Heli Eronen*,Pia Oksanen,Airi Jussila,Heini Huhtala,Tuire Ilus
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 1, June 2025
Pages:
1-8
Received:
29 November 2024
Accepted:
17 December 2024
Published:
7 January 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijg.20250901.11
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Abstract: Introduction: The advent of biologicals and small molecules have changed treatment strategies in ulcerative colitis (UC) as therapies now aim for complete mucosal healing. Real-world data on the outcome of UC patients after first trial of biologics is still lacking and is investigated here. Materials and Methods: UC patients treated with at least one biological at Tampere University Hospital between January 2009 and January 2020 were identified and reviewed from patient records. Results: A total of 192 patients were included. The median follow-up was 3.8 years (range 0-11 years). Seventy-four (40%) of the 185 patients treated with tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) inhibitors (anti-TNF) and four out of the seven treated with vedolizumab continued treatment after follow-up with no need for treatment enhancement or colectomy. Seventy (36%) of all patients needed at least one consecutive treatment and 58 (30%) required surgery with median time of 1 year (range 0-5 years) from initiation of first biological to colectomy. Of the operated patients 34% had at least two different treatment trials with biologicals or janus kinase inhibitors (JAKs) prior to surgery. There was no significant difference in the persistence of different treatments nor between treatment with infliximab alone or in combination with immunomodulator. When analysing predictive factors for colectomy females and patients treated prior the year 2015 had slightly higher colectomy rates. Conclusion: Two fifth of the patients benefitted from the first trial of biological. However, in third subsequent treatment trials merely postponed colectomy while patients suffered from prolonged symptoms. Means are needed to identify patients benefitting from surgery early on.
Abstract: Introduction: The advent of biologicals and small molecules have changed treatment strategies in ulcerative colitis (UC) as therapies now aim for complete mucosal healing. Real-world data on the outcome of UC patients after first trial of biologics is still lacking and is investigated here. Materials and Methods: UC patients treated with at least o...Show More