Risk of Serious and Opportunistic Infections Associated With Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for inflammatory bowel disease 2020

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a general term for chronic or remitting/relapsing inflammatory diseases of the intestinal tract and generally refers to ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Since 1950, the number of patients with IBD in Japan has been increasing. The etiology of IBD remains unclear; however, recent research data indicate that the pathophysiology of IBD involves abnormalities in disease susceptibility genes, environmental factors and intestinal bacteria. The elucidation of the mechanism of IBD has facilitated therapeutic development. UC and CD display heterogeneity in inflammatory and symptomatic burden between patients and within individuals over time. Optimal management depends on the understanding and tailoring of evidence-based interventions by physicians. In 2020, seventeen IBD experts of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology revised the previous guidelines for IBD management published in 2016. This English version was produced and modified based on the existing updated guidelines in Japanese. The Clinical Questions (CQs) of the previous guidelines were completely revised and categorized as follows: Background Questions (BQs), CQs, and Future Research Questions (FRQs). The guideline was composed of a total of 69 questions: 39 BQs, 15 CQs, and 15 FRQs. The overall quality of the evidence for each CQ was determined by assessing it with reference to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach, and the strength of the recommendation was determined by the Delphi consensus process. Comprehensive up-to-date guidance for on-site physicians is provided regarding indications for proceeding with the diagnosis and treatment.

Severe COVID-19 in inflammatory bowel disease patients in a population-based setting

OBJECTIVE

Data on the course of severe COVID-19 in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients remains limited. We aimed to determine the incidence rate and clinical course of severe COVID-19 in the heavily affected South-Limburg region in the Netherlands.

METHODS

All COVID-19 patients admitted to the only two hospitals covering the whole South-Limburg region between February 27, 2020 and January 4, 2021 were included. Incidence rates for hospitalization due to COVID-19 were determined for the IBD (n = 4980) and general population (n = 597,184) in South-Limburg.

RESULTS

During a follow-up of 4254 and 510,120 person-years, 20 IBD patients (0.40%; 11 ulcerative colitis (UC), 9 Crohn's disease (CD)) and 1425 (0.24%) patients from the general population were hospitalized due to proven COVID-19 corresponding to an incidence rate of 4.7 (95% Confidence interval (CI) 3.0-7.1) and 2.8 (95% CI 2.6-2.9) per 1000 patient years, respectively (Incidence rate ratio: 1.68, 95% CI 1.08-2.62, p = 0.019). Median age (IBD: 63.0 (IQR 58.0-75.8) years vs. general population: 72.0 (IQR 62.0-80.0) years, p = 0.10) and mean BMI (IBD: 24.4 (SD 3.3) kg/m2 vs. general population 24.1 (SD 4.9) kg/m2, p = 0.79) at admission were comparable in both populations. As for course of severe COVID-19, similar rates of ICU admission (IBD: 12.5% vs. general population: 15.7%, p = 1.00), mechanical ventilation (6.3% vs. 11.2%, p = 1.00) and death were observed (6.3% vs. 21.8%, p = 0.22).

CONCLUSION

We found a statistically significant higher rate of hospitalization due to COVID-19 in IBD patients in a population-based setting in a heavily impacted Dutch region. This finding reflects previous research that showed IBD patients using systemic medication were at an increased risk of serious infection. However, although at an increased risk of hospitalization, clinical course of severe COVID-19 was comparable to hospitalized patients without IBD.

Optimizing Immunization Strategies in Patients with IBD

Recent advances in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) include the use of immune modifiers and monoclonal antibodies, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha inhibitors, anti-integrin agents, janus kinase inhibitors, and interleukin-12/23 inhibitors. These agents achieve higher rates of clinical remission and mucosal healing than conventional therapy. However, these therapies increase the risk of infections, including some vaccine-preventable diseases. Infections are one of the most common adverse event of immunosuppressive therapy. Thus, providers should optimize immunization strategies to reduce the risk of vaccine-preventable infections in patients with IBD. There are several newly licensed vaccines recommended for adults by the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. This review will focus on how gastroenterology providers can implement the adult immunization schedule approved by ACIP for patients with IBD.

