Rapid weight gain in infliximab treated Crohn’s disease patients is sustained over time: real-life data over 12 months

Abstract

Background: Infliximab (IFX) is used in active Crohn’s disease for induction and maintenance of remission. There are scanty data on weight gain in IBD-patients under anti-TNF treatment. We investigated changes in weight and blood chemistry in anti-TNF-naïve Crohn’s disease patients during their first course of IFX. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 110 patients (77 men, 33 women) aged 34 years (range 14–73), 54 with luminal and 56 with fistulising disease, given at least 3 infusions of IFX (range 3–11). Data regarding body weight, height, C-reactive protein (CRP), haemoglobin and S-albumin at baseline, before the third infusion, at three months and at 12 months were collected. Results: At 6 weeks, 65 (59%) increased in weight, 73% and 76% at three and 12 months, respectively. There was an increase in median weight (1.7 kg, IQR = 3.1 kg) and BMI (0.5 kg/m2, IQR = 1.2 kg/m2) at 6 weeks, which persisted at three and 12 months (all p