Table 2.
Baseline characteristics
| Variable | n = 57 |
| Male, n (%) | 30 (52.6) |
| Age at start of treatment (yr), median (range) | 43.0 (21-68) |
| Montreal classification of CD: | |
| Age, n (A1:A2:A3) | 4:40:13 |
| Location, n (L1:L2:L3:L4) | 18:9:30:4 |
| Behaviour, n (B1:B2:B3), n = 56 | 17:16:23 |
| Prior CD-related intestinal resection, n (%) | 36 (63.2) |
| First degree relative(s) with IBD, n (%), n = 49 | 8 (14.0) |
| Disease duration at baseline (yr), median (range) | 43 (21-68) |
| Presence of at least one extraintestinal manifestation, n (%) | 30 (52.6) |
| Active cigarette smoking, n (%) | 17 (29.8) |
| BMI (kg/m²), mean ± SD (range), n = 56 | 24.7 ± 5.1 (17.9-40.7) |
| History of anti-TNF-α treatment, n (%) | 54 (94.7) |
| History of anti-integrin treatment, n (%) | 16 (28.1) |
| History of immunomodulator treatment, n (%) | 47 (82.5) |
| History of total hospitalisations within 12 months from baseline, n (%) | 14 (24.6) |
| History of CD-related hospitalisations within 12 mo from baseline, n (%) | 12 (21.1) |
| HBI, mean ± SD (range), n = 51 | 6.6 ± 5.1 (0-24) |
| Prior exposure to | |
| 0 biologics, n (%) | 3 (5.3) |
| 1 biologic, n (%) | 14 (24.6) |
| 2 biologics, n (%) | 27 (47.4) |
| 3 biologics, n (%) | 13 (22.8) |
| Endoscopic, MRI and ultrasound findings at 0-12 weeks to baseline | |
| Ulcers in colonoscopy, n (%), n = 25 | 21 (84.0) |
| Inflammation in MRI, n (%), n = 21 | 20 (95.2) |
| Ultrasound wall thickening > 3 mm, n (%), n = 22 | 19 (79.2) |
| Reason for starting ustekinumab therapy | |
| Clinical disease activity, n (%) | 34 (59.6) |
| Imaging (MRI, ultrasound, endoscopy results), n (%) | 17 (29.8) |
| High FC concentration, n (%) | 2 (3.5) |
| Loss of effect of prior therapy, n (%) | 2 (3.5) |
| Intolerance of prior therapy, n (%) | 2 (3.5) |
| Concomitant medications at baseline | |
| Steroids (including budesonide), n (%) | 20 (35.1) |
| Immunomodulators, n (%) | 3 (5.3) |
| NOD2 genotyping | |
| NOD2 rs2066844, n (CC:TT:CT), n = 42 | 34:0:8 |
| NOD2 rs2066845, n (CC:GG:CG), n = 42 | 1:34:7 |
| NOD2 rs2066847, n (--:CC:C-), n = 42 | 35:0:7 |
| Biochemical parameters at baseline | |
| Plasma CRP concentration (mg/L), median (range), n = 56 | 8.0 (1.0-82.4) |
| WCC, (/nL), median (range), n = 56 | 9.2 (4.0-19.1) |
| Haemoglobin concentration (g/dL), mean ± SD (range), n = 56 | 13.33 ± 1.6 (8.8-16.5) |
| PLT count (/nL), mean ± SD (range), n = 56 | 329.8 ± 132.3 (146-845) |
| Plasma albumin concentration (g/L), mean ± SD (range), n = 54 | 43.1 ± 3.5 (33.2-49.0) |
| Plasma ferritin concentration (µg/L), median (range), n = 40 | 83.0 (4-591) |
| Transferrin saturation (%), mean ± SD (range), n = 36 | 18.2 ± 13.2 (2-58) |
| FC concentration (µg/g), median (range), n = 24 | 351.2 (30-1800) |
BMI: Body mass index; CD: Crohn’s disease; CRP: C-reactive protein; FC: Faecal calprotectin; HBI: Harvey-Bradshaw-Index; MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging; NOD2: Nucleotide oligodimerisation domain 2; PLT: Platelet; SD: Standard deviation; TNF-α: Tumour necrosis factor alpha; WCC: White blood cell count.