Frailty and Risk of Serious Infections in Biologic-treated Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

BACKGROUND

Identifying biologic-treated patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) at higher risk of serious infections is a priority. We conducted a retrospective cohort study evaluating frailty and risk of serious infections in biologic-treated patients with IBD.

METHODS

Using an administrative claims database, we identified biologic-treated patients with IBD between 2014 and 2018 with follow-up 1 year before and after treatment initiation. Using a validated claims-based hospital frailty risk scoring system, patients were classified as frail and nonfrail. We compared the risk of serious infections (infections requiring hospitalization) between frail and nonfrail patients using Cox proportional hazard analysis adjusting for age, comorbidities, disease characteristics, health care utilization, use of corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and opiates.

RESULTS

We included 5987 biologic-treated patients with IBD (4881 on TNFα antagonists, 1106 on vedolizumab), of whom 2350 (39.3%) were classified as frail; over 7115 person-years of follow-up was included, and 520 patients developed serious infection. Frailty was not associated with increased risk of serious infection (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.12; 95% CI, 0.93-1.36), whereas advanced age (older than 60 years), high comorbidity burden, corticosteroid use, opiate use, and prior serious infection were associated with increased risk of serious infection. On stratified analysis, frailty was associated with increased risk of serious infections in vedolizumab-treated patients (aHR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.03-2.79) but not in TNFα antagonist-treated patients (aHR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.83-1.27).

CONCLUSIONS

In biologic-treated patients with IBD, frailty assessed using a claims-based frailty index was not independently associated with increased risk of serious infections. Future studies evaluating objective and biological measures of frailty are warranted to risk-stratify older patients with IBD.

Hospitalization for COVID-19 in patients treated with selected immunosuppressant and immunomodulating agents, compared to the general population: A Danish cohort study

AIMS

In the Danish population, we examined whether patients treated with thiopurines, methotrexate, systemic corticosteroids, anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α agents, anti-interleukin therapeutic agents, selective immunosuppressive agents and cyclosporine/tacrolimus had an increased risk of hospitalization for COVID- 19, compared to the background population.

METHODS

A nationwide cohort study including all people alive in Denmark on 1 March 2020. Exposed patients constituted those exposed to thiopurines (n = 5484), methotrexate (n = 17 977), systemic corticosteroids (n = 55 868), anti-TNF-α agents (n = 17 857), anti-interleukin therapeutic agents (n = 3744), selective immunosuppressive agents (n = 3026) and cyclosporine/tacrolimus (n = 1143) in a period of 12 months prior to 1 March 2020 (estimated time of outbreak in Denmark). We estimated the adjusted risk of hospitalization for COVID-19 for patients treated with the above-mentioned categories of medications, compared to the rest of the population.

RESULTS

The adjusted odds ratios of hospitalization in patients treated with corticosteroids and cyclosporine/tacrolimus were 1.64 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.35 to 2.00) and 4.75 (95% CI 1.96 to 11.49), respectively. The risks of hospitalization in patients treated with thiopurines, methotrexate, and anti-TNF-α agents, were 1.93 (95% CI 0.91 to 4.08), 0.74 (95% CI 0.43 to 1.28), 1.00 (95% CI 0.52 to 1.94), respectively. The number of outcomes in patients treated with anti-interleukin therapeutic agents and selective immunosuppressive agents was too small for analysis.

CONCLUSION

Patients treated with systemic corticosteroids and cyclosporine/tacrolimus had a significantly increased risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19. Our study does not uncover whether the increased risk is related to the drug itself, the underlying condition for which the patient is treated or other factors.

