A multicenter experience with infliximab for ulcerative colitis: outcomes and predictors of response, optimization, colectomy, and hospitalization

First-line anti-TNF agents, ustekinumab and vedolizumab perform similarly in Crohn' disease, but not in ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND

Real-word comparisons between first-line biologicals in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are scarce.

AIMS

The aim of this study is to compare drug persistence and patient reported outcome-2 (PRO-2) remission rates of first-line biological classes [anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents vs anti-integrin vedolizumab vs IL-12/23 inhibitor ustekinumab] in real life cohort.

METHODS

Individual level data of 946 adults (588 Crohn's disease and 358 ulcerative colitis) were retrieved from UR-CARE IBD platform. Adjusted drug survival curves using a pooled logistic model and PRO-2 remission rates for each class of biologicals were calculated and compared.

RESULTS

In Crohn's disease, no differences in drug survival were observed for anti-TNF agents vs vedolizumab vs ustekinumab as estimated survival with 95% confidence intervals were 0.81 (0.77-0.84) vs 0.89 (0.82-0.96) vs 0.88 (0.79-0.97) at year 1 and 0.52 (0.46-0.58) vs 0.58 (0.37-0.78) vs 0.58 (0.39-0.77) at year 4. In ulcerative colitis, however, anti-TNF agents had shorter drug survival than vedolizumab with estimated drug survival with 95% confidence intervals 0.60 (0.52-0.67) vs 0.76 (0.67-0.84) at year 1 and 0.37 (0.30-0.44) vs 0.50 (0.36-0.64) at year 4. No differences in PRO-2 remission rates were observed between drug classes in Crohn's disease ( P  = 0.95), but more patients enjoyed PRO-2 remission in ulcerative colitis treated with anti-TNF agents compared to vedolizumab (94.8 vs 78.9%, P  = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Our real-world data suggest similar drug persistence and efficacy of first-line treatments with anti-TNF agents, vedolizumab and ustekinumab in Crohn's disease. In ulcerative colitis, however, drug persistence was higher for vedolizumab compared to anti-TNF agents, but on the cost of lower PRO-2 remission rates.

Efficacy of Second-Line Biological Therapies in Moderate to Severe Ulcerative Colitis Patients with Prior Failure of Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Therapy: A Multi-Center Study

BACKGROUND

Few studies have compared the efficacy and safety of second-line biological therapies in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients with prior exposure to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy. We aim to compare the efficacy and safety between ustekinumab, vedolizumab, and tofacitinib, a current option as second-line biological therapy with different mechanisms in those patients.

METHODS

This retrospective multi-center study was conducted across five institutions from 2011 to 2022. We enrolled patients with moderate to severe UC who failed anti-TNF therapy and subsequently received ustekinumab, vedolizumab, or tofacitinib as second-line biological therapy. The outcomes were analyzed for clinical response/remission and endoscopic improvement/remission rates after induction therapy, drug persistency, and adverse events.

RESULTS

A total of 70 UC patients were included and grouped into ustekinumab (11 patients), vedolizumab (40 patients), and tofacitinib (19 patients) treatments. The clinical response/remission rates after induction therapy were similar between ustekinumab (90.9/81.8%), vedolizumab (92.5/65.0%), and tofacitinib (94.7/73.7%). There were no significant differences in the endoscopic improvement/remission rates between the three groups: 90.9/18.2% for ustekinumab, 72.5/12.5% for vedolizumab, and 84.2/26.3% for tofacitinib. Drug persistence was similar across the three agents (p = 0.130). Three patients of the tofacitinib group experienced adverse events (herpes zoster and hypertriglyceridemia).

CONCLUSIONS

Based on real-world data, second-line biological therapy with ustekinumab, vedolizumab, and tofacitinib showed comparable efficacy in patients with moderate to severe UC with prior exposure to anti-TNF therapy.

Management of ulcerative colitis: where are we at and where are we heading?

INTRODUCTION

Remission rates for ulcerative colitis (UC) remain low despite significant progress in disease understanding and the introduction of novel therapeutic agents. Several challenges contribute to this, including the heterogeneity of the disease, suboptimal efficacy of current diagnostic and therapeutic tools, drug safety concerns, and limited access to newer treatment options.

AREAS COVERED

This review evaluates current treatment targets in UC, assessing the effectiveness of various therapies and management strategies in achieving remission. We explore the potential role of personalized medicine, which tailors treatment based on clinical predictors, genetic factors, and immunologic profiles. Personalized approaches show promise in improving remission rates by addressing the unique characteristics of each patient. We also discussed the feasibility of adapting such management models and suggested solutions to some of the challenges in their implementation.

EXPERT OPINION

Future efforts should prioritize the continued development of biologics, small molecules, and digital health solutions, alongside noninvasive monitoring techniques. These innovations could not only enhance patient outcomes by improving remission rates but also reduce healthcare costs by minimizing hospitalization and surgical interventions. Ultimately, a personalized, stratified approach to UC management is key to optimizing patient care and addressing the unmet needs in this field.

Early Versus Late Use of Vedolizumab in Ulcerative Colitis: Clinical, Endoscopic, and Histological Outcomes

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

We explored the potential for differential efficacy of vedolizumab between early and late ulcerative colitis [UC] with evaluation of clinical, endoscopic, and histological endpoints.

METHODS

This was a multicentre, multinational, open-label study in patients with moderately-to-severely active UC, defining early UC by a disease duration <4 years and bio-naïve and late UC by a disease duration > 4 years and additional exposure to tumour necrosis factor antagonists. Patients received standard treatment with intravenous vedolizumab for 52 weeks [300 mg Weeks 0, 2, 6, every 8 weeks thereafter without escalation]. The primary endpoint was corticosteroid-free clinical remission with endoscopic improvement [total Mayo score ≤2 with no subscore >1] at both Weeks 26 and 52.

RESULTS

A total of 121 patients were included: in the "early" group, 25/59 [42.4%] achieved the primary endpoint versus 19/62 [30.6%] in the "late" group [p = 0.18]. There were no significant differences between the two groups in endoscopic improvement [Week 26: "early" 32/59 [54.2%] versus "late" 29/62 [46.8%]; p = 0.412; Week 52: 27/59 [45.8%] versus 25/62 [40.3%]; p = 0.546] or in histological remission [Robarts Histopathology Index <3 without neutrophils in the epithelium and lamina propria] [Week 26: 24/59 [40.7%] versus 21/62 [33.9%]; p = 0.439; Week 52: 22/59 [37.3%] versus 22/62 [35.5%]; p = 0.837].

CONCLUSIONS

No significant differences in clinical, endoscopic, and histological outcomes were observed between "early" and "late" disease.

Biologics, Small Molecules and More in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: The Present and the Future

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of heterogeneous chronic inflammatory diseases of the gut presenting with intestinal and extraintestinal manifestations. Most cases fit in predominantly two types, namely, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The incidence of IBD has been increasing steadily in the past three decades. Focused research has resulted in many therapeutic options. Biologics (derived from humans or animals) and small molecules have emerged as the cornerstone in the management of IBD and have become widely available. Currently, monoclonal antibodies against tumor necrosis factor-alpha (infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab, and golimumab), integrins (vedolizumab and natalizumab), and interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23 antagonists (ustekinumab), along with small molecules (tofacitinib), are approved for use. This article summarizes various aspects of these drugs, like clinical pharmacology, indications for use in IBD, safety in pregnancy and lactation, and the adverse effects profile based on the studies leading to their approval. This review also focuses on the recent advances and future perspectives specific to biologics in IBD.

Management and treatment optimization of patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis

INTRODUCTION

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with a significant health-care burden worldwide. While medical therapy aims to induce and maintain remission, optimal management of mild to moderate UC remains challenging due to heterogeneity in severity classifications and non-standardized approaches. This comprehensive review summarizes current evidence and knowledge gaps to optimize clinical decision-making in patients with mild to moderate UC.

AREAS COVERED

After an extensive literature search of PubMed, Medline, and Embase through August 2023, we provide an overview of definitions utilized to characterize mild to moderate UC severity and established therapeutic targets. Current medical treatments including mesalazine formulations, corticosteroids, and their combinations are surveyed. The role of emerging intestinal ultrasound, telemedicine, and home testing is explored. Individualized, patient-centered paradigms aiming to streamline care delivery through proactive identification of relapses are also examined.

EXPERT OPINION

Addressing inconsistencies in disease activity stratification will better align tailored regimens with each patient's profile. Advancing noninvasive technologies like ultrasound criteria and home testing could improve UC management by enabling personalized models. Realizing individualized plans through informed shared-decision making between health-care providers and fully engaged patients holds promise to maximize quality of life outcomes. Continuous improvement relies on innovation bridging different domains to overcome current limitations and push the field toward more predictive and tailored care.

