Azathioprine discontinuation earlier than 6 months in Crohn's disease patients started on anti-TNF therapy is associated with loss of response and the need for anti-TNF dose escalation

摘要

Objectives A high proportion of Crohn's disease (CD) patients lose response to antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) and therapy needs to be intensified. We aimed to prospectively determine the predictors and frequency of anti-TNF loss of response and therefore the need for dose escalation and de-escalation in CD patients treated with infliximab or adalimumab.