Interferon beta-1a for the maintenance of remission in patients with Crohn's disease: results of a phase II dose-finding study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Crohn's disease (CD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) share common pathogenic processes. Interferon (IFN) beta-1a is effective and generally well tolerated in patients with MS and has been shown to down-regulate the expression of interleukin-12, a cytokine that is thought to be involved in mucosal degeneration in CD. IFN beta-1a therefore offers promise as a treatment for CD.

Methods

In this multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II, dose-finding study, patients with steroid-induced clinical remissions of CD were randomized 1:1:1:1 to subcutaneous IFN beta-1a: 66 mcg three times weekly (tiw), 44 mcg tiw, 44 mcg twice weekly (biw), or matching placebo tiw with steroid tapering. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients relapse-free at Week 26. Sa

SUBMITTER: Pena Rossi C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2674451 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature