Evaluation of Histologic and Endoscopic Remission Induced by Infliximab in Moderate to Severe Ulcerative Colitis

Correlations between histologic disease activity and other assessments of clinical disease activity are not well established despite a good correlation being found between endoscopy and histology, especially during active ulcerative colitis (1,2). Endoscopic healing induced by infliximab in Crohn's disease patients was associated with a significant reduction in surgeries and hospitalizations (3). Histological recovery in ulcerative colitis is often incomplete and some studies have shown that microscopic evidence of inflammation is common even in patients with clinically and quiescent colitis assessed by sigmoidoscopy (4,5). Although this fact has not yet been completely elucidated, it is suggested that some patients with residual microscopic acute inflammation may be more prone to relapse (2). The prognostic importance of microscopic inflammation is unknown. Given that the rectum is always involved in ulcerative colitis and inflammatory activity is diffuse and restricted to the mucosa, the collection of samples from the rectal and sigmoid mucosa are potentially useful tools for evaluating disease severity. In addition, there is a strong correlation between the levels of calprotectin and the degree of inflammation as assessed by endoscopic and histologic criteria (6). Therefore, the measurement of faecal calprotectin and lactoferrin may also provide as valuable non-invasive tools to assess disease activity and optimize the treatment in UC patients.

Histologically, active disease is defined by the presence of neutrophils in conjunction with epithelial cell damage. Analysis generally relies on the examination of H & E-stained sections. Two samples are suggested as more appropriated because it is well-known that treatment may induce variations in the expression of inflammation intensity. Several histological scores were proposed, however, Geboes index (7) has been validated and tested for reproducibility and has 5 domains: structural change, chronic inflammatory infiltrate, lamina propria neutrophils and eosinophils, neutrophils in epithelium, crypt destruction and erosion or ulceration. The Geboes index has a more elaborated grading of crypt lesions and surface epithelial damage than other proposed indexes. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between microscopic Geboes index of inflammation and clinical course of ulcerative colitis in patients treated with infliximab. The investigators propose to test the hypothesis if infliximab is able to induce histological remission and then change the clinical course of ulcerative colitis

Inclusion criteria

• Subjects must meet all the following inclusion criteria to be considered eligible:

• Must be eligible to start infliximab treatment according to the Portuguese approved Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC-See supplement 15.3)*
• Patients must be older than 18 years of age up to 65 years of age at the time of informed consent, of both gender and any race.
• Patients with moderate to severe UC - Mayo Score (6-12); endoscopic subscore ≥2
• Regarding the previous treatment exposure:

4.1 Patients must have responded inadequately to corticosteroids at least a dose of 40mg/day with or without 5-ASA or patients steroid-dependent* 4.2- Patients must have responded inadequately to azathioprine or 6-MP (treatment with thiopurines must be at least 3 months in duration) or be intolerant to these agents.

• Patients must be naïve to infliximab or other anti-TNF agents
• No history of latent or active TB prior to screening. No signs or symptoms suggestive of active TB upon medical history and/or physical examination.
• Patients must be capable of providing written informed consent prior to trial entry.
• Subjects must be willing and able to adhere to visit protocol schedule and procedures.

• Patients must have responded inadequately to corticosteroids at least a dose of 40mg/day with or without 5-ASA or patients steroid-dependent with a Mayo Score (6-12), endoscopic subscore >2. Steroid-dependent is defined as: patients unable to reduce steroids below 10mg/day within 3 months of starting steroids and patients who have a relapse within 3 months of stopping steroids.

Exclusion criteria

• 1- Any "Contraindication" as specified in the Portuguese infliximab approved Summary of Product Characteristics (See Supplement 15.3) 2- Patients with severe anemia (haemoglobin<8.0 g/dL) 3- Any malignancy in the past 5 years, including lymphoproliferative disorders 4- Existence of not removed adenomatous polyps 5- History of opportunistic infections in the last 6 months 6- Subjects who have a known viral infection such as CMV, HIV, HBV or HCV 7- Patients with a history of demyelinating diseases 8- Pregnant or breastfeeding women 9- Topical treatment with 5-ASA and steroids 10-Patients with only rectal involvement