Table 3.
Indication for biologic, concomitant therapies and premedication
| Patients treated with IFX (total 125) | |
| Indication for IFX | |
| Steroid-dependent | 77 (61.6%) |
| Steroid-resistant | 16 (12.8%) |
| Rescue therapy severe UC | 3 (2.4%) |
| EIM | 0 |
| Failure of thiopurine | 12 (9.6%) |
| Fistulizing disease | 7 (5.6%) |
| Prevention of postoperative recurrence | 1 (0.8%) |
| Indication for IFX (dual indication) | |
| Steroid-dependent + EIM | 3 (2.4%) |
| Steroid-dependent + failure of thiopurine | 3 (2.4%) |
| Steroid-dependent + fistulzing disease | 1 (0.8%) |
| Fistulizing disease + EIM | 2 (1.6%) |
| Total infusions (mean) | 20 (range: 4-60) |
| Short infusion (mean) | 6.1 (range: 1-19) |
| Concomitant therapies | |
| None | 12 (9.6%) |
| Steroids | 25 (20%) |
| Thiopurine | 10 (8%) |
| Methotrexate | 2 (1.6%) |
| 5ASA | 56 (44.8%) |
| Concomitant therapies (polipharmacy) | |
| Steroids + thiopurine | 1 (0.8%) |
| Steroids + 5ASA | 4 (3.2%) |
| Steroids + thiopurine + 5ASA | 3 (2.4%) |
| Thiopurine/methotrexate + 5ASA | 12 (9.6%) |
| Total use of steroids | 33 (26.4%) |
| Total COMBO therapy (Thiopurine or Mtx) | 28 (22.4%) |
| Total use of mesalamine | 75 (60%) |
| Premedication | |
| None | 57 (45.6%) |
| Steroids | 51 (40.8%) |
| Antihistaminic | 1 (0.8%) |
| Steroids + antihistaminic | 16 (12.8%) |
| Time of premedication | |
| None | 57 (45.6%) |
| From first infusion | 65 (52%) |
| From second Infusion | 3 (2.4%) |
| Only short infusion | 0 |
IFX: Infliximab; EIM: Excitability-inducing material; UC: Ulcerative colitis; 5ASA: 5-aminosalicylates.