Dysregulation of leukocyte trafficking in ageing: Causal factors and possible corrective therapies

Ageing is a universal biological phenomenon that is accompanied by the development of chronic, low-grade inflammation and remodelling of the immune system resulting in compromised immune function. In this review, we explore how the trafficking of innate and adaptive immune cells under homeostatic and inflammatory conditions is dysregulated in ageing. We particularly highlight the age-related changes in the expression of adhesion molecules and chemokine receptor/ligands, and the accumulation of senescent cells that drive modulated leukocyte trafficking. These age-related changes to leukocyte trafficking are multifactorial and specific to leukocyte subset, tissue, type of vascular bed, and inflammatory status. However, dysregulated leukocyte trafficking ultimately affects immune responses in older adults. We therefore go on to discuss approved drugs, including anti-integrins, anti-chemokines and statins, as well as novel therapeutics that may be used to target dysregulated leukocyte trafficking in ageing, improve immune responses and delay the onset of age-related diseases.

Linking Strain Engraftment in Fecal Microbiota Transplantation With Maintenance of Remission in Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic gastrointestinal disease resulting from the dysfunctional interplay between genetic susceptibility, the immune system, and commensal intestinal microbiota. Emerging evidence suggests that treatment by suppression of the immune response and replacement of the microbiota through fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a promising approach for the treatment of CD.

METHODS

We obtained stool metagenomes from CD patients in remission and assessed gut microbiome composition before and after FMT at the species and strain levels. Longitudinal follow-up evaluation allowed us to identify the gain, loss, and strain replacement of specific species and link these events to the maintenance of remission in CD.

RESULTS

We found that FMT had a significant long-term effect on patient microbial compositions, although this was primarily driven by the engraftment of donor species, which remained at low abundance. Thirty-eight percent of FMT-driven changes were strain replacements, emphasizing the importance of detailed profiling methods, such as metagenomics. Several instances of long-term coexistence between donor and patient strains were also observed. Engraftment of some Actinobacteria, and engraftment or loss of Proteobacteria, were related to better disease outcomes in CD patients who received FMT, and transmission of Bacteroidetes was deleterious.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest clades that may be beneficial to transmit/eliminate through FMT, and provide criteria that may help identify personalized FMT donors to more effectively maintain remission in CD patients. The framework established here creates a foundation for future studies centered around the application of FMT and defined microbial communities as a therapeutic approach for treating CD.

COVID-19 quarantine measures are associated with negative social impacts and compromised follow-up care in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in Brazil

Background

COVID-19 has affected the entire world. We aimed to determine the impact of COVID-19 containment measures on the daily life and follow up of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods

During May 2020, we evaluated 179 (79.6%) patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and 46 (20.4%) with ulcerative colitis (UC) by telephone, using a structured questionnaire to gather information on social impact and IBD follow up.

Results

Some kind of social distancing measure was reported by 95.6% of our patients, self-quarantine (64.9%) being the most frequent. Depressive mood was the most prevalent social impact (80.2%), followed by anxiety/fear of death (58.2%), insomnia (51.4%), daily activity impairment (48%), sexual dysfunction (46.2%), and productivity impairment (44%). The results were similar when we compared patients with active disease to those in remission and patients with UC to those with CD. Analysis of IBD follow up showed that 83.1% of all patients missed an IBD medical appointment, 45.5% of the patients missed laboratory tests, 41.3% missed the national flu vaccination program, 31.3% missed any radiologic exam, 17.3% missed colonoscopy, and 16.9% failed to obtain biologic therapy prescriptions. Biologics were discontinued by 28.4% of the patients. UC patients had higher rates of missed vaccination than CD patients (56.5% vs. 37.4%, P=0.02) and more failures to obtain a biologic prescription (28.3% vs. 14.0%, P=0.02).

Conclusions

Our study reveals alarming social impacts and declining follow-up care for IBD patients during the COVID-19 outbreak. These findings may have implications for disease control in the near future.

