To the Editor: Burger and colleagues reported the limitations of pre-August 2010 Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) criteria for subsidised anti-tumour necrosis factor-α (anti-TNF-α) treatment of perianal Crohn’s disease (CD).1 PBS-subsidised infliximab is now available for CD patients with a Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) > 300 who have failed to achieve an adequate response to minimum doses of steroids and immunomodulators, and for patients with fistulising CD.2,4
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- 1. Burger DC, Lawrence IC, Bampton PA, et al. Anti-tumour necrosis factor- a treatment for perianal Crohn’s disease in Australia. Med J Aust 2010; 192: 375-377. <MJA full text>
- 2. Medicare Australia. Crohn disease. Authority to supply tumour necrosis factor (TNF) alfa antagonist agents through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for patients under section 85 and section 100 of the National Health Act 1953. http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/pbs/drugs1/crohns.jsp (accessed Aug 2010).
- 3. Medicare Australia. Fistulising Crohn disease. Initial PBS authority application: supporting information. http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/pbs/drugs1/files/4237-initial-fistulising-crohn-disease.pdf (accessed Aug 2010).
- 4. Connell W, Andrews JM, Brown S, Sparrow M. Practical guidelines for treating inflammatory bowel disease safely with anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy in Australia. Intern Med J 2010; 40: 139-149.
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This audit was conducted with support from a Robert Vandongen Vacation Scholarship awarded by Royal Perth Hospital Medical Research Foundation and the University of Western Australia.