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World J Gastroenterol. Apr 28, 2026; 32(16): 116781
Published online Apr 28, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v32.i16.116781
Effectiveness of ustekinumab in postoperative Crohn's disease management: Evidence from a Chinese multicenter cohort
Xian-Zong Ma, Xing-Zhao Han, Wen-Yu Zhang, Feng Tian, Xu-Chun Zhou, Lin-Yan Zhou, Yong-Sheng Teng, Ling Lei, Jian-Qiu Sheng, Peng Jin, Xin-Mei Zhao, Yan Jia
Xian-Zong Ma, Jian-Qiu Sheng, Peng Jin, Yan Jia, Senior Department of Gastroenterology, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
Xian-Zong Ma, Jian-Qiu Sheng, Peng Jin, Yan Jia, Department of Gastroenterology, The Seventh Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100700, China
Xing-Zhao Han, Xin-Mei Zhao, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
Xing-Zhao Han, Xin-Mei Zhao, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Institute of Gastroenterology of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
Wen-Yu Zhang, School of Nursing, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100853, China
Feng Tian, Lin-Yan Zhou, Department of Gastroenterology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning Province, China
Xu-Chun Zhou, Ling Lei, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
Yong-Sheng Teng, Department of Gastroenterology, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401147, China
Co-first authors: Xian-Zong Ma and Xing-Zhao Han.
Co-corresponding authors: Xin-Mei Zhao and Yan Jia.
Author contributions: Ma XZ and Han XZ contribute equally to this study as co-first authors; Zhao XM and Jia Y contribute equally to this study as co-corresponding authors; Ma XZ and Jia Y conceived and designed the study; Ma XZ, Han XZ, Zhou LY, Zhou XC, Lei L, Ma XZ, Tian F, Zhao XM and Jia Y participated in data acquisition; Ma XZ and Zhang WY performed data analysis and interpretation; Ma XZ, Zhang WY, Teng YS and Jia Y participated in preparing the manuscript; Ma XZ, Jia Y, Sheng JQ, Teng YS and Jin P reviewed and edited the manuscript; Ma XZ, Jia Y, Zhao XM, Tian F and Zhou XC supervised the study; all authors critically revised the manuscript for important intellectual property and approved submitting this manuscript.
Supported by the Capital Health Development Scientific Research Project, No. 2018-1-5091; and National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82500685.
Institutional review board statement: The present study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Seventh Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital (Approval No. S2024-093-01).
Informed consent statement: The requirement for informed consent was waived owing to the retrospective nature of this study.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no conflict of interest related to the manuscript.
Data sharing statement: The original anonymous dataset is available on request from the corresponding author at jiayan328@163.com.
Corresponding author: Yan Jia, Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, The Seventh Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 5 Nanmencang, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100700, China. jiayan328@163.com
Received: November 26, 2025
Revised: December 31, 2025
Accepted: January 28, 2026
Published online: April 28, 2026
Processing time: 142 Days and 22.5 Hours
Core Tip

Core Tip: This multicenter study demonstrated that ustekinumab (UST) effectively addressed the management of postoperative recurrence in patients with Crohn's disease in China. Results showed high rates of endoscopic (81.7%) and clinical remission (91.5%) at 24 weeks. A multivariate analysis identified first-line UST use and shorter disease duration as independent predictors of superior outcomes. The favorable safety profile supports UST as a potent therapeutic option, particularly when initiated early as a first-line biologic strategy for postoperative management.