Induction with Infliximab and a Plant-Based Diet as First-Line (IPF) Therapy for Crohn Disease: A Single-Group Trial

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Mitsuro Chiba, MD, PhD; Tsuyotoshi Tsuji, MD, PhD; Kunio Nakane, MD, PhD;
Satoko Tsuda, MD; Hajime Ishii, MD, PhD; Hideo Ohno, MD;
Kenta Watanabe, MD; Mai Ito, MD; Masafumi Komatsu, MD, PhD;
Takeshi Sugawara, MD

Perm J 2017;21:17-009 [Full Citation]

https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/17-009

E-pub: 10/06/2017

ABSTRACT

Background: Approximately 30% of patients with Crohn disease (CD) are unresponsive to biologics. No previous study has focused on a plant-based diet in an induction phase of CD treatment.
Objective: To investigate the remission rate of infliximab combined with a plant-based diet as first-line (IPF) therapy for CD.
Methods: This was a prospective single-group trial conducted at tertiary hospitals. Subjects included consecutive adults with a new diagnosis (n = 26), children with a new diagnosis (n = 11), and relapsing adults (n = 9) with CD who were naïve to treatment with biologics. Patients were admitted and administered a standard induction therapy with infliximab (5 mg/kg; 3 infusions at 0, 2, and 6 weeks). Additionally, they received a lacto-ovo-semivegetarian diet. The primary end point was remission, defined as the disappearance of active CD symptoms at week 6. Secondary end points were Crohn Disease Activity Index (CDAI) score, C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration, and mucosal healing.
Results: Two adults with a new diagnosis were withdrawn from the treatment protocol because of intestinal obstruction. The remission rates by the intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses were 96% (44/46) and 100% (44/44), respectively. Mean CDAI score (314) on admission decreased to 63 at week 6 (p < 0.0001). Mean CRP level on admission (5.3 mg/dL) decreased to 0.2 (p < 0.0001). Mucosal healing was achieved in 46% (19/41) of cases.
Conclusion: IPF therapy can induce remission in most patients with CD who are naïve to biologics regardless of age or whether they have a new diagnosis or relapse.

(The study ID number is UMIN000019061, UMIN000020335: Registration at www.umin.ac.jp).

INTRODUCTION

The incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are increasing as the condition expands into new regions; consequently, IBD is now a global disease.¹

Newly introduced biologics have revolutionized the treatment of various conditions, including malignant neoplasms, autoimmune diseases, and others.^2-4 Infliximab and adalimumab are monoclonal antitumor necrosis factor α antibodies that were introduced for IBD treatment and have effectively induced and maintained remission in Crohn disease (CD).^5-11 Therapy with biologics has popularized the concept of mucosal healing for IBD treatment.^12,13

IBD is a polygenic disease triggered by environmental factors.¹⁴ Despite the recognition that Westernization of lifestyle is a major IBD driver,^15,16 no countermeasures have been recommended against such lifestyle changes with the exception of nonsmoking for patients with CD.¹⁷ Gut microflora may be the main environmental factor responsible for IBD¹⁸; further, diet influences gut microflora.^19,20

IBD is prevalent in wealthy nations in which dietary Westernization has occurred.²¹ Dietary Westernization is characterized by increased consumption of animal protein, animal fat, and sugar, with decreased consumption of grains. A consistent risk factor for IBD is the consumption of meat^22-26 and sweets,^24-26 whereas a preventive factor is the consumption of vegetables and fruits.^22,27 Consequently, we recognize from our clinical experience that IBD is highly associated with lifestyle and that it is mainly mediated by a Westernized diet. Additionally, diet-associated dysbiosis of the gut microflora seems to be the most relevant environmental factor in IBD.¹⁸ Therefore, restoring and maintaining gut symbiosis with an adequate diet is fundamental for IBD treatment. We designed a semivegetarian diet (SVD), a type of plant-based diet (PBD), as therapy for IBD.²⁸ Since 2003, we have served the PBD to all inpatients with IBD at our center and found that PBD prevented CD relapse²⁸ and induced remission without medication in a subset of patients with mild ulcerative colitis.^29,30

