Clinical predictors of colectomy in patients with ulcerative colitis: systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies

Disease Course and Colectomy Rate of Ulcerative Colitis: A Follow-up Cohort Study of a Referral Center in Tuscany

BACKGROUND

The disease course and colectomy rate of ulcerative colitis (UC) vary largely in population-based and referral center cohorts. We retrospectively evaluated our cohort to determine the disease course and risk factors for colectomy.

METHODS

A cohort of 1723 ulcerative colitis patients (986 males; mean age, 34.8 ± 15.4 yrs) were identified and followed since 1960s for a mean of 11 ± 9 years (range, 1-49 yrs).

RESULTS

The disease extension was classified as E1, E2, and E3 on diagnosis at 19.7%, 54.2%, and 26.1% of patients, respectively. At the final follow-up, the disease extension increased in 20% of the cases. Extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) were reported by 11% of the patients, whereas systemic corticosteroids (CS), IM or anti-TNFα agents were used by 68.6%, 20.4%, and 6.4% of patients, respectively. The crude colectomy rate was 7% (120 pts), with a 1.2% rate (n = 21) at 1 year from diagnosis (95% CI, 0.7-1.7) and a Kaplan-Meyer estimation of up to 18.2% after 30 years of follow-up. The 1-year colectomy rate showed no significant difference through the decades, whereas the 5-year and 10-year absolute value of colectomy was halved in the last 2 decades compared with the period from 1960 to 1990 (P = 0.01), with a general trend of a reduced colectomy rate at survival curves (P = 0.056).

CONCLUSIONS

The colectomy rate was low in our cohort and further reduced in the last 2 decades. However, despite the availability of anti-TNFα agents, no further significant reduction of colectomies was observed in the last decade.

Systematic review with meta-analysis: the effect of tobacco smoking on the natural history of ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND

Tobacco smoking is associated with a reduced risk of developing ulcerative colitis (UC). A high proportion of UC patients perceive a benefit in disease outcomes secondary to smoking. However, the effects of smoking on the natural history of UC are uncertain.

AIM

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of tobacco smoking on the natural history of UC.

METHODS

A search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and EMBASE classic was carried out (up to December 2015) to identify observational studies reporting data on smoking and rates of colectomy, flare of disease activity, proximal disease extension, and development of pouchitis following panproctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in patients with UC. Dichotomous data were pooled to obtain odds ratios (ORs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

The search identified 16 eligible studies: five (2615 patients) studying colectomy; four (620 patients) reporting on flare of disease activity; four (687 patients) examining proximal disease extension and three (355 patients) assessing development of pouchitis. Compared with nonsmokers, the odds of colectomy (OR = 0.89; 95% CI 0.62-1.26), flare of disease activity (OR = 1.26; 95% CI 0.65-2.44), proximal extension of disease (OR = 0.57; 95% CI 0.20-1.66) or the development of pouchitis (OR = 0.57; 95% CI 0.21-1.53) were not significantly lower in smokers.

CONCLUSIONS

Smoking may not improve the natural history of ulcerative colitis. Given the health benefits of smoking cessation and the lack of clear benefit in ulcerative colitis, smoking cessation advice should be incorporated into guidance on the management of ulcerative colitis.

Predictive factors for a severe clinical course in ulcerative colitis: Results from population-based studies

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the large bowel in genetically susceptible individuals exposed to environmental risk factors. The disease course can be difficult to predict, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. There is no generally accepted definition of severe UC, and no single outcome is sufficient to classify a disease course as severe. There are several outcomes indicating a severe disease course, including progression of the disease’s extension, a high relapse rate, the development of acute severe colitis, colectomy, the occurrence of colorectal cancer and UC-related mortality. When evaluating a patient’s prognosis, it is helpful to do so in relation to these outcomes. Using these outcomes also makes it easier to isolate factors predictive of severe disease. The aims of this article are to evaluate different disease outcomes and to present predictive factors for these outcomes.

How Will Evolving Future Therapies and Strategies Change How We Position the Use of Biologics in Moderate to Severely Active Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Several biological agents have been added to our armamentarium of treatment options for moderate to severely active inflammatory bowel diseases, and this number is expected to only increase in the near future. With our growing understanding of disease mechanisms and pharmacokinetics, we are now able to target several mechanisms of action to achieve key endpoints (steroid-free remission and mucosal healing) associated with improved long-term disease-related outcomes. In this context, concerns arise regarding the optimal positioning of currently available biologics and key biologics in development. In this review, we will discuss the currently available evidence for comparative effectiveness of biological agents approved for the use in moderate to severely active inflammatory bowel diseases, with a focus on practical considerations to be made when using these agents in practice. We will further review novel biological agents and small molecule inhibitors in development and discuss future opportunities through which providers may personalize treatment decisions to achieve optimal treatment outcomes.

Influence of environmental factors on the onset and course of inflammatory bowel disease

Numerous environmental factors have been linked with inflammatory bowel disease. These include smoking, diet, hygiene, drugs, geographical and psychosocial factors. These factors may either increase the risk of or protect against developing this condition and can also affect the course of illness in a positive or negative manner. A number of studies have examined the influence of environmental factors on inflammatory bowel diseases as a whole as well as on ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease separately. As there are differences in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, the effect of environmental factors on their onset and course is not always similar. Some factors have shown a consistent association, while reports on others have been conflicting. In this article we discuss the current evidence on the roles of these factors on inflammatory bowel disease, both as causative/protective agents and as modifiers of disease course.