The MARVEL trial: a phase 2b randomised placebo-controlled trial of oral MitoQ in moderate ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory disease of the large bowel which is characterised by dysregulated immunity and death to epithelial cells in the bowel, leading to prolonged inflammation. This can ultimately lead to surgery to remove the large bowel, with a risk of cancer developing if inflammation persists. Current therapies – which target the incoming immune cells or the cytokines they produce – are improving significantly but they are expensive and are immunosuppressive, leading to risk of infection. Here, we discuss a new trial which targets an early inducer of inflammation – the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by mitochondria. Previous work has shown that excessive mitochondrial ROS induces inflammatory signalling through the cGAS-STING pathway, leading to dysregulated immunity and death of epithelial cells. In this MARVEL trial (Mitochondrial Anti-oxidant therapy to Resolve Inflammation in Ulcerative Colitis) individuals with an active UC flare-up will be given a mitochondrial anti-oxidant (MitoQ) or placebo tablet in addition to standard medical treatment, in order to suppress inflammation as it develops. This phase 2b trial will repurpose MitoQ, which has been previously tested in other large trials in different disease settings, and will measure clinical response and markers of inflammation over 24 weeks. It is hoped that this trial will develop a new target for UC through re-purposing a relatively cheap, non-toxic and well-characterised drug.

De-escalation of medical therapy in inflammatory bowel disease

Treatment strategies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) now increasingly target deep remission, yet the resultant more aggressive use of medical therapy is associated with potentially serious adverse events and significant costs. It is, therefore, of vital importance to consider when, how and in whom medical therapy may be safely de-escalated. This issue is of great potential relevance in the current SARS-Cov-2 pandemic. In this review, we first discuss the rationale for drug withdrawal in IBD, before considering the available data on withdrawal of 5-aminosalicylates (5-ASA), immunomodulators (IM) and biological therapy in both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's Disease (CD). We consider how to identify patients most appropriate for drug withdrawal and outline a potential monitoring strategy for the early detection of relapse following drug withdrawal. We conclude with important future perspectives in this challenging field, and highlight ongoing trials that are likely to shape practice in the years to come.

Impact of Preexisting Inflammatory Bowel Disease on the Outcome of Liver Transplantation for Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

Approximately 80% of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) also have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and its effect on the outcomes of liver transplantation (LT) for PSC is unclear. We retrospectively collected data from adults who underwent LT for PSC from 1989 to January 2018 in 4 French LT centers. We compared the rates of patient and graft survivals and of complications after LT. Among 87 patients, 52 (60%) had preexisting IBD. Excluding those who died within the first 3 months, the 10-year patient survival and graft survival rates were 92.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 84.3%-100%) and 77.1% (53.8%-85.3%), respectively, in the PSC with IBD (PSC-IBD) group and 97.1% (91.4%-100%; P = 0.44) and 83.2% (69.6%-96.9%; P = 0.43) in the isolated PSC group, respectively. Exposure to azathioprine after LT was significantly associated with mortality (odds ratio [OR], 15.55; 1.31-184.0; P = 0.03), whereas exposure to mycophenolate mofetil was associated with improved survival (OR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.04-0.82; P = 0.03), possibly an era effect. The rate of recurrent PSC was 21% in the PSC-IBD group and 11% in the isolated PSC group (P = 0.24). Severe infections occurred in 125 per 1000 person-years in both groups. Exposure to mycophenolate mofetil was associated with a lower risk of infection (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.08-0.85; P = 0.03). The presence of IBD was associated with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (OR, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.05-9.98; P = 0.04). IBD prior to LT for PSC may not affect patient or transplant survival but may increase the risk of CMV infection.

Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Are Not at Increased Risk of COVID-19: A Large Multinational Cohort Study

