OBJECTIVES: Infliximab is an effective therapy for fistulizing @entity30 of the perineum. We sought to determine whether the clinical improvement after infliximab is associated with radiological closure of @entity292 tracts. METHODS: Clinical responses and radiological imaging studies by transperineal ultrasound were evaluated in 35 @entity1 with @entity30 perianal @entity292 after treatment with infliximab 5 mg/kg up to 48 wk. Paired comparison of baseline and follow-up imaging studies at 8 wk and at 56 wk or discontinuation were assessed by an imaging score of perianal @entity292 severity, based on the Parks criteria. Complete clinical @entity292 closure and radiological healing were primary outcome measures. RESULTS: At 8 wk, after two infusions of infliximab at 0 and 2 wk, clinical @entity292 closure occurred in 49% of @entity1 . The radiological score at 8 wk was higher for @entity1 with clinical @entity292 closure than for @entity1 with no clinical improvement (p= 0.023) and two @entity1 showed complete radiological healing. At 56 wk, clinical @entity292 closure occurred in 46% @entity1 . Clinical @entity292 scores correlated with radiological scores (R2= 0.52; p < 0.001) but were not associated with @entity292 complexity, number of @entity292 , or number of collections at baseline imaging. The proportion of @entity1 with marked radiological improvement increased from 14% at 8 wk to 43% at 56 wks (p= 0.015) and complete radiological healing occurred in 4 (11%) @entity1 . CONCLUSIONS: For perianal fistulizing @entity30 , repeat dose infliximab improves clinical and radiological outcomes, although complete radiological healing occurs in a minority of @entity1 .

Clinical and radiological responses after infliximab treatment for perianal fistulizing XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity292 :: ('MESH:D005402', 'Disease') :: ['fistula', 'fistulas'] @entity30 :: ('MESH:D003424', 'Disease') :: ["Crohn's disease"]
@entity30 :: (MESH:D003424,Disease) :: ['Crohn's disease']