Predictive factors of response to infliximab therapy in Brazilian inflammatory bowel disease patients

Background

Biological therapies have revolutionized the treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Infliximab (IFX) has been shown to be effective in inducing and maintaining remission in patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. However, about one-third of the patients are primary non-responders, and up to half can lose response over time. Hence, it is important to assess which factors are related to treatment failure.

Objectives

We aimed to identify factors predicting clinical and endoscopic remission with IFX treatment during maintenance therapy in a Brazilian IBD referral center.

Design

We conducted a cross-sectional study to describe demographic, clinical, and IBD therapy-related characteristics of IBD patients treated with IFX for at least 6 months in a Brazilian referral center. Subsequently, we evaluated factors associated with clinical and endoscopic remission (primary and secondary outcomes, respectively).

Methods

We used descriptive statistics to summarize the essential demographic and clinical characteristics of the population. The association of sociodemographic and clinical variables with outcomes was analyzed using multivariable logistic regression.

Results

A total of 131 IBD patients (the mean age 41.7 years) were enrolled in this study. Clinical and endoscopic remission were observed in 79.4% and 58.2% of the patients, respectively. In the multivariable analysis, IFX therapy duration and higher albumin levels increased the likelihood of clinical remission, while previous surgery decreased its chance. Prior use of adalimumab and higher C-reactive protein levels reduced the likelihood of endoscopic remission.

Conclusion

In summary, this study has enhanced our understanding of the predictive factors of treatment response to IFX in a well-characterized Brazilian IBD population.

Trial registration

4.254.501 and 2.903.748.

Prediction of anti-TNF therapy failure in ulcerative colitis patients by ensemble machine learning: A prospective study

Nowadays, anti-TNF therapy remarkably improves the medical management of ulcerative colitis (UC), but approximately 40 % of patients do not respond to this treatment. In this study, we used 79 anti-TNF-naive patients with moderate-to-severe UC from four cohorts to discover alternative therapeutic targets and develop a personalized medicine approach that can diagnose UC non-responders (UCN) prior to receiving anti-TNF therapy. To this end, two microarray data series were integrated to create a discovery cohort with 35 UC samples. A comprehensive gene expression and functional analysis was performed and identified 313 significantly altered genes, among which IL6 and INHBA were highlighted as overexpressed genes in the baseline mucosal biopsies of UCN, whose cooperation may lead to a decrease in the Tregs population. Besides, screening the abundances of immune cell subpopulations showed neutrophils' accumulation increasing the inflammation. Furthermore, the correlation of KRAS signaling activation with unresponsiveness to anti-TNF mAb was observed using network analysis. Using 50x repeated 10-fold cross-validation LASSO feature selection and a stack ensemble machine learning algorithm, a five-mRNA prognostic panel including IL13RA2, HCAR3, CSF3, INHBA, and MMP1 was introduced that could predict the response of UC patients to anti-TNF antibodies with an average accuracy of 95.3 %. The predictive capacity of the introduced biomarker panel was also validated in two independent cohorts (44 UC patients). Moreover, we presented a distinct immune cell landscape and gene signature for UCN to anti-TNF drugs and further studies should be considered to make this predictive biomarker panel and therapeutic targets applicable in the clinical setting.

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis: Loss of Response and Need for Dose Escalation of Infliximab and Adalimumab in Ulcerative Colitis

BACKGROUND

Loss of response to infliximab or adalimumab in ulcerative colitis occurs frequently, and dose escalation may aid in regaining clinical benefit. This study aimed to systematically assess the annual loss of response and dose escalation rates for infliximab and adalimumab in ulcerative colitis.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted from August 1999 to July 2021 for studies reporting loss of response and dose escalation during infliximab and/or adalimumab use in ulcerative colitis patients with primary response. Annual loss of response, dose escalation rates, and clinical benefit after dose escalation were calculated. Subgroup analyses were performed for studies with 1-year follow-up or less.

RESULTS

We included 50 unique studies assessing loss of response (infliximab, n = 24; adalimumab, n = 21) or dose escalation (infliximab, n = 21; adalimumab, n = 16). The pooled annual loss of response for infliximab was 10.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.1-14.3) and 13.6% (95% CI, 9.3-19.9) for studies with 1-year follow-up. The pooled annual loss of response for adalimumab was 13.4% (95% CI, 8.2-21.8) and 23.3% (95% CI, 15.4-35.1) for studies with 1-year follow-up. Annual pooled dose escalation rates were 13.8% (95% CI, 8.7-21.7) for infliximab and 21.3% (95% CI, 14.4-31.3) for adalimumab, regaining clinical benefit in 72.4% and 52.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Annual loss of response was 10% for infliximab and 13% for adalimumab, with higher rates during the first year. Annual dose escalation rates were 14% (infliximab) and 21% (adalimumab), with clinical benefit in 72% and 52%, respectively. Uniform definitions are needed to facilitate more robust evaluations.

Alamri M, Alfaifi J, I. E. Adam M, A. Saleh L, I. Farag A, A. Elmorsy E, S. El-Wakeel H, S. Doghish A, E. Shaker M, H. Hazem S, A. Ramadan H, S. Hamad R, A. Mohammed O. Unveiling the therapeutic potential of exogenous β-hydroxybutyrate for chronic colitis in rats: novel insights on autophagy, apoptosis, and pyroptosis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disease of the colorectal area that demonstrates a dramatically increasing incidence worldwide. This study provides novel insights into the capacity of the exogenous β-hydroxybutyrate and ketogenic diet (KD) consumption to alleviate dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced UC in rats. Remarkably, both interventions attenuated disease activity and colon weight-to-length ratio, and improved macro and microstructures of the damaged colon. Importantly, both β-hydroxybutyrate and KD curbed the DSS-induced aberrant NLRP3 inflammasome activation as observed in mRNA and protein expression analysis. Additionally, inhibition of the NLRP3/NGSDMD-mediated pyroptosis was detected in response to both regimens. In parallel, these modalities attenuated caspase-1 and its associated consequences of IL-1β and IL-18 overproduction. They also mitigated apoptosis as indicated by the inactivation of caspase-3. The anti-inflammatory effects of BHB and KD were confirmed by the reported decline in the levels of inflammatory markers including MPO, NFκB, IL-6, and TNF-α. Moreover, these interventions exhibited antioxidative properties by reducing ROS production and improving antioxidative enzymes. Their effectiveness in mitigating UC was also evident in the renovation of normal intestinal epithelial barrier function, as shown by correcting the discrepancies in the levels of tight junction proteins ZO-1, OCLN, and CLDN5. Furthermore, their effects on the intestinal microbiota homeostasis were investigated. In terms of autophagy, exogenous β-hydroxybutyrate upregulated BECN-1 and downregulated p62, which may account for its superiority over KD in attenuating colonic damage. In conclusion, this study provides experimental evidence supporting the potential therapeutic use of β-hydroxybutyrate or β-hydroxybutyrate-boosting regimens in UC.

A Systematic Review of the Economic and Health-Related Quality of Life Impact of Advanced Therapies Used to Treat Moderate-to-Severe Ulcerative Colitis

INTRODUCTION

The clinical benefits of advanced therapies (i.e., biologics and small-molecule drugs) in the treatment of moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC) have been demonstrated; however, there is less clarity regarding the economic and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impact of these treatments. We conducted a systematic literature review to synthesize data on cost, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), and HRQoL for patients who received approved advanced therapies for moderate-to-severe UC in the United States and Europe.

METHODS

Databases including MEDLINE, Embase, the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), the National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED), and EconLit were searched systematically to identify observational studies published between January 1, 2010 and October 14, 2021 that assessed the impact of advanced therapies on cost, HCRU, and/or HRQoL in adults with moderate-to-severe UC. Supplementary gray literature searches of conference proceedings from the past 4 years (January 2018 to October 2021) were also performed.

RESULTS

47 publications of 40 unique cost/HCRU studies and 13 publications of nine unique HRQoL studies were included. Findings demonstrated that biologics have a positive impact on indirect costs (i.e., productivity, presenteeism, and absenteeism) and HRQoL. High costs of biologics were not always fully offset by reductions in cost and HCRU associated with disease management. For many patients, treatment switching and dose escalations were required, thus increasing drug costs, particularly when switching across treatment classes.

CONCLUSION

These findings highlight a high unmet need for therapies for moderate-to-severe UC that can reduce the healthcare burden and impact on society. Further research is warranted, as the reported evidence was limited by the small sample sizes of some treatment groups within a study.

