Reduced faecal calprotectin levels following induction of biologics in ulcerative colitis more than quadruples the chance of clinical, endoscopic and histologic remission at one year, an analysis shows.

A post-induction faecal calprotectin (FCP) concentration at or under 250μg/g is also associated with a 40-70% lower risk of long-term colectomy and hospitalisation in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), the US researchers say.

“Given the clinical importance of colectomy and hospitalisation as outcomes in UC, these findings have potential relevance to clinical practice,” they concluded.

Their findings are based on a post-hoc analysis of the GEMINI 1 and VARSITY trials on the association of early markers of response with future outcomes in some 1400 patients with moderate-to-severe active UC treated with vedolizumab or adalimumab.