Dose Intensification of Infliximab in Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can involve any portion of the gastrointestinal tract. Many medicines are available to treat Crohn's disease including 5-aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, antibiotics, immune modulators and anti-TNF agents. Infliximab, the first anti-TNF agent approved for Crohn's disease, has been effective for response and remission in many patients with Crohn's disease. Some patients lose response to infliximab and require dose intensification through increased drug dosage or decrease in the dosing interval. Other patients will continue to have active inflammatory disease despite maximal therapy with infliximab. This article reviews some of the data pertaining to infliximab therapy for Crohn's disease and addresses the methods available for dose intensification as well as other medical options when dose intensification of infliximab is ineffective.