Efficacy and safety in the short-to-intermediate term of advanced combination therapy with upadacitinib for refractory Crohn’s disease: real-world evidence from eastern China

ACT-U aligned with the STRIDE-II goals, demonstrating accelerated attainment of short-to-intermediate term endpoints (per STRIDE-II recommendations). Despite limitations, including its retrospective design and small case series, we provide foundational real-world evidence supporting ACT-U as a well-tolerated and effective regimen for refractory CD in EAS patients. Further prospective studies are warranted to validate long-term outcomes, optimize combination strategies, and assess applicability across diverse frameworks.