A patient with ulcerative colitis treated with a combination of vedolizumab and tofacitinib

Eur J Hosp Pharm. 2021 Nov;28(6):353-355. doi: 10.1136/ejhpharm-2020-002437. Epub 2021 Jan 25.

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease of autoimmune origin with an estimated prevalence in Spain of 0.39%. Current treatments for UC do not achieve high long-term efficacy. Treatment recommendations in moderate and severe disease involve drugs, but when these options fail, the alternatives are scarce, and surgery is intended to be reserved for the last option. We present the case of a 48-year-old male patient with UC for 23 years, who had failed several lines of treatment. The patient started combined therapy with tofacitinib and vedolizumab. These drugs have different mechanisms of action, achieving an immune response and reducing gastrointestinal inflammation. The patient's disease symptoms improved 11 months after starting this treatment, and he is now entirely asymptomatic. Analytical parameters related to the disease have also shown improvement, and the patient has so far avoided the need for surgical intervention.

Keywords: case reports; digestive system diseases; hospital; inflammatory bowel diseases; pharmacy service; safety.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use
  • Colitis, Ulcerative* / diagnosis
  • Colitis, Ulcerative* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Piperidines / therapeutic use
  • Pyrimidines

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Piperidines
  • Pyrimidines
  • tofacitinib
  • vedolizumab