GADECCU 2022 Guideline for the treatment of Ulcerative Colitis. Adaptation and updating of the GETECCU 2020 Guideline

INTRODUCTION

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease that compromises the colon, affecting the quality of life of individuals of any age. In practice, there is a wide spectrum of clinical situations. The advances made in the physio pathogenesis of UC have allowed the development of new, more effective and safer therapeutic agents.

OBJECTIVES

To update and expand the evaluation of the efficacy and safety of relevant treatments for remission induction and maintenance after a mild, moderate or severe flare of UC.

RECIPIENTS

Gastroenterologists, coloproctologists, general practitioners, family physicians and others health professionals, interested in the treatment of UC.

METHODOLOGY

GADECCU authorities obtained authorization from GETECCU to adapt and update the GETECCU 2020 Guide for the treatment of UC. Prepared with GRADE methodology. A team was formed that included authors, a panel of experts, a nurse and a patient, methodological experts, and external reviewers. GRADE methodology was used with the new information.

RESULTS

A 118-page document was prepared with the 44 GADECCU 2022 recommendations, for different clinical situations and therapeutic options, according to levels of evidence. A section was added with the new molecules that are about to be available.

CONCLUSIONS

This guideline has been made in order to facilitate decision-making regarding the treatment of UC, adapting and updating the guide prepared by GETECCU in the year 2020.

Precision medicine and drug optimization in adult inflammatory bowel disease patients

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) encompass two main entities including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Although having a common global pathophysiological mechanism, IBD patients are characterized by a significant interindividual heterogeneity and may differ by their disease type, disease locations, disease behaviours, disease manifestations, disease course as well as treatment needs. Indeed, although the therapeutic armamentarium for these diseases has expanded rapidly in recent years, a proportion of patients remains with a suboptimal response to medical treatment due to primary non-response, secondary loss of response or intolerance to currently available drugs. Identifying, prior to treatment initiation, which patients are likely to respond to a specific drug would improve the disease management, avoid unnecessary side effects and reduce the healthcare expenses. Precision medicine classifies individuals into subpopulations according to clinical and molecular characteristics with the objective to tailor preventative and therapeutic interventions to the characteristics of each patient. Interventions would thus be performed only on those who will benefit, sparing side effects and expense for those who will not. This review aims to summarize clinical factors, biomarkers (genetic, transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolic, radiomic or from the microbiota) and tools that could predict disease progression to guide towards a step-up or top-down strategy. Predictive factors of response or non-response to treatment will then be reviewed, followed by a discussion about the optimal dose of drug required for patients. The time at which these treatments should be administered (or rather can be stopped in case of a deep remission or in the aftermath of a surgery) will also be addressed. IBD remain biologically complex, with multifactorial etiopathology, clinical heterogeneity as well as temporal and therapeutic variabilities, which makes precision medicine especially challenging in this area. Although applied for many years in oncology, it remains an unmet medical need in IBD.

A scoping review on early inflammatory bowel disease: definitions, pathogenesis, and impact on clinical outcomes

Background

Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) arise from a dysregulation of the balance between commensal microbiota and mucosal-associated immune system, in patients with genetic and environmental predisposition. Different pathophysiological mechanisms have been reported to influence disease history, with impact on disease phenotype and risk of complications.

Objectives

This review aims to summarize the definitions of early CD and UC, analyze the underlying immunological mechanisms, and evaluate the impact of recognizing and treating early inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on patients' prognosis (short- and long-term outcomes).

Design

To address this issue, we have performed a scoping review.

Data sources and methods

Three online databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect) were searched and the results were independently screened by two reviewers.

Results

From 683 records identified, 42 manuscripts evaluating early IBD in adult patients were included. The 'early CD' concept was first described in 2008. Four years later, an international consensus proposed the definition of diagnosis up to 18 months, in patients without previous or current need for disease-modifying therapies. Several other definitions have been proposed; the '2 years since diagnosis' is the most used, regardless of disease characteristics or medication. The amount of evidence on early UC is lower and more recent. Regarding early disease pathogenesis, most theories emphasize the prominent role of innate immunity, followed by early-Th1 adaptive response.

Conclusion

The treatment of early CD seems to be crucial for the management of CD patients, impacting short-, medium-, and long-term outcomes. On the other hand, the early treatment of UC appears to be less advantageous, yet evidence comes from only a few retrospective studies.

Tofacitinib to Treat Severe Acute Refractory Colitis in a Teenager: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Acute severe colitis (ASC) may occur within 3 months of ulcerative colitis diagnosis in 9%-15% of children and the rate of colectomy is up to 40%-50% within 5 years after an ASC. The aim of this publication is to present recent and relevant data on the success of medical treatment with tofacitinib in ASC.

Methods

We report a challenging case of a teenage boy with ASC at diagnosis and conduct a discussion after a review of the literature regarding the use of tofacitinib in inflammatory bowel disease, especially in pediatric patients and in ASC.

Results

The patient was hospitalized for 10 weeks and was refractory to conventional therapies: intravenous corticosteroids, infliximab, methotrexate, and vedolizumab. He received 7 blood transfusions and also presented with a severe malnutrition requiring a total parenteral nutrition. Tofacitinib was considered as a medical last resort before colectomy and was started at week 8. Thirteen days after starting tofacitinib, he was asymptomatic and was discharged on tofacitinib as sole treatment. By week 9 of tofacitinib, a colonoscopy showed both endoscopic and histological remission. He has remained in clinical remission at 6-month follow-up.

Conclusions

Tofacitinib may be an alternative medical treatment to avoid colectomy in ASC. It is a small molecule with a rapid onset and few severe adverse events. It has been used for ASC in adult patients, allowing to avoid colectomy in more than 60%. To our knowledge, this is one of the few pediatric patients with refractory ASC at initial diagnosis who responded to tofacitinib.

How has the disease course of pediatric ulcerative colitis changed throughout the biologics era? A comparison with the IBSEN study

BACKGROUND

In Korea, infliximab was approved for use in children with ulcerative colitis (UC) in October 2012.

AIM

To compare the clinical course of UC before and after the introduction of biological agents, and to compare with the IBSEN study.

METHODS

Patients under 18 years of age, who were diagnosed with UC and followed from January 2003 to October 2020, were included in the study. Group A (n = 48) was followed for at least 2 years between January 2003 and October 2012, and Group B (n = 62) was followed for at least 2 years between November 2012 and October 2020. We compared endoscopic remission, drug composition, relapse rate, steroid-free period, and the quality of life of each group. We plotted the clinical course of the included patients using the pediatric UC activity index score, and compared our patients with those in the IBSEN study.

RESULTS

After 2 years of treatment, colonoscopy evaluation revealed different outcomes in the two treatment groups. Remission was confirmed in 14 patients (29.2%) of Group A, and in 31 patients (50.0%) of Group B (P < 0.012). The median cumulative corticosteroid-free period was 3.0 years in Group A and 4.4 years in Group B. Steroid-free period of Group B was significantly longer than that of Group A (P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in evaluation of the relapse rate during the observation period (P < 0.001). The plotted clinical course graphs of Group A showed similar proportions to the graphs in the IBSEN study. However, in Group B, the proportion of patients corresponding to curve 1 (remission or mild severity after initial high activity) was high at 76% (47/62).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of relapse has decreased and the steroid-free period has increased after the introduction of the biological agent. The clinical course also showed a different pattern from that of IBSEN study. The active use of biological agents may change the long-term disease course in moderate to severe pediatric UC.

Rates of Intestinal Resection and Colectomy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients After Initiation of Biologics: A Cohort Study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

50% to 80% Crohn's disease (CD) and 10% to 30% ulcerative colitis (UC) patients require surgery over their lifetime. Biologic therapies may alter this natural history, but data on the effect of biologics on surgery rates in this patient population are mixed. We sought to investigate the influence of biologics on surgery prevalence in CD and UC.

METHODS

We used a commercial database (Explorys Inc, Cleveland, OH), which includes electronic health record data from 26 major integrated US healthcare systems. We identified all patients who were diagnosed with CD or UC that were treated with any biologics between 2015 and 2020. The primary outcome was to examine the association between biologics therapy and the prevalence of bowel resection. Also, we identified the factors associated with surgery in IBD patients on biologics.

