Pharmacological treatments for moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.
Scand J GastroenterolJul 25, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchGastroenterology
Jinzhi Qi, Qiangqiang Tian, Guangyuan Yang et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of various pharmacological treatments for moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis in 22,619 adult patients. JAK-STAT inhibitors showed the highest efficacy for inducing and maintaining clinical remission, with a relative risk of 4.5 compared to placebo. The analysis included 41 randomized controlled trials.
Key findings
- JAK-STAT inhibitors had a relative risk of 4.5 for inducing clinical remission compared to placebo.
- The top three regimens for induction were JAK-STAT inhibitors (91.5%), anti-TL1A biologics (82.3%), and anti-TNF-α biologics (70.1%).
- For maintenance, JAK-STAT inhibitors (86.3%) were the most effective, followed by S1P receptor modulators (80.5%).
- 5-aminosalicylates and immunomodulators did not show significant benefits over placebo.
Why it matters
Understanding the relative efficacy of different treatments for ulcerative colitis is crucial for optimizing patient management. This analysis provides evidence-based guidance on the most effective therapies for inducing and maintaining remission.