Prognostic factors for colectomy in refractory ulcerative colitis treated with calcineurin inhibitors

Acute severe ulcerative colitis: State of the art treatment

Acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) is a potentially life-threatening condition. In the present review, we give a broad overview of the state of the art in the management of this condition. A systematic bibliographic search was performed in PubMed. Patient with ASUC should be hospitalized and managed by a multidisciplinary team (gastroenterologist plus surgeon). Intravenous corticosteroids remain the cornerstone of medical therapy. However, about 30% of patients do not respond. After failing 3-5 days of corticosteroids, patients should be considered for either rescue medical therapy or for colectomy. Cyclosporin and infliximab are similarly effective and safe. Cyclosporin should be mainly used as a "bridge" in thiopurine-naïve patients. More recently, infliximab has become the most widely used salvage therapy. Third-line salvage therapy with either cyclosporin or infliximab is efficacious in some patients but carries a significant risk of complications. Colectomy is appropriate in case of complications or medical rescue therapy failure.

Prognostic factors affecting early colectomy in patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis treated with calcineurin inhibitors

Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) such as cyclosporine A (CSA) and tacrolimus (FK506) are often used as a second-line drug for steroid-refractory or steroid-dependent patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of the present study was to determine the prognostic factors for early colectomy. A total of 85 hospitalized patients with UC (CSA, 50 patients; FK506, 35 patients) were enrolled. Colectomy carried out within 60 days of starting CNI therapy was defined as 'early colectomy'. To assess the prognostic factors affecting early colectomy, clinical practical variables, including the Onodera-prognostic nutritional index (O-PNI): 10xAlb+0.005× (total lymphocyte count), were analyzed. The results demonstrated that the significant factors predicting early colectomy were i) disease severity, ii) immunomodulator-naïve history, iii) lower serum hematocrit, iv) lower serum albumin and v) lower O-PNI. In addition, the significant factors predicting overall colectomy were as follows: i) C7-HRP positivity and ii) >10,000 mg of prednisolone used prior to the initiation of CNI treatment. The combination of hematocrit and O-PNI enhanced the prediction of early colectomy. Clinical variables such as hematocrit and O-PNI were the significant factors predicting colectomy. These results may be used as a guide to predict the outcome of patients with UC in clinical settings.

Tacrolimus for remission induction in ulcerative colitis: Mayo endoscopic subscore 0 and 1 predict long-term prognosis

BACKGROUND

Tacrolimus has shown efficacy in patients with ulcerative colitis.

AIMS

To evaluate the efficacy of tacrolimus as remission induction therapy and assess medium to long-term outcomes in patients who achieve remission.

METHODS

Forty-four ulcerative colitis patients who were treated with tacrolimus in three institutes during 2009-2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Short-term efficacy was based on the clinical activity index and the Mayo endoscopic subscores. Clinical activity index≤4 meant clinical remission, while Mayo endoscopic subscore 0 or 1 meant mucosal healing. Medium to long-term prognosis was based on relapse free survival in relation to the Mayo endoscopic subscore and duration of tacrolimus therapy in patients who achieved remission.

RESULTS

At 12 weeks, clinical remission was achieved in 29 of 44 patients (65.9%). Thirty-two patients received endoscopic evaluations, and mucosal healing rate was 43.8%. Among patients with clinical remission, mucosal healing rate was 60.9%. Relapse-free survival at 6, 12, and 24 months were 66%, 56%, and 50%, respectively, and was higher in patients on long-term tacrolimus (over 4 months, P=0.03), and patients with better endoscopic subscore (P=0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

Mucosal healing observed within 12 weeks or after a longer duration of tacrolimus therapy was associated with significantly better remission maintenance time.