Rate of Colectomy Increases Within 12 Months of Sequential Therapy for Ulcerative Colitis.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Patients with medically refractory ulcerative colitis who previously would have undergone surgery can now elect for subsequent medical therapy.

Methods

In a commercially insured population, we evaluated the proportion of patients initiating second-line, third-line, or fourth-line treatment who underwent colectomy in the following 12 months.

Results

Among 3,325 patients with ulcerative colitis, the colectomy rate within 12 months of a switch in therapy increased from 12% with the first switch to 17% and 19% with the second and third switches, respectively ( P < 0.001).

Discussion

Treatment effectiveness declines with successive switching; however, even after initiating fourth-line therapy, most patients remain surgery-free.

SUBMITTER: Barnes EL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10709523 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature