The Addition of an Immunosuppressant After Loss of Response to Anti-TNFα Monotherapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A 2-Year Study

Abstract Background The addition of an immunosuppressant (IM) after loss of response to anti-TNFα monotherapy is an emerging strategy of therapeutic optimization in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, few clinical data have been reported to date. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this selective combination therapy in patients with IBD. Methods All consecutive patients with loss of response to anti-TNFα monotherapy despite an intensive dose optimization who added an IM from October 2014 to October 2016 were entered into a prospective database. Results Among 630 patients treated with anti-TNFα agents during the study period, 46 (7.3%) added an IM. A total of 31 patients (67.4%) were treated with an intravenous anti-TNFα (infliximab, as originator or biosimilar), while 15 (32.6%) were treated with a subcutaneous anti-TNFα agent (10 adalimumab and 5 golimumab). The mean duration of follow-up was 12.8 ± 7.3 months. Twenty-one patients (45.7%) remained on combination therapy at the end of follow-up: 15 (32.6%) maintained a steroid-free remission, and 6 (13.0%) achieved a clinical response. In patients who experienced treatment success, the median value of C-reactive protein decreased from baseline to the end of follow-up (13.2 vs 3.0, P = 0.01; normal values