The impact of COVID-19 on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients under pharmacological immunosuppression is still not clearly understood. We investigated the incidence of COVID-19 and the impact of immunosuppression and containment measures on the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a large IBD cohort, from a multicenter cohort from 21st of February to 30th of June, 2020. Ninety-seven patients with IBD (43 UC, 53 CD, one unclassified IBD) and concomitant COVID-19 over a total of 23,879 patients with IBD were enrolled in the study. The cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with IBD vs. the general population was 0.406% and 0.402% cases, respectively. Twenty-three patients (24%) were hospitalized, 21 (22%) had pneumonia, four (4%) were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, and one patient died. Lethality in our cohort was 1% compared to 9% in the general population. At multivariable analysis, age > 65 years was associated with increased risk of pneumonia and hospitalization (OR 11.6, 95% CI 2.18-62.60; OR 5.1, 95% CI 1.10-23.86, respectively), treatment with corticosteroids increased the risk of hospitalization (OR 7.6, 95% CI 1.48-40.05), whereas monoclonal antibodies were associated with reduced risk of pneumonia and hospitalization (OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.04-0.52; OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.10-0.90, respectively). The risk of COVID-19 in patients with IBD is similar to the general population. National lockdown was effective in preventing infection in our cohort. Advanced age and treatment with corticosteroids impacted negatively on the outcome of COVID-19, whereas monoclonal antibodies did not seem to have a detrimental effect.

Are patients with inflammatory bowel disease receiving adequate immunisation?

INTRODUCTION

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) treatment may increase the risk of infections. Vaccines are part of the comprehensive IBD patient care. The aim of this study was to describe indications and adherence of immunizations in IBD and identify possible associated factors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, analytic study was conducted in patients from an IBD Program of a tertiary center in Chile, between April - June 2019. Patients were asked to answer a vaccine survey and information also was obtained from the National Immunization Registry. Descriptive and association statistic were used (χ²; p<0.05).

RESULTS

A total of 243 patients were included (148 ulcerative colitis (UC), 86 Crohn's disease (CD) and 9 non-classifiable IBD). Only six patients (2%) of IBD patients received a complete immunization schedule. The highest vaccine rates were against influenza (67%), hepatitis B virus (40%), 13-valent pneumococcal (34%) and 23-polysaccharide pneumococcal (16%). The influenza vaccine rate has significantly increased, reaching 67% in 2019. The survey showed that 23% of patients have not been immunized with any vaccine, mainly due to lack of time, lack of medical prescription and high cost.

CONCLUSIONS

In this cohort, although vaccination rates are higher than previously reported, adherence to IBD immunization program would be improved, being considered since diagnosis by the multidisciplinary team.

Addendum to S3-Guidelines Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis: Management of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the COVID-19 Pandemic – open questions and answers

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global outbreak of new onset infections with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. To date, more than 3.4 million people have been infected throughout the world. In Germany, approximately 450,000 patients suffer from inflammatory bowel disease; these patients generally require continuous expert care and support. Against the background of a rapidly accumulating knowledge base on SARS-CoV-2, 68 expert authors of the current DGVS guidelines for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis took part in a virtual meeting to compile up-to-date, practice-orientated recommendations aimed at improving the care of patients with IBD. These recommendations address the risk of infection, including the risk for specific patient groups, the possible course of the disease, and consequences for pharmacological and surgical therapies of the underlying disease, as well as general measures for infection prevention and adjuvant prophylactic and therapeutic options.

Prevalence and Outcomes of COVID-19 Among Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease-A Danish Prospective Population-based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

As no population-based study has investigated the susceptibility and disease course of COVID-19 among patients with inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD], we aimed to investigate this topic in a population-based setting.

METHODS

Two cohorts were investigated. First, a nationwide cohort of all IBD patients diagnosed with COVID-19 was prospectively followed to investigate the disease courses of both diseases. Second, within a population-based cohort of 2.6 million Danish citizens, we identified all individuals tested for SARS-CoV-2 to determine the occurrence of COVID-19 among patients with and without IBD and other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases [IMIDs].

