title: Efficacy of Adalimumab as a long term maintenance therapy in ulcerative colitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adalimumab is a recombinant human IgG1 monoclonal antibody to TNF-alpha. There are limited data with regard to its efficacy in ulcerative colitis. We report experience of adalimumab in ulcerative colitis in a single centre with a focus on the ability of this agent to maintain response and avoid colectomy in the medium to long-term.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three ulcerative colitis patients (mean age 32 years; 7 female) who received adalimumab were identified from a prospectively maintained database of over 2700 IBD patients. The primary study endpoint was treatment failure defined as discontinuation of adalimumab due to lack of efficacy, as defined by requiring an alternative maintenance therapy or colectomy, or intolerance. Colectomy rate was recorded as a secondary endpoint.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most patients (96%) had received immunosuppressants prior to adalimumab therapy (infliximab 20/23 87%). Sixteen of 23 patients (70%) discontinued adalimumab. Six primary failures, 8 secondary loss of response, one had unacceptable side effects and one discontinued treatment after 6 months but remains in remission. Overall estimated cumulative treatment failure rates at 6, 12 and 24 months were 50%, 65% and 72% respectively. Median follow-up in patients continuing adalimumab is 23 months (IQR 17-31 months). Treatment failure was unrelated to patient age, gender, disease extent, smoking status or CRP. Colectomy free survival was 59% at 2 years. No patient experienced a major adverse event.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adalimumab shows some efficacy as a maintenance strategy in Ulcerative Colitis, but only a limited proportion of patients remain well on continued treatment at 2 years.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Colorectal Disease, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland. edelmcdermott@physicians.ie
authors.forename: Edel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.forename: Seamus
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Keegan
authors.forename: Diarmuid
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Donoghue
authors.forename: Hugh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mulcahy
authors.forename: Glen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Doherty
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003082:Colectomy; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D060046:Maintenance Chemotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068879:Adalimumab