Short-term effectiveness of golimumab for ulcerative colitis: Observational multicenter study

AIM To evaluate the real-world effectiveness of golimumab in ulcerative colitis (UC) and to identify predictors of response. METHODS We conducted an observational, prospective and multi-center study in UC patients treated with golimumab, from September 2014 to September 2015. Clinical activity was assessed at wk 0 and 14 with the physician' s global clinical assessment (PGA) and the partial Mayo score. Colonoscopies and blood tests were performed, following daily-practice clinical criteria, and the results were recorded in an SPSS database. RESULTS Thirty-three consecutive patients with moderately to severely active UC were included. Among them, 54.5% were female and 42 years was the average age. Thirty percent had left-sided UC (E2) and 70% had extensive UC (E3). All patients had an endoscopic Mayo score of 2 or 3 at baseline. Twenty-seven point three percent were anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) treatment naive, whereas 72.7% had previously received infliximab and/or adalimumab. Sixty-nine point seven percent showed clinical response and were steroid-free at wk 14 (a decrease from baseline in the partial Mayo score of at least 3 points). Based on PGA, the clinical remission and clinical response rates were 24% and 55% respectively. Withdrawal of corticosteroids was observed in 70.8% of steroid-dependent patients at the end of the study. Three out of 10 clinical non-responders needed a colectomy. Mean fecal calprotectin value at baseline was 300 mu g/g, and 170.5 mu g/g at wk 14. Being anti-TNF treatment naive was a protection factor, which was related to better chances of reaching clinical remission. Twenty-seven point three percent of the patients required treatment intensification at 14 wk of followup. Only three adverse effects (AEs) were observed during the study; all were mild and golimumab was not interrupted. CONCLUSION This real-life practice study endorses golimumab's promising results, demonstrating its short-term effectiveness and confirming it as a safe drug during the induction phase.