TY - JOUR
T1 - Premedication with corticosteroids does not impact the pharmacokinetics of infliximab in inflammatory bowel disease irrespective of azathioprine cotreatment
AU - Larsen, Lone
AU - Jess, Tine
AU - Drewes, Asbjørn M
AU - Dige, Anders
AU - Fallingborg, Jan
AU - Jacobsen, Bent A
AU - Aagaard, Bitten
AU - Agnholt, Jørgen
PY - 2019/8
Y1 - 2019/8
N2 - ObjectiveLoss of infliximab (IFX) effect is a clinical challenge in the management of patients with Crohn's disease (CD), but this can potentially be reduced with azathioprine (AZA) or with corticosteroids (CS). We aimed to study whether CS premedication with or without cotreatment with AZA could reduce antibody formation and affect the IFX elimination rate.Patients and methodsA cross-sectional observational study was conducted at two centers with CD patients receiving maintenance IFX therapy for 12-18 months. In addition to IFX, patients received either CS premedication or not, with or without concominant AZA.ResultsFifty-seven patients were included in the study. Thirty-one patients received premedication with CSs, and 11 (35.5%) of these also received AZA, whereas this was the case for 22 of 26 (84.6%) patients in the non-CS group. No difference in IFX trough level (P=0.10) or halftime elimination (P=0.31) was observed with or without CS premedication. Concomitant AZA was associated with significantly longer mean half-life of IFX (P=0.04). Total IFX antibody concentrations were 15.8 and 12.9 with and without CS, respectively, in those not receiving AZA versus 4.3 and 6.1 AU/ml with and without CS, respectively, in those receiving AZA (P=0.004). Premedication with CS did not have any effect on the frequency of antibody formation (P=0.28).ConclusionIn patients with CD and in maintenance IFX therapy, premedication with CS did not influence antibody formation, IFX trough levels or IFX halftime elimination, irrespective of concomitant AZA use. However, the use of AZA was associated with higher IFX trough levels and lower total IFX antibody concentrations.
AB - ObjectiveLoss of infliximab (IFX) effect is a clinical challenge in the management of patients with Crohn's disease (CD), but this can potentially be reduced with azathioprine (AZA) or with corticosteroids (CS). We aimed to study whether CS premedication with or without cotreatment with AZA could reduce antibody formation and affect the IFX elimination rate.Patients and methodsA cross-sectional observational study was conducted at two centers with CD patients receiving maintenance IFX therapy for 12-18 months. In addition to IFX, patients received either CS premedication or not, with or without concominant AZA.ResultsFifty-seven patients were included in the study. Thirty-one patients received premedication with CSs, and 11 (35.5%) of these also received AZA, whereas this was the case for 22 of 26 (84.6%) patients in the non-CS group. No difference in IFX trough level (P=0.10) or halftime elimination (P=0.31) was observed with or without CS premedication. Concomitant AZA was associated with significantly longer mean half-life of IFX (P=0.04). Total IFX antibody concentrations were 15.8 and 12.9 with and without CS, respectively, in those not receiving AZA versus 4.3 and 6.1 AU/ml with and without CS, respectively, in those receiving AZA (P=0.004). Premedication with CS did not have any effect on the frequency of antibody formation (P=0.28).ConclusionIn patients with CD and in maintenance IFX therapy, premedication with CS did not influence antibody formation, IFX trough levels or IFX halftime elimination, irrespective of concomitant AZA use. However, the use of AZA was associated with higher IFX trough levels and lower total IFX antibody concentrations.
KW - Antibodies
KW - Crohn's disease
KW - infliximab
KW - premedication
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85069211688&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/MEG.0000000000001440
DO - 10.1097/MEG.0000000000001440
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 31094854
SN - 0954-691X
VL - 31
SP - 964
EP - 967
JO - European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
JF - European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
IS - 8
ER -