RESULTS

Of 32,904,480 patients in the database, we identified 140,540 patients with CD and 115,260 patients with UC, of whom 25,840 (18%) and 9,050 (7.8%) patients received biologics, respectively. The prevalence of intestinal resection was significantly lower in biologics-treated CD patients (9.3%) compared to those who did not receive biologics (12.1%) (p < .001). Similarly, biologic-treated UC patients were significantly less likely to undergo colectomy (7.3%) compared to UC patients who did not receive biologic therapy (11.0%) (p < .001). Tobacco use, Clostridium difficile infection, and perianal disease were associated with intestinal resection in CD. Colon neoplasm and Clostridium difficile infection were associated with colectomy in UC.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study of a large healthcare administrative database, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients treated with biologics were significantly less likely to undergo bowel resection when compared to those who never received biologics. This data suggests that biologics may impact surgical rates in IBD.

An Update on Current Pharmacotherapeutic Options for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis

The main goals of Ulcerative Colitis (UC) treatment are to both induce and maintain the clinical and endoscopic remission of disease, reduce the incidence of complications such as dysplasia and colorectal carcinoma and improve quality of life. Although a curative medical treatment for UC has not yet been found, new therapeutic strategies addressing specific pathogenetic mechanisms of disease are emerging. Notwithstanding these novel therapies, non-biological conventional drugs remain a mainstay of treatment. The aim of this review is to summarize current therapeutic strategies used as treatment for ulcerative colitis and to briefly focus on emerging therapeutic strategies, including novel biologic therapies and small molecules. To date, multiple therapeutic approaches can be adopted in UC and the range of available compounds is constantly increasing. In this era, the realization of well-designed comparative clinical trials, as well as the definition of specific therapeutic models, would be strongly suggested in order to achieve personalized management for UC patients.

Infliximab Treatment Persistence among Japanese Patients with Chronic Inflammatory Diseases: A Retrospective Japanese Claims Data Study

Infliximab (IFX) has contributed to the treatment of several chronic inflammatory diseases, including Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), psoriasis (Pso), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the loss of response in some patients with long-term IFX therapy has been a major problem. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are limited in their short duration and lack of generalizability to the real-world population. We aimed to describe the persistence rates of IFX therapy to estimate its long-term effectiveness in clinical practice. Claims data from the Japan Medical Data Center database from January 2005 to June 2017 were used. The study population was identified based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision and the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System. The 5-year persistence rates of IFX therapy were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Overall, 281, 235, 41, and 222 patients with CD, UC, Pso, and RA, respectively, were selected. The 5-year persistence rates for IFX claims were 62.9, 38.9, 22.1, and 28.1% in patients with CD, UC, Pso, and RA, respectively. Patients with CD and UC administered IFX beyond the median dose had higher persistence rates. In patients with RA, female sex and no prior use of other biologics were associated with longer persistence. In conclusion, IFX persistence rates differed across chronic inflammatory diseases, which did not correspond to the results of the major RCTs. Factors associated with longer IFX persistence were identified in each disease group. Our findings may provide useful information to facilitate the proper use of IFX.

Efficacy of Biologic Drugs in Short-Duration Versus Long-Duration Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and an Individual-Patient Data Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Starting biologic treatment early in the course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may be associated with higher efficacy, especially in Crohn's disease (CD).

METHODS

This was a systematic review and individual-patient data meta-analysis of all placebo-controlled trials of biologics approved for IBD at study inception (October 2015), using Vivli data-sharing platform. The primary outcome was the proportional biologic/placebo treatment effect on induction of remission in patients with short-duration (≤18 months) vs long-duration disease (>18 months) analyzed separately for CD and ulcerative colitis (UC). We used meta-regression to examine the impact of patients' characteristics on the primary outcome.

RESULTS

We included 25 trials, testing infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab, golimumab, natalizumab, or vedolizumab (6168 patients with CD and 3227 patients with UC). In CD, remission induction rates were higher in pooled placebo and patients in active arms with short-duration disease of ≤18 months (41.4% [244 of 589]) compared with disease duration of >18 months (29.8% [852 of 2857], meta-analytically estimated odds ratio, 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-1.64). The primary outcome, proportional biologic/placebo treatment effect on induction of remission, was not different in short-duration disease of ≤18 months (n = 589, odds ratio, 1.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-2.15) compared with longer disease duration (n = 2857, odds ratio, 1.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-1.72). In UC trials, both the proportional biologic/placebo remission-induction effect and the pooled biologic-placebo effect were stable, regardless of disease duration. Primary outcome results remained unchanged when tested using alternative temporal cutoffs and when modeled for individual patient's covariates, including prior anti-tumor necrosis factor exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

There are higher rates of induction of remission with biologics and with placebo in early CD, resulting in a treatment to placebo effect ratio that is similar across disease durations. No such relationships between disease duration and outcomes was found in UC. PROSPERO registration: CRD42018041961.

Precision Medicine in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) describes a heterogenous group of diseases characterized by chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract. The IBD subtypes, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and IBD-Unspecified, each have characteristic features, but heterogeneity remains even among the subtypes. There has been an explosion of new knowledge on the possible pathogenesis of IBD over the last 2 decades mirroring innovation and refinement in technology, particularly the generation of large scale - "-omic" data. This knowledge has fostered a veritable renaissance of novel diagnostics, prognostics, and therapeutics, with patients with IBD seeing hope bloom in the increasingly large armamentarium of IBD therapies. However, while there are increased numbers of therapies and more pathways being targeted, the number of medications for IBD is still finite and the efficacy has reached a plateau. Precision medicine (PM) is much needed to rationally select and optimize IBD therapies in the new reality of wider but still limited choice with a concurrent, increasingly fine resolution on the significance and utility of clinical, genetic, microbial, and proteomic characteristics that define individual patients. PM is a rapidly changing art, but this review will strive to detail the current state and future directions of PM in pediatric IBD.

Long-term Disease Course of Crohn's Disease: Changes in Disease Location, Phenotype, Activities, and Predictive Factors

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic destructive inflammatory bowel disease that affects young people and is associated with significant morbidity. The clinical spectrum and disease course of CD are heterogeneous and often difficult to predict based on the initial presentation. In this article, changes in the disease location, behavior, clinical course during long-term follow-up, and predictive factors are reviewed. Generally, four different patterns of clinical course are discussed: remission, stable disease, chronic relapsing disease, and chronic refractory disease. Understanding the long-term disease course of CD is mandatory to reveal the underlying pathophysiology of the disease and to move toward a more optimistic disease course, such as remission or stability, and less adverse outcomes or devastating sequelae.

Early Changes in Serum Albumin Predict Clinical and Endoscopic Outcomes in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis Starting Anti-TNF Treatment

BACKGROUND

Up to 60% of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) ultimately fail anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) treatment. We aimed to investigate early predictive markers of clinical and endoscopic outcomes in patients with UC who were anti-TNF-naïve commencing anti-TNF treatment, with particular focus on changes in albumin and C-reactive protein levels in the first 2 weeks of treatment.

METHODS

We retrospectively investigated 210 patients with UC who started infliximab or adalimumab between 2009 and 2016 (male, 62.4%; median age at diagnosis, 37.9 years [interquartile range, 25.5-48.9 years]; median follow-up duration, 3.3 years [1.9-5.0 years]). Logistic and Cox proportional-hazards regressions were performed to identify variables associated with primary nonresponse (PNR), endoscopic outcomes, time-to-colectomy, and anti-TNF failure.

RESULTS

Forty-one patients (19.5%) experienced PNR; week 0/week 2 ratio serum albumin was associated with PNR (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-2.9, per interquartile range increase). Week 0/week 2 ratio albumin was also associated with endoscopic response (aOR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.31-0.82) and endoscopic remission (aOR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.39-0.96) at weeks 8 to 14, time-to-colectomy (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.29-3.49) and time-to-anti-TNF failure (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.22-1.96), regardless of age, disease severity, or in-patient status. Association with time-to-colectomy and anti-TNF failure was externally validated in an independent cohort of inpatients with UC starting infliximab.

CONCLUSIONS

Change in serum albumin within the first 2 weeks of anti-TNF treatment is predictive of PNR, endoscopic outcomes, time-to-colectomy, and anti-TNF failure in patients with UC. Timely access to this biomarker enables early identification of patients with UC at risk of anti-TNF failure and may guide early optimization of anti-TNF treatment to improve disease outcomes.

GETECCU 2020 guidelines for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Developed using the GRADE approach

INTRODUCTION

Since the first edition of the Guidelines was published in 2013, much information has been generated around the treatment of ulcerative colitis, and new drugs and action protocols have been introduced. Clinical practice has changed substantially, warranting new approaches and a comprehensive review and update of the evidence.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Once again, we used the GRADE approach, supported by an electronic tool (https://gradepro.org). The clinical scenarios are the same as in the previous version (induction and maintenance in severe and mild-moderate flare-ups), as are the variables and their evaluation. However, in the updated guidelines, three questions have been deleted, 14 added and 30 maintained, making a total of 44 clinical questions. After an exhaustive review of the evidence, the recommendations are now updated.

