Real-World Experience with Upadacitinib for Pediatric Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis: An International Multicenter Retrospective Study from the Pediatric IBD Porto Group of ESPGHAN.

Background: Data on upadacitinib therapy for pediatric acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASC) are scarce. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of upadacitinib as a salvage therapy in pediatric ASC.

Methods: Children and adolescents with ASC who were treated with upadacitinib for the induction of remission were enrolled in this retrospective multicenter study. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data as well as adverse events (AEs) were recorded after the 8-week induction period and throughout 26 weeks of therapy. Analyses were based on the intention-to-treat principal.

Results: Twenty-two patients were included (median age 15.7 [interquartile range 13.5-16.6] years, 12 hospitalized), all with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy refractory disease. Ten patients were treated with corticosteroids at baseline, and upadacitinib was added to an ongoing biologic therapy in five patients. At week 8 of therapy, 11 (50%) patients of the cohort remained colectomy-free and in corticosteroid-free clinical remission (CFR), and 17 (77%) patients remained colectomy-free. Normal C-reactive protein (CRP) was achieved in 9 of 11 (82%) patients who were in CFR, and fecal calprotectin <150 mcg/g in 4 of 6 (67%) patients with available data. By week 26, 14 (64%) were in CFR and 16 (73%) patients remained colectomy-free. All these patients had normal CRP levels, and 4 of 7 patients with available data had fecal calprotectin <150 mcg/g. Twelve patients reported AEs, including two serious AEs of an appendiceal neuroendocrine tumor and cytomegalovirus colitis.

Conclusion: Upadacitinib is an effective induction therapy for children and adolescents with ASC after failing anti-TNF.