Background: Prospectively and systematically collected real-world data on vedolizumab are scarce. We aimed to assess the long-term clinical effectiveness of vedolizumab in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods: This study was a prospective, observational, multicentre study. Overall, 286 patients with active IBD were included (Crohn’s disease, n = 169; ulcerative colitis, n = 117). The primary outcomes were clinical response at week 12 and clinical remission at week 52, based on the Harvey Bradshaw Index and the partial Mayo Clinic score. Secondary outcomes included clinical remission at week 12, clinical response at week 52, corticosteroid-free clinical remission at week 52, changes in biochemical measures, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Results: At baseline, 88% of the patients were exposed to anti-TNF and 41% of the patients with Crohn’s disease had undergone ⩾1 surgical resection. At week 12, clinical response was 27% and remission 47% in Crohn’s disease; corresponding figures in ulcerative colitis were 52% and 34%. Clinical response, remission and corticosteroid-free remission at week 52 were 22%, 41% and 40% in Crohn’s disease and 49%, 47% and 46% in ulcerative colitis, respectively. A statistically significant decrease in median faecal-calprotectin and C-reactive protein was observed at 12 and 52 weeks in patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The HRQoL measures Short Health Scale and EuroQol 5-Dimensions improved in both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis patients ( p < 0.001). Clinical disease activity at baseline was inversely associated with clinical remission at week 52. Conclusion: Vedolizumab proved effective for the treatment of refractory IBD in clinical practice.
Background
Clinical trials may not readily reflect clinical practice. We aimed to assess the clinical effectiveness of vedolizumab in a real-world cohort of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).
Methods
This is a prospective, observational, multi-centre cohort study. Eligible patients had active UC confirmed by a Mayo endoscopic subscore ≥2 at initiation of vedolizumab and had started treatment from 1/6/2015. Exclusion criteria included concurrent participation in a clinical trial in which UC treatment is dictated and contraindications to vedolizumab. All patients provided a written consent. Data on clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, disease activity and the short health scale were recorded at baseline and prospectively, using an electronic Case Record Form, integrated with the Swedish National Quality Registry for IBD (SWIBREG). The primary outcomes were A) clinical response, defined as a decrease in partial Mayo score of ≥2 and a reduction of ≥25 % from baseline, with a decrease ≥1 on the rectal bleeding score or an absolute rectal bleeding score of 0 or 1, at week 12 and B) clinical remission, defined as a partial Mayo score <2, at week 52. Continuous data are presented as median (interquartile range). Differences between baseline and follow-up visits were assessed by the Wilcoxon-signed rank test.
Results
In total, 117 eligible UC patients were included during the study period 1/6/2015 to 2/6/2018. Clinical and demographical characteristics of patients are shown in Table 1; 101/117 (86%) patients had failed prior anti-TNF therapy. The drug persistence rate was 106/117 (91%) at 12 weeks and 79/117 (68%) at 52 weeks. The clinical response rate at 12 weeks was 59/117 (50%) and the clinical remission rate at 52 weeks was 57/117 (49%). Altogether, 35/117 (30%) had an endoscopic Mayo score ≤1 at 12 weeks and 41/117 (35%) at 52 weeks. However, data on endoscopy were not available for 42 vedolizumab treated patients at 12 weeks and 30 at 52 weeks. Among patients who continued vedolizumab, the median partial Mayo score decreased from 4 (3–5) at baseline to 1 (0–2) at 52 weeks (p < 0.0001). Correspondingly, the median faecal calprotectin decreased from 646 (333–1130) µg/g to 162 (42–382) µg/g (p = 0.0002) and the median C-reactive protein from 5.0 (2.1–8.0) mg/L to 3.5 (1.6–5.0) mg/L (p = 0.008). Consistently, quality of life improved in vedolizumab treated patients, with a significant reduction of the overall short health scale score at 52 weeks (p < 0.0001).
Conclusion
Vedolizumab treated patients with UC represented a treatment-refractory group. Long-term (52 weeks) effectiveness of vedolizumab can be achieved, in terms of clinical- and inflammatory activity as well as in quality of life. The study was financially supported by Takeda.
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