Assessment of the long-term safety of anti-tumour necrosis factor therapies is vital for the safe treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, a disease affecting a young cohort of patients.
Aims: The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the safety and long-term outcome of infliximab use in clinical practice in our institution on an intention to treat basis over the 10-year period from December 1998 to 31 December 2008.
Methods: All cases receiving infliximab for ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease over a 10-year period were identified from hospital pharmacy records. The study was based on a single centre cohort, with an unselected patient group.
Results: A total of 271 patients were identified as receiving infliximab for either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis over the 10-year study period. In total, 2169 infusions were given to the patient cohort. Fifty adverse events led to discontinuation of infliximab therapy in 47 cases. Two patients stopped due to neurological complications. There were six malignancies diagnosed within the cohort during the study period. Four of these were diagnosed while the individual was receiving Infliximab and two occurred at an interval of 21-52 months post their final infliximab infusion. A total of five deaths (1.5%) were observed during the study period.
Conclusion: Infliximab therapy seems to be safe and efficacious in the long term. Although the development of malignancy remains a concern, we have not seen an increased risk of serious infection within our cohort.