TY - JOUR
TI - Efficacy of switching from infliximab to golimumab in patients with
ulcerative colitis in deep remission
AU - Viazis, N.
AU - Pontas, C.
AU - Manolakis, A.
AU - Karampekos, G. and
AU - Tsoukali, E.
AU - Galanopoulos, M.
AU - Koustenis, K.
AU - Archavlis, E.
AU - and Christidou, A.
AU - Gazouli, M.
AU - Mantzaris, G. J.
JO - Acta Gastro-Enterologica Belgica
PY - 2021
VL - 84
TODO - 3
SP - 423-428
PB - UNIV CATHOLIQUE LOUVAIN-UCL
SN - null
TODO - 10.51821/84.3.007
TODO - Ulcerative colitis; infliximab; golimumab
TODO - Background-Aim: Intravenously administered biologicals are associated
with a huge pressure to Infusion Units and increased cost. We aimed to
assess the impact of switching infliximab to golimumab in ulcerative
colitis (UC) patients in deep remission.
Patients and method: In a prospective, single-centre pilot study UC
patients on infliximab mono-therapy for >= 2 years, whowere in deep
remission, consented to switch to golimumab and were followed for 1 year
with clinical assessment, serum and faecal biomarkers, work
productivity, satisfaction with treatment and quality of life
parameters. Endoscopic remission was assessed by colonoscopy at 1 year.
Patients fulfilling the same inclusion criteria, who did not consent to
switch to golimumab and continued to receive infliximab mono-therapy,
for the same period, served as controls.
Results: Between October 2015 and October 2017, 20 patients were
recruited; however one patient stopped therapy because of pregnancy. All
19 patients who were switched to golimumab were still in clinical,
biomarker and endoscopic remission at 1 year and maintained excellent
quality of life without any complications. In the control group, 18 of
19 patients were also in deep remission, since only one patient had a
flare which was managed with IFX dose intensification. During a median 3
years extension treatment with golimumab only 2 patients experienced a
flare of colitis.
Conclusions: This pilot study indicates that switching from in-fliximab
to golimumab in UC patients in deep remission does not compromise
treatment effectiveness or the course of disease; golimumab offers a
valid alternative to intravenous infliximab infusions during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
ER -