Using Infliximab early in Crohn's disease can provide a window of opportunity in children for restoration of growth and achievement of puberty. We aimed to compare clinical outcomes and costs of a retrospective pediatric Crohn's disease (pCD) cohort treated with early use Infliximab (EUI) within 12 months compared with later use Infliximab (LUI).
Retrospective review of all children with pCD commenced on Infliximab was undertaken in a tertiary Australian pediatric center.
pCD progressing to Infliximab was identified in 70 children: 38 (54%) in the EUI cohort versus 32 (46%) in the LUI cohort. Intestinal surgery had a higher risk of occurring in EUI when compared with LUI (2 (5%) versus 9 (28%), HR 5.67 (95% CI 1.21-26.38); 
EUI in pCD is associated with an increased likelihood of being diagnosed in more recent years, less intestinal surgery and a trend toward decreased hospital admissions than LUI.