BACKGROUND:

Infliximab (IFX) is effective in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Currently, IFX is administered at fixed doses and intervals; however, costs are high and optimisation is necessary. Several publications indicate that IFX should be dosed on trough levels ≥3.0 mg/L. For optimising IFX dosing, the use of a pharmacokinetic model is important. Population pharmacokinetics of IFX have been described earlier; however, these models were not used for dose optimising.

AIMS:

To develop a pharmacokinetic model for IFX in IBD patients that can be used for dose-optimisation of IFX and to predict serum trough levels in this population.

 

(후략)