Predictors of response to anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy in ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis(UC) is an immune-mediated, chronic inflammatory disease of the large intestine. Its course is characterized by flares of acute inflammation and periods of low-grade chronic inflammatory activity or remission. Monoclonal antibodies against tumor necrosis factor(anti-TNF) are part of the therapeutic armamentarium and are used in cases of moderate to severe UC that is refractory to conventional treatment with corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressants. Therapeutic response to these agents is not uniform and a large percentage of patients either fail to improve(primary non-response) or lose response after a period of improvement(secondary non-response/loss of response). In addition, the use of anti-TNF agents has been related to uncommon but potentially serious adverse effects that preclude their administration or lead to their discontinuation. Finally, use of these medications is associated with a considerable cost for the health system. The identification of parameters thatmay predict response to anti-TNF drugs in UC would help to better select for patients with a high probability to respond and minimize risk and costs for those who will not respond. Analysis of the major clinical trials and the accumulated experience with the use of anti-TNF drugs in UC has resulted to the report of such prognostic factors. Included are clinical and epidemiological characteristics, laboratory markers, endoscopic indicators and molecular(immunological/genetic) signatures. Such predictive parameters of long-term outcomes may either be present at the commencement of treatment or determined during the early period of therapy. Validation of these prognostic markers in large cohorts of patients with variable characteristics will facilitate their introduction into clinical practice and the best selection of UC patients who will benefit from anti-TNF therapy.     

Dysregulation of innate immunity in ulcerative colitis patients who fail anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy

AIM To study the innate immune function in ulcerative colitis(UC) patients who fail to respond to anti-tumor necrosis factor(TNF) therapy.METHODS Effects of anti-TNF therapy, inflammation and medications on innate immune function were assessed by measuring peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC) cytokine expression from 18 inflammatory bowel disease patients pre- and 3 mo post-anti-TNF therapy. Toll-like receptor(TLR) expression and cytokine production post TLR stimulation was assessed in UC "responders"(n = 12) and "non-responders"(n = 12) and compared to healthy controls(n = 12). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR) and C-reactive protein(CRP) levels were measured in blood to assess disease severity/activity and inflammation. Pro-inflammatory(TNF, IL-1β, IL-6), immuno-regulatory(IL-10), Th1(IL-12, IFNγ) and Th2(IL-9, IL-13, IL-17A) cytokine expression was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay while TLR cellular composition and intracellular signalling was assessed with FACS.RESULTS Prior to anti-TNF therapy, responders and nonresponders had similar level of disease severity and activity. PBMC's ability to respond to TLR stimulation was not affected by TNF therapy, patient's severity of the disease and inflammation or their medication use. At baseline, non-responders had elevated innate but not adaptive immune responses compared to responders(P 0.05). Following TLR stimulation, nonresponders had consistently reduced innate cytokine responses to all TLRs compared to healthy controls(P 0.01) and diminished TNF(P 0.001) and IL-1β(P 0.01) production compared to responders. This innate immune dysfunction was associated with reduced number of circulating plasmacytoid dendritic cells(p DCs)(P 0.01) but increased number of CD4+ regulatory T cells(Tregs)(P = 0.03) as well as intracellular accumulation of IRAK4 in non-responders following TLR-2,-4 and-7 activation(P 0.001). CONCLUSION Reduced innate immunity in non-responders may explain reduced efficacy to anti-TNF therapy. These serological markers may prove useful in predicting the outcome of costly anti-TNF therapy.     

Two-year delay in ulcerative colitis diagnosis is associated with anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha use

