OBJECTIVES: To assess induction and maintenance infusion patterns of infliximab (IFX) treatment in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients receiving 1, 2, or 3 induction doses. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of medical claims from an administrative database was conducted for UC patients newly starting IFX. Patients were required to have age ≥18 yrs, 2 diagnosis codes for UC, IFX index date between September 1, 2005 and January 31, 2008, and ≥ 26 months of continuous enrollment (minimum 12 months before and 14 months after the index date). Patients with select pre-index inflammatory disorders were excluded. The analysis evaluated induction (IFX doses during first 56 days post-index) and maintenance (doses >56 days and <12 months post-induction). Persistence during maintenance was defined by a medication possession ratio (MPR) of >80%. Results were stratified by the number of induction doses (1, 2, or 3). RESULTS: A total of 354 UC patients were included in the analyses: mean (SD) age of 44 (14) yrs; 48.3% female; 62.4% received IFX in the outpatient office setting. There were 27, 83, and 244 patients in the 1, 2, and 3 induction dose groups, respectively. The overall mean (SD) number of days during the induction period was 35 (14), and days increased with the number of induction doses. During the maintenance period, patients received an overall mean (median) of 5 (6) infusions. The cohort receiving 3 induction infusions had the highest percentage of patients with an MPR >80%. Infusion patterns for the first year post-induction were consistent with recommended prescribing information, with a median of 56 days between infusions. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of IFX patients received 3 induction doses. Induction and maintenance infusion patterns were consistent with prescribing recommendations, especially for those patients receiving 3 induction doses. These data support administering 3 IFX doses during induction to ensure appropriate dosing and optimal medication adherence during maintenance.