Fifteen studies (total n=3,231, n=1,810 Crohn’s disease patients with previous infliximab exposure) were included in the review: three RCTs and 12 cohort studies. Sample sizes ranged from seven to 945 patients.
Short-term (four weeks) remission rates ranged from 12% to 67% (nine studies) and short-term (four weeks) clinical response rates varied from 41 to 83% (nine studies). Long-term remission rates ranged from 31% to 82% at six months (nine studies) and from 19% to 68% at one year (eight studies).
Frequency of adverse events with adalimumab ranged from 30% to 71% (nine studies). Events were generally minor, such as headache, injection site reactions and dry skin. The rate of serious adverse events with adalimumab (such as sepsis, cellulitis and fungal pneumonia) varied from zero to 19% (10 studies). There were four deaths in total (two studies).