A Pooled Analysis of Efficacy, Safety, and Long-term Outcome of Endoscopic Balloon Dilation Therapy for Patients with Stricturing Crohn's Disease

String sign of Kantor in a patient with Crohn's disease

We report the case of a 29-year-old male with structuring ileocolic Crohn's disease (CD), diagnosed in 2007 and treated with oral azathioprine, oral mesalazine and intravenous infliximab, without any other surgical or medical history of interest. He presented to the Emergency Room with abdominal distention and pain, nausea, vomiting and motility problems of a three-day duration. An abdominal computerized tomography using intravenous contrast was performed.

An expert consensus to standardise definitions, diagnosis and treatment targets for anti-fibrotic stricture therapies in Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

Fibrotic stricture is a common complication of Crohn's disease (CD) affecting approximately half of all patients. No specific anti-fibrotic therapies are available; however, several therapies are currently under evaluation. Drug development for the indication of stricturing CD is hampered by a lack of standardised definitions, diagnostic modalities, clinical trial eligibility criteria, endpoints and treatment targets in stricturing CD.

AIM

To standardise definitions, diagnosis and treatment targets for anti-fibrotic stricture therapies in Chron's disease.

METHODS

An interdisciplinary expert panel consisting of 15 gastroenterologists and radiologists was assembled. Using modified RAND/University of California Los Angeles appropriateness methodology, 109 candidate items derived from systematic review and expert opinion focusing on small intestinal strictures were anonymously rated as inappropriate, uncertain or appropriate. Survey results were discussed as a group before a second and third round of voting.

RESULTS

Fibrotic strictures are defined by the combination of luminal narrowing, wall thickening and pre-stenotic dilation. Definitions of anastomotic (at site of prior intestinal resection with anastomosis) and naïve small bowel strictures were similar; however, there was uncertainty regarding wall thickness in anastomotic strictures. Magnetic resonance imaging is considered the optimal technique to define fibrotic strictures and assess response to therapy. Symptomatic strictures are defined by abdominal distension, cramping, dietary restrictions, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and post-prandial abdominal pain. Need for intervention (endoscopic balloon dilation or surgery) within 24-48 weeks is considered the appropriate endpoint in pharmacological trials.

CONCLUSIONS

Consensus criteria for diagnosis and response to therapy in stricturing Crohn's disease should inform both clinical practice and trial design.

Outcomes of Endoscopic Balloon Dilation vs Surgical Resection for Primary Ileocolic Strictures in Patients With Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Few studies have compared endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) with ileocolic resection (ICR) in the treatment of primary ileocolic strictures in patients with Crohn's disease (CD).

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study to compare postprocedure morbidity and surgery-free survival among 258 patients with primary stricturing ileo(colic) CD (B2, L1, or L3) initially treated with primary EBD (n = 117) or ICR (n = 258) from 2000 through 2016. Patients with penetrating disease were excluded from the study. We performed multivariate analyses to evaluate factors associated with surgery-free survival.

RESULTS

Postprocedural complications occurred in 4.7% of patients treated with EBD and salvage surgery was required in 44.4% of patients. Factors associated with reduced surgery-free survival among patients who underwent EBD included increased stricture length (hazard ratio, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.3-3.3), ileocolonic vs ileal disease (hazard ratio, 10.9; 95% CI, 2.6-45.4), and decreased interval between EBD procedures (hazard ratio, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.4). There were no significant differences in sex, age, race, or CD duration between EBD and ICR groups. Patients treated with ICR were associated with more common postoperative adverse events (32.2%; P < .0001), but a reduced need for secondary surgery (21.7%; P < .0001) and significantly longer surgery-free survival (11.1 ± 0.6 vs 5.4 ± 0.6 y; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

In this retrospective study, we found that although EBD is initially successful with minimal adverse events, there is a high frequency of salvage surgery. Initial ICR is associated with a higher morbidity but a longer surgery-free interval. The risks and benefits should be balanced in selecting treatments for individual patients.