RESULTS

Of the 44 questions analysed, no recommendation could be established in two due to the very low quality of the evidence, while in the other 42, based on different degrees of quality of evidence, recommendations were made according to the GRADE system. In 25 of these questions the final recommendation is strongly in favour, in six strongly against, in seven weakly in favour and in four weakly against. According to the scenarios and recommendations, six algorithms are proposed as a simple guide for practical decision-making.

CONCLUSIONS

The aim of this update of the 2013 guidelines is to provide answers, based on the GRADE approach, to the different questions we ask ourselves daily when deciding the most appropriate treatment for our patients with ulcerative colitis in the different clinical scenarios.

Serum PR3-ANCA Is a Predictor of Primary Nonresponse to Anti-TNF-α Agents in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

Background

Anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) agents are effective for moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC). Nonetheless, a proportion of patients fail to respond to these agents as therapy for induction of remission. Recent studies indicated that perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (p-ANCA) may predict response to anti-TNF-α agents in UC patients. However, whether PR3-ANCA can predict primary nonresponse (PNR) to anti-TNF-α agents has not yet been evaluated. The aim of this study was to examine whether PR3-ANCA can predict PNR to anti-TNF-α in UC patients.

Methods

This was a single-center retrospective study. Data were extracted from 50 patients with UC who had measurements of PR3-ANCA and received anti-TNF-α agents for the first time as induction therapy. The primary endpoint of this study was a proportion of patients with PNR stratified by PR3-ANCA positivity. PNR to anti-TNF-α agents was defined as failure to achieve reduction in partial Mayo score by 2 or more points and change to other therapeutics within 6 weeks.

Results

Fourteen (28%) of the 50 patients were PR3-ANCA positive. Seventeen (34%) of the 50 patients demonstrated PNR. Eleven (78.6%) of the 14 PR3-ANCA-positive patients demonstrated PNR, while 6 (16.7%) of the 36 PR3-ANCA-negative patients demonstrated PNR. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that PR3-ANCA positivity was associated with PNR to anti-TNF-α agents (odds ratio 19.29, 95% CI: 3.30-172.67; p = 0.002).

Conclusion

PR3-ANCA positivity can predict PNR to anti-TNF-α agents in UC patients.

Ulcerative colitis: an update

Ulcerative colitis is a relapsing and remitting disease that is increasing in incidence and prevalence. Management aims to achieve rapid resolution of symptoms, mucosal healing and improvement in a patient's quality of life. 5-aminosalicylate acid medications remain the first-line treatment for mild to moderate disease. In the event of suboptimal response to these medications, escalation to immunosuppressive medications and biologics may be necessary. Importantly, despite best medical therapy, surgery may be required in a proportion of patients. The future will likely see an array of new therapeutic options for those with ulcerative colitis with the potential for a more personalised treatment approach.

Frequency and Effectiveness of Empirical Anti-TNF Dose Intensification in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Loss of response to antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapies in inflammatory bowel disease occurs in a high proportion of patients. Our aim was to evaluate the loss of response to anti-TNF therapy, considered as the need for dose intensification (DI), DI effectiveness and the possible variables influencing its requirements. Bibliographical searches were performed.

SELECTION

prospective and retrospective studies assessing DI in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients treated for at least 12 weeks with an anti-TNF drug.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

studies using anti-TNF as a prophylaxis for the postoperative recurrence in Crohn's disease or those where DI was based on therapeutic drug monitoring.

DATA SYNTHESIS

effectiveness by intention-to-treat (random effects model). Data were stratified by medical condition (ulcerative colitis vs. Crohn's disease), anti-TNF drug and follow-up.

RESULTS

One hundred and seventy-three studies (33,241 patients) were included. Overall rate of the DI requirement after 12 months was 28% (95% CI 24-32, I2 = 96%, 41 studies) in naïve patients and 39% (95% CI 31-47, I2 = 86%, 18 studies) in non-naïve patients. The DI requirement rate was higher both in those with prior anti-TNF exposure (p = 0.01) and with ulcerative colitis (p = 0.02). The DI requirement rate in naïve patients after 36 months was 35% (95% CI 28-43%; I2 = 98%; 18 studies). The overall short-term response and remission rates of empirical DI in naïve patients were 63% (95% CI 48-78%; I2 = 99%; 32 studies) and 48% (95% CI: 39-58%; I2 = 92%; 25 studies), respectively. The loss of response to anti-TNF agents-and, consequently, DI-occurred frequently in inflammatory bowel disease (approximately in one-fourth at one year and in one-third at 3 years). Empirical DI was a relatively effective therapeutic option.

Ulcerative colitis immune cell landscapes and differentially expressed gene signatures determine novel regulators and predict clinical response to biologic therapy

The heterogeneous pathobiology underlying Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is not fully understood. Using publicly available transcriptomes from adult UC patients, we identified the immune cell landscape, molecular pathways, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across patient cohorts and their association with treatment outcomes. The global immune cell landscape of UC tissue included increased neutrophils, T CD4 memory activated cells, active dendritic cells (DC), and M0 macrophages, as well as reduced trends in T CD8, Tregs, B memory, resting DC, and M2 macrophages. Pathway analysis of DEGs across UC cohorts demonstrated activated bacterial, inflammatory, growth, and cellular signaling. We identified a specific transcriptional signature of one hundred DEGs (UC100) that distinctly separated UC inflamed from uninflamed transcriptomes. Several UC100 DEGs, with unidentified roles in UC, were validated in primary tissue. Additionally, non-responders to anti-TNFα and anti-α4β7 therapy displayed distinct profiles of immune cells and pathways pertaining to inflammation, growth, and metabolism. We identified twenty resistant DEGs in UC non-responders to both therapies of which four had significant predictive power to treatment outcome. We demonstrated the global immune landscape and pathways in UC tissue, highlighting a unique UC signature across cohorts and a UC resistant signature with predictive performance to biologic therapy outcome.

Treatments of inflammatory bowel disease toward personalized medicine

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by intestinal inflammation and epithelial injury. For the treatment of IBD, 5-aminosalicylic acids, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and biologic agents targeting tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, α4β7-integrin, and interleukin (IL)-12/23 have been widely used. Especially, anti-TNF-α antibodies are the first biologic agents that presently remain at the forefront. However, 10-30% of patients resist biologic agents, including anti-TNF-α agents (primary non-responder; PNR), and 20-50% of primary responders develop treatment resistance within one year (secondary loss of response; SLR). Nonetheless, the etiologies of PNR and SLR are not clearly understood, and predictors of response to biologic agents are also not defined yet. Numerous studies are being performed to discover prediction markers of the response to biologic agents, and this review will introduce currently available therapeutic options for IBD, biologics under investigation, and recent studies exploring various predictive factors related to PNR and SLR.

Predicting Therapeutic Response in Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis-A Journey Towards Precision Medicine

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a disabling disease, characterized by chronic inflammation of the colon, with a rising prevalence worldwide in the pediatric age group. Although UC presents in children with varying severity, disease extent, and comorbidities, initial treatment is essentially uniform, consisting of 5-aminosalicylate drugs with corticosteroid induction for those with moderately to severely active disease. With the advent of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) biologic therapy and several new biologics and small-molecule drugs for UC, precision medicine approaches to treatment are needed to more rapidly achieve sustained remission, restore quality of life, normalize development, and limit exposure to toxic corticosteroids in children with UC. Here, we review available data on clinical, biochemical, histopathologic, and molecular predictors of treatment response in UC. We also address known predictors and special treatment considerations in specific relevant scenarios such as very-early-onset UC, acute severe UC, ileal pouch anal anastomosis, and UC with concomitant primary sclerosing cholangitis. The review concludes with a prediction of how machine learning will integrate multimodal patient data to bring precision medicine to the bedside of children with UC in the future.

Personalizing Treatment in IBD: Hype or Reality in 2020? Can We Predict Response to Anti-TNF?

