Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic granulomatous inflammatory bowel disease involving Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). Other microorganisms such as adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) have also been proposed in CD association. To date, only one study investigated both MAP and AIEC simultaneously using peripheral blood but not in affected intestinal tissues. A standardized and effective antibiotic therapy against MAP and/or AIEC is needed for better treatment. Three antibiotic drugs – Clarithromycin (CLA), Rifabutin (RIF), and Clofazimine (CLO) have been used to treat CD patients suspected with MAP infection. However, the outcome has been controversial. The treatment dosage is high, the duration is long, and the reported drug side effects resulted in patient non-compliance; therefore, a lower and effective drug dosage is needed. In this study, we developed two aims 1) to evaluate RHB 104, a drug formula comprised of low dosages of CLA, RIF, and CLO, against clinical MAP strains in-vitro using fluorescence quenching method, and 2) to develop a fluorescence in-situ hybridization method to detect both MAP and AIEC simultaneously in intestinal tissues of CD patients. A total of 16 clinical MAP strains and 19 non-MAP strains were tested against varied concentrations of RHB 104, CLA, RIF, and CLO. Although the MIC for all drugs ranged between 0.5-20 ?g/ml, the MIC for RHB 104 was significantly lower against most MAP strains. The effect of RHB 104 against MAP was bactericidal. Unlike RHB-104 formula, CLA, CLO, and RIF dosage similar to those in RHB-104 did not inhibit MAP growth when trialed individually and in dual-drug combinations. The data illustrated the presence of synergistic anti-MAP activity of low dosage of the three antibiotics in RHB-104. We also developed a rapid and sensitive multicolor in-situ hybridization technique that can detect MAP and AIEC using tagged-oligonucleotide probes. Non-pathogenic Escherichia coli (npEC) was used as a control for the study. Specifically, cultured MAP and npEC were fixed and hybridized with MAP488 and EC647 probes, respectively. Confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) revealed specific signals at 488nm for MAP and 647nm for npEC, indicating probe binding to each bacteria. This was confirmed with hybridization of MAP with EC647 and npEC with MAP488 resulting in absence of signals. Intestinal tissue samples from 9 CD patients were then analyzed using our technique. Preliminary data indicated positive results in 6/6 samples for MAP, 6/6 for npEC, 3/3 for AIEC, and 2/2 for both MAP and AIEC with MAP being more dominant. This protocol shortened the FISH procedure from multiple days to short-hours. The protocol allows the investigation of more than one pathogen simultaneously in the same clinical sample. A quantitative measurement of the signals is needed.

No description available.

La maladie de Crohn (MC) pédiatrique a des conséquences majeures sur la qualité de vie des patients atteints (troubles de croissance, absentéisme scolaire, etc). L’étiologie de la MC est inconnue. La théorie de l’hygiène (TH) stipule que les conditions de vie sanitaires des pays industrialisés préviennent l’exposition antigénique et empêchent le développement de la tolérance immunitaire chez les enfants. Ceci mènerait à une réaction excessive du système immunitaire lors d’expositions subséquentes et engendrerait le développement de maladies inflammatoires chroniques telles la MC. Objectif: Analyser l’association entre la fréquence, la temporalité et le type d’infections infantiles (indicateurs d’environnements pourvus d’antigènes) et le risque de MC pédiatrique. Une étude cas-témoin fût réalisée, les cas de MC provenant d’un centre hospitalier tertiaire montréalais. Les témoins, provenant des registres de la Régie d’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ), furent appariés aux cas selon leur âge, sexe et lieu de résidence. L’exposition aux infections fût déterminée grâce aux codes de diagnostic ICD-9 inscrits dans la base de données de la RAMQ. Un modèle de régression logistique conditionnelle fût construit afin d’analyser l’association entre infections et MC. Des ratios de cotes (RC) et intervalles de confiance à 95% (IC 95%) furent calculés. Résultats: 409 cas et 1621 témoins furent recrutés. Les résultats de l’analyse suggèrent un effet protecteur des infections infantiles sur le risque de MC (RC: 0,67 [IC: 0,48-0,93], p=0,018), plus particulièrement au cours des 5 premières années de vie (RC: 0.74 [IC: 0,57-0,96], p=0,025). Les infections rénales et urinaires, ainsi que les infections des voies orales et du système nerveux central (virale), semblent particulièrement associées à l’effet protecteur. Les résultats de l’étude appuient la théorie de l’hygiène: l’exposition aux infections infantiles pourrait réduire le risque de MC pédiatrique. / Crohn’s disease (CD) poses specific challenges in the paediatric population (growth failure, depression, etc). The environmental contributors to CD aetiology remain largely unknown. There are suggestions that sanitary living conditions prevailing in developed countries prevent antigen exposure and impede the development of immunological tolerance amongst children, resulting in abnormally heightened immunological responses with subsequent exposures (hygiene hypothesis). Evidence for the hygiene hypothesis in CD aetiology remains unclear. Objectives: To assess the role of the