P621 Combination treatment of biologics with immunomodulator increases risk of infection after discharge in biologics naive steroid refractory acute severe ulcerative colitis patient: A KASID multicenter study

Abstract

Abstract Background Biologics such as infliximab is the main treatment for steroid refractory acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC), However, there are only a few studies on the effectiveness and safety of biologics in steroid refractory ASUC. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness and safety of biologics as a rescue therapy for biologics naïve steroid refractory ASUC patient in Korea. Methods We retrospectively included patients who were hospitalized at seven tertiary medical centers for ASUC management between January 2015 to December 2020, and data on the demographic and clinical variables, disease activity, treatment method, treatment response, adverse event, readmission due to any reasons were checked Results A total of 230 ASUC patients were included, of which 220 were biologic naïve patient. The response rate of steroid in these patients was 74%, and infliximab was administered as rescue therapy to 53 patients who failed initial steroid treatment. The response rate to infliximab as rescue therapy was 96%, and 2 patients who did not respond received colectomy. One of the two patients who underwent colectomy died of sepsis. There was no infliximab-related adverse event during hospitalization. Although infliximab itself was not a factor associated with infection after discharge (10% vs. 16%, p=0.355), combination therapy with thiopurine was a risk factor for infection after discharge. (Odd ratio 7.302, 95% CI 2.101-25.372, p=0.002). A total of 12 infections occurred in patients treated with infliximab after discharge (3 pneumonia, 1 skin infection, 3 cytomegalovirus colitis, 4 Clostridium difficile infection) and were associated with readmission. (40.1% vs. 75%, p=0.031) Conclusion As a rescue therapy in biologics naive steroid refractory ASUC, infliximab showed a 96% therapeutic response. Although infliximab itself did not increase the risk of infection after discharge, the combination with thiopurine increased the risk of infection after discharge