Vedolizumab Dose Escalation Improves Therapeutic Response in a Subset of Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

Courtney Perry, Kyle Fischer, Ahmed Elmoursi, Cody Kern, Alden Currier, Praneeth Kudaravalli, Olalekan Akanbi, Nishant Tripathi, Pradeep Yarra, Leon Su, Deborah Flomenhoft, Arnold Stromberg, Terrence A. Barrett

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The Gemini trial failed to detect a significant difference in response rate for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) randomized to standard (every 8 week) vedolizumab dosing vs escalated (every 4 week) dosing. Subsequent real-world data imply the Gemini trial design may have obscured a benefit of escalated dosing. Aims: We investigated outcomes after vedolizumab dose escalation for patients with UC. We also explored potential clinical predictors of dose escalation requirement. Methods: In this retrospective study, we included patients with UC who received vedolizumab between 1/2017-1/2019. We compared rates of clinical response (decrease in partial Mayo score by ≥ 2) and remission (partial Mayo < 2) for standard vs escalated dosing. Results: Among the 90 patients reviewed, 52 achieved and maintained remission on standard dosing. The average time to remission with standard dosing was 33.3 ± 6.6 weeks. After an average of 56.3 ± 7.4 weeks standard dosing, 24 patients (22 “partial responders” and 2 “non-responders”) were dose-escalated. Of the 22 “partial responders” dose-escalated, 10 (45%) achieved remission, 10 (45%) achieved further improvement. Neither “non-responder” demonstrated further clinical benefit. Prior anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) biologic exposure predicted dose escalation requirement (p = 0.008). Patients requiring dose escalation had more severe disease at baseline as measured by both full Mayo (p = 0.009) and partial Mayo scores (p = 0.01). Conclusions: We show dose escalation benefited patients with UC who exhibit a “partial response” to standard dosing. Early vedolizumab dose escalation should be considered in both patients with severe disease and those with prior anti-TNF experience.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2051-2058
Number of pages8
JournalDigestive Diseases and Sciences
Volume66
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Keywords

  • Symptoms
  • Therapeutic index
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Vedolizumab

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Gastroenterology

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