Adalimumab treatment of anti-TNF-naïve patients with ulcerative colitis: Deep remission and response factors.

BACKGROUND: Adalimumab is the second tumour necrosis factor antagonist (anti-TNF) adopted for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Clinical data from naïve patients are scarce.

AIM: Examine the response to adalimumab in TNF-antagonist-naïve patients.

METHODS: This multicentre, observational, prospective study was conducted using a cohort of consecutive patients with ulcerative colitis. Clinical remission, mucosal healing and deep remission were examined employing the Mayo Score and Mayo Endoscopic Score. Clinical response was assessed using the Partial Mayo Score.

RESULTS: Of 53 individuals included in this study, 49.1% of patients were in clinical remission at week 8 and 60.3%, at week 52. Clinical response was observed in 84.9% and 69.8%, respectively. Mucosal healing was found in 62.3% and 67.9% of the patients, and 43.4% and 58.4% showed deep remission at week 8 and 52, respectively. After a year, 71.7% of the patients continued the adalimumab treatment. Adverse effects were observed in 28.3% of patients. Multivariate analysis showed that the long-term factor predictive of response at week 52 was the response in week 8 (expressed as Mayo Score; OR 0.66; 95% IC 0.1-0.67, p < 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS: Adalimumab treatment of ulcerative colitis is effective; the results are better in clinical practice and in patients naïve to anti-TNF.