Identification of Endpoints for Development of Antifibrosis Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Intestinal fibrosis is a challenge to management of patients with Crohn's disease (CD); there is an urgent need to expedite development of antifibrosis drugs for this disease. The International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IOIBD) aimed to identify a set of endpoints that can be used to determine efficacy of antifibrosis agents tested in clinical trials of patients with CD.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review to identify clinical, radiologic, biochemical, endoscopic, and composite endpoints used in assessing activity of fibrostenosing CD and response to treatment, and determined their operational properties. A panel of IOIBD experts performed a consensus process to identify the best endpoints for inclusion in clinical trials, through a 2-round, Delphi-style online survey.

RESULTS

A total of 36 potentially relevant endpoints for intestinal fibrosis were selected and assessed. Forty-eight physicians with expertise in inflammatory bowel disease, from 5 regions (North America, Europe, Middle East, Asia/Pacific, and Latin America), participated in the Delphi consensus process. A core set of 13 endpoints (complete clinical response, long-term efficacy, sustained clinical benefit, treatment failure, radiological remission, normal quality of life, clinical remission without steroids, therapeutic failure, deep remission, complete absence of occlusive symptoms, symptom-free survival, bowel damage progression, and no disability) were rated as critical. Agreement was high among the experts.

CONCLUSIONS

Members of the IOIBD reached expert consensus on a set of endpoints that can be used to assess antifibrosis agents in trials of patients with CD. Studies are needed to clarify methods for measuring these outcomes and validate measurement instruments.

Endoscopic management of Crohn’s strictures

Symptomatic intestinal strictures develop in more than one third of patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) within 10 years of disease onset. Strictures can be inflammatory, fibrotic or mixed and result in a significant decline in quality of life, frequently requiring surgery for palliation of symptoms. Patients under the age of 40 with perianal disease are more likely to suffer from disabling ileocolonic disease thus may have a greater risk for fibrostenotic strictures. Treatment options for fibrostenotic strictures are limited to endoscopic and surgical therapy. Endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) appears to be a safe, less invasive and effective alternative modality to replace or defer surgery. Serious complications are rare and occur in less than 3% of procedures. For non-complex strictures without adjacent fistulizaation or perforation that are less than 5 cm in length, EBD should be considered as first-line therapy. The aim of this review is to present the current literature on the endoscopic management of small bowel and colonic strictures in CD, which includes balloon dilatation, adjuvant techniques of intralesional injection of steroids and anti-tumor necrosis factor, and metal stent insertion. Short and long-term outcomes, complications and safety of EBD will be discussed.

Crohn's disease associated strictures

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic relapsing and remitting disease that can affect any segments of the gastrointestinal tract. More than 50% of patients with CD develop stricturing or penetrating complications within the first 10 years after diagnosis. Strictures can lead to intestinal obstruction, which is a common indication for surgery. Despite significant advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of intestinal fibrostenosis, imaging and therapeutic armamentarium of CD, the risk of intestinal surgery remained significantly high. Endoscopic balloon dilation is a promising first-line alternative to surgery as it is less invasive and could preserve intestinal length. In this review, we will evaluate the literature on the mechanism of intestinal fibrosis, emerging imaging techniques, and management strategies for CD associated strictures.

Endoscopic Stricturotomy Versus Balloon Dilation in the Treatment of Anastomotic Strictures in Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND

Current treatment modalities for anastomotic stricture in Crohn's disease (CD) include endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) and surgery. We recently published a case series of inflammatory bowel disease patients treated with the novel endoscopic stricturotomy (ES). The aim of this case-control study was to compare the efficacy and safety of ES versus conventional EBD in the treatment of anastomotic strictures in CD patients.

METHODS

All eligible patients with CD anastomotic stricture who were treated with ES or EBD were included. The primary outcomes were surgery-free survival and post-procedural complications.

RESULTS

A total of 185 patients were studied, including 21 treated with ES since 2009, and 164 treated with EBD since 1998. The immediate technical success after therapy was achieved in 100% of patients treated with ES and 89.5% of patients with EBD. Symptomatic and endoscopic improvement rates were higher in those treated with ES than EBD. Subsequent surgery was needed in 2 (9.5%) patients with ES and 55 (33.5%) with EBD (P = 0.03), during a median of 0.8 (interquartile range [IQR]:0.1-1.6) year and 4.0 (IQR: 0.8-6.9) years, respectively. Five procedure-associated perforation (1.1% per procedure) occurred in the EBD group and none in the ES group. In contrast, 4 procedure-associated, transfusion-required bleeding (8.8% per procedure) occurred in the ES group and none in the EBD group.