BACKGROUND Ulcerative colitis(UC)is an uncommon inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).However,its incidence has recently increased in South Korea.Moreover,UC diagnoses are frequently delayed,and the relationship between diagnostic delay and UC prognosis has not been extensively studied in South Korean patients.AIM To identify meaningful diagnostic delay affecting UC prognosis and to evaluate risk factors associated with diagnostic delay in South Korean patients.METHODS Medical records of 718 patients with UC who visited the outpatient clinic of six university hospitals in South Korea were reviewed;167 cases were excluded because the first symptom date was unknown.We evaluated the relationship between the prognosis and a diagnostic delay of 3,6,12,18,and 24 mo by comparing the prognostic factors[anti-tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-αuse,admission history due to acute flare-ups,frequent admission due to flare-ups,surgery associated with UC,and the clinical remission state at the latest followup]at each diagnostic interval.RESULTS The mean diagnostic interval was 223.3±483.2 d(median,69 d;75th percentile,195 d).Among the prognostic factors,anti-TNFαuse was significantly increased after a diagnostic delay of 24 mo.Clinical risk factors predictive of a 24-mo diagnostic delay were age<60 years at diagnosis[odd ratio(OR)=14.778,95%confidence interval(CI):1.731-126.121],smoking history(OR=2.688,95%CI:1.239-5.747,P=0.012),and misdiagnosis of hemorrhoids(OR=11.066,95%CI:3.596-34.053).Anti-TNFαuse was associated with extensive UC at diagnosis(OR=3.768,95%CI:1.860-7.632)and 24-mo diagnostic delay(OR=2.599,95%CI:1.006-4.916).CONCLUSION A diagnostic delay>24 mo was associated with increased anti-TNFαuse.Age<60 years at diagnosis,smoking history,and misdiagnosis of hemorrhoids were risk factors for delayed diagnosis.     

抗肿瘤坏死因子α制剂治疗溃疡性结肠炎的荟萃分析

Objective To pool the data of studies and evaluate the efficacy and safety of TNFα blocking agents in the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC).Methods The randomized clinical trials(RCT)that compared the efficacy or safety of TNFα in the treatment of UC were researched from Pubmed. OVID. EMBASE. Cochrane library, CNKI, Wanfang data and VIP Chinese Scientific and Technologic Periodical Database. Statistical heterogeneity between trials was evaluated by Revman 5.0 and was considered to exist when P＜0.1.Heterogeneity of the included articles was tested. which was used to select proper effect model to calculate. Publication bias was investigated through visual inspection of funnel plots. Results Nine RCT including 1226 cases were analyzed. Eight hundred and six cases had received TNFα treatment and 420cases had received placebo or glucocorticoid treatment. Compared with placebo or glucocorticoid groups, TNFα group achieved significantly higher rates of short-term clinical response, short-term clinical remission, long-term clinical response.10ng-term clinical remission and the total OR were 2.36(95%C,1.34-4.15),2.42(95%CI 1.22-4.81).3.22(95%CI2.28-4.55)and 2.82(95%CI1.91-4.16)respectively. TNFα group was less likely to undergo colectomy than placebo group and the total OR was 0.31(95%CI0.20-0.48).TNFα could not improve the mucosal healing and quality of lire. No significant difference was found in adverse effect between TNFα group and placebo or glueoeortieoid group(OR=1.07(95%CI0.55-2.09,P=0.84)).The rate of serious adverse effect in TNFα group was less than placebo or glueoeorticoid groups (OR=0.65,95%CI0.48-0.89,P=0.007).Inspection of the funnel plots for all dichotomous data measures had not revealed evidence of publication bias. Conclusions Patients with moderately to severely active UC treated with TNFαhave effective clinical response and clinical remission and are less likely to undergo colectomy than those receiving placebo or glucocorticoid. TNFα treatment is safe for UC but can not improve the mucosal healing and quality of life. Large-scale, high-quality RCTs ale needed to confirm or refuse the available evidence.     

抗肿瘤坏死因子α制剂治疗溃疡性结肠炎的荟萃分析

目的 根据现有临床研究评价抗TNFα制剂治疗溃疡性结肠炎(UC)的疗效与安全性.方法 检索Cochrane图书馆、EMBASE、PubMed、OVID数据库和中国知网、万方数据库、维普数据库中有关抗TNFa制剂[英夫利西单抗、阿达木单抗、塞妥珠单抗、依那西普、奥那西普、CDP571、CNI-1493、沙利度胺]治疗UC的RCT文献,采用Revman 5.0软件进行分析,并绘制漏斗图评定有无发表偏倚.结果 共9项RCT研究符合纳入标准,共包括1226例UC患者,其中806例接受抗TNFα制剂治疗,420例接受安慰剂或其他对照药物治疗.荟萃分析显示,在短期应答、短期缓解、长期应答、长期缓解方面,抗TNFα制剂明显优于对照组,OR值分别为2.36(95%CI 1.34～4.15)、2.42(95%CI 1.22～4.81)、3.22(95%CI 2.28～4.55)、2.82(95%CI 1.91～4.16).与对照组相比,抗TNFα制剂可以降低结肠切除率,OR值为0.31(95%CI 0.20～0.48);但在结肠黏膜愈合方面[OR值为1.59(95%CI 0.91～2.78)]及生活质量方面[炎症性肠病问卷(IBDQ)评分的加权均数差(WMD)为24.00(95%CI为-0.95～48.95)],两组的差异均无统计学意义.在安全性方面,两组不良反应发生率相似,OR值为1.07(95%CI0.55～2.09,P=0.84),但抗TNFα制剂的重度不良反应发生率明显低于对照组,OR值为0.65(95%CI 0.48～0.89).各计数资料观察指标的漏斗图均基本呈现下宽上窄、左右对称的图形,提示无发表偏倚.结论 抗TNFα制剂对于常规药物治疗无效的中、重度UC有较好的疗效,可以诱导UC短期应答,降低结肠切除率,并可维持长期的临床应答与临床缓解,严重不良反应的发生率较低,但抗TNFα制剂未能提高UC患者的生活质量与黏膜愈合率.

