Long-term Combination Therapy with Infliximab Plus Azathioprine Predicts Sustained Steroid-free Clinical Benefit in Steroid-dependent Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract

Long-term IFX treatment is effective in inducing sustained clinical response in patients with steroid-dependent UC. Combination therapy is predictive of sustained clinical response in the long-term. Patients with more severe endoscopic lesions at baseline and high C-reactive protein after induction are at higher risk of colectomy. Conversely, thiopurine naive status is protective from colectomy.