Published online Jun 26, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i18.6091
Peer-review started: December 29, 2021
First decision: January 25, 2022
Revised: February 14, 2022
Accepted: April 30, 2022
Article in press: April 30, 2022
Published online: June 26, 2022
Processing time: 169 Days and 12.8 Hours
Infliximab (IFX) is often selected as the first-line anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) agent for Crohn’s disease (CD), despite the lack of data showing its superiority over adalimumab (ADA).
By comparing the effectiveness and safety between ADA and IFX, we wanted to determine if IFX or ADA is superior to the other for treatment of CD.
The present meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the comparative effectiveness and safety of ADA and IFX for CD to assist clinicians in making treatment choices.
The clinical studies that compared the effectiveness or safety of ADA and IFX in the treatment of CD were searched in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases.
Our meta-analysis of CD patients who were naïve or non-naïve to anti-TNF-α agents found no significant differences between IFX and ADA on many measures of effectiveness, including clinical response, clinical remission, and secondary loss of response. Interestingly, we observed a higher rate of overall adverse events in patients using IFX compared to ADA.
IFX and ADA are comparable in clinical outcomes for patients with CD who are naïve or non-naïve to anti-TNF-α antagonists. However, fewer overall adverse events are noted in ADA patients.
Our study provide reassurance to clinicians by synthesizing current literature suggesting that the ADA and IFX have similar effectiveness in “real-world” use. Larger, long-term, and prospective head-to-head comparison studies will be necessary to confirm these results. More research also will be necessary to explore the cost of anti-TNF-α agents.