Correlation between Treatment Outcomes and Serum Vitamin D Levels As Well As Infliximab Trough Concentration among Chinese Patients with Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND: The relationship between vitamin D (vit-D) levels and the effectiveness of infliximab (IFX) in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the interaction between vit-D levels and the response to IFX therapy in patients with CD. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. Serum vit-D and IFX trough concentrations (TC) were measured in 84 patients, and statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: The total vit-D deficiency rate at enrollment, at week 14 and week 38, was 64.3%, 41.67%, and 37.5%, respectively (P < 0.001). CD activity index (CDAI) (120, range, 93–142.75) and simplified endoscopic activity score for CD (SES-CD) (2, range, 0–4) at week 14 were lower than that of enrollment (CDAI, 136.5, range, 101.25–196; SES-CD 13, range, 5–23) (P < 0.001). The biochemical remission (BR), clinical remission (CR), endoscopic remission (ER), and response (ERe) rates of week 38 were 76.1%, 88.5%, 22.4%, and 67.2%, respectively. vit-D levels at enrollment were positively correlated with CDAI at week 38 (P = 0.024). IFX serum TC was related to BR (P = 0.036), CR (P = 0.032) at week 14, and ERe (P = 0.009) at week 38. CONCLUSION: Among Chinese patients with CD, vit-D levels prior to IFX therapy are related to CDAI scores, and IFX serum TC is associated with BR, CR, and ERe.