Background:
We sought to assess the effectiveness and safety of adalimumab for the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD) in clinical practice.
Methods: Demographic, clinical, and treatment data were abstracted from the medical record. The primary outcome was clinical response to induction therapy with adalimumab for CD (complete, partial, or nonresponse).
Results: In all, 118 patients were prescribed adalimumab for CD between January 2003 and June 2007. All but five subjects (96%) had received prior infliximab and 50 were on systemic corticosteroids at the time of initial adalimumab dose (44%). A complete response was achieved in 53 patients and 20 patients had no response. The cumulative probability of any response (complete or partial) was 81.3% at 1 year. Dose escalation was required in 59 patients (1-year cumulative probability, 54.0%). Among patients with complete response, 18 lost response during followup (1-year cumulative probability, 21.4%). Among 50 patients on corticosteroids at baseline the median daily dose was 20 mg, which decreased to a median of 0 mg during treatment. Sixty-four patients (54%) experienced a total of 117 adverse events. Thirteen patients (11%) experienced 15 serious adverse events. Sixteen patients (14%) discontinued adalimumab due to an adverse event.
Conclusions: Adalimumab was both effective and well tolerated for the treatment of CD in this tertiary practice with a high prevalence of past infliximab exposure. This experience largely predates FDA approval of adalimumab for CD.