Crohn's disease commonly affects children and adolescents, however the majority of research into the safety and efficacy of therapies for inflammatory bowel disease, including infliximab, has occurred only in adults.
To determine the rate of reactions in children following infliximab infusions, and to identify variables that might be predictive of those reactions.
We performed a retrospective review of all infliximab infusions performed at Columbus Children's Hospital from December 1998 through September 2001.
Fifty-seven children received 361 infusions. Three hundred and fifty-five of the 361 infusions (98.3%) were completed. Fifty children had 304 repeat infusions. There were a total of 35 infusion related reactions. Female gender and the use of immunosuppressive medications for less than 4 months were risk factors for a reaction to infusion number 2. A reaction to infusion 2 and immunosuppressive use for less than 4 months were risk factors for infusion number 3.
The rate of infusion reactions in children receiving infliximab is similar to that in adults. Female gender, immunosuppressive use for less than 4 months and prior infusion reactions may be risk factors for subsequent infusion reactions in children.