CONCLUSIONS

ES appears to be more effective in treating CD patients with anastomotic stricture than EBD. Although ES may have a lower risk for perforation, the procedure needs to be perfected to reduce its bleeding risk.

Endoscopic balloon dilation of Crohn’s disease strictures-safety, efficacy and clinical impact

AIM

To evaluate the incidence of anastomotic strictures after intestinal resection in Crohn’s disease (CD), demonstrate long-term efficacy and safety of endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) in CD strictures and its impact on the diagnosis of subclinical postoperative endoscopic recurrence.

METHODS

Retrospective single tertiary center study based on prospectively collected data between 2010 and 2015 including anastomotic and non-anastomotic strictures.

RESULTS

29% of 162 CD patients included developed an anastomotic stricture. 43 patients with anastomotic strictures and 37 with non-anastomotic strictures underwent EBD; technical success was 97.7% and 100%, respectively, however, 63% and 41% needed repeat dilation during the 4.4-year follow-up. Longer periods between surgery and index colonoscopy and higher lactoferrin levels were associated with the presence of stricture after surgery. Calprotectin levels > 83.35 μg/g and current or past history of smoking were associated with a shorter time until need for dilation (HR = 3.877, 95%CI: 1.480-10.152 and HR = 3.041, 95%CI: 1.213-7.627). Anastomotic strictures had a greater need for repeat dilation (63% vs 41%, P = 0.047). No differences were found between asymptomatic and symptomatic cohorts. Disease recurrence diagnosis was only possible after EBD in a third of patients.

CONCLUSION

EBD is an effective and safe alternative to surgery, with a good short and long-term outcome, postponing or even avoiding further surgery. EBD may allow to diagnose disease recurrence in patients with no clinical signs/biomarkers of disease activity.

Endoscopic Balloon Dilation Size and Avoidance of Surgery in Stricturing Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) is an effective method for treating stricture-related obstruction in Crohn's disease. We aimed to identify factors predictive of successful avoidance of surgery, including endoscopic features, in patients undergoing balloon dilation.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of patients with symptomatic Crohn's disease-related intestinal strictures undergoing EBD. Clinical, medication use, laboratory, and dilation data, including the minimum and maximum balloon sizes used, and number of balloons used per endoscopic session were collected. Multivariate analysis by Cox proportional hazard regression was used to model future surgical bowel resection.

RESULTS

In a total of 135 subjects undergoing 292 dilations, multivariate modeling demonstrated that failure to achieve a maximum dilation of 14 mm or more increased the risk of surgery (hazard ratio [HR] 2.88, 95% confidence limit [CL], 1.10-7.53). Although there was no difference in the risk of future surgery between maximum EBD sizes of 14 to 15 mm and 16 to 18 mm, those reaching 16 to 18 mm exhibited a longer interval between subsequent dilations (mean 240 ± 136.7 versus 456 ± 357.3 d, respectively, P = 0.023). Endoscope passage at index dilation was not predictive of future surgery (HR 0.63, 95% CL, 0.31-1.26). Adjusting for covariates of EBD size, stricture location and type, a C-reactive protein >1.5 mg/dL (HR 2.60, 95% CL, 1.12-5.94), and anti-tumor necrosis factor initiation after index EBD (HR 2.39, 95% CL, 1.09-5.25) increased the risk of future surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Although dilation calibers larger than 14 to 15 mm were not more protective against future surgery, those reaching 16 to 18 mm underwent maintenance dilation less frequently. The risk of surgery associated with post-EBD anti-tumor necrosis factor initiation suggests that effective therapy is often used too late in the disease course.

Topic infliximab injection for refractory rectal stenosis in Crohn's disease: long-term follow-up in two patients

PURPOSE

TNF blockers are approved for intravenous or subcutaneous systemic therapy of many chronic inflammatory diseases. As it is not possible to achieve a sufficient local clinical improvement through systemic therapy in every patient, diverse approaches of topical therapy using TNF blockers have been investigated in recent years.

