The Citrullinated and MMP-degraded Vimentin Biomarker (VICM) Predicts Early Response to Anti-TNF alpha Treatment in Crohn's Disease

Background: In Crohn's disease (CD), 10% to 40% of patients do not respond to anti-tumor necrosis factor- (TNF) treatment. Currently, there are no biomarkers with adequate sensitivity to separate responders from nonresponders at an early stage. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigated whether early changes in the VICM (citrullinated and matrix metalloproteinase-degraded vimentin) biomarker were associated with response to anti-TNF treatment in patients with CD. Methods: Serum VICM levels were measured by ELISA in 2 independent cohorts of CD patients (n=42) treated with anti-TNF (infliximab or adalimumab). Response was determined by achieving clinical remission (Harvey Bradshaw Index<5). Results: Compared with baseline, VICM serum levels were reduced by anti-TNF in the infliximab cohort (week 6 and 14) and in the adalimumab cohort (week 8). VICM was lower in the responders compared with the nonresponders [infliximab: Week 6, P<0.05; area under the curve (AUC)=0.90; adalimumab: Week 1, P<0.01 (AUC=0.91), and week 8, P<0.05 (AUC=0.86)], and were able to predict response to treatment after 1 week of treatment with an odds ratio of 42.5. Conclusions: The VICM biomarker was time dependently reduced in CD patients responding to anti-TNF treatment. We suggest that VICM may be used as a marker for monitoring early response to anti-TNF in patients with CD.