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (US Department of Agriculture [USDA] Food Pattern) and dietary guidelines for chronic common diseases consistently recommend increased consumption of vegetables and fruits and decreased consumption of meats, processed meats and added sugars.^31,32 PBDs are listed as variations of USDA healthy eating patterns.³¹ Epidemiologic studies provide convincing evidence that individuals who consume PBDs experience improved longevity and are less affected by common chronic diseases than those who eat omnivorous diets.^33,34

Ideal treatment involves early commencement of therapy before irreversible damage occurs, namely during the window of opportunity.³⁵ This concept has been validated in rheumatoid arthritis treatment.^36-38 Current guidelines for CD limit the use of infliximab or adalimumab for patients who are unresponsive to conventional therapy.¹⁷

The natural history of CD usually is characterized by a disabling course; 10% to 15% of patients are relapse-free for the rest of their lives, however.^39-41 The current remission rate in CD with early use of infliximab is 64%.⁸ This indicates that 30% to 40% of patients, even those treated early with infliximab, are likely to experience a disabling disease course after their first treatment. Reliable induction of remission is the first step toward improving the natural history of CD.

Our goal is a drastic enhancement of the relapse-free rate in CD—namely, induction of remission by incorporating three recently developed concepts in medicine (biologics, PBD, and window of opportunity), followed by maintenance of remission with a PBD rather than further use of biologics with or without immunosuppressants. We hypothesized that these modalities could enhance the relapse-free rate.

We designed the present trial to determine whether infliximab combined with a PBD as first-line (IPF) therapy could enhance the remission rate for patients with CD.

METHODS

Design and Settings

We designed a single-group, nonrandomized, open noncontrolled trial that was conducted at Nakadori General Hospital and Akita City Hospital, tertiary care facilities in northern Japan. The first author, MC, worked for the former facility between 2003 and 2012 and Akita City Hospital since 2013.

Patients

All patients with active symptom(s) regardless of their Crohn Disease Activity Index (CDAI) score⁴² were advised to undergo hospitalization for potential IPF therapy. Between August 2003 and December 2015, 60 patients with active CD were admitted to the hospital (Figure 1). Subjects were tested for tuberculosis or hepatitis B infection⁴³; no patient had a positive result. Patients previously treated with biologics or those taking prednisolone or azathioprine, which influence IPF efficacy, were excluded. Patients prescribed a partial elemental diet or 5-aminosalicylic acid were included.

Protocol: IPF Therapy

The protocol involved standard induction therapy with infliximab combined with an SVD.²⁸ Briefly, metronidazole 750 mg/d was administered after admission. Patients received a liquid infusion without meals during morphologic studies to assess clinical types and intestinal stenosis. Liquid infusion duration varied from 3 to 7 days depending on the extent of previous outpatient morphologic studies before admission. Infliximab (5 mg/kg) was infused at weeks 0, 2, and 6.¹¹ The PBD, which was initiated on the same day of the infusion, was a lacto-ovo-semivegetarian diet that included fish once a week and meat once every 2 weeks. Calories were gradually increased to a maximum of about 30 kcal per kg standard body weight. After about 1 month, metronidazole was switched to 5-aminosalicylic acids. After the third infusion of infliximab, patients were discharged. Patients who could not be admitted for the entire induction phase were discharged after the second infliximab infusion and readmitted for the third infusion.

IPF Therapy Efficacy

The primary end point was clinical remission at week 6 after the first infliximab infusion. Clinical remission was defined as the absence of active symptoms. Remission was assessed by the attending physician (MC). Secondary end points were normalization of C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration at week 6 and mucosal healing. CDAI also was evaluated. Patients were morphologically studied with colonoscopy and/or contrast barium enema before discharge. In this study, mucosal healing was defined as the absence of active findings of CD such as ulcer, aphthoid lesions, edema, redness, and bleeding. Symptoms and CDAI were evaluated before and after infliximab therapy up to week 6.