The advent of anti-TNF agents as the first approved targeted therapy in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients has made a major impact on our existing therapeutic algorithms. They have not only been approved for induction and maintenance treatment in IBD patients, but have also enabled us to define and achieve novel therapeutic outcomes, such as combination of clinical symptom control and endoscopic remission, as well as mucosal healing. Nevertheless, approximately one third of treated patients do not respond to initiated anti-TNF therapy and these treatments are associated with sometimes severe systemic side-effects. There is therefore the currently unmet clinical need do establish predictive markers of response to identify the subgroup of IBD patients, that have a heightened probability of response. There have so far been approaches from different fields of IBD research, to descry markers that would empower us to apply TNF-inhibitors in a more rational manner. These markers encompass findings from disease-related and clinical factors, pharmacokinetics, biochemical markers, blood and stool derived parameters, pharmacogenomics, microbial species, metabolic compounds, and mucosal factors. Furthermore, changes in the intestinal immune cell composition in response to therapeutic pressure of anti-TNF treatment have recently been implicated in the process of molecular resistance to these drugs. Insights into factors that determine resistance to anti-TNF therapy give reasonable hope, that a more targeted approach can then be utilized in these non-responders. Here, IL-23 could be identified as one of the key factors determining resistance to TNF-inhibitors. Growing insights into the molecular mechanism of action of TNF-inhibitors might also enable us to derive critical molecular markers that not only mediate the clinical effects of anti-TNF therapy, but which level of expression might also correlate with its therapeutic efficacy. In this narrative review, we present an overview of currently identified possible predictive markers for successful anti-TNF therapy and discuss identified molecular pathways that drive resistance to these substances. We will also point out the necessity and difficulty of developing and validating a diagnostic marker concerning clinically relevant outcome parameters, before they can finally enter daily clinical practice and enable a more personalized therapeutic approach.

Real-world use of therapeutic drug monitoring of CT-P13 in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A 12-month prospective observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

Whether therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of infliximab should be implemented in daily practice is an ongoing controversy.

AIMS

To assess the real-world use of TDM in an observational multicentre cohort study with consecutive patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated with CT-P13.

METHODS

Between September 2015 and December 2016, 364 patients with IBD were treated with CT-P13 in 13 gastroenterology departments and were followed up for 54 weeks. Disease activity, CT-P13 trough concentration and anti-CT-P13 antibody (ACA) were recorded.

RESULTS

Steroid-free clinical remission rates at week 54 were 67.0% and 56.4% in patients with CD and UC, respectively. CT-P13 trough concentrations were measured in 70.7% of the patients. The mean CT-P13 trough concentration was 4.2±4.3μg/mL. The presence of ACA was observed in 53 (15.9%) patients. CT-P13 trough concentration was collected in a proactive approach in 62.8% of cases and in a reactive approach in 37.2%. Among patients who submitted to TDM, CT-P13 therapy was optimized in 88.7% of the reactive group and in 22.5% of the proactive group (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

In a real-world cohort of patients with IBD treated with CT-P13, more than two-thirds of the patients underwent TDM. CT-P13 optimization was much less common in the proactive approach than in the reactive approach.

Vedolizumab for ulcerative colitis: Real world outcomes from a multicenter observational cohort of Australia and Oxford

BACKGROUND

Vedolizumab (VDZ), a humanised monoclonal antibody that selectively inhibits alpha4-beta7 integrins is approved for use in adult moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC) patients.

AIM

To assess the efficacy and safety of VDZ in the real-world management of UC in a large multicenter cohort involving two countries and to identify predictors of achieving remission.

METHODS

A retrospective review of Australian and Oxford, United Kingdom data for UC patients. Clinical response at 3 mo, endoscopic remission at 6 mo and clinical remission at 3, 6 and 12 mo were assessed. Cox regression models and Kaplan Meier curves were performed to assess the time to remission, time to failure and the covariates influencing them. Safety outcomes were recorded.

RESULTS

Three hundred and three UC patients from 14 centres in Australia and United Kingdom, [60% n = 182, anti-TNF naïve] were included. The clinical response was 79% at 3 mo with more Australian patients achieving clinical response compared to Oxford (83% vs 70% P = 0.01). Clinical remission for all patients was 56%, 62% and 60% at 3, 6 and 12 mo respectively. Anti-TNF naive patients were more likely to achieve remission than exposed patients at all the time points (3 mo 66% vs 40% P < 0.001, 6 mo 73% vs 46% P < 0.001, 12 mo 66% vs 51% P = 0.03). More Australian patients achieved endoscopic remission at 6 mo compared to Oxford (69% vs 43% P = 0.01). On multi-variate analysis, anti-TNF naïve patients were 1.8 (95%CI: 1.3-2.3) times more likely to achieve remission than anti-TNF exposed (P < 0.001). 32 patients (11%) had colectomy by 12 mo.

CONCLUSION

VDZ was safe and effective with 60% of UC patients achieving clinical remission at 12 mo and prior anti-TNF exposure influenced this outcome.

Early Intervention in Ulcerative Colitis: Ready for Prime Time?

Growing evidence shows that ulcerative colitis (UC) is a progressive disease similar to Crohn’s disease (CD). The UC-related burden is often underestimated by physicians and a standard step-up therapeutic approach is preferred. However, in many patients with UC the disease activity is not adequately controlled by current management, leading to poor long-term prognosis. Data from both randomized controlled trials and real-world studies support early intervention in CD in order to prevent disease progression and irreversible bowel damage. Similarly, an early disease intervention during the so-called “window of opportunity” could lead to better outcomes in UC. Here, we summarize the literature evidence on early intervention in patients with UC, highlighting strengths and limitations of this approach.

Predictive factors of clinical response to treatment with anti-TNF agents in ulcerative colitis: what have we learned from our patients?

INTRODUCTION

inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFs) are effective drugs for the treatment of moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC). However, many patients do not respond or lose therapeutic response during follow-up.

OBJECTIVES

to analyze the determining factors of clinical response to anti-TNFs in UC.

METHODS

a multicenter retrospective study was performed in 79 patients with UC who started treatment with anti-TNFs between 2009 and 2015. The primary endpoint was clinical remission (pMayo index ≤ 1) at 12 months. Furthermore, remission and clinical response (final pMayo score ≤ 3) and corticoids discontinuation were assessed at three, six and 12 months. An analysis was performed to identify variables predictive of clinical response.

RESULTS

at 12 months, remission and clinical response were seen in 59.2 % and 77.8 % of patients, respectively. Corticoids could be discontinued in 82.4 % of patients. At 12 months, corticoids discontinuation (< 3 months) (OR 0.06; 95 % CI: 0.01-0.24) and clinical response at six months (OR 0.008; 95 % CI: 0.001-0.053) were independent factors predictive of clinical remission.

CONCLUSION

in patients with active UC on anti-TNFs, corticoid discontinuation within three months and clinical response at six months after treatment onset are predictive of clinical disease remission.

Predictors of Primary Response to Biologic Treatment [Anti-TNF, Vedolizumab, and Ustekinumab] in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: From Basic Science to Clinical Practice

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD]-ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease-are commonly treated with biologic drugs. However, only approximately two-thirds of patients have an initial response to these therapies. Personalised medicine has the potential to optimise efficacy, decrease the risk of adverse drug events, and reduce costs by establishing the most suitable therapy for a selected patient.

AIM

The present study reviews the potential predictors of short-term primary response to biologic treatment, including not only anti-tumour necrosis factor [TNF] agents [such as infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab, and golimumab] but also vedolizumab and ustekinumab.

METHODS

We performed a systematic bibliographical search to identify studies investigating predictive factors of response to biologic therapy.

RESULTS

For anti-TNF agents, most of the evaluated factors have not demonstrated usefulness, and many others are still controversial. Thus, only a few factors may have a potential role in the prediction of the response, including disease behaviour/phenotype, disease severity, C-reactive protein, albumin, cytokine expression in serum, previous anti-TNF therapy, some proteomic markers, and some colorectal mucosa markers. For vedolizumab, the availability of useful predictive markers seems to be even lower, with only some factors showing a limited value, such as the expression of α4β7 integrin in blood, the faecal microbiota, some proteomic markers, and some colorectal mucosa markers. Finally, in the case of ustekinumab, no predictive factor has been reported yet to be helpful in clinical practice.

CONCLUSION

In summary, currently no single marker fulfils all criteria for being an appropriate prognostic indicator of response to any biologic treatment in IBD.

Similar Clinical Outcomes of Early and Late Anti-TNF Initiation for Ulcerative Colitis: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

PURPOSE

The optimal timing of anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) initiation in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) remains unclear. Very little is known about the clinical outcomes after the early versus late initiation of anti-TNF therapy, especially in Asian UC patients. Here we aimed to assess whether earlier anti-TNF treatment initiation results in favorable clinical outcomes in Korean UC patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using the Korean National Health Insurance claims database, we studied patients who were diagnosed with UC and received anti-TNF therapy for more than 6 months between 2010 and 2016. Using a Cox proportional hazard model, clinical outcomes including colectomy, UC-related emergency room (ER) visits, UC-related hospitalizations, and the need for corticosteroids were compared between early (≤2 years of diagnosis) and late (>2 years of diagnosis) initiators of anti-TNF therapy.

