Upadacitinib Was Administered as a Sequential Salvage Therapy for Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Report

Introduction: Acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) represents a medical emergency associated with high mortality and morbidity. While corticosteroids are the primary treatment, cases that are unresponsive often require rescue therapy with either infliximab or cyclosporine to reduce the...

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Main Authors: David Huynh, Myat Myat Khaing, Richard Gareth Fernandes, Reuben Malloy, Lei Lin, Robert Gilmore, Nicole Walker, Emi Khoo, Jakob Begun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Karger Publishers 2024-12-01
Series:Case Reports in Gastroenterology
Online Access:https://karger.com/article/doi/10.1159/000542711
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author David Huynh
Myat Myat Khaing
Richard Gareth Fernandes
Reuben Malloy
Lei Lin
Robert Gilmore
Nicole Walker
Emi Khoo
Jakob Begun
author_facet David Huynh
Myat Myat Khaing
Richard Gareth Fernandes
Reuben Malloy
Lei Lin
Robert Gilmore
Nicole Walker
Emi Khoo
Jakob Begun
author_sort David Huynh
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) represents a medical emergency associated with high mortality and morbidity. While corticosteroids are the primary treatment, cases that are unresponsive often require rescue therapy with either infliximab or cyclosporine to reduce the rate of colectomy. Janus kinase inhibitors, such as tofacitinib and upadacitinib, are a highly efficacious therapy with rapid induction of clinical response in moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC). Limited data are available on its use on ASUC. We present the first case utilizing upadacitinib as sequential medical rescue therapy in ASUC as well as intestinal ultrasound as a useful tool for disease and response monitoring. Case Presentation: A 69-year-old female who presented with corticosteroid-refractory ASUC partially responded to dose-intensified infliximab and finally achieved clinical remission with upadacitinib. This resulted in swift clinical remission and significant improvement in her mucosal inflammation on intestinal ultrasound. Conclusion: This successful intervention not only avoided colectomy but demonstrated sustained clinical and sonographic remission 16 weeks of post-treatment. Upadacitinib, with its rapid action and efficacy, shows promise in ASUC and should be supported by registration trials and real-world studies. Despite successful outcomes in this case, further validation and long-term data are necessary.
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spelling doaj-art-29d5b1c2b08746698dd6fa1e5c843e912025-08-20T02:31:55ZengKarger PublishersCase Reports in Gastroenterology1662-06312024-12-011911610.1159/000542711Upadacitinib Was Administered as a Sequential Salvage Therapy for Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis: A Case ReportDavid HuynhMyat Myat KhaingRichard Gareth FernandesReuben MalloyLei LinRobert GilmoreNicole WalkerEmi KhooJakob Begun Introduction: Acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) represents a medical emergency associated with high mortality and morbidity. While corticosteroids are the primary treatment, cases that are unresponsive often require rescue therapy with either infliximab or cyclosporine to reduce the rate of colectomy. Janus kinase inhibitors, such as tofacitinib and upadacitinib, are a highly efficacious therapy with rapid induction of clinical response in moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC). Limited data are available on its use on ASUC. We present the first case utilizing upadacitinib as sequential medical rescue therapy in ASUC as well as intestinal ultrasound as a useful tool for disease and response monitoring. Case Presentation: A 69-year-old female who presented with corticosteroid-refractory ASUC partially responded to dose-intensified infliximab and finally achieved clinical remission with upadacitinib. This resulted in swift clinical remission and significant improvement in her mucosal inflammation on intestinal ultrasound. Conclusion: This successful intervention not only avoided colectomy but demonstrated sustained clinical and sonographic remission 16 weeks of post-treatment. Upadacitinib, with its rapid action and efficacy, shows promise in ASUC and should be supported by registration trials and real-world studies. Despite successful outcomes in this case, further validation and long-term data are necessary. https://karger.com/article/doi/10.1159/000542711
spellingShingle David Huynh
Myat Myat Khaing
Richard Gareth Fernandes
Reuben Malloy
Lei Lin
Robert Gilmore
Nicole Walker
Emi Khoo
Jakob Begun
Upadacitinib Was Administered as a Sequential Salvage Therapy for Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Report
Case Reports in Gastroenterology
title Upadacitinib Was Administered as a Sequential Salvage Therapy for Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Report
title_full Upadacitinib Was Administered as a Sequential Salvage Therapy for Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Report
title_fullStr Upadacitinib Was Administered as a Sequential Salvage Therapy for Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Report
title_full_unstemmed Upadacitinib Was Administered as a Sequential Salvage Therapy for Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Report
title_short Upadacitinib Was Administered as a Sequential Salvage Therapy for Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Report
title_sort upadacitinib was administered as a sequential salvage therapy for acute severe ulcerative colitis a case report
url https://karger.com/article/doi/10.1159/000542711
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