METHODS

In this paper, we report on long-term clinical results of originator infliximab (IFX) injections into symptomatic combined scarring and inflammatory stenoses of the rectum in two patients with Crohn's disease. Aiming at high tissue IFX levels, 25 mg of IFX was injected into each quadrant of the stenosis after endoscopic balloon dilatation. This off-label treatment was repeated as necessary, depending on the clinical success.

RESULTS

Topic IFX injection after balloon dilation reduced imperative stool pressure, isolated episodes of incontinence and incomplete emptying. Improvement lasted between 4 and 14 weeks in one patient and the treatment was repeated 13 times in the following 6.6 years. In the other patient, the technique was necessary only twice with no symptom recurrence in the subsequent 5.3 years.

CONCLUSION

Our experience suggests that topic application of a systemically approved anti-TNF substance may be a successful individualized therapy for refractory stenosis of the rectum in patients with Crohn's disease.

Efficacy, Safety, and Long-term Outcome of Serial Endoscopic Balloon Dilation for Upper Gastrointestinal Crohn's Disease-associated Strictures-A Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Gastric and duodenal Crohn's disease [CD]-associated strictures are rare. Evidence on endoscopic balloon dilation [EBD] of upper gastrointestinal [GI] CD strictures is limited, in particular in respect to serial dilations.

METHODS

Prospective short- and long-term outcome data as well as complication rates on a cohort of upper GI CD-associated stricture dilations [stomach and duodenum] were collected from 1999 to 2015. Factors linked with clinical and technical success, long-term efficacy and complication rates were investigated.

RESULTS

A total of 35 CD patients with symptomatic CD-associated upper GI strictures [20% gastric, 67% duodenal, 11% both; mean age at diagnosis 25 years; mean CD duration to stricture 79.9 months; median post-dilation follow-up 22.1 months] underwent a total of 96 pneumatic dilations [33 gastric and 63 duodenal]. The median maximal dilation diameter was 15 mm. Technical success was achieved in 93% and clinical success in 87%, with a complication rate of 4% per procedure. The mean time to re-dilation was 2.2 months and mean time to stricture-related surgery after first dilation was 2.8 months. There was no difference in short-term efficacy, safety, or long-term outcome between the first and any later dilation procedure in the same patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Pneumatic dilation of upper GI CD-associated strictures has a high rate of short-term technical and clinical success, with moderate long-term efficacy and acceptable complication rates. Serial dilations do not change the efficacy and could be a feasible option to delay or prevent surgical intervention.

Intestinal fibrosis: ready to be reversed

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Intestinal fibrosis is a common complication of several enteropathies, with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) being the major cause. Intestinal fibrosis affects both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, and no specific antifibrotic therapy exists. This review highlights recent developments in this area.

RECENT FINDINGS

The pathophysiology of intestinal stricture formation includes inflammation-dependent and inflammation-independent mechanisms. A better understanding of the mechanisms of intestinal fibrogenesis and the availability of compounds for other nonintestinal fibrotic diseases bring clincial trials in stricturing Crohn's disease within reach.

SUMMARY

Improved understanding of its mechanisms and ongoing development of clinical trial endpoints for intestinal fibrosis will allow the testing of novel antifibrotic compounds in IBD.

Management of Crohn's disease in Taiwan: consensus guideline of the Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic relapsing and remitting inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. CD is rare in Taiwan and other Asian countries, but its prevalence and incidence have been steadily increasing. A steering committee was established by the Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease to formulate statements on the diagnosis and management of CD taking into account currently available evidence and the expert opinion of the committee. Thorough clinical, endoscopic, and histological assessments are required for accurate diagnosis of CD. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are complementary to endoscopic evaluation for disease staging and detecting complications. The goals of CD management are to induce and maintain remission, reduce the risk of complications, and improve quality of life. Corticosteroids are the mainstay for inducing re-mission. Immunomodulating and biologic therapies should be used to maintain remission. Patients should be evaluated for hepatitis B virus and tuberculosis infection prior to treatment and receive regular surveillance for cancer. These consensus statements are based on current local evidence with consideration of factors, and could be serve as concise and practical guidelines for supporting clinicians in the management of patients with CD in Taiwan.