RESULTS

Among 17167 UC patients, 698 patients who received anti-TNF therapy for more than 6 months were included (420 infliximab, 242 adalimumab, and 36 golimumab). Of the 698 patients, 299 (42.8%) initiated anti-TNF therapy within 2 years of diagnosis. There were no significant differences in the risk of colectomy [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 0.41; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.04-3.90], ER visits (aHR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.50-1.92), hospitalization (aHR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.57-1.01), and corticosteroid use (aHR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.71-1.50) between early and late initiators of anti-TNF therapy.

CONCLUSION

Patients receiving early anti-TNF therapy had similar clinical outcomes to those of late initiators, suggesting that early anti-TNF therapy initiation offers little benefit in patients with UC.

Serum Biomarkers for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic, inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. As the novel therapeutic goal and biologicals are widely recognized, accurate assessment of disease and prediction of therapeutic response have become a crucial challenge in clinical practice. Also, because of the continuously rising incidence, convenient and economical methods of diagnosis and clinical assessment are urgently needed. Recently, serum biomarkers have made a great progress and become a focus in IBD study because they are non-invasive, convenient, and relatively inexpensive than are markers in biopsy tissue, stool, breath, and other body fluids.

Aims: To review the available data on serological biomarkers for IBD.

Methods: We searched PubMed using predefined key words on relevant literatures of serum biomarkers regarding diagnosis, evaluation of therapeutic efficacy, surveillance of disease activity, and assessment of prognosis for IBD.

Results: We reviewed serological biomarkers that are well-established and widely used (e.g., C-reactive protein), newly discovered biomarkers (e.g., cytokines, antibodies, and non-coding RNAs), and also recently advancements in serological biomarkers (e.g., metabolomics and proteomics) that are used in different aspects of IBD management.

Conclusions: With such a wealth of researches, to date, there are still no ideal serum biomarkers for IBD. Serum profiling and non-coding RNAs are just starting to blossom but reveal great promise for future clinical practice. Combining different biomarkers can be valuable in improving performance of disease evaluation.

Impact of comorbidities on anti-TNFα response and relapse in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: the VERNE study

Objective

To evaluate the impact of comorbidities and extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease on the response of patients with inflammatory bowel disease to antitumour necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFα) therapy.

Design

Data from 310 patients (194 with Crohn’s disease and 116 with ulcerative colitis) treated consecutively with the first anti-TNFα in 24 Spanish hospitals were retrospectively analysed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between inflammatory bowel disease comorbidities and extraintestinal manifestations with anti-TNFα treatment outcomes. Key clinical features, such as type of inflammatory bowel disease and concomitant treatments, were included as fixed factors in the model.

Results

Multivariate logistic regression analyses (OR, 95% CI) showed that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2.67, 1.33 to 5.35) and hepato-pancreato-biliary diseases (1.87, 1.48 to 2.36) were significantly associated with primary non-response to anti-TNFα, as was the use of corticosteroids and the type of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis vs Crohn’s disease). It was also found that myocardial infarction (3.30, 1.48 to 7.35) and skin disease (2.73, 1.42 to 5.25) were significantly associated with loss of response, along with the use of corticosteroids and the type of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis vs Crohn’s disease).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the presence of some comorbidities in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and myocardial infarction, and of certain extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease, such as hepato-pancreato-biliary conditions and skin diseases, appear to be related to failure to anti-TNFα treatment. Therefore, their presence should be considered when choosing a treatment.

Trial registration number

NCT02861118.

High Remission Rate with Infliximab and Plant-Based Diet as First-Line (IPF) Therapy for Severe Ulcerative Colitis: Single-Group Trial

INTRODUCTION

About one-third of patients with severe ulcerative colitis (UC) do not respond to corticosteroid therapy and receive rescue therapy with infliximab or cyclosporine. Up to 20% of such patients fail to respond to rescue therapy and undergo colectomy.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the outcomes of infliximab and a plant-based diet (PBD) as first-line therapy for severe UC.

METHODS

Patients with severe UC defined by the Truelove and Witts criteria were admitted and given standard induction therapy with infliximab (5.0 mg/kg-7.5 mg/kg) at 0, 2, and 6 weeks. Additionally, they received a PBD. The primary endpoint was remission or colectomy in the induction phase and 1 year after discharge. Secondary endpoints were changes in inflammatory markers in the induction phase and the PBD score at baseline and follow-up. A higher PBD score indicates greater adherence to a PBD.

RESULTS

Infliximab and PBD as first-line therapy was administered in 17 cases. The remission rate was 76% (13/17), and the colectomy rate was 6% (1/17) in the induction phase. C-reactive protein values and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate significantly decreased at week 6 from 9.42 mg/dL to 0.33 mg/dL and from 59 to 17 mm/h, respectively (p < 0.0001). At 1-year follow-up, the cumulative relapse rate was 25%, and there were no additional colectomy cases. Mean PBD scores of 27.7 at 1 year and 23.8 at 4 years were significantly higher than baseline scores of 8.3 and 9.9, respectively (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0391).

CONCLUSION

This new first-line therapy for severe UC demonstrated a higher remission rate and lower colectomy rate than with the current modality.

British Society of Gastroenterology consensus guidelines on the management of inflammatory bowel disease in adults

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are the principal forms of inflammatory bowel disease. Both represent chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, which displays heterogeneity in inflammatory and symptomatic burden between patients and within individuals over time. Optimal management relies on understanding and tailoring evidence-based interventions by clinicians in partnership with patients. This guideline for management of inflammatory bowel disease in adults over 16 years of age was developed by Stakeholders representing UK physicians (British Society of Gastroenterology), surgeons (Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland), specialist nurses (Royal College of Nursing), paediatricians (British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition), dietitians (British Dietetic Association), radiologists (British Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology), general practitioners (Primary Care Society for Gastroenterology) and patients (Crohn's and Colitis UK). A systematic review of 88 247 publications and a Delphi consensus process involving 81 multidisciplinary clinicians and patients was undertaken to develop 168 evidence- and expert opinion-based recommendations for pharmacological, non-pharmacological and surgical interventions, as well as optimal service delivery in the management of both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Comprehensive up-to-date guidance is provided regarding indications for, initiation and monitoring of immunosuppressive therapies, nutrition interventions, pre-, peri- and postoperative management, as well as structure and function of the multidisciplinary team and integration between primary and secondary care. Twenty research priorities to inform future clinical management are presented, alongside objective measurement of priority importance, determined by 2379 electronic survey responses from individuals living with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, including patients, their families and friends.

The Role of Early Biologic Therapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The goals for treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are changing from elimination of symptoms toward complete disease control-a process that demands both clinical and endoscopic remission. This new IBD treatment paradigm has been shifting from a conventional "step-up" approach toward a more "top-down" early intervention treatment strategy. Recent studies suggest that the use of biologic agents, specifically those targeting tumor necrosis factor alpha, earlier in the treatment course improves patient outcomes and can prevent progression to irreversible bowel damage. Although the strategy of early intervention has accumulating evidence in Crohn's disease, there is less evidence supporting its impact in ulcerative colitis.

British Society of Gastroenterology consensus guidelines on the management of inflammatory bowel disease in adults

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are the principal forms of inflammatory bowel disease. Both represent chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, which displays heterogeneity in inflammatory and symptomatic burden between patients and within individuals over time. Optimal management relies on understanding and tailoring evidence-based interventions by clinicians in partnership with patients. This guideline for management of inflammatory bowel disease in adults over 16 years of age was developed by Stakeholders representing UK physicians (British Society of Gastroenterology), surgeons (Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland), specialist nurses (Royal College of Nursing), paediatricians (British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition), dietitians (British Dietetic Association), radiologists (British Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology), general practitioners (Primary Care Society for Gastroenterology) and patients (Crohn's and Colitis UK). A systematic review of 88 247 publications and a Delphi consensus process involving 81 multidisciplinary clinicians and patients was undertaken to develop 168 evidence- and expert opinion-based recommendations for pharmacological, non-pharmacological and surgical interventions, as well as optimal service delivery in the management of both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Comprehensive up-to-date guidance is provided regarding indications for, initiation and monitoring of immunosuppressive therapies, nutrition interventions, pre-, peri- and postoperative management, as well as structure and function of the multidisciplinary team and integration between primary and secondary care. Twenty research priorities to inform future clinical management are presented, alongside objective measurement of priority importance, determined by 2379 electronic survey responses from individuals living with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, including patients, their families and friends.