frequency, timing and type of childhood infections (measures of antigen exposure) on the risk of paediatric CD. A case-control study was carried out. Confirmed cases of CD were recruited from a tertiary care paediatric hospital. Controls matched to the cases on calendar age, gender, and area of residence, were selected using the provincial health insurance files. Infection exposure was ascertained using ICD-9 diagnostic codes provided by the provincial insurer’s administrative databases. Conditional logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between childhood infections and CD. Odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated. 409 cases and 1621 controls were recruited. A diagnosis of infection was associated with reduced risks for paediatric CD (OR=0.67, 95% CI:[0.48-0.93], p=0.018), attributable to infection exposures primarily during the first 5 years since birth [OR=0.74, 95% CI=0.57-0.96, p=0.025]. Infections affecting the kidney and urinary tract, oral tract and viral CNS infections, were most significantly associated with protective effects. Our study provides support for the hygiene hypothesis in CD whereby exposure to infections in early childhood could potentially reduce risks for CD.

Background: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a group of chronic gastrointestinal diseases with a relapsing nature. The two main types are Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Both CD and UC patients experience very similar and distressing symptoms: acute abdominal pain, vomiting, malnutrition, fever, fatigue, diarrhoea and rectal bleeding. These symptoms are disabling and have a severe impact on physical and psychosocial wellbeing. Around 30% of patients suffer from moderate to severe psychological distress and have difficulties coping with the illness even in remission. However, it appears that mental health is overlooked by clinicians who often focus on physical gastrointestinal symptoms only. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is evidence based, group psychological intervention that has been successful in reducing depression and anxiety scores in patients with depression while improving overall quality of life. However, MBCT has never been tested in the IBD population before. PhD question: Can MBCT be used as an adjunct therapy to IBD symptom management, for improving IBD patients' general well-being and quality of life? Aims and objectives: The overall aim of the thesis was to develop and collate the evidence for a definitive randomised controlled trial (RCT) testing the effectiveness of MBCT for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The thesis brings together six publications. The six publications were integrated into four objectives that collectively contributed in answering the overall PhD question. Results: The findings from the first three publications highlighted the disease-related concerns and psychological needs for patients with IBD. The findings from the last three publications highlighted how feasible it is to use MBCT in IBD and emphasised the IBD patients’ perspectives about MBCT. Conclusion: The thesis concluded that a definitive RCT of MBCT for IBD patients is both feasible and acceptable.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Human Nutrition / Tonatiuh Melgarejo / Background and Objective: Crohn’s disease (CD) patients express low levels of host defense peptides (HDPs) especially β-defensins, which may compromise intestinal barrier function. Antibiotic treatment for bacterial infections in CD is limited and rarely curative, making it necessary to find alternative therapeutic approaches. We therefore investigated to what extent an essential amino acid; L-isoleucine (L-ILE) might induce the expression of human β-defensins (HBDs) in colonic epithelial cells as an alternative approach to help patients with CD. Antimicrobial activity of HBD2 was also assessed against four bacterial isolates which can cause secondary infections in CD. Methods: HTB-37 Caco-2 cells were stimulated with L-ILE at a concentration of 0 - 500µg/ml for 6 hours. Total RNA was extracted using RNeasy Micro Kit (QIAGEN). Reverse transcription was carried out with Superscript ®III First-Strand Synthesis System. The cDNA was amplified using specific primers for HBD1-3. Antimicrobial activity of HBD2 was determined using the broth dilution assay. Results: HBD1 was constitutively expressed under all conditions. HBD2 was expressed in HTB-37 cells after stimulation with L-ILE. Below 25µg/ml L- ILE stimulation, no expression of HBD2 was observed. HBD2 exhibited antimicrobial activity against bacterial isolates tested, with a MIC of 32, 64 and 128 µg/ml for both strains of E. coli, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa respectively. Conclusions: Our results indicate that L-ILE stimulation of HTB-37 Caco-2 cells can induce HBD2 expression. Data collected from our in vitro studies might have major implications for modifying the intestinal microbiota towards a healthier state in CD patients. Promoting the expression of HBD2 by colonic cells may lead to a lower rate of infection in these patients. Future in vivo studies are warranted to determine the potential clinical use of intra colonic administration of L-ILE in CD patients. The observed antimicrobial activity of HBD2 against bacterial isolates provides evidence that it is a crucial component of mucosal epithelial defense against infections which can complicate disease symptoms in CD.

