Real-World Outcomes of Patients Starting Intravenous and Transitioning to Subcutaneous Vedolizumab in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background

Real-world data on starting intravenous (IV) vedolizumab (VDZ) and transitioning to subcutaneous (SC) treatment in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are scarce.

Aims

To assess treatment outcomes of patients with IBD starting IV VDZ and switching to SC VDZ in routine clinical care.

Methods

Adult patients with IBD switching from IV to SC VDZ treatment between 1 March 2020 and 31 December 2021 were identified from the Swedish IBD quality register. The primary outcome was SC VDZ persistence. Secondary outcomes included clinical remission, changes in quality of life (QoL) according to EuroQual 5-Dimensions 5-Levels (EQ-5D-5L) and the Short-Health Scale (SHS) and inflammatory markers, including faecal Calprotectin (FCP).

Results

Altogether, 406 patients with IBD (Crohn's disease, n = 181; ulcerative colitis, n = 225) were identified. After a median follow-up of 30 months from starting IV VDZ treatment, the persistence rates were 98%(178/181) in Crohn's disease and 94% (211/225) in ulcerative colitis. Most patients (84%) transitioned during maintenance therapy, and the median follow-up from switch to SC VDZ was 10 months. Compared to baseline, statistically significant improvements were observed in all domains of the SHS, EQ-5D index value and visual analogue scale. Median (interquartile range) FCP concentrations (μg/g) decreased from 459 (185–1001) to 65 (26–227) in Crohn's disease (n = 45; p < 0.001) and from 646 (152–1450) to 49 (20–275) in ulcerative colitis (n = 58; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Initiating IV VDZ and switching to SC treatment was associated with high persistence rates and improvements in measures of QoL and FCP. These findings are reassuring for patients who start IV VDZ and switch to SC VDZ.

Graphical Abstract