Efficacy and Safety of Dual-Targeted Therapy for Refractory Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Retrospective Case Series from Three Tertiary General Hospitals in China

This retrospective case series evaluated the efficacy and safety of dual-targeted therapy (DTT) in 18 patients with refractory inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) across three tertiary hospitals in China. The study included 8 patients with ulcerative colitis and 10 with Crohn’s disease, using combinations of biologic agents and tofacitinib. Results showed high clinical response rates of 88.23% at 3 months, 91.67% at 6 months, and 100% at 9 months, with an endoscopic response in 88.89% of evaluated patients at 9 months. Adverse events were minimal, with some patients experiencing ustekinumab-associated arthralgia and alopecia, and tofacitinib-related allergic purpura, leading to a transition to monotherapy. Two patients developed infections but continued DTT after treatment. The study concludes that DTT is a promising and safe option for patients unresponsive to conventional monotherapies.