Abstract：

Objective To pool the data of studies and evaluate the efficacy and safety of TNFα blocking agents in the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC).Methods The randomized clinical trials(RCT)that compared the efficacy or safety of TNFα in the treatment of UC were researched from Pubmed. OVID. EMBASE. Cochrane library, CNKI, Wanfang data and VIP Chinese Scientific and Technologic Periodical Database. Statistical heterogeneity between trials was evaluated by Revman 5.0 and was considered to exist when P＜0.1.Heterogeneity of the included articles was tested. which was used to select proper effect model to calculate. Publication bias was investigated through visual inspection of funnel plots. Results Nine RCT including 1226 cases were analyzed. Eight hundred and six cases had received TNFα treatment and 420cases had received placebo or glucocorticoid treatment. Compared with placebo or glucocorticoid groups, TNFα group achieved significantly higher rates of short-term clinical response, short-term clinical remission, long-term clinical response.10ng-term clinical remission and the total OR were 2.36(95%C,1.34-4.15),2.42(95%CI 1.22-4.81).3.22(95%CI2.28-4.55)and 2.82(95%CI1.91-4.16)respectively. TNFα group was less likely to undergo colectomy than placebo group and the total OR was 0.31(95%CI0.20-0.48).TNFα could not improve the mucosal healing and quality of lire. No significant difference was found in adverse effect between TNFα group and placebo or glueoeortieoid group(OR=1.07(95%CI0.55-2.09,P=0.84)).The rate of serious adverse effect in TNFα group was less than placebo or glueoeorticoid groups (OR=0.65,95%CI0.48-0.89,P=0.007).Inspection of the funnel plots for all dichotomous data measures had not revealed evidence of publication bias. Conclusions Patients with moderately to severely active UC treated with TNFαhave effective clinical response and clinical remission and are less likely to undergo colectomy than those receiving placebo or glucocorticoid. TNFα treatment is safe for UC but can not improve the mucosal healing and quality of life. Large-scale, high-quality RCTs ale needed to confirm or refuse the available evidence.     

抗肿瘤坏死因子α制剂治疗溃疡性结肠炎的荟萃分析

Objective To pool the data of studies and evaluate the efficacy and safety of TNFα blocking agents in the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC).Methods The randomized clinical trials(RCT)that compared the efficacy or safety of TNFα in the treatment of UC were researched from Pubmed. OVID. EMBASE. Cochrane library, CNKI, Wanfang data and VIP Chinese Scientific and Technologic Periodical Database. Statistical heterogeneity between trials was evaluated by Revman 5.0 and was considered to exist when P＜0.1.Heterogeneity of the included articles was tested. which was used to select proper effect model to calculate. Publication bias was investigated through visual inspection of funnel plots. Results Nine RCT including 1226 cases were analyzed. Eight hundred and six cases had received TNFα treatment and 420cases had received placebo or glucocorticoid treatment. Compared with placebo or glucocorticoid groups, TNFα group achieved significantly higher rates of short-term clinical response, short-term clinical remission, long-term clinical response.10ng-term clinical remission and the total OR were 2.36(95%C,1.34-4.15),2.42(95%CI 1.22-4.81).3.22(95%CI2.28-4.55)and 2.82(95%CI1.91-4.16)respectively. TNFα group was less likely to undergo colectomy than placebo group and the total OR was 0.31(95%CI0.20-0.48).TNFα could not improve the mucosal healing and quality of lire. No significant difference was found in adverse effect between TNFα group and placebo or glueoeortieoid group(OR=1.07(95%CI0.55-2.09,P=0.84)).The rate of serious adverse effect in TNFα group was less than placebo or glueoeorticoid groups (OR=0.65,95%CI0.48-0.89,P=0.007).Inspection of the funnel plots for all dichotomous data measures had not revealed evidence of publication bias. Conclusions Patients with moderately to severely active UC treated with TNFαhave effective clinical response and clinical remission and are less likely to undergo colectomy than those receiving placebo or glucocorticoid. TNFα treatment is safe for UC but can not improve the mucosal healing and quality of life. Large-scale, high-quality RCTs ale needed to confirm or refuse the available evidence.     

