Background There are limited data in real-life of ustekinumab (USK) used in ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety in clinical practice of USK in UC in the medium and long-term. Methods Observational study in UC patients who received USK at the recommended dose based on weight ~6 mg/kg IV week, 0.90 mg SC week, 8 and maintenance, 90 mg SC every, 8 or, 12 weeks and with, 1 year of follow-up. The partial Mayo score (PMS) was used to assess clinical remission (PMS≤, 2). The PMS, C-reactive protein (CRP) and faecal calprotectin (FC) values ​​were recorded at baseline and after, 8, 16, 24 and, 52 weeks. Dose adjustment was performed by the measure of UST trough levels by ELISA, when patient lost clinical and/or biochemical response and the levels were low (<1.3 µg/ml). Demographic, clinical, biochemical and endoscopic data, previous treatments, adverse events (AEs), surgeries and hospitalizations, were documented. Results Twenty-three patients with UC were analysed. (Table, 1). All patients had received previous biological treatment:, 52% ≥2 anti-TNF, 65% vedolizumab and, 30% JAK inhibitors. Treatment discontinuation occurred in, 3 patients (13%). The persistence was, 83% and, 79% at, 6 and, 12 months (Figure, 1). During follow-up, 12 patients (52%) maintained standard dose of USK. Dose adjustment was performed in, 13 patients (56%):, 3 (13%) required intravenous UST reinduction and, 10 (43%) required dose escalation (8 by shortening the interval between doses and, 2 by switching to intravenous USK administration). Clinical remission was reached in, 61%, 58%, 56%, 79% of the patients after, 8, 16, 24, 52 weeks, respectively. Normal CRP (<5mg/L) and FC (<150 µg/g) levels were achieved in, 76%, 93% and, 80% and in, 35%, 31% and, 40% of patients after, 8, 24, 52 weeks, respectively. Five of, 6 patients who had endoscopy before and after treatment showed endoscopic Mayo subscore ≤1. There were, 2 AEs, 1 hospitalization, and, 1 colectomy during follow-up. Conclusion This study demonstrates the safety as well as the clinical, biological and endoscopic effectiveness of USK adjusted by levels in real life in a highly refractory UC cohort.

Clinical, haemodynamic and mortality outcomes after surgery were excellent, especially in those patients with mild or few symptoms. However, in our location, surgery is still undertaken at an advanced stage of the natural history of the disease, which may adversely affect prognosis.

Background Ustekinumab has been recently approved for the treatment of moderately to severe ulcerative colitis (UC). Data from the UNIFI clinical trial are encouraging; nevertheless, real-world assessment is needed. We assess the effectiveness, safety and pharmacokinetics of ustekinumab in a cohort of refractory UC patients. Methods Multicentre and observational study of UC patients who received ustekinumab for active disease. Values for Partial Mayo Score (PMS), endoscopic activity, C reactive protein (CRP) and faecal calprotectin (FC) were recorded at baseline and at weeks 8, 24 and 52 weeks and at 18 and 24 months when was possible. Demographic and clinical data, previous treatments, adverse events (AEs), surgeries and hospitalizations were documented. Possible predictors of response were examined. Results One hundred and eight patients were analyzed (Table 1). Two patients only received the first IV dose. During follow-up, 58 patients (54%) required interval reduction (every 4 weeks (76%) and every 6 weeks (24%)) after a median of 22.3 weeks [11.6, 41.2]. Intravenous reinduction doses were administered to 20 (18.5%) after 27.7 weeks [6.64, 56.3]. Three patients required a maintenance therapy with IV administration. The clinical remission (PMS≤ 2) rates were 39.6%, 41%, 51% at 8, 24 and 52 weeks, respectively, and 61%, and 57.7% at 18 and 24 months, respectively. FC levels returned to normal (<250 μg/g) in the 39.6%, 41%, 51%, 61%, 58% of the patients at weeks 8, 24 and 52 and at 18 and 24 months respectively. CRP returned to normal (<3 mg/L) in the 79%, 75%, 76.5%, 71% and 70% of the patients at weeks 8, 24 and 52 and at 18 and 24 months respectively. PMS, FC and CRP values and ustekinumab through levels over time are shown in Figure. Fewer previous anti-TNF agents and the loss of response to anti-TNF were associated with clinical response and with normalization of FC respectively. No variables at baseline (body mass index, serum albumin, and lymphocytes count) were associated with ustekinumab through levels. Of the 17 patients with endoscopy before and after treatment, 6 were in remission and 3 with mild activity. The AEs were recorded in 5 (4.6%) patients, 12 (11%) were hospitalized and 9 (8.3%) had surgery. A total of 23 patients (21%) discontinued ustekinumab over time, the persistence rates were 98%, 91%, 83% and 81% at 8, 24, 48 and 96 weeks respectively. Conclusion This is the first study to show the real-world long-term effectiveness, persistence, endoscopic improvement and safety of ustekinumab in a cohort of highly refractory UC patients. The clinical remission preceded the FC normalization. Ustekinumab through levels and their pharmacokinetic require further investigations.

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Background Ustekinumab (UST), an inhibitor of the p40 subunit of interleukins 12 and 23, is approved for the treatment of moderate and severe Crohn disease (CD) but a significant number of patients either partially respond or do not benefit at all. Therapeutic drug monitoring can be used to optimize the efficacy of biological drugs by ensuring adequate exposure to these drugs. The aim of our research was to identify the relationship between serum concentrations of UST during the induction and biochemical remission at week 16 in patients with CD. Methods All CD patients treated with UST included in a local database were identified. Only patients with a fecal calprotectin (FCP) > 250 mg/g were selected. All patients were treated with an initial intravenous induction therapy of UST, followed by subcutaneous maintenance therapy. Disease activity was assessed retrospectively by clinical (Harvey–Bradshaw Index [HBI]) and biochemical parameters (FCP; C-reactive protein (CRP) and Albumin) at Week 0, Week 4, week 8 and week 16. UST trough levels were measured at 4, 8 and 16 weeks using a commercially available validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Main outcome was biochemical remission, defined by a decreased of calprotectin levels more than 80% or an absolute value less than 200 mg/g at week 16. Results Seventy-six patients were included. Patients’ Characteristics at baseline are listed in table 1. Median [IQR] HBI was 5,5 [3-8] at the beginning of treatment. Evolution of biochemical parameters throughout induction is showed in table 2. At the end of the induction phase (week 16), HBI, CRP and FCP decreased significantly from baseline. At this moment HBI was less than 2 in 51% of patients. FCP was available in 63 patients. Biochemical remission was observed in 26/63 (41,3%) patients. Median [IQR] UST serum concentrations were 20,9 μg/mL [13,7–26,3] at w4, 10,1 μg/mL [3,5–7,4] at w8 and 4,1 μg/mL [1,4–3,9] at w16. Quartile analysis demonstrated that 100% and 66% with an UST serum concentration in the highest quartile [Q4], at w4 and w8, achieved a biochemical remission by w16 [p = 0.05 and p <0,02 respectively]. The area under the receiving operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of UST levels to predict biochemical remission at week 4 and week 8 were 0,84 CI95% (0,62-1) and 0,74 CI95% (0,57-0,91) respectively. Conclusion Serum concentrations of UST at week 4 and 8 after intravenous infusion could be used to stratify patients according to the probability of achieving remission. This measurements during induction could be used to optimize treatment of CD.