RESULTS

Between January 28, 2020 and June 2, 2020, a total of 76 IBD patients with COVID-19 were identified in the national cohort and prospectively followed for 35 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 25-51). A large proportion [n = 19: 25%] required a COVID-19-related hospitalisation for 7 days [IQR: 2-8.5] which was associated with being 65 years or older (odds ratio [OR] = 23].80, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.32-89.63, p <0.01) and presence of any non-IMID comorbidity [OR = 8.12, 95% CI 2.55-25.87, p <0.01], but not use of immunomodulators [p = 0.52] or biologic therapies [p = 0.14]. In the population-based study, 8476 of 231 601 [3.7%] residents tested positive for SARS-CoV-2; however, the occurrence was significantly lower among patients with IBD [62 of the 2486 patients = 2.5%, p <0.01] and other IMIDs [531 of 16 492 patients = 3.2%, p <0.01] as compared with patients without IMIDs.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with IMIDs, including IBD, had a significantly lower susceptibility to COVID-19 than patients without IMIDs, and neither immunosuppressive therapies nor IBD activity were associated with the disease course of COVID-19.

The Symptoms and Medications of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Hubei Province after COVID-19 Epidemic

Objectives

The COVID-19 epidemic triggered by coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is rapidly spreading around the globe. This study is aimed at finding out the suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Hubei province, China. We also investigated symptoms, medications, life quality, and psychological issues of IBD patients under the ongoing pandemic.

Methods

We conducted a self-reported questionnaire survey via an online survey platform. SARS-CoV-2 infection-related data was collected from IBD patients. The status quo of medications and symptoms of the subjects were investigated. Life quality, depression, and anxiety were measured by clinical questionnaires and rated on scoring systems.

Results

A total of 204 IBD patients from Hubei province were included in this study. No suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection case was found in this study. As a result of city shutdown, two-thirds of the patients (138/204) in our series reported difficulty in accessing medicines and nearly half of them (73/138) had to discontinue medications. Apart from gastrointestinal symptoms, systemic symptoms were common while respiratory symptoms were rare in the cohort. Though their quality of life was not significantly lowered, depression and anxiety were problems that seriously affected them during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Conclusions

Inaccessibility to medications is a serious problem for IBD patients after city shutdown. Efforts have to be made to address the problems of drug withdrawal and psychological issues that IBD patients suffer from during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Combined Biologic and Immunomodulatory Therapy is Superior to Monotherapy for Decreasing the Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Related Complications

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The combination of infliximab and azathioprine is more efficacious than either therapy alone for Crohn's disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC]. However, it is uncertain whether these benefits extend to real-world clinical practice and to other combinations of biologics and immunomodulators.

METHODS

We collected health administrative data from four Canadian provinces representing 78 413 patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] of whom 11 244 were prescribed anti-tumour necrosis factor [anti-TNF] agents. The outcome of interest was the first occurrence of treatment failure: an unplanned IBD-related hospitalization, IBD-related resective surgery, new/recurrent corticosteroid use or anti-TNF switch. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards modelling was used to assess the association between the outcome of interest and receiving combination therapy vs anti-TNF monotherapy. Multivariable regression models were used to assess the impact of choice of immunomodulator or biologic on reaching the composite outcome, and random effects generic inverse variance meta-analysis of deterministically linked data was used to pool the results from the four provinces to obtain aggregate estimates of effect.

RESULTS

In comparison with anti-TNF monotherapy, combination therapy was associated with a significant decrease in treatment ineffectiveness for both CD and UC (CD: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.77, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66-0.90; UC: aHR 0.72, 95% CI 0.62-0.84). Combination therapy was equally effective for adalimumab and infliximab in CD. In UC azathioprine was superior to methotrexate as the immunomodulatory agent (aHR = 1.52 [95% CI 1.02-2.28]) but not CD (aHR = 1.22 [95% CI 0.96-1.54]).

CONCLUSION

In an analysis of a database of real-world patients with IBD, combination therapy decreased the likelihood of treatment failure in both CD and UC.

Adaptations to the British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines on the management of acute severe UC in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: a RAND appropriateness panel

OBJECTIVE

Management of acute severe UC (ASUC) during the novel COVID-19 pandemic presents significant dilemmas. We aimed to provide COVID-19-specific guidance using current British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines as a reference point.

