S4962 Risankizumab-Associated Drug-Induced Liver Injury in Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Report

Introduction: Risanzikumab (Skyrizi®) is a humanized monoclonal IgG-1 antibody that selectively targets the p19 subunit of interleukin-23 (IL-23). Risankizumab has been most recently approved for Ulcerative Colitis (UC) with an induction dose of 1200 mg IV at week 0, week 4, and week 8 with maintenance doses of 180 mg or 360 mg at week 12 and every 8 weeks after. Due to an occurrence of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) during the induction studies, it is recommended to repeat a hepatic function panel (HFP) at 12 weeks. Risankizumab-related DILI has been rarely reported in patients with rheumatologic conditions or Crohn's disease. We describe the first case in a patient with UC. Case Description/Methods: A 43-year-old Caucasian woman presented with abdominal cramping and hematochezia. Colonoscopy revealed Mayo 3 severe proctosigmoid/left-sided colitis with deep, confluent ulcerations and cobblestoning of the mucosa. She started prednisone 40 mg daily at the time of endoscopy. She began risankizumab 1200 mg IV induction with concomitant tapering of her prednisone by completion of induction. Baseline laboratory results were normal; however, a post-induction HFP at 12 weeks revealed mild elevation of AST 33 U/L and ALT 40 U/L. Her subcutaneous maintenance dose was reduced to 180 mg every 8 weeks. Subsequent HFP showed stable and trending down transaminases but noted to rise again after her third maintenance dose. Liver serologies were overall negative except for a positive ANA titer of 1:320. Ultrasound suggested mild hepatic steatosis. She did have an observed weight gain from 125 lbs to 165 lbs over the treatment period. She reports clinical remission with improved fecal calprotectin from 5830 mcg/g at time of diagnosis to 144 mcg/g currently. Discussion: Long-term safety data available for risankizumab in rheumatologic conditions suggest a mild to moderate transaminase elevation in up to 10% of patients, rarely requiring drug discontinuation. There are a few case reports describing a similar pattern of DILI confirmed by liver biopsy in patients with Crohn’s disease. The higher induction dose for UC may necessitate close monitoring particularly in patients with co-existing liver disease, such as steatohepatitis. Her transaminases have remained elevated within 2-3× ULN at the lower maintenance dose, and despite clinical response to risankizumab further doses have been held pending investigation of positive ANA with rheumatology and normalization of liver enzymes.

Publication Details

Journal
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
Published
2025-10-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.14309/01.ajg.0001147308.55181.57
Primary Topic
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Type
article
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article

S4962 Risankizumab-Associated Drug-Induced Liver Injury in Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Report

The American Journal of Gastroenterology
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
article

S4962 Risankizumab-Associated Drug-Induced Liver Injury in Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Report

article en

Abstract

Introduction: Risanzikumab (Skyrizi®) is a humanized monoclonal IgG-1 antibody that selectively targets the p19 subunit of interleukin-23 (IL-23). Risankizumab has been most recently approved for Ulcerative Colitis (UC) with an induction dose of 1200 mg IV at week 0, week 4, and week 8 with maintenance doses of 180 mg or 360 mg at week 12 and every 8 weeks after. Due to an occurrence of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) during the induction studies, it is recommended to repeat a hepatic function panel (HFP) at 12 weeks. Risankizumab-related DILI has been rarely reported in patients with rheumatologic conditions or Crohn's disease. We describe the first case in a patient with UC. Case Description/Methods: A 43-year-old Caucasian woman presented with abdominal cramping and hematochezia. Colonoscopy revealed Mayo 3 severe proctosigmoid/left-sided colitis with deep, confluent ulcerations and cobblestoning of the mucosa. She started prednisone 40 mg daily at the time of endoscopy. She began risankizumab 1200 mg IV induction with concomitant tapering of her prednisone by completion of induction. Baseline laboratory results were normal; however, a post-induction HFP at 12 weeks revealed mild elevation of AST 33 U/L and ALT 40 U/L. Her subcutaneous maintenance dose was reduced to 180 mg every 8 weeks. Subsequent HFP showed stable and trending down transaminases but noted to rise again after her third maintenance dose. Liver serologies were overall negative except for a positive ANA titer of 1:320. Ultrasound suggested mild hepatic steatosis. She did have an observed weight gain from 125 lbs to 165 lbs over the treatment period. She reports clinical remission with improved fecal calprotectin from 5830 mcg/g at time of diagnosis to 144 mcg/g currently. Discussion: Long-term safety data available for risankizumab in rheumatologic conditions suggest a mild to moderate transaminase elevation in up to 10% of patients, rarely requiring drug discontinuation. There are a few case reports describing a similar pattern of DILI confirmed by liver biopsy in patients with Crohn’s disease. The higher induction dose for UC may necessitate close monitoring particularly in patients with co-existing liver disease, such as steatohepatitis. Her transaminases have remained elevated within 2-3× ULN at the lower maintenance dose, and despite clinical response to risankizumab further doses have been held pending investigation of positive ANA with rheumatology and normalization of liver enzymes.

The American Journal of GastroenterologyVol. 120(10S2)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 30%
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
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