A recent large retrospective study (Effectiveness of Ustekinumab Dose Escalation in Patients with Crohn’s Disease. JE Ollech, et al. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, EPUB) shows that increasing the frequency of ustekinumab from every 8 weeks to every 4 weeks improves outcomes in those who are not responding optimally. Among 506 patients receiving ustekinumab, 110 had dose escalation.
From abstract:
Results
Following dose interval shortening, the patients’ median HBI [Harvey Bradshaw index] decreased from 4.5 to 3 (P=.002), the median level of CRP decreased from 8 mg/l to 3 mg/l (P=.031), and median level of fecal calprotectin decreased from 378 μg/g to 157 μg/g (P=.57). Among patients who had an HBI >4, a level of CRP ≥5mg/dl, a level of fecal calprotectin >250ug/g, or endoscopic evidence for disease activity before dose interval shortening, after the dose interval was shortened, 28% achieved clinical remission (an HBI score ≤4), 22% had a normal level of CRP (<5 mg/dl), 50% had reduced levels of fecal calprotectin, and 36% achieved endoscopic remission.
My take (borrowed from authors): “Shortening the ustekinumab 90 mg dose interval to 4 weeks for patients with CD who did not respond to doses every 8 weeks improved clinical and biological indices of disease activity. Patients who lose response to the standard dose of ustekinumab might benefit from dose interval shortening, which was effective and safe.”
Related blog posts:
- Ustekinumab for Ulcerative Colitis
- Landmark Publication for Ustekinumab (Stelara)
- Ustekinumab in Pediatric Clinical Practice
- More Data for Ustekinumab in Crohn’s Disease
- Predicting Response to Vedolizumab and Ustekinumab for IBD
- Therapeutic drug monitoring for ustekinumab (Stelara)
- Ustekinumab for Crohn’s Disease
- Ustekinumab: NASPGHAN17 Poster from CHOP This link has a poster (at the bottom of this post) explaining CHOP’s pediatric experience with ustekinumab (which showed a pretty limited response)
From ImproveCareNow: Should I Have Surgery? A Shared Decision Making Tool –Recommended for families in working through this difficult treatment decision.
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