Ustekinumab in Crohn's disease: effectiveness and safety in clinical practice

Introduction: Ustekinumab (UST) is a monoclonal antibody against IL-12/23 approved in Spain (2017) to treat moderate / severe Crohn's disease.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety in real clinical practice in patients treated with UST in our center.

Methods: This is a prospective observational study including patients who started UST from 08/01/2017 to 02/28/2019 with follow-up up to that date. We analyze response and remission in weeks 16, 24 and 52, using "Crohn's Disease Activity Index" (response if 100 point decrease and remission if <150) and Physician's Global Assessment.

Results: We included 61 patients with a median duration of Crohn's disease of 14,6 years (0-36). The 83,6% of patients without steroids and 73,8% without associated immunosuppressors. Previously all patients had received anti-TNF and 14,8%, in addition, vedolizumab. We observed a good correlation between Crohn's Disease Activity Index and Physician's Global Assessment (r = 0,89, p <.001). In week 16 (n = 45) 75,6% response (57,8% remission), in week 24 (n = 35) 69,9% response (45,7% remission) and in week 52 (n = 12) 75% response (58.3% remission). There were no statistically significant differences in the response/remission rates at week 16 or 24 depending on the reason for the onset of UST or the number of previous biologics. In 2 patients it was withdrawn due to toxicity (arthralgia / myalgia).

Conclusion: UST is an effective and safe treatment in real clinical practice with high rates of clinical remission at week 16, 24 and 52 regardless of the order of biological used and the reason for starting UST.