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Infliximab, 5-aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, azathioprine, and cyclosporine are effective as induction or maintenance therapy in patients with ulcerative colitis. However, the value of these therapies in reducing colectomy rates is unknown.
To determine the efficacy of infliximab in this setting, investigators analyzed the results of two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies — the Active Ulcerative Colitis Trials (ACT) 1 and 2 (JW Gastroenterol Jan 3 2006 — involving 728 patients (364 in each trial) with active ulcerative colitis. All were outpatients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis at trial entry and were at low risk for needing colectomy during the following 12 weeks. Patients were randomized to receive placeb…