Increased abundance of proteobacteria in aggressive Crohn's disease seven years after diagnosis

Intestinal dysbiosis in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients depend on disease activity. We aimed to characterize the microbiota after 7 years of follow-up in an unselected cohort of IBD patients according to disease activity and disease severity. Fifty eight Crohn’s disease (CD) and 82 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients were included. Disease activity was assessed by the Harvey-Bradshaw Index for CD and Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index for UC. Microbiota diversity was assessed by 16S rDNA MiSeq sequencing. In UC patients with active disease and in CD patients with aggressive disease the richness (number of OTUs, p = 0.018 and p = 0.013, respectively) and diversity (Shannons index, p = 0.017 and p = 0.023, respectively) were significantly decreased. In the active UC group there was a significant decrease in abundance of the phylum Firmicutes (p = 0.018). The same was found in CD patients with aggressive disease (p = 0.05) while the abundance of Proteobacteria phylum showed a significant increase (p = 0.03) in CD patients. We found a change in the microbial abundance in UC patients with active disease and in CD patients with aggressive disease. These results suggest that dysbiosis of the gut in IBD patients is not only related to current activity but also to the course of the disease.

Long-term efficacy and safety of CT-P13, a biosimilar of infliximab, in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A retrospective multicenter study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

A biosimilar of infliximab, CT-P13 (Remsima®) has the potential to reduce treatment costs and enhance access to biological therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. However, long-term clinical data on its use for IBD treatment are currently sparse. We aimed to investigate the long-term efficacy and safety of CT-P13 therapy in a large, real-life IBD cohort.

METHODS

A total of 368 IBD patients (227 with Crohn's disease [CD] and 141 with ulcerative colitis [UC]) treated with CT-P13 at 16 referral hospitals in Korea between July 2012 and December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

The cumulative retention rates at years 1, 3, and 5 were 86.1%, 68.5%, and 58.7% and 69.7%, 46.0%, and 26.7% in anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-naïve CD and UC patients, respectively. The clinical response and remission rates at week 14 and at years 1, 3, and 5 were 94.3%, 92.7%, 76.8%, and 17.6% and 78.6%, 82.4%, 72.2%, and 17.6% in anti-TNF-naïve CD and 85.6%, 80.0%, 55.2%, and 6.7% and 42.6%, 59.8%, 44.2%, and 6.7% in anti-TNF-naïve UC patients, respectively. Among patients who switched from the biologic originator to CT-P13, the cumulative retention rates at years 1, 3, and 5 were 88.5%, 66.1%, and 44.8% in CD, and 73.9%, 42.5%, and 42.5% in UC patients, respectively. Significant improvements in disease activity scores were accompanied by marked reductions in inflammatory marker levels, and no unexpected adverse events including death or malignancy occurred during the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term treatment with CT-P13 is effective in inducing and maintaining disease improvement and is well-tolerated in patients with IBD. CT-P13 may be a promising treatment option for IBD.

Early dose optimization of golimumab induces late response and long-term clinical benefit in moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis

Aim: To evaluate outcomes of early dose optimization of golimumab in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients with inadequate response to golimumab induction treatment. Methods: This observational, multicenter, cohort study included patients with moderate-to-severe active UC and with inadequate response to subcutaneous golimumab induction doses, in whom weight-based golimumab maintenance dose (European labeling) of 50 mg every 4 weeks (q4wk) was optimized before week 14 to 100 mg q4wk. At week 14, we assessed clinical response and remission using the partial Mayo score. In the long term we evaluate the cumulative probabilities of golimumab failure-free survival and colectomy-free survival. Results: A total of 209 patients who received golimumab induction doses were eligible. Of these, 151 patients (72.2%) weighing less than 80 kg were assigned to a golimumab maintenance dose of 50 mg q4wk. Twenty-four patients (15.9% [12.5% overall]), in whom scheduled doses of 50 mg q4wk were optimized to 100 mg q4wk before week 14, compose the study population. At week 14, 16 patients (66.7%, 95% CI 45.7-87.6) had clinical response, of these 12 were corticosteroid free. Four patients (16.7%) achieved corticosteroid-free remission. After a median follow-up of 12 months (IQR 10-22), 13 patients (54.2%) maintained clinical benefit. Thirteen of 16 patients (81.2%) with clinical response at week 14 maintained clinical benefit at last follow-up. All patients avoided colectomy. In none of the patients was golimumab dose de-escalated. There were no adverse events leading to golimumab withdrawal. Conclusion: Early optimization of golimumab dose induces clinical response at week 14 in two thirds of UC patients and leads to long-term clinical benefit in over half of patients.

Adequate Infliximab Exposure During Induction Predicts Remission in Paediatric Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

OBJECTIVES

Therapeutic drug monitoring has been proposed as a useful tool in the management of infliximab (IFX) treated patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine whether IFX trough levels after induction therapy are predictive for outcome at week 52.

METHODS

All pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease receiving maintenance IFX at our centre, with IFX trough level available at their first maintenance infusion and a follow-up of at least 52 weeks were included. IFX induction regimens could be intensified at the discretion of the treating physician. All children received proactive drug monitoring during maintenance with dose adaptation aiming to target a therapeutic window of 3 to 7 μg/mL.

RESULTS

We included 35 children (23 with Crohn disease and 12 with ulcerative colitis). Median IFX trough levels just before the first maintenance infusion were significantly higher in children achieving clinical (4.6 μg/mL [2.7-11.8] vs 1.5 μg/mL [0.9-3.0]), biological (4.6 μg/mL [2.5-10.3] vs 2.6 μg/mL [0.3-3.2]) and combined clinical/biological remission (6.0 μg/mL [3.2-12.0] vs 2.6 μg/mL [1.1-3.2]) at week 52 compared to children not meeting these criteria (all P ≤ 0.002). Binary logistic regression identified these trough levels as the only predictor for the same outcomes with an odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 2.083 (1.085-3.998), 2.203 (1.101-4.408), and 2.264 (1.096-4.680), respectively (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Adequate IFX exposure during induction therapy is associated with better clinical and/or biological remission at week 52. Postinduction IFX trough levels were the only predictor for clinical and/or biological remission at week 52.

A Review on the Use of Anti-TNF in Children and Adolescents with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) presents with disabling symptoms and may lead to insufficient growth and late pubertal development in cases of disease onset during childhood or adolescence. During the last decade, the role of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in the treatment of paediatric-onset IBD has gained more ground. The number of biologicals presently available for children and adolescents with IBD has increased, biosimilars have become available, and practices in adult gastroenterology with regards to anti-TNF have changed. The aim of this study is to review the current evidence on the indications, judicious use, effectiveness and safety of anti-TNF agents in paediatric IBD. A PubMed literature search was performed and included articles published after 2000 using the following terms: child or paediatric, Crohn, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, anti-TNF, TNF alpha inhibitor, infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab and biological. Anti-TNF agents, specifically infliximab and adalimumab, have proven to be effective in moderate and severe paediatric IBD. Therapeutic drug monitoring increases therapy effectiveness and safety. Clinical predictors for anti-TNF response are currently of limited value because of the variation in outcome definitions and follow-ups. Future research should comprise large cohorts and clinical trials comparing groups according to their risk profile in order to provide personalized therapeutic strategies.

Risk factors and timing for colectomy in chronically active refractory ulcerative colitis: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

In patients with chronic refractory ulcerative colitis (UC) the precise timing for indication to colectomy is unclear.

AIMS

We performed a systematic review of the literature on the risk factors for colectomy in patients with chronic refractory UC in the biologic era.

METHODS

PubMed Central/Medline and Embase were systemically searched for records published between January 2000 and December 2017. Current evidence was summarized and filtered by expert opinion.

RESULTS

70 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. Several factors were found to be associated with a higher or reduced risk for colectomy, including variables at baseline - such as progression from proctitis/left-sided to extensive colitis, extensive colitis at diagnosis, high baseline C Reactive Protein or erythrocyte sedimentation rate, male gender, and younger age at diagnosis - previous medical history, and factors arising during therapy with biologics, including the absence of clinical response after induction with infliximab or adalimumab, and the lack of mucosal healing during therapy with anti-TNFs.

CONCLUSIONS

Two main points may help physicians to decide when the surgical option may be considered in patients with chronic refractory UC: (1) a first risk stratification can be obtained by analyzing factors at baseline and medical history, including the previous exposure to anti-TNFs; (2) during therapy with biologics, the early assessment (after 12-16 weeks of treatment) of clinical and endoscopic response is a strong predictor of the subsequent risk of colectomy.