Infliximab for pediatric ulcerative colitis: a retrospective Italian multicenter study.

Abstract Background Infliximab (IFX), the chimeric anti TNFalpha antibody, an established treatment for Crohn's disease in adults and in children, is used less frequently in ulcerative colitis (UC). Aim of the study To report the clinical course of pediatric patients with active UC receiving IFX. Patients and methods Charts of 22 patients were reviewed (13 male, 9 female): 4 with a severe UC attack refractory to systemic corticosteroids (CS); 18 with a protracted course, of which 16 CS-dependent and 2 CS-resistant. The baseline therapeutic program consisted of 3 consecutive intravenous infusions (0, 2, 6 weeks) of IFX (5 mg/kg), followed by a retreatment schedule (infusion every 8 weeks); a…