Infliximab use in Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. The disease can be quite severe, resulting in hospitalisation, requiring long-term treatment with a variety of medications and frequent surgeries. Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody directed against tumour necrosis factor, a key cytokine in the inflammatory cascade of many diseases, including Crohn's disease. Numerous studies have shown significant improvement in both clinical and endoscopic luminal and fistulising Crohn's disease with infliximab treatment. The clinical efficacy, indications, safety profile and future of infliximab are reviewed.