Efficacy and Safety of Ustekinumab for Ulcerative Colitis Through 4 Years: Final Results of the UNIFI Long-Term Maintenance Study.

Introduction: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic condition that may require long-term treatment. We report the final efficacy and safety results of the UNIFI long-term extension study of ustekinumab in patients with UC through 4 years.

Methods: Ustekinumab induction responders who completed 44 weeks of maintenance treatment and agreed to enter the long-term extension continued their subcutaneous maintenance therapy (90 mg ustekinumab every 8 or 12 weeks [q8w or q12w] or placebo).

Efficacy and Safety of Maintenance Ustekinumab for Ulcerative Colitis Through 3 Years: UNIFI Long-term Extension.

Background And Aims: The UNIFI long-term extension [LTE] study reports the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous 90 mg ustekinumab through 3 years of maintenance therapy.

Methods: Patients randomised to ustekinumab every 12 weeks [q12w] or every 8 weeks [q8w] at maintenance baseline [N = 348] and randomised ustekinumab-treated patients in the LTE [N = 284] were evaluated. Symptomatic remission [Mayo stool frequency = 0/1, rectal bleeding = 0] was assessed.

Ustekinumab is effective and safe for ulcerative colitis through 2 years of maintenance therapy.

Background: The ongoing UNIFI long-term extension evaluates subcutaneous ustekinumab for moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC) from weeks 44 through 220.

Aims: To assess efficacy (through week 92) and safety (through week 96) during the long-term extension METHODS: Overall, 399 responders to intravenous ustekinumab induction and who were randomised to maintenance therapy were treated in the long-term extension (115 received subcutaneous placebo, 141 received ustekinumab 90 mg every 12 weeks [q12w], and 143 received ustekinumab 90 mg q8w). Placebo treatment was discontinued at unblinding after week 44.

Outcomes of bone density measurements in coeliac disease.

Aim: Some guidelines recommend that patients with newly diagnosed coeliac disease undergo bone density scanning. We assessed the bone density results in a cohort of patients with coeliac disease.

Methods: We searched bone density reports over two 5-year periods in all patients from Auckland District Health Board (2008-12) and in patients under 65 years from Counties Manukau District Health Board (2009-13) for the term 'coeliac.

New Zealand Society of Gastroenterology Guidelines for the Management of Refractory Ulcerative Colitis.

The management of patients with ulcerative colitis who are dependent on corticosteroid for control of symptoms, or refractory to corticosteroids or standard immunosuppressive therapy, is challenging. The development of newer medical therapies has increased the options for managing patients in this situation, but access and funding remain limited. This guideline summarises the literature regarding this situation and provides guidance as to the management of refractory colitis in the New Zealand setting.

Terminal ileal photography or biopsy to verify total colonoscopy: does the endoscope agree with the microscope?

Background: Various modalities exist to document the extent of colonoscopy, including a terminal ileum (TI) biopsy, which is considered the criterion standard by some authorities. A TI biopsy adds to procedure costs, is potentially hazardous, and the detection of pathology in routinely acquired biopsy specimens of a macroscopically normal TI is limited. A safer, less costly alternative for documenting total colonoscopy is desirable.