抗肿瘤坏死因子α制剂治疗溃疡性结肠炎的荟萃分析

Objective To pool the data of studies and evaluate the efficacy and safety of TNFα blocking agents in the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC).Methods The randomized clinical trials(RCT)that compared the efficacy or safety of TNFα in the treatment of UC were researched from Pubmed. OVID. EMBASE. Cochrane library, CNKI, Wanfang data and VIP Chinese Scientific and Technologic Periodical Database. Statistical heterogeneity between trials was evaluated by Revman 5.0 and was considered to exist when P＜0.1.Heterogeneity of the included articles was tested. which was used to select proper effect model to calculate. Publication bias was investigated through visual inspection of funnel plots. Results Nine RCT including 1226 cases were analyzed. Eight hundred and six cases had received TNFα treatment and 420cases had received placebo or glucocorticoid treatment. Compared with placebo or glucocorticoid groups, TNFα group achieved significantly higher rates of short-term clinical response, short-term clinical remission, long-term clinical response.10ng-term clinical remission and the total OR were 2.36(95%C,1.34-4.15),2.42(95%CI 1.22-4.81).3.22(95%CI2.28-4.55)and 2.82(95%CI1.91-4.16)respectively. TNFα group was less likely to undergo colectomy than placebo group and the total OR was 0.31(95%CI0.20-0.48).TNFα could not improve the mucosal healing and quality of lire. No significant difference was found in adverse effect between TNFα group and placebo or glueoeortieoid group(OR=1.07(95%CI0.55-2.09,P=0.84)).The rate of serious adverse effect in TNFα group was less than placebo or glueoeorticoid groups (OR=0.65,95%CI0.48-0.89,P=0.007).Inspection of the funnel plots for all dichotomous data measures had not revealed evidence of publication bias. Conclusions Patients with moderately to severely active UC treated with TNFαhave effective clinical response and clinical remission and are less likely to undergo colectomy than those receiving placebo or glucocorticoid. TNFα treatment is safe for UC but can not improve the mucosal healing and quality of life. Large-scale, high-quality RCTs ale needed to confirm or refuse the available evidence.     

Tumour necrosis factor alpha down-regulation parallels inflammatory regression in ulcerative colitis patients treated with infliximab

BACKGROUND: Treatment with the anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha monoclonal antibody infliximab has been shown to be effective in moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. However, its effect on the mucosal histopathological abnormalities of this disease is largely unknown. This study aimed to assess the immunohistological effect of infliximab in ulcerative colitis. METHODS: Nine patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis received infliximab (5mg/kg) at weeks 0, 2 and 6, respectively. Colonic biopsies were collected before therapy and at week 10, when the Mayo score (including the endoscopic subscore) was also assessed. Severity of inflammation was evaluated by histologic score and histomorphometry. Immunohistochemical staining with antibody against tumour necrosis factor alpha was performed on all biopsies and expressed as percentage of positive stromal cells/1000 counted (tumour necrosis factor alpha score). RESULTS: A profound down-regulation of mucosal tumour necrosis factor alpha occurred in all the six patients who achieved a clinical response, but not in the three who did not respond. Median tumour necrosis factor alpha score dropped from 44.8 (range 35-58.3) to 12.8 (range 5.3-15.3) in the responders (p=0.03), whilst it remained unchanged in the non-responders. Such effect was related with a dramatic regression of the median histologic score, which dropped from 2.7 (range 2-3) to 0.5 (range 0.0-1.5) in responder patients (p=0.002). This was related to a virtual disappearance of neutrophils in responders (r=0.72; p=0.002; Spearman's test), but not in those who did not improve. Tumour necrosis factor alpha score appeared to be correlated with the histologic, endoscopic and clinical activity. CONCLUSIONS: A profound tumour necrosis factor alpha down-regulation appears to be strictly associated with a dramatic regression of the inflammation in patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis treated with infliximab. Such immunohistochemical effect seems to be critical for a clinical and endoscopic response to therapy.     

