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If an ulcerative colitis patient has a 90 percent response to a biologic or small molecule after over 12 months, would you consider switching medication to a different class in hopes of getting a complete response, versus trying adjunctive therapy?

Patient prefers not to have to take multiple medications, especially rectal therapy. How do you counsel them on the chance that the new medication could be less effective or the same?
3 Answers
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Gastroenterology · Mayo Clinic
Answered on

I am not sure what you mean by “90%” response. Is that clinical, laboratory, or endoscopic? Perfection is the enemy of good, so you'd better have a compelling reason to make a patient add another therapy.

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Gastroenterology · Washington University School of Medicine
Answered on

In this situation, it partly depends on how significant that remaining 10% of inflammation is to the patient.

If we are talking about 90% endoscopic response (for instance, just minimal inflammation remaining in the rectosigmoid colon), I may not make any changes based on this alone, but would have ...

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Gastroenterology · Houston Methodist Gastroenterology Associates
Answered on

A 90% response is quite good. If the patient is doing well clinically and other objective evidence confirms the 90% response (C-reactive protein [CRP] decreased, fecal markers significantly improved, or colonoscopy or imaging shows mostly healed), then I would continue current therapy and would not ...

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