Safety Evaluations

Vital signs, patient reports, findings during daily practitioner rounds, physical examinations, and weekly laboratory test findings were assessed to ensure safety.

Statistical Analysis

To evaluate differences of therapeutic effects among adults with a new diagnosis, children with a new diagnosis, and relapsed adults, the rates of remission, normalization of CRP concentration, and mucosal healing were assessed with a c² test. CDAI score and CRP concentration were expressed as the mean plus or minus the standard deviation and median (interquartile range). To evaluate effects of treatment on CDAI and CRP, differences were first analyzed by repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA). If ANOVA results were statistically significant, data were analyzed using the post hoc Tukey-Kramer honestly significant difference test. A p value of 0.05 or lower indicated a statistically significant difference. Statistical analysis was performed using JMP 8 software (SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC).

Ethical Considerations

For patients with strictures,⁴⁴ infliximab therapy poses risk for intestinal obstruction,^45-47 and the need for potential surgery was discussed. This protocol and the template informed consent forms were reviewed and approved by the Ethical Committee of Nakadori General Hospital and the Ethical Committee of Akita City Hospital (Protocol number 19-2003, 12-2013, 15-2015). The primary author/investigator (MC) obtained informed consent from all patients.

RESULTS

Patient Characteristics

Among 60 patients with active CD, 7 were indicated for intestinal surgery (Figure 1). Infliximab was used as a step-up approach for 1 patient. One patient cancelled medical treatment, and another patient on hemodialysis underwent standard first-line infliximab therapy; in that scenario, the patient required a diet for hemodialysis instead of a PBD. IPF therapy was administered to the remaining 50 patients. Two patients previously treated with infliximab and 2 patients receiving azathioprine were excluded. Forty-six patients who were naïve to biologics comprised the intention-to-treat subset and underwent IPF therapy. However, 2 patients with a new diagnosis (both men aged 21 years with stricture-type disease) developed intestinal obstruction after the first infusion of infliximab and underwent surgery. The 44 patients who completed the protocol (Figure 1) included 24 adults with a new diagnosis, 11 children ages 18 years and younger with a new diagnosis, and 9 relapsing adults. The demographic characteristics of our 44 patients are presented in Table 1. The mean disease duration for relapsing adults (92.8 months) was longer than the mean for adults with a new diagnosis (8.8 months) or the mean for children (12.7 months). More than 50% of patients in all groups had 1 or more perianal fistula(s) that were draining pus and/or anal tag(s). Five of 33 (15%) adults were smokers who stopped smoking after their admission. Eight patients had a CDAI score lower than 150 (quiescent stage); 7 had a score of 150 to 220 (mild-moderate); 19 scored 220 to 450 (moderate-severe); and 10 patients had a score higher than 450 (severe/fulminant).⁴⁴ Three relapsing adults were on partial elemental diet: 600, 900, and 1200 kcal/d, respectively. The same elemental diet was maintained during the first half of hospitalizations and was decreased by 300 kcal during the latter half of hospitalizations, while the amount of PBD was increased. Five patients were discharged after the second infliximab infusion and were readmitted for the third infusion. Sixteen of 44 patients in the present protocol also were described in a 2010 paper.²⁸

Efficacy

The primary end point was remission. Two patients were withdrawn from the protocol because of intestinal obstruction. All remaining patients reported considerable improvement 1 week after the first infliximab infusion. Most patients had no symptoms between weeks 1 and 3. A CDAI score lower than 150 indicates remission in many studies.⁴² The rate of CDAI scores lower than 150 among patients with baseline CDAI scores higher than 150 was 50% (18/36), 69% (25/36), 86% (30/35), 94% (31/33), 94% (31/33), and 100% (36/36) at weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Among patients with draining perianal fistulas, 24 experienced fistula closure within weeks 1 and 3. All 44 patients who completed the protocol achieved remission at week 6. Remission rates by intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis were 96% and 100%, respectively (Table 2).

