Long-term outcome of inflammatory bowel disease patients with deep remission after discontinuation of TNFα-blocking agents

Of IBD patients in deep remission at the time of cessation of TNFα-blocking therapy, up to 60% experience a clinical or endoscopic relapse after a median follow-up time of 36 months (95% CI 31-41 months). No individual risk factors predicting relapse could be identified. However, the initial response to a restart of TNFα-blockers seems to be effective and well tolerated.