Background and aims: Seventeen percent of patients with ulcerative colitis that undergo proctocolectomy with pouch surgery will develop chronic pouchitis. We evaluated the efficacy of ustekinumab for these patients.
Methods: We performed a prospective study of chronic pouchitis patients receiving ustekinumab intravenously at baseline (∼6mg/kg) and 90mg ustekinumab subcutaneously every 8 weeks thereafter. The modified pouchitis disease activity index (mPDAI) was assessed at baseline, week 16 and 48. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving steroid-free remission (mPDAI <5 and reduction by ≥2 points) at week 16. Secondary endpoints included the proportion of patients achieving remission at week 48, the proportion of patients achieving response (reduction of mPDAI by ≥2 points) at week 16 and 48, and change in mPDAI.
Results: We enrolled 22 patients (59% male, median age 42.2 years). Remission was achieved in 27.3% at week 16 and 36.4% at week 48. Response was achieved in 54.5% both at week 16 and 48. The median (IQR) mPDAI decreased from 8 (7-10) to 7 (4-9) at week 16 (p=0.007) and 4 (1.75-7.25) at week 48 (p<0.001). The clinical mPDAI subscore decreased from 3.5 (2-4) to 2 (1-3) at week 16 (p=0.009) and 1 (0-2.25) at week 48 (p=0.001). The endoscopic mPDAI subscore decreased from 5.5 (4-6) to 4 (3-6) at week 16 (p=0.032) and 3 (1.75-4.25) at week 48 (p=0.001).
Conclusion: Ustekinumab was efficacious in half of the patients suffering from chronic pouchitis. Ustekinumab should therefore be positioned in the treatment algorithm of chronic pouchitis. (ClinicalTrials.gov Number NCT04089345).
Keywords: Biological; Chronic pouchitis; IL-12/23; Ulcerative colitis.
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