Secondary End Points

The mean CDAI score was significantly decreased from 314 before IPF therapy to 163 after the first infliximab infusion (p < 0.0001). The scores were further decreased chronologically: 115, 98, 82, 74, and 63 at weeks 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively (Table 3, Figure 2). Chronologic CDAI score changes were similar among the 3 groups (Table 3).

The mean CRP concentration decreased from 5.3 mg/dL before IPF therapy to 0.9 mg/dL after the first infliximab infusion (p < 0.0001). The CRP concentration (reference range, ≤ 0.3 mg/dL) was within defined limits (0.2 mg/dL) at week 2 and thereafter (Table 3, Figure 2). The chronologic CRP concentration changes were similar among the 3 groups (Table 3). Among adults with a new diagnosis, CRP concentrations from weeks 2 to 6 remained stable (0.1 mg/dL). However, CRP concentration fluctuated within the reference range for the other 2 groups. The lowest concentration was 0 mg/dL at week 4 and 0.2 mg/dL at week 5 among children with a new diagnosis, and 0.1 mg/dL at week 3 and 0.2 mg/dL at week 4 among relapsing adults (Table 3). The rates of CRP normalization at week 6 were highest (92% [22/24]) among adults with a new diagnosis; intermediate (82% [9/11]) among children with a new diagnosis; and lowest (67% [6/9]) among relapsing adults, although the difference was nonsignificant (p = 0.2344) (Table 2). Normal CRP concentration was achieved by week 5 for 6 of 7 patients with abnormal CRP concentrations at week 6.

Three patients did not undergo morphologic assessment before discharge. Mucosal healing was achieved for 19 of 41 patients (46%) (Table 2).

Safety

Two patients were withdrawn from the protocol because of intestinal obstruction. Infusion reactions to infliximab were observed in two patients (eruptions with itching and vomiting). One child with a new diagnosis developed herpes zoster three weeks after completing IPF therapy. Metronidazole was withdrawn because of paresthesia (three patients) and leukocytopenia (one patient). 5-aminosalicylic acid was withdrawn because of mild pancreatitis (two patients), alanine aminotransferase elevation (one patient), and epigastralgia (one patient). All patients ate the PBD, and none experienced an adverse effect such as gaseous distress, abdominal discomfort, or diarrhea.

DISCUSSION

On the basis of the etiopathogenesis of IBD, we designed a PBD as a therapeutic diet for IBD.²⁸ To drastically improve the relapse-free rate associated with CD, the first step involves safe and reliable remission induction with initial treatment. Our study showed that IPF therapy can induce remission for most patients with CD regardless of age or new diagnosis or relapse status.

The CD population (Table 1) in this study reflects Japan’s epidemiology. Male predominance is an Asian (including Japanese) characteristic related to CD.^48,49

Clinical remission is far more important than clinical response in practice (the remission rate is lower than the response rate). In this study, the primary end point was induction of remission at week 6. Remission rates reported with infliximab or adalimumab are presented in Table 4.^5-10,50-52 In most of the studies reported, subjects had moderate to severe CD (CDAI 220-450),⁴² but these studies did not include less severe (CDAI score < 220) or more severe (CDAI > 450) cases.^5-10,50,51 Our study, however, included cases involving all severity levels. Most patients with CD will experience a disabling course,^39-41 and even patients with mild CD experience relapse rates of 60% to 70% in a year.⁵³ Additionally, there is no way to predict which patients will have a disabling or relapse-free course.^39-41 If we attempt to improve the natural course of all patients with CD, we must study all patients with active CD regardless of severity. In this study, even if mild cases (CDAI score lower than 220 [n = 15]) were excluded, all 29 patients with CDAI scores higher than 220, including the 10 patients with severe/fulminant disease, achieved remission.

