumor necrosis factor; IL: Interleukin; INF: Interferon; IFX: Infliximab.