S1899 Assessing the Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Following Ocrelizumab Use in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Retrospective Analysis Utilizing a Large National Database

Introduction: Ocrelizumab is an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), including primary progressive MS. Postmarketing surveillance identified cases of immune-mediated colitis in Ocrelizumab users, some requiring hospitalization or even surgical intervention. Given this potential safety signal and the limited published data, we aimed to evaluate the real-world risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colitis in MS patients treated with ocrelizumab. Methods: We utilized the TriNetX database, comprising >100 million patient records. Using International Classification of Diseases-10 codes, adult MS patients (≥18 years) were identified based on >3 recorded MS diagnoses and receipt of a disease-modifying therapy. MS patients treated with ocrelizumab were compared to MS patients receiving other disease-modifying therapies. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed for Age, sex, race, tobacco use, diabetes mellitus, CKD, and hypertension. Outcomes assessed included IBD, noninfectious and infectious colitis, colectomy, and use of vedolizumab or anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were generated for statistical comparison. P value cutoff < 0.5 was considered statistically significant. Results: After PSM, 22,513 patients were included in each group. The median follow-up time was 1,332 days in Ocrelizumab users compared to 1,609 days in controls. There was no statistically significant increase in IBD risk among Ocrelizumab users compared to controls (1 vs 1.1%; HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.86–1.24). Similarly, no significant differences were observed in colectomy (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.45–1.15), use of vedolizumab or anti-TNF (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.51–1.51), noninfectious colitis or enteritis (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.93–1.12) or infectious colitis or enteritis (HR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.02–1.72). Conclusion: The findings from this large representative cohort did not reveal an association between ocrelizumab use and increased risk of IBD or colitis. Based on a risk-benefit assessment, it may be reasonable to consider continuing ocrelizumab therapy in appropriate patients, particularly given its unique approval for primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Clinical monitoring for gastrointestinal symptoms remains important. Limitations of this study include the retrospective design, reliance on International Classification of Diseases codes, and inability to rule out residual confounding. Further research is needed to confirm these findings. Disclosure: Supervised AI assisted with generating the tables.

Publication Details

Journal
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
Published
2025-10-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.14309/01.ajg.0001135056.33238.52
Primary Topic
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Type
article
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article

S1899 Assessing the Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Following Ocrelizumab Use in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Retrospective Analysis Utilizing a Large National Database

The American Journal of Gastroenterology
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
article

S1899 Assessing the Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Following Ocrelizumab Use in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Retrospective Analysis Utilizing a Large National Database

article en

Abstract

Introduction: Ocrelizumab is an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), including primary progressive MS. Postmarketing surveillance identified cases of immune-mediated colitis in Ocrelizumab users, some requiring hospitalization or even surgical intervention. Given this potential safety signal and the limited published data, we aimed to evaluate the real-world risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colitis in MS patients treated with ocrelizumab. Methods: We utilized the TriNetX database, comprising >100 million patient records. Using International Classification of Diseases-10 codes, adult MS patients (≥18 years) were identified based on >3 recorded MS diagnoses and receipt of a disease-modifying therapy. MS patients treated with ocrelizumab were compared to MS patients receiving other disease-modifying therapies. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed for Age, sex, race, tobacco use, diabetes mellitus, CKD, and hypertension. Outcomes assessed included IBD, noninfectious and infectious colitis, colectomy, and use of vedolizumab or anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were generated for statistical comparison. P value cutoff < 0.5 was considered statistically significant. Results: After PSM, 22,513 patients were included in each group. The median follow-up time was 1,332 days in Ocrelizumab users compared to 1,609 days in controls. There was no statistically significant increase in IBD risk among Ocrelizumab users compared to controls (1 vs 1.1%; HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.86–1.24). Similarly, no significant differences were observed in colectomy (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.45–1.15), use of vedolizumab or anti-TNF (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.51–1.51), noninfectious colitis or enteritis (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.93–1.12) or infectious colitis or enteritis (HR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.02–1.72). Conclusion: The findings from this large representative cohort did not reveal an association between ocrelizumab use and increased risk of IBD or colitis. Based on a risk-benefit assessment, it may be reasonable to consider continuing ocrelizumab therapy in appropriate patients, particularly given its unique approval for primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Clinical monitoring for gastrointestinal symptoms remains important. Limitations of this study include the retrospective design, reliance on International Classification of Diseases codes, and inability to rule out residual confounding. Further research is needed to confirm these findings. Disclosure: Supervised AI assisted with generating the tables.

The American Journal of GastroenterologyVol. 120(10S2)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 27%
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
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