Influence of trough serum levels and immunogenicity on long-term outcome of adalimumab therapy in Crohn's disease

Gastroenterology. 2009 Nov;137(5):1628-40. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2009.07.062. Epub 2009 Aug 5.

Abstract

Background & aims: Adalimumab is an efficacious therapy for active Crohn's disease, but long-term data are scarce. We conducted an observational study to assess the long-term clinical benefit of adalimumab in patients who failed to respond to infliximab, specifically focusing on the influence of trough serum concentration and antibodies against adalimumab on clinical outcome.

Methods: A total of 168 patients with Crohn's disease treated with adalimumab in a tertiary center were included in a prospective follow-up program. Trough serum concentration and antibodies against adalimumab were measured at predefined time points using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Results: A total of 71% and 67% of patients responded by weeks 4 and 12, respectively; among them, 61.5% demonstrated sustained clinical benefit until the end of follow-up (median [interquartile range], 20.4 [11.7-30.0] months). Of the 156 patients receiving maintenance therapy, 102 (65.4%) had to step up to 40 mg weekly and 60 (38.5%) eventually stopped adalimumab therapy mainly due to loss of response. Significantly lower adalimumab trough serum concentrations were measured throughout the follow-up period in patients who discontinued therapy as compared with patients who stayed on adalimumab. Antibodies against adalimumab were present in 9.2% of the patients and affected trough serum concentration. Serious adverse events occurred in 12% of the patients.

Conclusions: Introduction of adalimumab after failure of infliximab therapy resulted in a sustained clinical benefit in two thirds of patients during a median follow-up period of almost 2 years. Discontinuation was directly related to low adalimumab trough serum concentration, which was observed more frequently in patients who developed antibodies against adalimumab.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adalimumab
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / immunology*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacokinetics*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacokinetics*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Crohn Disease / drug therapy
  • Crohn Disease / immunology
  • Crohn Disease / metabolism*
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Resistance
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood*
  • Infliximab
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Infliximab
  • Adalimumab