To report a case of successful use of golimumab (GLB) in a patient with ulcerative colitis (UC) refractory to infliximab (IFX) and adalimumab (ADA).
A 60-year-old man was diagnosed with left UC and was given azathioprine 2.5 mg/kg to control UC symptoms and decrease corticosteroid patient dependence. Four years later, he developed adverse reaction to azathioprine and began treatment with mercaptopurine 1.5 mg/kg/day. Despite this treatment, he developed a severe relapse (Truelove-Witts modified: 15 points). Treatment with IFX 5 mg/kg at weeks 0, 2, 6, and every 8 weeks was started. After 1 year in clinical remission, the patient developed an infusion reaction to IFX, and IFX was suspended. The patient started treatment with ADA 40 mg every other week. After 2 years in clinical remission, ADA was suspended. 20 months after ADA discontinuation, the patient developed an acute episode of UC with a Truelove-Witts modified score of 16 points. ADA plus corticosteroid therapy was restarted. Despite these treatments, the patient's clinical condition did not improved. ADA 40 mg per week was started with not clinical improvement and with corticosteroid dependence after 4 months of ADA intensive therapy. The patient denied surgery, and cyclosporine was discarded because of its inability to be used as a maintenance drug. The patient started GLB with an induction dosage regimen of 200 mg subcutaneous at week 0, followed by 100 mg at week 2, and then maintenance therapy with 100 mg every 4 weeks (patient's weight = 84 kg), combined with mercaptopurine and corticosteroids. After 6 weeks of treatment, the patient achieved clinical remission, with just three non-bleeding stools per day, without stomach ache, apyretic, and no urgency or tenesmus rectal symptoms. One year later, the patient continued to be asymptomatic with a Truelove-Witts modified score of 2 points, corticoid-free treatment, and a complete clinical and endoscopic remission and normal calprotectin levels (< 15 µg/g). We decided to suspend mercaptopurine in order to avoid side effects derived from the combined treatment. After 1 year on GLB therapy, the patient continued in clinical remission.
Based on our case, GLB could be selected as an effective approach for patients with UC refractory to IFX and ADA. However, further studies need to be performed to evaluate the efficacy of GLB therapy as a rescue treatment.