Inflammatory bowel disease encompasses a variety of heterogeneous chronic inflammatory diseases that affect the gastrointestinal tract, where Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the principal examples. The etiology of these, and many other complex human diseases, remain largely unknown and therefore pose relevant targets for novel research strategies. One such strategy is the in silico application of network theory derived methods to data sourced from publicly available repositories of e.g. gene expression data. Specifically, methods generating graphs of interconnected elements enriched by differentially expressed genes—disease modules—were inferred with data available through the Gene Expression Omnibus. Based on a previous method, the current project aimed to evaluate disease modules, combined from stand-alone inferential methods, in disease consensus modules: representing pathophenotypical motifs for the diseases of interest. The modules found to be significantly enriched by genome-wide association study inferred single-nucleotide polymorphisms, as validated using the Pathway Scoring Algorithm, were subsequently subjects for further analysis using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes-pathway enrichment, and literature searches. The results of this study adheres to previous findings relating to the employed method, but lack any novelty pertaining the diseases of interest. However, the results substantiate the preceding methods’ conclusion by including parameters that increase statistical validity. In addition, the study contributed to peripheral results concerning both the methodology of consensus module methods, and the elucidation of inflammatory bowel disease etiology and disease subtype differentiation, that pose interesting subjects for future investigation.

Introdução: O conhecimento da fisiopatogênese da Doença Inflamatória Intestinal (DII) tem evoluído nas últimas décadas. No entanto, apesar das terapias terem evoluído, 2/3 dos casos ainda necessitam de drogas alternativas e terapias de suporte. A busca constante de tratamentos alternativos e modalidades mais eficazes tem gerado algumas abordagens promissoras, tais como a utilização do oxigênio hiperbárico (HBO). O uso dessa terapia cresceu rapidamente nos anos 90 mostrando bons resultados e poucos efeitos colaterais sendo, posteriormente \"esquecida\" ante a eficácia apresentada pelo uso das terapias biológicas. Objetivos: Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar os efeitos do tratamento com HBO em camundongos com colite induzida quimicamente pelo ácido 2,4,6 trinitro benzeno sulfônico 2,5% (TNBS), sobre a avaliação dos animais, a análise histológica, o perfil inflamatório através das citocinas IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17, fator de necrose tumoral alfa (TNFalfa) e Interferon y e da atividade das enzimas antioxidantes superóxido dismutase (SOD), glutationa peroxidase (GPx) e glutationa redutase (GR) em intestino de camundongos. Metodologia: Camundongos machos foram divididos em 6 grupos. No grupo 1, a colite foi induzida por TNBS 2,5% + Etanol 35%, sendo chamado de grupo TNBS; o grupo 2 também recebeu TNBS 2,5% + Etanol 35% seguido do tratamento com o HBO, sendo chamado de grupo TNBS+HBO; o grupo 3 recebeu apenas o veículo etanólico a 35%, sendo chamado de grupo ÁLCOOL; o grupo 4 também recebeu o veículo etanólico a 35% associado ao HBO, sendo chamado de grupo ÁLCOOL+HBO; o grupo 5 recebeu apenas solução salina (NaCl 0,9%), sendo chamado de grupo SALINA; e o grupo 6 recebeu a solução salina associado ao HBO, sendo chamado de grupo SALINA+HBO. Durante o tratamento os animais foram avaliados diariamente. O tratamento com HBO foi realizado por 4 dias e, ao final, as amostras da porção final do intestino foram retiradas e armazenadas para análise histológica, enzimas antioxidantes e citocinas. Resultados: A avaliação mostrou que o HBO promoveu uma melhora significativa no quadro clínico desses animais. A aplicação do ácido 2,4,6 trinitro benzeno sulfônico nos animais do grupo TNBS resultou na perda de 12,71% do peso corpóreo dos animais após 24 horas e, ao final do período experimental uma perda de peso total de 14,63%. Por outro lado, os animais que também receberam 2,4,6 trinitro benzeno sulfônico associado ao tratamento com o HBO (TNBS+HBO) tiveram uma perda de apenas 7,52% nas primeiras 24 horas, apresentando uma recuperação de 5,58% de seu