Long-term comparative effectiveness of first-line infliximab vs corticosteroids in ulcerative colitis: Remission and colectomy risk

Table 2 Long-term outcomes at different follow-up periods among both groups, n (%)

Outcomes	Weeks 48			Weeks 96			Weeks 144
	Group 1 (IFX), n = 68	Group 2 (IVCS), n = 71	P value	Group 1 (IFX), n = 68	Group 2 (IVCS), n = 71	P value	Group 1 (IFX), n = 68	Group 2 (IVCS), n = 71	P value
Clinical remission	39 (57.4)	21 (29.6)	0.001b	30 (44.1)	19 (26.8)	0.035a	25 (36.8)	11 (15.5)	0.006b
Endoscopic remission	28 (41.2)	17 (23.9)	0.045a	26 (38.2)	14 (19.7)	0.024a	17 (25.0)	7 (9.9)	0.024a
Histologic remission	22 (32.4)	15 (21.1)	0.179	21 (30.9)	10 (14.1)	0.024a	14 (20.6)	5 (7.0)	0.026a
Colectomy1	4 (5.9)	4 (5.6)	1.000	4 (5.9)	8 (11.3)	0.367	4 (5.9)	13 (18.3)	0.037a
Mortality2	2 (2.9)	2 (2.8)	1.000	2 (2.9)	4 (5.6)	0.681	2 (2.9)	6 (8.5)	0.275

^aP < 0.05.

^bP < 0.01.

¹In group 1 (infliximab) (n = 4), indications include refractoriness to medical therapy (n = 2), colonic perforation (n = 1), and acute fulminant ulcerative colitis with refractory hemorrhage (n = 1); whereas in group 2 (Intravenous corticosteroids) (n = 13), indications include refractoriness to medical therapy (n = 9), high grade dysplasia (n = 2), colorectal cancer (n = 1), and toxic megacolon (n = 1).

²In group 1 (infliximab) (n = 2), causes include colonic perforation with septicemia (n = 1) and acute fulminant ulcerative colitis with refractory hemorrhage and post operative septicemia (n = 1); whereas in group 2 (intravenous corticosteroids) (n = 6), causes include colonic perforation with septicemia (n = 4), colorectal cancer (n = 1), and toxic megacolon (n = 1).

Values were analyzed by Fisher’s exact test. IVCS: Intravenous corticosteroids; IFX: Infliximab.