Cure8 research brief
Patients and clinicians using ustekinumab may be able to use an early (around 3 months) drug concentration to help predict short-term remission, while routine repeated monitoring later on may be less informative for clinical outcomes in this real-world cohort.
Patients on ustekinumab, gastroenterologists and IBD clinicians, clinical pharmacists involved in therapeutic drug monitoring, and researchers studying biologic drug monitoring or biomarkers in IBD.
This European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology abstract reports results from the STOCUSTE retrospective real-world study of ustekinumab (UST) in 418 IBD patients treated at four Stockholm hospitals.
The investigators measured serum UST concentrations at scheduled follow-ups (3–48 months) and compared levels in patients in remission (Physician Global Assessment = 0) versus nonremission.
Early UST levels (≤3 months) were higher in patients who were in remission at that timepoint, but concentrations measured at 6 months and later did not differ between remitters and nonremitters. About one-third of patients had a treatment change within 12 months of a measured concentration (shortening interval, IV reinduction, or stopping/switching).
The authors conclude that an early UST concentration is associated with remission, while serial monitoring beyond 3 months showed poor correlation with clinical outcomes in this cohort. This summary is based on the article abstract provided by Europe PMC and does not represent a full appraisal of the complete study text or dataset.
This is a retrospective, observational real-world study from four hospitals with serum concentrations available for 55% of included patients. Outcomes were based on Physician Global Assessment; the abstract does not report standardized endoscopic or biomarker-confirmed remission.
Findings are associative and do not establish that early measurement should change management—clinical judgment and guideline context remain important.
Review the original publication for the complete reporting, methods, and context.
Funding disclosed by the source: Janssen-Cilag AB, Stockholm, Sweden - 1
This Cure8 brief is based on source text from the linked article. Cure8 is informational only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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