Breaking research (CCFA 2007)
Here are summaries of two important studies presented at the 2007 CCFA national conference.
ACT 1 and 2 are multi-center studies which tested the effect of infliximab in patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. The initial study results showed that infliximab led to greater response and remission than placebo. A sub-analysis was performed on patients from the ACT 1 and 2 studies to assess the incidence of colectomy at 54 weeks. Patients treated with infliximab had a lower rate of colectomy (14.8% vs. 9.5) 54 weeks after their first infusion. In addition, overall surgeries and hospitalizations were lower in patients treated with infliximab than those receiving placebo.
Dr. Waljee working with Dr. Higgins at the University of Michigan used a novel computerized technique in order to predict optimization of azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine dosing. The authors used machine learning, a computerized modeling technique, which places different weights on input variables in order to best predict an outcome. The authors found that their computerized algorithm predicted medication optimization better than the current approach of checking blood levels of 6-thioguanine (6-TG) and (6-MMP). Since the algorithm uses blood count and liver tests which are already drawn for routine safety monitoring the costs were lower than commercial metabolite testing. Further studies will be needed to validate the accuracy of this promising approach.