Dual Biologic or Small Molecule Therapy in Refractory Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (DOUBLE-PIBD): A Multicenter Study from the Pediatric IBD Porto Group of ESPGHAN

Anat Yerushalmy-Feler, Christine Olbjorn, Kaija Leena Kolho, Marina Aloi, Francesca Musto, Javier Martin-De-Carpi, Ana Lozano-Ruf, Dotan Yogev, Manar Matar, Luca Scarallo, Matteo Bramuzzo, Lissy de Ridder, Ben Kang, Christoph Norden, David C. Wilson, Christos Tzivinikos, Dan Turner, Shlomi Cohen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Current data on dual biologic therapy in children are limited. This multicenter study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of dual therapy in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods: A retrospective study from 14 centers affiliated with the Pediatric IBD Interest and Porto Groups of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. Included were children with IBD who underwent combinations of biologic agents or biologic and small molecule therapy for at least 3 months. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, endoscopic, and imaging data were collected. Adverse events were recorded. Results: Sixty-two children (35 Crohn's disease, 27 ulcerative colitis; median age 15.5 [interquartile range, 13.1-16.8] years) were included. They had all failed previous biologic therapies, and 47 (76%) failed at least 2 biologic agents. The dual therapy included an anti-tumor necrosis factor agent and vedolizumab in 30 children (48%), anti-tumor necrosis factor and ustekinumab in 21 (34%) children, vedolizumab and ustekinumab in 8 (13%) children, and tofacitinib with a biologic in 3 (5%) children. Clinical remission was observed in 21 (35%), 30 (50%), and 38 (63%) children at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Normalization of C-reactive protein and decrease in fecal calprotectin to <250 μg/g were achieved in 75% and 64%, respectively, at 12 months of follow-up. Twenty-nine (47%) children sustained adverse events, 8 of which were regarded as serious and led to discontinuation of therapy in 6. Conclusions: Dual biologic therapy may be effective in children with refractory IBD. The potential efficacy should be weighed against the risk of serious adverse events.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)159-166
Number of pages8
JournalInflammatory Bowel Diseases
Volume30
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Feb 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s).

Keywords

  • Crohn's disease
  • dual biologics
  • ulcerative colitis

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