Predictor of Treatment Response

Abstract

Anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapies, including infliximab, adalimumab, and certolizumab pegol, are effective for the induction and maintenance of clinical remission in patients with moderate to severe Crohn's disease (CD). Although anti-TNF-based therapies have markedly revolutionized the treatment of CD, these drugs are very expensive and are associated with increased risks of melanoma, opportunistic infections, and lymphoma. In this review, we discuss the clinical predictors of the anti-TNF treatment response in CD patients. Current data suggest that a shorter disease duration, an inflammatory disease phenotype, and an increased C-reactive peptide level are associated with a good response to an anti-TNF agent. Nevertheless, the identification of additional predictors of this response in CD patients might be beneficial for patient safety and cost reduction and allow for the individualized treatment of CD patients in the future.