peso no final do período experimental. A avaliação do quadro histológico mostrou uma melhora significativa entre o grupo TNBS+HBO quando comparado com o grupo TNBS. O tratamento com HBO aumentou a atividade das enzimas antioxidantes SOD e GPx em todos os grupos, sendo somente significativo entre os grupos TNBS vs TNBS+HBO, não sendo observado diferença da GR entre os grupos. Com relação ao perfil inflamatório foi observado que o tratamento com o HBO promoveu a diminuição das citocinas pró-inflamatórias INFy, IL-12, IL-17 e TNF? e o aumento das citocinas anti-inflamatórias IL-4 e IL-10, e não houve alteração da IL-13. Em modelo experimental, esses dados representam, o potencial efeito anti-inflamatório e o do aumento das defesas antioxidantes enzimáticas promovido pelo HBO / Introduction: The Knowledge about the physiopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has evolved over the last decades. However, although therapies have improved, 2/3 of the cases still need alternative drugs and support therapy. The constant search for alternative treatments and more effective modalities has brought to light some promising strategies, as the use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO). The use of such therapy surged rapidly in the 90´s showing good results and few side effects being, later on, \"forgotten\" due to the efficacy shown by the use of biological therapies. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of HBO treatment in mice with chemically induced colitis, using 2,4,6 trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid 2,5% (TNBS) over the evaluation of the animals, histological analysis, inflammatory profile through cytokines IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17, TNF- alfa and interferon y, and also the activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), gluthatione peroxidase (GPx) and gluthatione reductase (GR) in intestine of mice. Methodology: Male mice were divided into 6 groups, in group 1, colitis was induced by TNBS 2,5%+ Ethanol 35%, named as TNBS, group 2 also received TNBS 2,5%+ Ethanol 35% + HBO, named as TNBS+HBO, group 3 received only Ethanol 35%, named as ALCOHOL, group 4 received Ethanol 35% associated with HBO, named as ALCOHOL+HBO, group 5 received Saline (NaCl 0,9%), named as SALINE and group 6 received Saline combined with HBO, named as SALINE+HBO. During the treatment the animals were evaluated daily. The treatment with HBO was performed for 4 days and at the end, the samples of the final portion of the bowel were removed and stored for histological, antioxidant enzymes and cytokines analysis. Results: This study has shown that the HBO promoted a significant improve on these animals clinical status. The group which received TNBS showed a 12,71% body weight loss after 24 hours, and by the end of the experimental period the average weight loss was 14,63%. On the other hand, the animals treated with HBO showed only 7,52% weight loss during the first 24 hours, having recovered the weight lost in 5,58% by the end of the experimental period. The histological evaluation of the TNBS+HBO group presented a significant improvement when compared with TNBS group. The treatment with HBO increased the activity of the antioxidant enzymes SOD and GPx in all groups, being only significant among the groups TNBS vs TNBS+HBO, difference in the activity of GR was not observed among the groups. Regarding the inflammatory profile, it was observed that the treatment with HBO promoted the decrease of pro-inflammatory cytokines INFy, IL-12, IL-17 and TNFalfa, as well as the increase of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10, while IL-13 was not affected. These data represents, in experimental model, the potential anti-inflammatory effect and the increase of the enzymatic antioxidant defenses promoted by the HBO

