Abstract

Abstract Background After the approval of vedolizumab and ustekinumab for the treatment of IBD, discussions continue regarding the prioritization of which drug will be used as the first-line treatment. Despite numerous studies in various indications on this matter, there is still no definitive information. It is known that the success of treatments decreases after the use of Anti-TNF in the first step. In this study, we aimed to compare the drug persistence rates of vedolizumab and ustekinumab used as second-line treatments in Crohn's patients with prior experience with Anti-TNF. Methods A total of 171 Anti-TNF experienced Crohn's disease patients were included in this study. Age, gender and other demographical info were recorded from patients electronic medial charts. Drug persistence rates were calculated and compared by using Kaplan-Meier Analysis. Results Seventy eight patients who received vedolizumab and 93 patients who received ustekinumab were analyzed. In vedolizumab group, 60% of the patients were male where as in ustekinumab group, 57% of the patients were male. Mean age was 39.4 years in vedolizumab group and 41.2 years in ustekinumab group. All patients were anti-TNF experienced. In addition, 70% of the patients in ustekinumab group was vedolizumab experienced. Concomitant azathioprine use was 56% in vedolizumab group where as 34% in ustekinumab group. Drug persistence was significantly higher in ustekinumab group when compared to vedolizumab group (Figure 1). Interestingly, concomitant azathioprine use did not change drug persistence in ustekinumab group however it increased drug persistence in vedolizumab group. Conclusion In anti-TNF experienced Crohn's disease patients, ustekinumab treatment persists more longer than vedolizumab treatment. Ustekinumab persistence was independent from concomitant azathiprine use where as concomitant azathioprine use increases vedolizumab persistence.

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