Efficacy of anti-TNF-α agents in mucosal healing in Crohn disease

Introduction: Crohn’s disease is a chronic disease characterized by inflammatory lesions placed in the alimentary tract, especially in the terminal ileum. The aim of the treatment in Crohn’s disease is to achieve remission, sustain it as long as possible, avoid complications and mucosal healing. Efficient mucosal healing is nowadays one of the main goals of treatment.
Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy of anti-TNF-α agents adalimumab and infliximab in mucosal healing assessed with Crohn’s Disease Endoscopic Index of Severity (CDEIS).
Material and methods: The evaluation of mucosa took place in 20 patients treated with infliximab (n = 10) and adalimumab (n = 10). In all patients colonoscopy was performed at the baseline and in 10 week in patients treated with infliximab and in 12 week in patients treated with adalimumab. The mucosa status was evaluated during all colonoscopies using CDEIS.
Results: In all the patients mucosal lesions were observed and assessed with CDEIS from 6 to 15.4 points with a mean result of 8.5. In 10 week in patients treated with infliximab mucosal lesions were assessed from 3 to 6.4 points with a mean result of 3.7 and in adalimumab treated the group in week 12 we found lesions assessed with CDEIS: from 2.4 to 8.4 with a mean result of 4.652 points.
Conclusions: Anti-TNF-α treatment using adalimumab and infliximab is efficient in mucosal healing in Crohn’s disease and the results in both groups are comparable.