Zielsetzung: Bei Patienten mit Morbus Crohn (M.C.) wurde ein erhöhter Zuckerkonsum beschrieben. Ebenfall wurde bei M.C. ein subklinisches Zinkdefizit zahlreich beschrieben. Die Zusammenhänge zwischen Geschmackswahrnehmung und Zucherkonsum hinsichtlich der Zinkkonzentration im Plasma und die Auswirkungen auf die orale Mundgesundheit von Patienten mit M.C.. Versuchsplan: Für 24 M.C. Patienten und 24 Kontrollpersonen (Kon) mit ähnlicher Altersstruktur wurde der Zuckerkonsum die Zinkkonzentration im Plasma ermittelt. Die Geschmacksschwellen, die Mundhygiene und die Kariesprävalenz wurden erhoben. Ergebnisse: Bei M.C. wurde ein erhöhter Zuckerkonsum (M.C. 107,1 plusminus 27,7 vs. Kon 71,9plusminus13,7 g/d; p / Background: An increased intake of sucrose is reported in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Subclinical zinc deficiency is frequently described in CD. The relationship between taste perception and sucrose intake in respect to zinc as well as the effect on dental and oral health in CD patients should be examined. Methods: In 24 CD patients and 24 age matched controls (Con) carbohydrate intake and plasma zinc levels were assessed. Taste threshold, oral hygiene and caries prevalence were evaluated. Results: In CD a higher sucrose intake (CD 107,1 plusminus 27,7 vs. Con 71,9 plusminus 13,7 g/d; p

Introdução: Citomegalovírus (CMV) é um DNA vírus de alta prevalência, e tem uma capacidade peculiar de infectar e permanecer integrado ao DNA das células do hospedeiro, mantendo-se na forma de infecção latente. O vírus também pode ocasionar doença, o que normalmente ocorre em pacientes imunocomprometidos, promovendo o aumento da morbidade e mortalidade nestes pacientes. As doenças inflamatórias intestinais (DII), doença de Crohn (DC) e retocolite ulcerativa (RCU), são enfermidades crônicas que afetam o trato gastrointestinal. A fisiopatologia e o tratamento destas doenças, muitas vezes, pode induzir um estado de imunossupressão. Isso incitou a ideia de que os pacientes com DII são mais susceptíveis à infecção e doença por CMV. Ainda há dúvidas e controvérsias sobre a relação entre a doença inflamatória intestinal e o CMV. Objetivos: Avaliar a frequência de infecção por CMV em pacientes com doença inflamatória intestinal, e se existe associação entre replicação viral do CMV com a atividade da DII, mediante índices clínicos e laboratoriais. Metodologia: Pacientes com DII previamente diagnosticada foram submetidos à entrevista, revisão de registros e coleta de amostras de sangue e fezes. Foram realizados os seguintes exames: pesquisa de citomegalovírus por IgG e IgM no sangue, pela técnica de reação em cadeia por polimerase (PCR) em tempo real no sangue e pela técnica de PCR qualitativa nas fezes. Estes resultados foram correlacionados com os valores de hemoglobina, proteína C-reativa, velocidade de hemossedimentação, calprotectina fecal e índices clínicos. Resultados: Quatrocentos pacientes foram elegíveis, sendo 249 com DC e 151 com RCU. No grupo de pacientes com DC, 67 apresentavam doença moderada ou grave pelo índice clínico, porém 126 se mostravam com doença ativa mediante a avaliação da calprotectina fecal. No grupo de pacientes com RCU, 21 exibiam doença moderada pelo índice clínico, mas 76 se encontravam com doença ativa, mediante a avaliação da calprotectina fecal. Drogas imunossupressoras foram amplamente utilizadas pelos pacientes, 143 pacientes com DC faziam uso de azatioprina e, destes, 48 usavam terapia combinada (anti TNF-alfa + azatioprina). Na RCU, a azatioprina foi usada por 41 pacientes e, destes, sete faziam uso de terapia combinada. Avaliando os dois grupos, 90,9% dos pacientes apresentaram anticorpos IgM contra o CMV no sangue e dez pacientes também exibiram IgG. A detecção do DNA CMV PCR em tempo real no sangue apresentou valores abaixo do limite inferior (150 cópias/mL) em todos os 400 pacientes. Enquanto isso, o DNA CMV PCR qualitativo, realizado na amostra fecal, indicou nove pacientes expressando valores positivos. Com efeito, nos 400 pacientes, identificaram-se 332 infectados sem replicação viral, 19 pacientes com replicação viral e 24 não infectados. Os pacientes com DII em uso de terapia combinada apresentaram uma chance maior de replicação viral 3,63 vezes em comparação aos pacientes que não fizeram uso deste tratamento. Conclusão: A infecção latente pelo CMV foi bastante prevalente, mas a infecção ativa foi rara. A utilização de terapia combinada, entretanto, em doentes com DII, tem associação com a replicação viral do CMV, mas sem indicar relação com a atividade inflamatória da DII / Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a highly prevalent DNA virus that has a peculiar ability to infect the host and remains integrated to his DNA as a latent infection. The virus can also appear in the form of disease, which most commonly occurs in immunocompromised patients, increasing their morbidity and mortality. