Table 9.

GRADE Evidence Profile comparing TNF-α antagonists + immunomodulators vs. TNF-α antagonist monotherapy for achieving steroid-free remission in patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. Note, the trial included infliximab and azathioprine as interventions. No trial of maintenance therapy comparing TNF-α antagonists + immunomodulators vs. TNF-α antagonist monotherapy was identified.

COMBINATION THERAPY WITH TNF-α ANTAGONISTS + IMMUNOMODULATORS COMPARED TO TNF-α ANTAGONIST MONOTHERAPY FOR MODERATE TO SEVERE ULCERATIVE COLITIS
Outcomes	Study event rates (95% CI)		Relative effect (95% CI)	Absolute effect*	No of participants (studies)	Quality of the evidence (GRADE)
	Risk with TNF-α antagonist monotherapy	Risk with combination therapy
Achieving clinical remission (CRITICAL)	17/78 (21.8%)	31/80 (38.8%)	RR 1.78 (1.08 to 2.94)	170 more per 1,000 (from 17 more to 423 more)	158 (1 RCT)	⨁⨁⨁◯1 MODERATE
GRADE Working Group grades of evidence High quality: We are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect Moderate quality: We are moderately confident in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different Low quality: Our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: The true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect Very low quality: We have very little confidence in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect

¹Rated down for imprecision since optimal information size not met (<200 events)