Expert review of clinical immunology
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Severe active refractory ulcerative colitis is a potentially life-threatening disease. The introduction of intensive steroid treatment and early surgery has reduced mortality in recent years. Ciclosporin and infliximab are effective rescue therapies in steroid refractory colitis. A head-to-head study proposed by Laharie et al. failed to demonstrate the superiority of ciclosporin but confirmed the efficacy and safety of infliximab to control active disease and to maintain remission.