Table 2.
Variables associated with improved therapeutic outcomes of anti-tumor necrosis factor maintenance therapy in patients with perianal fistulizing Crohn’s disease
| Variables | Ref. |
| Clinical or phenotypic | |
| Ileocolonic disease | [6] |
| Concomitant immunosuppressants | [6] |
| Duration of seton drainage (< 34 wk) | [6] |
| Duration of infliximab treatment (> 118 wk) | [6] |
| Number of infliximab infusions (> 19) | [6] |
| Absence of complex fistulas | [14] |
| Male gender | [26] |
| Absence of switch of anti-TNF therapy | [11] |
| Imaging | |
| Absence of persisting fistulas on MRI | [5] |
| Absence of collections at baseline on MRI | [5] |
| Absence of rectal wall involvement on MRI | [5] |
| Absence of single-branched fistulas on MRI | [5] |
| Absence of rectal involvement on MRI | [11] |
| Serologic | |
| Infliximab (maintenance) trough concentrations ≥ 10.1 μg/mL | [26] |
| Endoscopic | |
| Absence of active proctitis | [11] |
TNF: Tumor necrosis factor; MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging.