To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Rifaximin as Maintenance Therapy for Mild-Moderate Crohn's Disease Refractory to Multiple Medical Therapies: Presented at ACG URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/21636E.htm Doctor's Guide October 24, 2007
By Danny Kucharsky PHILADELPHIA, PA -- October 24, 2007 -- Rifaximin 400 to 1200 mg daily maintains clinical response in patients with mild-to-moderate Crohn's disease refractory to multiple medical therapies, according to results from a retrospective chart review. The results were presented on October 15 at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Annual Scientific Meeting. The study evaluated the efficacy and safety of rifaximin as long-term maintenance therapy in patients with mild-moderate Crohn's disease in patients that did not respond to multiple medical therapies. Antibiotics have been investigated as a potential treatment for active Crohn's disease, with benefits most commonly seen in patients with colonic involvement. The review was conducted because there is little data available on the efficacy of antibiotics for maintaining Crohn's disease remission, said lead investigator Asher Kornbluth, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York, United States. The efficacy of rifaximin for treatment of active mild-to-moderate Crohn's disease was shown in a previous study that described clinical improvement in 30 of 55 patients (55%) with Crohn's disease who received rifaximin 1200 mg daily for 4 weeks. In the current study, Dr. Kornbluth said and colleagues reviewed the medical records of 28 patients with mild-to-moderate Crohn's disease and a mean age of 40 years who were refractory to all oral medications, including aminosalicylates, single or multiple antibiotics, prednisone, and budesonide. Patients who had previously exhibited clinical improvement during rifaximin treatment and continued rifaximin as maintenance therapy were included. Patients received rifaximin 200 mg twice daily, 200 mg three times daily, 400 mg twice daily, or 600 mg twice daily. Concomitant medications were permitted. Results show that maintenance treatment with rifaximin resulted in sustained clinical improvement for a mean duration of 5.2 months at the last followup (range, 3 to 23 months). Mean duration of response was 6.1 months for patients with ileitis, 4.8 months for those with ileocolitis, and 7.8 months for those with colitis. Drug-related adverse events were oral thrush (n=1) and nausea (n=2). No patients discontinued rifaximin therapy due to an adverse event. Based on these results, additional dose-ranging, placebo-controlled trials are warranted to investigate the efficacy and safety of rifaximim in long-term management of Crohn's disease, Dr. Kornbluth said. Funding for this study was provided by Salix Pharmaceuticals. [Presentation title: Efficacy and Safety of Open-Label Rifaximin as Maintenance Therapy for Mild-Moderate Crohn's Disease Refractory to Multiple Medical Therapies. Abstract 604] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.