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn\'s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are chronic diseases that affect the gastrointestinal tract. The pathophysiology and treatment of these diseases often induce a state of immunosuppression, hence the assumption that patients with inflammatory bowel disease may be at greater risk for cytomegalovirus disease. However, there are still doubts and controversies about the relationship between IBD and CMV. Aim: Evaluate the frequency of CMV infection in patients with IBD correlating it with clinical and laboratorial activity indices of IBD. Methods: Patients with a previous diagnosis of IBD underwent interviews, a medical record review and collection of blood and fecal samples. The search of CMV was performed by IgG and IgM blood serology, real-time PCR in blood and qualitative PCR in feces. These results were correlated with red blood cell levels, Creactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and fecal calprotectin. Patients with CD were evaluated by Crohn\'s disease activity index and UC patients, by Truelove & Witts index. Results: Four hundred patients were eligible: 249 patients with CD and 151 with UC. In the CD group, using clinical index, 67 patients had moderate or severe disease, but 126 patients presented with active disease by evaluating fecal calprotectin. In patients with UC, 21 exhibited moderate disease by clinical index, but 76 patients presented with active disease by evaluating fecal calprotectin. Immunosuppressive drugs were widely used by patients. On CD, 143 patients of them were using azathioprine, and of these, 48 were using combo therapy (anti TNFalpha + azathioprine). On the UC, azathioprine was used in 41 patients, and seven of these were taking combo therapy. The great majority of patients (90,9%) had positive CMV IgG, ten patients had positive CMV IgM, nine patients had positive qualitative detection of CMV DNA by PCR in faeces, and in all 400 patients quantitative detection of CMV DNA by real-time PCR in blood was negative. In the 400 patients, we identified 332 CMV infected without viral replication, 19 patients CMV infected with viral replication (active infection) and 24 non-infected CMV patients. Analyzing the 19 patients with active infection, we only found an association with the use of combo therapy (anti TNF-alpha + azathioprine), and patients on combo therapy have a viral replication chance 3.63 times compared to patients who do not use this treatment. Conclusion: Latent cytomegalovirus infection is extremely frequent in the inflammatory bowel disease population, but the active cytomegalovirus infection is rare; and the use of combination therapy in patients with IBD is associated with viral replication of CMV, but without presenting relation to inflammatory activity of IBD

A doença de Crohn é uma inflamação crônica do trato gastrointestinal. O tratamento convencional é muitas vezes desapontador. Apesar da variedade de drogas disponíveis para o tratamento da doença inflamatória intestinal, tais como: salicilatos e seus derivados, corticosteróides, antibióticos e imunossupressores, nenhuma destas mostrou ser totalmente eficaz ou definitiva para o tratamento da doença e seus surtos de exacerbação. Pesquisas têm sido desenvolvidas com o objetivo de apresentar drogas mais efetivas. Dentre estas, destacam-se as drogas biológicas. O infliximabe é um anticorpo monoclonal quimérico anti-fator de necrose tumoral alfa e está indicado na doença de Crohn refratária e fistulizante. O objetivo deste estudo visa avaliar prospectivamente os resultados e efeitos colaterais precoces e tardios do uso do anti-TNF alfa no tratamento de 60 doentes com doença de Crohn, no período de julho de 1999 a dezembro de 2005. Os doentes foram tratados com anti-TNF alfa (infliximabe), na dose de 5mg/kg de peso, aplicado por via endovenosa em intervalos de dois meses. A avaliação foi realizada por protocolo clínico que classificava os quesitos: estado geral, sintomas intestinais e doença perianal em melhor, inalterado e pior, e pelo índice de atividade da doença de Cronh. Os doentes tratados com anti-TNF alfa apresentaram mediana de duração da doença de sete anos, variando de um a 28 anos entre a data do início dos sintomas e a data de início da pesquisa. 