DESIGN

We convened a RAND appropriateness panel comprising 14 gastroenterologists and an IBD nurse consultant supplemented by surgical and COVID-19 experts. Panellists rated the appropriateness of interventions for ASUC in the context of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Median scores and disagreement index (DI) were calculated. Results were discussed at a moderated meeting prior to a second survey.

RESULTS

Panellists recommended that patients with ASUC should be isolated throughout their hospital stay and should have a SARS-CoV-2 swab performed on admission. Patients with a positive swab should be discussed with COVID-19 specialists. As per BSG guidance, intravenous hydrocortisone was considered appropriate as initial management; only in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia was its use deemed uncertain. In patients requiring rescue therapy, infliximab with continuing steroids was recommended. Delaying colectomy because of COVID-19 was deemed inappropriate. Steroid tapering as per BSG guidance was deemed appropriate for all patients apart from those with COVID-19 pneumonia in whom a 4-6 week taper was preferred. Post-ASUC maintenance therapy was dependent on SARS-CoV-2 status but, in general, biologics were more likely to be deemed appropriate than azathioprine or tofacitinib. Panellists deemed prophylactic anticoagulation postdischarge to be appropriate in patients with a positive SARS-CoV-2 swab.

CONCLUSION

We have suggested COVID-19-specific adaptations to the BSG ASUC guideline using a RAND panel.

Systematic review with meta-analysis: comparative risk of lymphoma with anti-tumour necrosis factor agents and/or thiopurines in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

The risk of lymphoma in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated with anti-TNF agents remains unclear.

AIM

To assess the comparative risk of lymphoma with anti-TNF agents and/or thiopurines in IBD METHODS: We searched PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library to identify studies that evaluated lymphoproliferative disorders associated with anti-TNF agents with or without thiopurines. The risk of lymphoma was assessed through four comparator groups: combination therapy (anti-TNF plus thiopurine), anti-TNF monotherapy, thiopurine monotherapy and control group. Pooled incidence rate ratios (IRR) were estimated through Poisson-normal models.

RESULTS

Four observational studies comprising 261 689 patients were included. As compared with patients unexposed to anti-TNF and thiopurines, those exposed to anti-TNF monotherapy, thiopurine monotherapy or combination therapy had pooled IRR (per 1000 patient-years) of lymphoma of 1.52 (95% CI: 1.06-2.19; P = 0.023), 2.23 (95% CI: 1.79-2.79; P < 0.001) and 3.71 (95% CI: 2.30-6.00; P ≤ 0.01), respectively. The risk of lymphoma associated with combination therapy was higher than with thiopurines or anti-TNF alone with pooled IRR of 1.70 (95% CI: 1.03-2.81; P = 0.039) and 2.49 (95% CI: 1.39-4.47; P = 0.002), respectively. The risk did not differ between anti-TNF monotherapy and thiopurine monotherapy with pooled IRR of 0.72 (95% CI: 0.48-1.07; P = 0.107). All observational studies were of high quality according to the Newcastle-Ottawa scale.

CONCLUSIONS

There is an increased risk of lymphoma in IBD patients treated with anti-TNF agents, either alone or when combined with thiopurines.

Prognosis of Lymphoma in Patients With Known Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A French Multicentre Cohort Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The prognosis of lymphoma that occurs in patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] is poorly known.

METHODS

A multicentre retrospective cohort analysis was done in seven French tertiary centres from 1999 to 2019. Only lymphoma occurring in patients with previous established diagnosis of IBD were analysed. The primary outcome was progression-free survival at 3 years.

