Objectives: Vedolizumab is a mAb used for the treatment of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. There is evidence that administration of vedolizumab has been associated with either new onset or reactivation of extra-intestinal manifestations, among which arthralgia is the most prominent. We aimed to study the incidence, characteristics and predictors for the occurrence of arthralgias in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who receive vedolizumab.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was implemented in patients with IBD. The occurrence of new-onset and recurrent arthralgias were recorded. Multivariate Cox proportional-hazards models were used to identify factors associated with the endpoints of interest.
Results: A total of 115 vedolizumab-treated IBD patients (male = 50.4%; ulcerative colitis = 70.4%; median follow-up = 12.7 months) participated. New-onset arthralgia occurred in 20.9%, and recurrent in 46.7% (45 patients at risk). Among patients with ulcerative colitis, multivariate Cox's proportional-hazards models showed, that new onset arthralgia was significantly associated with extensive colitis (hazard ratio = 2.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-8.12). Of 15 patients with concomitant treatment of azathioprine, no one manifested new-onset arthralgia (X2P = 0.03; Fisher's exact test P = 0.038). No predictors were identified for recurrent arthralgia.
Conclusion: Arthralgias is a common manifestation of vedolizumab treatment. Patients with extensive ulcerative colitis demonstrate a higher risk for new-onset arthralgia, whereas, concomitant treatment with azathioprine appears to be protective. These associations may be mediated by re-directed lymphocyte trafficking and may support concomitant immunomodulator administration in specific patient subpopulations who commence treatment with vedolizumab.
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