34 doentes (56,7%) já haviam sido submetidos a uma ou mais operações abdominais e 38 (63,3%) a operações orificiais. O software utilizado para a realização dos cálculos foi o SPSS® 9.0 for Windows, sendo estatisticamente significantes os testes com p<0,05. Foram aplicadas 225 doses de anti-TNF alfa, em média, 3,7 doses por paciente num período de aproximadamente cinco anos, variando de uma a 14 doses. No tratamento inicial 76% dos pacientes responderam a droga. As principais indicações para o emprego do anti-TNF alfa foram a presença de doença perianal em 36 casos (60%) e a intratabilidade clínica em 24 casos (40%). Observou-se que após a primeira dose da medicação, os doentes com mais de dez anos de doença e submetidos à operação abdominal tiveram resultado satisfatório semelhantemente aqueles doentes com menos de cinco anos de doença e não operados com p<0,05. O índice de atividade da doença de Crohn foi em média de 189,7 antes do início do tratamento e na primeira aplicação diminuiu em média para 135,4, e progressivamente ao longo das aplicações (115, 102, 109 e 88,4 até a quinta dose), sendo o resultado estatisticamente significativo. Houve efeito colateral em 40 aplicações (17,8%), sendo os efeitos principais: eritema cutâneo, dispnéia e dor abdominal. O tratamento com anti-fator de necrose tumoral alfa, obedecidas as indicações precisas, associou-se a baixo índice de efeitos colaterais graves tendo apresentado bons resultados na resolução da doença de Crohn perianal, na melhora da sintomatologia intestinal e no estado geral dos pacientes / Crohn´s disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Conventional treatment is many times disappointing. Besides the great number of available medications to treat inflammatory bowel diseases, such as salicilates and derivatives, corticosteroids, antibiotics and immunosuppressive agents, none of them proved to be totally efficient or the ultimate treatment for inflammatory diseases and their exacerbation. Researches have been carried out to find more effective therapeutic drugs. Among these therapeutics, biologic treatments have been in evidence. Infliximab is a chimeric IgG1 monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and is indicated for refractory luminal and fistulizing Crohns disease. The aim of this study is to prospectively evaluate the outcome, early and late adverse events, in 60 patients diagnosed with Crohn´s disease and treated with infliximab between July 1999 and December 2005. All patients were treated with anti-TNF-alpha (infliximab), 5mg/kg/dose, intravenously, each two months. Patients were clinically evaluated using a protocol that classified the evolution of the health status, intestinal symptoms and perianal disease, as better, worse or unchanged, during the treatment. Crohn´s disease activity index was also evaluated. Patients treated with anti-TNF-alpha presented a median disease duration of seven (range 1-28) years, between the beginning of the disease symptoms and the beginning of the research protocol. Thirty-four patients (56.7%) have been submitted to one or more abdominal surgeries before, and 38 (63.3%) to anal-rectum surgeries. All statistics tests were performed with computer software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS® 9.0) for WindowsTM, and p values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Totals of 225 anti-TNF-alpha doses were administered. The mean doses administered per patient, in a period of approximately five years, were 3.7 (range 1-14) doses. After the initial treatment, 76% of the patients achieved a response. The most frequent indications for anti-TNF-alpha was perianal disease, occurring in 36 patients (60%), and clinical failure to the conventional treatment, happening in 24 patients (40%). After the first dose of anti-TNF-alpha, patients with more than 10 years of treatment and previously submitted to abdominal surgery presented a satisfactory outcome, similar to those with less than 5 years of disease and not submitted to surgery, p<0.05. Crohn´s disease activity index showed a mean index of 189.7 before treatment, that decreased to 135.4 after the first dose, and progressively decreased with the subsequent doses (means: 115, 102, 109 and 88.4, until the fifth dose, p<0.05). Adverse events were reported in 40 administrations (17,8%) from the total. The most prevalent adverse events were: rash, dyspnoea and abdominal pain. The treatment with anti-TNF-alpha, following precise indications, was associated with a low incidence of severe adverse events and presented good outcomes in the resolution of perianal Crohn´s disease, improving intestinal symptomatology and patients´ health status