Review for 10.1186/s12876-018-0868-x (2018)

Reviewer’s report
Title: Vedolizumab use after failure of TNF- α antagonists in children and adolescents with
inflammatory bowel disease
Version: 0 Date: 24 Jun 2018
Reviewer: Laura Bauman
Reviewer's report:
Comments for "Vedolizumab use after failure of TNF-α antagonists in children and adolescents with
inflammatory bowel disease" 
This is a retrospective case series  examining the disease activity indices and common laboratory
markers of IBD in pediatric patients receiving vedolizumab after anti-TNF failure. The strengths of this
analysis include innovative nature of the data, given the relative lack of data about vedolizumab use in
pediatric IBD. Weaknesses include the small sample size, the difficult to understand statistics, and the
incomplete data describing the cases. There are no controls as it is a case series. 
Specific Points:
1.Please include demographic/disease related data in a table (weight for age z score, labs).
This data is reviewed in text format, but it would be better served in a table. May be helpful to
make similar charts as in Figure 2. 
2.Please include concomitant medications in one of the descriptive tables. For example,
would be interesting to know which patients are steroid dependent vs steroid refractory, on
immunomodulators, etc. 
3.Given that the main RTE drop (in UC patients) could not have a confidence interval
calculated from the sample size, I question whether this is the best statistic to describe this data.
Descriptive statistics and figures may be more appropriate for such a small sample size. 
4.Although nutritional status and lab values were secondary outcomes, this is a finding
that I think should be emphasized more in the discussion. 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.
Yes
Does the work include the necessary controls?
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.
Yes
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.
Yes
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an additional 
statistical review?
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.
I am able to assess the statistics
Quality of written English
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:
Needs some language corrections before being published
Declaration of competing interests
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3. Do  you  hold  or are  you  currently applying  for  any patents  relating  to  the  content  of  the
manuscript?
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that holds or
has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?
6. Do you have any non-financial competing interests in relation to this paper?
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your reply is yes to any, please give details below.
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