Abstract
Ustekinumab is an effective therapy for adult Crohn’s disease (CD), but data in paediatric CD patients are scarce. The aim of the study was to describe the real-life effectiveness and safety of ustekinumab in paediatric CD. This is a multicentre review of children with Crohn's disease treated with ustekinumab. The aim of our study was to describe the effectiveness and safety of ustekinumab in paediatric real-life practice. This is a study of the Paediatric IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) Porto group of ESPGHAN. Corticosteroid (CS)- and exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN)-free remission, defined as weighted Paediatric Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (wPCDAI) < 12.5, and physician global assessment (PGA) were determined at weeks 12 and 52. A total of 101 children were included at a median age of 15.4 years (IQR 12.7–17.2) with a median follow-up of 7.4 months (IQR 5.6–11.8). Ninety-nine percent had received prior anti-TNF, 63% ≥ 2 anti-TNFα therapies and 22% vedolizumab. Baseline median wPCDAI was 39 (IQR 25–57.5) (71 (70%) patients with moderate-severe activity). Weeks 12 and 52 CS- and EEN-free remission were both 40.5%. Clinical response at week 6, iv induction route and older age at onset of ustekinumab treatment were predictive factors associated with clinical remission at week 12. Seven minor adverse events probably related to ustekinumab were reported. One patient died from an unrelated cause.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that ustekinumab is effective and safe in children with chronically active or refractory CD.
What is Known: • Ustekinumab is an effective therapy for adult moderate to severe Crohn’s disease (CD). • Off-label use of ustekinumab in children is increasing especially in anti-TNF refractory CD. | |
What is New: • Is the largest cohort of real-world use of ustekinumab in paediatric CD to date. • Clinical response at week 6, iv induction and older age at onset of ustekinumab were predictive factors associated with clinical response at week 12. |
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No datasets were generated or analyzed during the current study.
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GPM, JMC and VMNL designed the data collection instruments, coordinated and supervised data collection, conducted the analyses, drafted the initial manuscript and reviewed and edited the manuscript.VMN-L, JM, GP, JD and RM-M conducted the analyses, drafted the initial manuscript and reviewed and edited the manuscript. All authors reviewed and edited the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
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GPM: speakers fees and congress support from Abbvie, Nestlé Health Science, Janssen. VNL: consultant fees from Abbvie, Nestlé Health Science, Otsuka, Pfizer. DT: consultant fee, research grant, royalties, or honorarium from Janssen, Pfizer, Hospital for Sick Children, Ferring, Abbvie, Takeda, Atlantic Health, Shire, Celgene, Lilly, Roche, ThermoFisher, BMS. KLK: consultant fees from Abbvie, Biocodex, Ferring, Tillots Pharma, MSD. AL: Nestlé Health Science, Janssen, Abbvie, Takeda and Megapharm. JB: honoraria, speakers fees and congress support from Abbvie, MSD, Nestlé Health Science, Nutricia, Biocodex, Ferring and Walmark. AA: consultant and lectures fees from Abbvie. Research grants from Abbvie and Janssen. FK: educational Grant from Dr. Falk, Abbvie. DCW: honoraria, speakers fees and/or congress support from Abbvie, Nestlé Health Science, Ferring, Roche, and Predictimmune. Abbvie and Janssen. LC: educational Grant from Dr. Falk. LR: Shire, Malinckrodt, Nestlé, Celltrion, Abbvie, Pfizer. Grant from ZonMw, ECCO and Pfizer. JMC: consultation fees, research grants, or honoraria from Abbvie, MSD, Janssen, Adacyte, Otsuka, Celltrion, Roche, Celgene, Dr. Falk, Nestlé HS, Ferring, FAES, Kern Pharma. The remaining authors have no competing interest.
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Pujol-Muncunill, G., Navas-López, V.M., Ledder, O. et al. STEP-CD study: ustekinumab use in paediatric Crohn’s disease—a multicentre retrospective study from paediatric IBD Porto group of ESPGHAN. Eur J Pediatr (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-024-05588-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-024-05588-2