©The Author(s) 2015. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 21, 2015; 21(11): 3282-3290
Published online Mar 21, 2015. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i11.3282
Published online Mar 21, 2015. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i11.3282
Real-life outcome of anti-tumor necrosis factor α in the ambulatory treatment of ulcerative colitis
Enayatullah Baki, Philipp Zwickel, Anna Zawierucha, Daniel Gotthardt, Wolfgang Stremmel, Annika Gauss, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Robert Ehehalt, Outpatient Clinic of Gastroenterology, 69121 Heidelberg, Germany
Author contributions: Gauss A and Baki E designed the research; Baki E performed the research; Gauss A wrote the manuscript; Zwickel P, Zawierucha A and Ehehalt R collected data and contributed to analysis and interpretation of data; Gotthardt D and Stremmel W contributed to analysis and interpretation of data; all authors revised the manuscript critically and approved its final version.
Correspondence to: Annika Gauss, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. annika.gauss@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Telephone: +49-6221-5638865 Fax: +49-6221-565255
Received: September 14, 2014
Peer-review started: September 15, 2014
First decision: October 14, 2014
Revised: October 24, 2014
Accepted: December 1, 2014
Article in press: December 1, 2014
Published online: March 21, 2015
Processing time: 185 Days and 18.2 Hours
Peer-review started: September 15, 2014
First decision: October 14, 2014
Revised: October 24, 2014
Accepted: December 1, 2014
Article in press: December 1, 2014
Published online: March 21, 2015
Processing time: 185 Days and 18.2 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors are a widely accepted therapeutic option for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Results from different real-life settings on their use in ulcerative colitis are controversial. Weighing anti tumor necrosis factor alpha against other treatment options, it is very important to decide on the best therapy for a patient. This retrospective study from a tertiary referral centre shows a rate of steroid-free clinical remission of 22.2% and a colectomy rate of 20.8% for ambulatory patients with ulcerative colitis under therapy with tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors. These rather disappointing outcomes should be thoroughly discussed with the patients before start of therapy.