Takeuchi K, et al. - This narrative review aimed at comparing tacrolimus (TAC) or infliximab (IFX) regarding safety and efficacy in the management of active UC. To researchers, both TAC and IFX appeared equally safe and effective in the short-term for patients with active UC. Physician and centre experience should guide the treatment choice, TAC or IFX. There appeared an urgent requirement of randomised controlled trials to rigorously compare the efficacy of TAC versus IFX for active UC.

Methods

• Researchers reviewed the 5 studies that directly compared the outcomes of TAC versus IFX for active UC.

Results

• The TAC and IFX groups were not significantly different regarding the incidence of serious adverse events.
• The groups were similar in terms of short-term clinical remission and response rates and the colectomy-free rates.
• As TAC was usually withdrawn at week 12, the long-term efficacy of TAC could not be properly evaluated.
• Clinical remission was maintained in the long-term among majority of patients in the IFX group.
• After failure of TAC, the efficacy of IFX as second-line salvage therapy appeared to be favourable, however, the efficacy of TAC after failure of IFX was questionable.