Abstract

Introduction: The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is related to an unchecked inflammatory response in the gut mediated by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa). Infliximab, an anti-TNFa chimeric IgGmonoclonal antibody, is a staple therapy for moderateto-severe IBD. Recent literature describes obesity as a low-grade inflammatory state as adipose tissue releases cytokines including TNFa. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is greater failure rate of infliximab therapy in obese IBD patients given theoretical increased TNFa activity. Methods: A retrospective study was performed. 103 patients who received infliximab from 2006-2012 were identified. Patient were grouped based on BMI (group 1 BMI , 18.5, group 2 BMI 18.5-25, group 3 BMI 25-30, group 4 BMI . 40). Logistic regression was performed on outcomes of the impact of weight and body mass index on surgery and loss of clinical response within one year of initiation of infliximab. Linear regression was performed on the impact of weight and body mass index on length of time of durable response of infliximab. Results: 52 women and 51 men were evaluated. The average age of the patient population when diagnosed with IBD was 26.38 years old (STD +/12.9). The average age of initiation of infliximab therapy was 33.7 years old (STD +/-13.1) with mean disease duration of 11 years (STD +/-10.79). Average BMI was 23.76lbs/ in2 (STD +/-4.44) with average weight of 155.6lbs (STD +/-38.6lbs). Average duration of infliximab therapy was 17 months (STD +/-13.67). There were no patients in group 4 (BMI . 30) that required surgery or hospitalization for complications of IBD within 1 year of initiating infliximab. Among all groups, there was no statistical significance in surgical requirements for IBD complications at 1 year. There was no significant relationship between BMI and duration of infliximab treatment, though there was a trend towards shorter duration in patients with normal BMI. Finally, there was no significant difference in ESR and CRP at 1 month into infliximab treatment across all BMI groups. Conclusions: IBD and obesity are two separate inflammatory states with shared elevated TNFa activity. This study demonstrated no statistical difference in failure rates within anti-TNFa treatment with infliximab in patients with different BMIs as measured by hospitalization and surgery secondary to complications of IBD at 1 year of therapy initiation. This study would benefit from an increase the sample size to determine if there is significance in these outcomes.

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