Infliximab Prevents Postsurgical Endoscopic Recurrence of Crohn Disease

Available data suggest that patients at high risk for recurrence after Crohn disease resection have a lower risk for recurrence after surgery by continuation of a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker.

In an industry-funded, randomized, controlled trial, 297 patients identified from 104 sites were randomized to receive infliximab or placebo within 45 days after surgical resection. Infliximab was continued every 8 weeks for 104 weeks. Clinical recurrence based on Crohn disease activity index was included in the primary endpoint, but endoscopic recurrence based on the Rutgeerts score was also measured.

The trial was cut short because the difference in the primary endpoint did not reach statistical significance at 76 weeks (13% risk reduction with…