Identifying predictors of therapeutic response is the cornerstone of personalized medicine.
To identify predictors of long-term mucosal healing (MH) in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) treated with tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) inhibitors.
Prospective single center study. Consecutive patients with clinically active CD requiring treatment with a TNF-α inhibitor were included. A baseline segmental CD Endoscopic Index of Severity (CDEIS) ≥ 10 in at least one segment or the presence of ulcerations were required for inclusion. Clinical, biological and endoscopic data were obtained at baseline, weeks 14 and 46. Endoscopic response (ER) was defined as a decrease ≥ 50% from baseline CDEIS and MH as partial CDEIS ≤ 5 in all segments.
Of 62 patients were included. At baseline, median CD Activity Index and CDEIS were 201 and 6.7, respectively with a significant reduction after one year of treatment (53 and 3.0 respectively, 
Clinical and biomarker data are not useful predictors of response to TNF-α inhibitors in CD, whereas ER to induction therapy, defined as 80% reduction in global CDEIS, is a robust predictor of long-term MH. Achievement of this endoscopic endpoint may be considered as a therapeutic target for anti-TNF-α therapy.