Patients who are naïve to biologics and those receiving infliximab combined with azathioprine achieved a higher remission rate with early use of biologics and had a better prognosis than those who began treatment at a later phase or those previously exposed to a biologic or infliximab alone.^8,50-52,54 One group of investigators evaluated remission rates under these conditions (early use of infliximab combined with azathioprine in biologics-naïve patients) by using a top-down approach; their patients achieved a remission rate of 64% at week 14.⁸ So far, that is the highest remission rate reported for a large series (Table 4), demonstrating that 30% to 40% of patients with CD are nonresponders (primary nonresponders) to infliximab. As a result, many studies have been conducted to evaluate response predictors and primary nonresponders.^55-58 In our study, even though we included relapsed patients with a median disease duration of 6 years, all our patients achieved remission with IPF therapy. Therefore, disease duration of several years does not seem to be a critical factor for the induction of remission with IPF therapy. Our data show that most patients with CD who are naïve to biologics achieve remission with IPF therapy. Consequently, nonresponse to biologics seems to reflect the therapeutic modality chosen. Several factors may be involved in the successful induction of remission in our studies.

First, all patients in this study were admitted during IPF therapy. Although clinical remission could be obtained in a subset of patients after the first infusion of infliximab,⁵ we considered that a certain period is needed for the recovery of morphologic changes in the intestine. Consequently, 3 inductive infusions of infliximab were given in 6 weeks¹¹ while patients were hospitalized. However, mucosal healing was achieved only for 46% of patients (Table 2).

Patients’ experience with a PBD, physician knowledge about IBD etiopathogenesis, and dietary guidance regarding PBD from a registered dietitian during hospitalization helped to ensure smooth PBD transitions from hospitals to homes after patient discharge. We confirmed a significantly higher PBD score (mean 25.0), indicating a higher adherence to a PBD⁵⁹ when compared with the mean base score of 6.4 in 24 patients with CD at approximately 6 years after discharge (p = 0.0131) (unpublished observation).

Hospitalization promotes smoking cessation, and smoking is prohibited in most hospitals in Japan. In our sample, 11% of patients (5/44) were smokers until admission, at which time they quit smoking; thus, all patients were considered nonsmokers. Smoking is a deteriorating factor in CD.^60,61 In other studies, the current smoking rate was as high as 43% (Table 4).^8-10 Hospitalization duration in our study was shorter than duration for a conventional elemental diet therapy in Japan, for which more than 6 weeks is required.⁶²

PBD was initiated on the same day as the infliximab infusion and was provided throughout hospitalization. We previously reported the efficacy of PBD in preventing relapse in CD.²⁸ In the current study, all patients who completed the protocol achieved remission. Altogether, these findings indicate that PBD is effective during the active and quiescent CD stages.

Preventive factors for IBD (eating vegetables and fruits)^22,27 are recommended, and risk factors (eating meat and sweets)^22-26 are moderated; indeed, a PBD includes these preventive recommendations and risk moderating factors. Considering that the most important environmental factor in IBD is diet-associated gut microflora,¹⁸ we hypothesized that an adequate diet is the basis for IBD treatment during both active and quiescent stages. On the basis of our results, a PBD is recommended for patients with IBD. To date, most studies evaluating induction of remission or prognosis have not devoted resources to diet during treatment. Omnivorous and conventional low-residue diets might reduce the efficacy of biologics.

Metronidazole was used during the first half of hospitalization and is effective in CD with or without perianal fistulas.^63,64 An antibiotic is used during the active stage to eliminate potentially pathogenic bacteria in the intestine.⁶⁵

Clinicians strive to provide the best therapy on the basis of their experience; as a result of our 30-plus years’ experience in treating CD, IPF became routine therapy for CD in 2003 when infliximab was introduced in Japan. The therapeutic approach we propose is comprehensive, and we consider that all factors are necessary for induction of remission, although the contribution of each factor varies. This is the first study in which close attention was paid to diet during induction treatment of CD. In the absence of a control diet, the efficacy of PBD for induction of remission could not be demonstrated. It appears, however, that a PBD plus infliximab was a major contributor to our study’s success.

