De-escalation of biological therapy in inflammatory bowel disease patients following prior dose escalation

Limited data are available on biological therapy de-escalation after prior escalation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. This study aimed to assess the frequency and success rate of de-escalation of biological therapy in IBD patients after prior dose escalation and to evaluate which measures are used to guide de-escalation.

This multicentre retrospective cohort study enrolled IBD patients treated with infliximab (IFX), adalimumab (ADA) or vedolizumab (VEDO) in whom therapy was de-escalated after prior biological escalation. De-escalations were considered pharmacokinetic-driven if based on clinical symptoms combined with therapeutic or supratherapeutic trough levels, and disease activity-driven if based on faecal calprotectin less than or equal to 200 µg/g or resolution of perianal fistula drainage or closure or endoscopic remission. Successful de-escalation was defined as remaining on the same or lower biological dose for greater than or equal to 6 months after de-escalation without the need for corticosteroids.

In total, 206 IFX users, 85 ADA users and 55 VEDO users underwent therapy escalation. Of these patients, 34 (17%) on IFX, 18 (21%) on ADA and 8 (15%) on VEDO underwent therapy de-escalation. De-escalation was successful in 88% of IFX patients, 89% of ADA and 100% of VEDO. The probability of remaining on the de-escalated regimen or further de-escalation after 1 year was 85% for IFX, 62% for ADA and 100% for VEDO. Disease activity-driven de-escalations were more often successful (97%) than pharmacokinetic- and no marker-driven de-escalations (76%); P = 0.017.

De-escalation after biological dose escalation was successful in the majority of carefully selected IBD patients. Objective assessment of remission increased the likelihood of successful de-escalation.