The VICM Biomarker Predicts Early Response to Anti-TNF-alpha Treatment in Crohn's Disease

The Citrullinated and MMP-degraded Vimentin Biomarker (VICM) Predicts Early Response to Anti-TNF-alpha Treatment in Crohn’s Disease

[Posted 19/Jan/2021]

AUDIENCE: Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

KEY FINDINGS: The VICM biomarker was time dependently reduced in CD patients responding to anti-TNF-alpha treatment. We suggest that VICM may be used as a marker for monitoring early response to anti-TNF-alpha in patients with CD.

BACKGROUND: In Crohn’s disease (CD), 10% to 40% of patients do not respond to anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) treatment. Currently, there are no biomarkers with adequate sensitivity to separate responders from nonresponders at an early stage.

DETAILS: The aim of this study was to investigated whether early changes in the VICM (citrullinated and matrix metalloproteinase-degraded vimentin) biomarker were associated with response to anti-TNF-alpha treatment in patients with CD. Serum VICM levels were measured by ELISA in 2 independent cohorts of CD patients (n=42) treated with anti-TNF-alpha (infliximab or adalimumab). Response was determined by achieving clinical remission (Harvey Bradshaw Index<5). Compared with baseline, VICM serum levels were reduced by anti-TNF-alpha in the infliximab cohort (week 6 and 14) and in the adalimumab cohort (week 8). VICM was lower in the responders compared with the nonresponders [infliximab: week 6, P<l0.05; area under the curve (AUC)=0.90; adalimumab: week 1, P<l0.01 (AUC=0.91), and week 8, P<l0.05 (AUC=0.86)], and were able to predict response to treatment after 1 week of treatment with an odds ratio of 42.5.

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Source: Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology. Published January 2021. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000001341