The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare of Japan designated ulcerative colitis and CD as intractable diseases. Patients with intractable diseases are provided with public medical aid on registration at the Public Health Office, so physicians in Japan are able to provide the best treatments for patients with IBD with less concern about medical expenses. Therefore, its immediate applicability in other countries may be limited.

IPF therapy, which can induce remission for most patients with CD, offers several advantages over the current induction therapy. No serious adverse events occurred with IPF therapy. The rapid efficacy of infliximab enabled patients to eat dinner on the same day of infliximab treatment. Mean CDAI scores at baseline and weeks 1, 2, and 4 in patients treated with adalimumab were 313, 264, 232, and 226, respectively.⁹ In contrast, patients treated with IPF therapy had mean CDAI scores of 314, 163, 115, and 82, respectively (Table 3, Figure 2). With IPF therapy, the mean CDAI score was 115 as early as week 2, which is lower than the cutoff score of 150 that is recognized as denoting remission.⁴²

The main disadvantage associated with IPF therapy is that hospitalization is required. However, most of our patients who were dealing with chronic symptoms recognized that they needed treatment and accepted hospitalization. There is risk for intestinal obstruction after infliximab treatment.^45-47 Infliximab is thought to be effective for inflammatory stenosis and ineffective for fibrotic stricture,⁶⁶ but it is difficult to distinguish between inflammatory and fibrotic stricture.⁶⁷ In the absence of signs of obstruction, stricture per se is no longer regarded as a contraindication for infliximab therapy; patients still are regarded as reasonable candidates.^66,68 In this study, intestinal obstruction developed within two weeks after the first infliximab infusion for two patients. There is scant literature about early obstruction after infliximab treatment.^45-47 We speculate that infliximab is so swiftly effective in ulcer healing⁶⁹ that the healing process further narrows the stenotic site, resulting in intestinal obstruction. If obstruction is a result of infliximab efficacy, an obstruction could also occur in CD with stricture. When obstruction occurs, it can be immediately diagnosed and surgically treated because patients are in a hospital. We fully inform patients with stricture about intestinal obstruction risk. Apart from two IPF study withdrawals attributable to intestinal obstruction, there were no other withdrawals.

Our study had limitations. There was no control group, and the sample size was small. Nevertheless, we expect that large, controlled studies will be conducted to validate these results.

IPF therapy can induce remission for most patients with CD. Further study is required to determine how remission can be maintained in the long term. Normal CRP concentration is a good indicator of lasting remission, but CRP concentration outside of defined limits is a sign of forthcoming relapse.^59,70 Most adults in our study with a new diagnosis (92%) had a normal CRP concentration at week 6, as did children with a new diagnosis (82%) and relapsing adults (67%) (Table 2). About 50% of patients with newly diagnosed adult CD maintained long-term remission with a PBD without periodic maintenance infliximab therapy (the remission rate at 3 to 7 years was 58%, according to Kaplan-Meier analysis [unpublished observation]). Conversely, children and relapsing adults treated with PBD alone tended to relapse within 2 years. Out of 11 children and 9 relapsed adults, 9 and 4 patients experienced relapse, respectively (unpublished observation). IPF therapy should be provided to adults with a new CD diagnosis to help decrease relapse incidence.

CONCLUSION

IPF therapy can induce remission for most patients with CD regardless of age or new diagnosis or relapse status.

Disclosure Statement

The author(s) have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Marcin J Schroeder, PhD, Professor of Mathematics at Akita International University, for the statistical review.

Brenda Moss Feinberg, ELS, provided editorial assistance.

How to Cite this Article

Chiba M, Tsuji T, Nakane K, et al. Induction with infliximab and a plant-based diet as first-line (IPF) therapy for Crohn disease: A single-group trial. Perm J 2017;21:17-009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.782/TPP/17-009.

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