Transition to Subcutaneous Infliximab vs Vedolizumab in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Prospective Multicenter Study

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Immunology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Intravenous (IV) to subcutaneous (SC) administration is an emerging option for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatments like Infliximab (IFX) and Vedolizumab (VDZ).
• Patient adherence, therapy persistence, and quality of life (QoL) are key factors in evaluating treatment modalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare adherence, therapy persistence, and QoL between SC IFX and SC VDZ in IBD patients.
• To assess patient-reported outcomes and safety profiles of SC administration.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, observational, multicenter study involving 108 IBD patients switching from IV to SC IFX or VDZ.
• QoL was measured using the short IBD Questionnaire (sIBDQ); a 6-item survey assessed concerns and expectations.
• Adverse events, safety, concerns, and satisfaction were systematically recorded.

Main Results:

• The majority of patients accepted the SC route, with similar therapy persistence between SC IFX and SC VDZ groups.
• QoL significantly improved at 6 months post-switch (p=0.004), but declined by 12 months in both groups.
• SC administration was well-tolerated with comparable local reactions; IFX group reported more systemic reactions (11.6% vs 7.14%) without hospitalization.

Conclusions:

• Transitioning from IV to SC administration of IFX or VDZ is a safe and appropriate option for IBD management.
• Patient preference and choice are crucial considerations for successful treatment transitions.
• SC administration offers significant QoL benefits, especially within the initial 6 months of therapy.