Combination Therapy With Infliximab and Tofacitinib for Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis - CINTO Trial

Acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) is a life threatening manifestation of ulcerative colitis that requires urgent medical treatment and hospitalization. Despite the use of rapid induction intravenous corticosteroids, some patients fail to respond and require rescue therapy. Infliximab is commonly used as rescue treatment; however, its effectiveness may be reduced in patients with severe inflammation and hypoalbuminemia. As a result, colectomy rates for ASUC remain significant and improved early rescue strategies are needed.

Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor that targets multiple cytokine pathways involved in ulcerative colitis. It has a rapid onset of action and has shown benefit in severe and steroid-refractory disease. Because infliximab and tofacitinib act on different immunologic targets, their combined use may provide complementary therapeutic effects. Emerging observational data suggest that combining a biologic agent with a small-molecule therapy may be safe and potentially more effective in patients with severe disease who are at high risk for treatment failure.

This study is designed to explore whether the combination of infliximab and tofacitinib offers greater early clinical benefit compared to infliximab alone, tofacitinib alone for adults hospitalized with ASUC who do not respond to intravenous corticosteroids.The goal is to generate preliminary data that may inform future treatment approaches aimed at improving remission rates, accelerating mucosal healing, and reducing the need for colectomy in this high risk population.

Inclusion criteria

Adult (aged 18 years to 65 years) patients hospitalised due to ASUC

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with UC who did not meet the Truelove Witts criteria for ASUC.
• Patients who are already on Tofacitinib / Infliximab.
• Latent or active tuberculosis.
• Crohn's or Indeterminate colitis.
• Mega colon (if the diameter of the transverse colon is 5.5 cm or more, with apparent oedema of the bowel wall on plain abdominal radiographs).
• Pseudomembranous colitis or concomitant CMV colitis.
• Intestinal perforation.
• Massive haemorrhage requiring emergency colectomy.
• Pregnant or lactating female individuals.
• Current diagnosis or history of thromboembolic disease patients with severe cardiorespiratory, renal or hepatic Co morbidities.