Efficacy of early treatment with infliximab in pediatric Crohn’s disease

Table 1 Baseline characteristics

Gender (male/female)	27/9
Median age (range, yr)	13 (1-16)
Duration of follow up [mean (range), mo]	51.9 (24-101)
Disease location
Small intestine	3
Colon	10
Small intestine & colon	23
PCDAI at diagnosis (mean ± SD)	32.9 ± 8.6

PCDAI: Pediatric Crohn’s disease activity index.

Table 2 Differences in baseline characteristics of each treatment group

	Group A	Group B	Group C	P
Median age (range, yr)	13 (10-14)	12.5 (4-14)	14 (1-16)	0.520
Duration of follow up (mo) (mean ± SD)	82.7 ± 29.1	50.3 ± 15.5	29.6 ± 7.4	0.234
PCDAI (mean ± SD)	30.3 ± 6.5	33.1 ± 9.9	34.8 ± 8.8	0.464

Group A: Treated with mesalamine after induction therapy with oral prednisolone; Group B: Treated with azathioprine after induction therapy with oral prednisolone; Group C: Treated with infliximab and azathioprine for induction and maintenance therapy.

Table 3 Relapse rate by characteristics

	n (%)	P
Age at diagnosis
< 13 yr (n = 13)	9 (69.2)	0.553
≥ 13 yr (n = 23)	15 (65.2)
Involvement
Colon (n = 10)	5 (50.0)	0.416
Terminal ileum (n = 3)	2 (66.7)
Small and large bowel (n = 23)	17 (73.1)
PCDAI at diagnosis
< 30 (n = 11)	7 (63.6)	0.544
≥ 30 (n = 25)	17 (68.0)

Table 4 Adverse events

	n (%)	Details
Group A (mesalamine)	3 (30.0)	Anorexia (n = 2), Pancreatitis (n = 1)
Group B (azathioprine)	5 (38.5)	Anorexia (n = 1), Pancytopenia (n = 3), Pancreatitis (n = 1)
Group C (infliximab)	1 (8.3)	Dyspnea and tachycardia (n = 1)