Safety of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy during pregnancy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Treatment of inflammatory bowel disease has significantly improved since the introduction of biological agents, such as infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, and golimumab. The Food and Drug Administration has classified these factors in category B, which means that they do not demonstrate a fetal risk. However, during pregnancy fetuses are exposed to high anti-tumor necrosis factor(TNF) levels that are measurable in their plasma after birth. Since antibodies can transfer through the placenta at the end of the second and during the third trimesters, it is important to know the safety profile of these drugs, particularly for the fetus, and whether maintaining relapse of the disease compensates for the potential risks of fetal exposure. The limited data available for the anti-TNF drugs to date have not demonstrated any significant adverse outcomes in the pregnant women who continued their therapy from conception to the first trimester of gestation. However, data suggest that antiTNFs should be discontinued during the third trimester, as they may affect the immunological system of the newborn baby. Each decision should be individualized, based on the distinct characteristics of the patient and her disease. Considering all the above, there is a need for more clinical studies regarding the effect of antiTNF therapeutic agents on pregnancy outcomes.     

Safe and effective: anti‐tumour necrosis factor therapy use in pregnant patients with Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis

Biological therapy, particularly the anti‐tumour necrosis factor (TNF) antibodies, infliximab and adalimumab, are used for the maintenance of remission for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). We present 21 pregnancies in IBD patients exposed to anti‐TNF agents between 2007 and 2014. Our study demonstrates that anti‐TNF therapy is safe and effective in pregnancy. Rates of foetal complications are similar to IBD cohorts from the pre anti‐TNF era.     

Topical therapy is underused in patients with ulcerative colitis

The availability of new topical preparations for the treatment of left sided ulcerative colitis offers a therapy optimization for many patients. Rectal application of steroids and 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) is associated with fewer side effects and has a higher therapeutic efficacy in left-sided colitis as compared to a systemic therapy. Therefore, we were interested in the use of topical therapy in patients with ulcerative colitis. The key question was whether topical treatment is more frequently used than oral therapy in patients with proctitis and left sided colitis. Data of 800 patients of the Swiss IBD cohort study were analyzed.Sixteen percent of patients of the cohort had proctitis, 21% proctosigmoiditis and 41% pancolitis. Topical therapy with 5-ASA or corticosteroids was given in 26% of patients with proctitis, a combined systemic and topical treatment was given in 13%, whereas systemic treatment with 5-ASA without topical treatment was given in 29%. Proportion of topical drug use decreased with respect to disease extension from 39% for proctitis to 13.1% for pancolitis (P = 0.001). Patients with severe colitis received a significantly higher dose of topical 5-ASA than patients in remission.Side effects of topical or systemic 5-ASA or budesonide treatment were less frequently seen compared to other medications. Topical treatment was frequently stopped over time. The quality of life was the same in patients with limited disease compared to patients with pancolitis.Topical treatment in proctitis patients was underused in Switzerland. Since topical treatment is safe and effective it should be used to a larger extend.     

An association of ulcerative colitis with tumor necrosis factor superfamily member 15 gene polymorphisms in Chinese patients

正Objective To explore the relationship between ulcerative colitis (UC) susceptibility and tumor necrosis factor superfamily member (TNFSF) 15 gene polymorphisms and haplotypes in Han nationality in Zhejiang province of China.Methods A total of 408 UC patients and 574 healthy controls were recruited in this study.Three single nucleotide polymorphisms of TNFSF 15(rs3810936, rs4263839, rs4979462) were examined by     

Efficacy of cytapheresis in patients with ulcerative colitis showing insufficient or lost response to biologic therapy

