VEDOLIZUMAB SAFETY
We've all used vedolizumab, which is an alpha-4 beta-7 integrin inhibitor that has been tremendous as a non–tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha treatment for use in our patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Nevertheless, there have been a couple of safety concerns.
One concern is about increased cardiovascular and neurovascular risk. There was at least a safety signal that was evident, and this was presented in a study collaborated on by AbbVie, which produces the competitor drug adalimumab.[6] The data they presented suggested that there was a slight increased risk for these outcomes with vedolizumab. This is something to have on your radar.
Vedolizumab was also associated with improvement in sleep quality.[7] This is something that in IBD is very significant, because with sleep fragmentation, you upregulate cytokines that are very much associated with upregulation of activity in IBD. The effect of vedolizumab on sleep quality improvement is a significant effect, but I think this is probably similar with other drugs. Nevertheless, discussing sleep with your patients who have IBD should be part of your routine.
