Ustekinumab is effective against small bowel lesions in Crohn’s disease: two case reports

Ustekinumab in pediatric patients with Crohn's disease: safety, and efficacy results from a multicenter retrospective study in China

Background

Ustekinumab (UST) is approved as an effective therapy for Crohn's disease (CD) in adults. Off-label use is increasing in the pediatric population, more data on safety and efficacy in pediatric patients with CD is urgently needed.

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of UST in children and adolescents with Crohn's disease.

Methods

This multicenter retrospective study carried out at three tertiary care centers, and identified children who received their first dose of UST at 18 years old or younger and followed up for a minimum of 24 weeks. Data on demographics, disease behavior, location and activity, treatment history were collected. The primary outcomes were clinical remission at weeks 24-32 and weeks 48-56 of UST therapy. Secondary outcomes were clinical response at the same time points, endoscopic remission, changes in C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), albumin and fecal calprotectin, improvement in growth parameters, and rate of adverse events.

Results

Sixteen patients were included, and 11/13 (84.6%) continued to receive UST after 1 year. Our data demonstrate that the clinical remission rates were 41.7% at weeks 24∼32 with the Weighted pediatric CD activity index (wPCDAI) was lower than baseline (43.8, IQR: 31.3-51.9 vs.15, IQR: 5.6-25, p < 0.001) and 75% at weeks 48-56 with wPCDAI was lower than baseline (42.5, IQR: 23.8-50 vs. 7.5, IQR: 0-13.8, p = 0.004). Five of eleven children achieved endoscopic remission. No serious adverse events were recorded during the study period.

Conclusions

UST is efficacious and safe in pediatric patients with CD. Pediatric patients could benefit from UST as either a primary or secondary biologic therapy for the induction, or maintenance of remission of CD.

Predictive factors of the clinical efficacy of ustekinumab in patients with refractory Crohn's disease: tertiary centers experience in Japan

PURPOSE

Therapeutic efficacy of ustekinumab in the real-world data is limited in patients with refractory Crohn's disease (CD). In addition, factors predictive of better therapeutic efficacy of ustekinumab remains unsolved in CD. We aimed to evaluate therapeutic efficacy of ustekinumab in patients with refractory CD and to identify the factors associated with the efficacy of ustekinumab.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 72 patients treated with ustekinumab for refractory CD. Therapeutic efficacy was assessed at weeks 8, 26, 52, and 104 on the basis of dual remission, defined as the combination of Crohn's Disease Activity Index < 150 and CRP < 0.3 mg/dL, and factors predictive of the induction and maintenance of dual remission were investigated. The cumulative continuation rates and safety of ustekinumab were assessed.

RESULTS

The dual remission rates at weeks 8, 26, 52, and 104 were 31.9%, 37.9%, 47.5%, and 42.6%, respectively. A short disease duration (≤ 2 years) and higher baseline serum albumin levels (≥ 3.1 g/dL) were positively associated with dual remission at weeks 8 and 52. Meanwhile, higher serum CRP levels (≥ 1.19 mg/dL) were negatively associated with dual remission at week 8. The cumulative ustekinumab continuation rate was favorable, and no severe adverse events were found.

CONCLUSION

A short disease duration and higher baseline serum albumin levels might be predictive of favorable therapeutic efficacy of ustekinumab in refractory CD. Induction efficacy appears to be lower in patients with higher serum CRP levels.

Ustekinumab is effective against ulcerative colitis with intestinal stenosis: A case report

RATIONALE

Intestinal stricture and obstruction are rare complications of ulcerative colitis (UC). Currently, there are only a few studies on the treatment of UC with intestinal stenosis, however there are no reports on the treatment of UC with benign intestinal stenosis with ustekinumab (UST).

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 22-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital due to a 3-year history of recurrent bloody mucous in stool with intermittent abdominal pain and distension developed in the past month. She was steroid-dependent and had developed a secondary loss of response to infliximab.

DIAGNOSES

She was diagnosed with UC combined with incomplete intestinal obstruction due to stenosis. The stricture had a mixed pattern with both inflammatory and fibrotic components, with the former covering a larger section of the intestine.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient was given UST for 56 weeks.

OUTCOMES

The patient's symptoms subsided after treatment with UST. The ulcers healed, and the stenosis was reduced.

LESSONS

UST is effective against UC with benign intestinal stenosis. It is thought that UST inhibits the production of transforming growth factor-β and interleukin-17, leading to the suppression of myofibroblast proliferation, ultimately alleviating intestinal stenosis.

Molecular targets and the use of biologics in the management of small bowel fibrosis in inflammatory bowel disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Small bowel fibrosis is a significant burden on Crohn's disease patients with limited effective medical treatments that then requires surgery. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms causing fibrosis and the evidence of benefit of available biologics will potentially lighten this burden and avoid the need for surgery.

RECENT FINDINGS

Transforming growth factor-beta and it's associated pathways remain the central cog in the wheel of fibrosis formation. Various new enzymes, cellular pathways, interleukins and molecules have been associated with beneficial modification of the fibrotic process. Licensed biologics such as antitumour necrosis factors continue to show evidence of efficacy in the treatment of fibrostenotic small bowel disease as well as the newer biologics ustekinumab and vedolizumab.

SUMMARY

Fibrostenotic disease of the small bowel is a significant and common debilitating complication in Crohn's disease patients. Multiple new molecular targets have been identified that may prove to become effective therapies in future. Antitumour necrosis factors remain the treatment with the best available evidence to date in fibrostenotic Crohn's disease.