For the optimal management of refractory ulcerative colitis (UC), secondary loss of response (LOR) and primary non-response to biologics is a critical issue. This article aimed to summarize the current literature on the use of cytapheresis (CAP) in patients with UC showing a poor response or LOR to biologics and discuss its advantages and limitations. Further, we summarized the efficacy of CAP in patients with UC showing insufficient response to thiopurines or immunomodulators (IM). Eight studies evaluated the efficacy of CAP in patients with UC with inadequate responses to thiopurines or IM. There were no significant differences in the rate of remission and steroid-free remission between patients exposed or not exposed to thiopurines or IM. Three studies evaluated the efficacy of CAP in patients with UC showing an insufficient response to biologic therapies. Mean remission rates of biologics exposed or unexposed patients were 29.4 % and 44.2%, respectively. Fourteen studies evaluated the efficacy of CAP in combination with biologics in patients with inflammatory bowel disease showing a poor response or LOR to biologics. The rates of remission/response and steroid-free remission in patients with UC ranged 32%-69% (mean: 48.0%, median: 42.9%) and 9%-75% (mean: 40.7%, median: 38%), respectively. CAP had the same effectiveness for remission induction with or without prior failure on thiopurines or IM but showed little benefit in patients with UC refractory to biologics. Although heterogeneity existed in the efficacy of the combination therapy with CAP and biologics, these combination therapies induced clinical remission/response and steroid-free remission in more than 40% of patients with UC refractory to biologics on average. Given the excellent safety profile of CAP, this combination therapy can be an alternative therapeutic strategy for UC refractory to biologics. Extensive prospective studies are needed to understand the efficacy of combination therapy with CAP and biologics.     

保留灌肠治疗溃疡性结肠炎疗效观察

[目的]观察10%鸦胆子乳联合地塞米松保留灌肠治疗溃疡性结肠炎的临床疗效.[方法]10%鸦胆子乳50 ml加地塞米松5 mg混合充分摇匀,用18～20号肛管每晚经肛门插入保留灌肠2 h,1个月为1个疗程.如未治愈可进行第2个疗程治疗.疗程结束后均经结肠镜复查.[结果]48例患者经1个疗程治愈38例(78.5%),其中轻度32例,中度6例;好转10例(21.5%),其中中度6例,重度4例.伴腺瘤息肉2例,炎性息肉5例.1例腺瘤息肉经2个疗程灌肠治疗,腺瘤脱落,另1例腺瘤息肉者行肛肠科手术;5例炎性息肉经治疗均消失.其余病例均获临床治愈,其治愈率为97.5%.[结论]该疗效理想而可靠,简便易行,值得临床尝试和推广.     

Power Doppler ultrasonographic monitoring of response to anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity, responsiveness, and predictive value of power Doppler ultrasonography (PDUS) monitoring of response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocking agents in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Three hundred sixty-seven RA patients were prospectively recruited at 25 Spanish centers; complete clinical, laboratory, and PDUS data were obtained on 278 patients. The patients underwent clinical, laboratory, and PDUS assessment at baseline and after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of anti-TNF treatment, and radiographic assessment of the hands and feet at baseline and 12 months. The Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) was recorded at each visit. PDUS examination included 86 intraarticular and periarticular sites in 28 joints. US synovial fluid (SF), synovial hypertrophy (SH), and PD signal were scored in all synovial sites. US count and index for SF, SH, and PD signal were obtained. Sensitivity to change of the PDUS variables was assessed by estimating the smallest detectable difference (SDD) from the intraobserver variability. RESULTS: A significant parallel improvement in DAS28 and PDUS parameters was found at followup assessment (P < 0.0005 for within-subject between-visit changes). The SDD for PDUS parameters was lower than the mean changes throughout followup. Time-integrated values of US joint count for PD signal and rheumatoid factor (RF) showed predictive value in relation to progression of radiographic erosion (R = 0.64), and time-integrated values of US joint count for PD signal, RF, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were predictors of progression of the total radiographic score (R = 0.59). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that PDUS is a valid method for monitoring response to anti-TNF therapy in RA; results obtained by PDUS are reproducible and sensitive to change. PDUS findings may have predictive value in relation to radiologic outcome.     

Safety of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease （IBD）, in particular Crohn＇s disease refractory to conventional therapy, fistulizing Crohn＇s disease and chronic active ulcerative colitis,generally respond well to anti-tumor necrosis factor（TNF） therapy. However, serious side effects do occur,necessitating careful monitoring of therapy. Potentialside effects of anti-TNF therapy include opportunistic infections, which show a higher incidence whenconcomitant immunosuppression is used. Furthermore,antibody formation against anti-TNF is associated with decreased efficacy and an increased frequency of infusion reactions. The hypothesis of a slightlyincreased risk of lymphomas in IBD patients treated with anti TNF-therapy is debatable, since most studieslack the specific design to properly address this issue.Alarmingly, the occurrence of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphomas coincides with combined immunosuppressive therapy. Despite the potential serious side effects, anti-TNF therapy is an effective and relatively safe treatment option for refractory IBD. Future research is needed to answer important questions, such as the long-term risk of malignancies, safety during pregnancy, when to discontinue and when to switch anti-TNF therapy, as well as to determine the balance between therapeutic and toxic effects.