Outcome after discontinuation of infliximab in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in clinical remission: an observational Danish single center study

Abstract Objective. To investigate duration of remission, including risk factors for relapse and response to retreatment with infliximab (IFX), in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) who had discontinued IFX while in clinical remission. Methods. Observational, single-center, retrospective study of all patients with a primary response to IFX who discontinued IFX therapy while in steroid-free remission. Relapse was defined as reintroduction of treatment with a biologic, systemic steroid or surgery. Results. Of 219, 53 (24%) CD patients, and 28 of 97 (30%) UC patients discontinued IFX while in clinical steroid-free remission. The proportion of patients in remission declined steadily with 61% of CD patients, and 75% of UC patients being in remission after 1 year. Half the patients maintained remission after median 2 years (680 days (412–948)) and 3.5 years (1334 days (995–1673)), respectively; p = 0.057. Twelve percent with CD and 40% with UC were in remission at the end of follow-u...