Infliximab Plus Azathioprine And Monotherapy For Inflammatory Bowel Disease:A Meta-Analysis

AIM:To compare the efficacy and safety of the infliximab and azathioprine combination therapy and monotherapy in moderate to severe inflammatory bowel disease,and to guide the choice of inflammatory bowel disease durg programs.METHOD:We used the meta-analysis method to evaluate the therapeutic effect of study mentioned the combined infliximab with azathioprine in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease Furthermore, the sensitivity and publication bias test were employed to assess the representative of literature.RERULTS:Based on inclusion criteria,6 prospective randomized controlled clinical studies were included in this study.There were significant improve of clinical remission rate in combination group when compared with infliximab or azathioprine monotherapy,as well as in endoscopic detection.However,there were no significant statistical difference on the term of overall adverse reaction between two groups.CONCLUSION:For the first-line treatment of invalid in moderate to severe inflammatory bowel disease, Combination of inflixmab and azathioprine is superior to monotherapy. Combination therapy for clinical remission and endoscopic mucosal healing efficacy are obvious, and the overall there was no significant difference in adverse event with monotherapy.