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Measuring biological drugs' trough concentrations and the concentrations of anti-drug antibodies is a valuable practice for treatment optimization. ELISA techniques are the gold standard for biological drug concentration quantification, but new techniques such as chemiluminescence immunoassays present some advantages. The aim of this unicentric prospective observational study is to compare the infliximab, adalimumab, vedolizumab and ustekinumab trough levels and anti-adalimumab and anti-infliximab antibodies concentrations obtained when using a chemiluminescent instrument (i-TRACK®, Theradiag, Croissy-Beaubourg, France) and an ELISA instrument (TRITURUS®, Griffols, Barcelona, Spain). Linear regression, Pearson or Spearman tests, Bland-Altman plots and the Cohen kappa test were applied for every sample. The correlation was excellent for both assays in the measurement of all drug concentrations. In general, values were lower when measured using i-TRACK than when using TRITURUS, especially when the values were high. Both techniques proved valuable in clinical practice for monitoring adalimumab and infliximab drug concentration. However, the results were modest for ustekinumab and vedolizumab, so caution is recommended and further research is needed. The limited number of anti-drug antibody-positive samples precluded a comparison between the techniques.

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Background: adalimumab dose escalation is often recommended for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients incases of loss of response (LOR). The usual adalimumabintensification regimen was 40 mg every week. Recently,the pharmaceutical companies commercialized the 80 mginjection pen. In the biosimilars era, this pen was sold atthe same price as the 40 mg pen. Due to this and for patientcomfort, we proposed that our stable intensified adalimumab patients on a 40 mg every-week (ew) regimen change toa dose of 80 mg every-other-week (eow).Aim and methods: an observational study was performedto monitor outcome through this posologic change. Clinical,analytic parameters and adalimumab trough levels wereprospectively obtained at baseline, four and 12 monthsafter posologic change. The evolution of this cohort andcalculates savings were described.Results: thirteen patients were included in the study and themedian time of adalimumab intensification prior to posologic change to 80 mg eow was 32 months (IQR 29-63). Atfour months, all patients maintained adalimumab 80 mgeow. After month 4, two patients returned to the previousregimen after mild worsening, without significant changes in C-reactive protein (CRP), calprotectin or adalimumab-trough-levels. At one year, adalimumab was stoppedin one patient in remission with undetectable levels andpositive adalimumab-antibodies. No significant differencesin adalimumab-trough-levels were noted before and afterthe posologic change. Costs fell from 16,276 €/patient/yearof treatment to 8,812.15 €/patient/year of treatment.Conclusion: in IBD patients with stable response to adalimumab intensification regimen of 40 mg ew, changingto 80 mg eow seems to maintain response and similaradalimumab-trough-levels. Furthermore, it is cost-saving,although some patients may perceive mild symptoms. (AU)

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Introducción La epidermólisis ampollosa engloba un conjunto de enfermedades caracterizadas por la formación de lesiones ampollosas en piel y mucosas ante traumatismos mínimos. La afectación gastrointestinal es casi una constante en la forma distrófica recesiva, siendo el esófago una de las localizaciones más frecuentes de las manifestaciones extracutáneas. El síntoma más común es la disfagia, habitualmente secundaria a la formación de ampollas a este nivel que condicionan la aparición posterior de estenosis esofágicas cicatriciales. Observación clínica Presentamos el caso de una paciente de 48 años con epidermólisis ampollosa distrófica recesiva remitida para estudio de disfagia, con sospecha de estenosis esofágica. La imposibilidad de progresión del gastroscopio pediátrico debido a la aparición de lesiones ampollosas en hipofaringe secundarias al roce del instrumento y la aparente existencia de una compresión extrínseca esofágica nos condujo a realizar una TC cervical para continuar el estudio, la cual mostró una imagen compatible con absceso de localización paraesofágica. Tras valorar el riesgo-beneficio de realizar punción-drenaje endoscópico, optamos por tratamiento conservador consiguiendo buenos resultados y resolución completa de la sintomatología. Conclusiones Se presenta el caso de un absceso paraesofágico asociado a epidermólisis ampollosa, una causa poco común de disfagia en estos pacientes, resuelto con tratamiento antibiótico y esteroideo. En este contexto clínico los procedimientos invasivos, incluyendo los endoscópicos, presentan una elevada tasa de éxito, no obstante y a pesar de su seguridad, es preciso extremar las precauciones, usar la técnica adecuada y considerar otras posibilidades diagnósticas(AU)

Introduction Epidermolysis bullosa encompasses a group of disorders characterized by the development of blisters on the skin and mucous membranes after minimal trauma. Gastrointestinal involvement is almost always present in the recessive dystrophic form, with the esophagus being one of the most frequent sites of extracutaneous manifestations. The most common symptom is dysphagia, which is usually secondary to esophageal blisters that evolve to scar tissue and stenosis. Case report We report the case of a 48-year-old woman with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa who was referred because of dysphagia, with suspected esophageal stenosis. Pediatric gastroscopy was abandoned due to the development of blistering of the hypopharynx caused by the instrument and the apparent presence of extrinsic esophageal compression. To continue the examination, cervical computed tomography was performed, showing an image compatible with a paraesophageal abscess. After evaluating the risk-benefit ratio of performing endoscopic biopsy-drainage, we decided on conservative treatment, achieving favorable results and complete symptom resolution. Conclusions We describe a case of paraesophageal abscess associated with epidermolysis bullosa, a rare cause of dysphagia in these patients, which was resolved with antibiotic and steroid treatment. In patients with this disease, invasive procedures, including endoscopy, have a high success rate. Despite the safety of these techniques, the utmost precautions should be taken, an appropriate technique should be used, and other diagnostic options should be considered (AU)

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