RESULTS

A total of 52 patients [male 65%, Crohn's disease 79%, median age 48.3 years, median duration of IBD 10.1 years] were included, of whom 37 had been previously exposed to immunosuppressants and/or biologics for at least 3 months and 20 had primary intestinal lymphomas. The lymphoma histological types were: diffuse large B cell lymphomas [N = 17], Hodgkin lymphomas [N = 17], indolent B cell lymphomas [N = 12], and others including T cell lymphomas, mantle cell lymphomas, and unclassifiable B cell lymphoma [N = 6]. The median follow-up after lymphoma was 5.1 years (interquartile range [IQR] 4-7.8). Progression-free survival at 3 years was 85% in the overall population (95% confidence interval [CI] 75%-96%) with no significant difference between the exposed and unexposed group, 79% for patients exposed to immunosuppressants and/or biologics [95% CI 67%-94%], and 83% for patients diagnosed with primary intestinal lymphoma [95% CI 67%-100%]. No relapse of IBD has been observed during chemotherapy. The IBD relapse rate at the end of the last chemotherapy cycle was 23% at 3 years [95% CI 11%-39%] in the overall population.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large cohort, the prognosis for lymphomas occurring in IBD appears to be good and similar to what is expected, irrespective of the exposure to biologics and/or immunosuppressants.

Expert Opinions on the Current Therapeutic Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Japan IBD COVID-19 Taskforce, Intractable Diseases, the Health and Labor Sciences Research

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has emerged as a dramatic challenge for all healthcare systems worldwide. This outbreak immediately affected gastroenterologists as well as global physicians worldwide because COVID-19 can be associated with not only triggering respiratory inflammation but also gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation based on the mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 enters cells via its receptor the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, which is expressed on GI cells. However, the comorbidity spectrum of digestive system in patients with COVID-19 remains unknown. Because the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management involves treating uncontrolled inflammation with immune-based therapies, physicians, and patients have great concern about whether IBD patients are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and have worsened disease courses.

SUMMARY

It is necessary to precisely ascertain the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the COVID-19 severity in IBD patients and to acknowledge the IBD management during the COVID-19 pandemic with clinically reliable information from COVID-19 cohorts and IBD experts' opinions. In this review, we highlight clinical questions regarding IBD management during the COVID-19 pandemic and make comments corresponding to each question based on recent publications. Key Messages: We propose that there is (1) no evidence that IBD itself increases the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, (2) to basically prioritize the control of disease activity of IBD, (3) no need for physicians to suddenly discontinue immunomodulatory or biologic therapy in patients with quiescent IBD, and (4) a need for careful observation of elderly (>60 years old) and IBD patients receiving corticosteroid treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Personalizing Treatment in IBD: Hype or Reality in 2020? Can We Predict Response to Anti-TNF?

The advent of anti-TNF agents as the first approved targeted therapy in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients has made a major impact on our existing therapeutic algorithms. They have not only been approved for induction and maintenance treatment in IBD patients, but have also enabled us to define and achieve novel therapeutic outcomes, such as combination of clinical symptom control and endoscopic remission, as well as mucosal healing. Nevertheless, approximately one third of treated patients do not respond to initiated anti-TNF therapy and these treatments are associated with sometimes severe systemic side-effects. There is therefore the currently unmet clinical need do establish predictive markers of response to identify the subgroup of IBD patients, that have a heightened probability of response. There have so far been approaches from different fields of IBD research, to descry markers that would empower us to apply TNF-inhibitors in a more rational manner. These markers encompass findings from disease-related and clinical factors, pharmacokinetics, biochemical markers, blood and stool derived parameters, pharmacogenomics, microbial species, metabolic compounds, and mucosal factors. Furthermore, changes in the intestinal immune cell composition in response to therapeutic pressure of anti-TNF treatment have recently been implicated in the process of molecular resistance to these drugs. Insights into factors that determine resistance to anti-TNF therapy give reasonable hope, that a more targeted approach can then be utilized in these non-responders. Here, IL-23 could be identified as one of the key factors determining resistance to TNF-inhibitors. Growing insights into the molecular mechanism of action of TNF-inhibitors might also enable us to derive critical molecular markers that not only mediate the clinical effects of anti-TNF therapy, but which level of expression might also correlate with its therapeutic efficacy. In this narrative review, we present an overview of currently identified possible predictive markers for successful anti-TNF therapy and discuss identified molecular pathways that drive resistance to these substances. We will also point out the necessity and difficulty of developing and validating a diagnostic marker concerning clinically relevant outcome parameters, before they can finally enter daily clinical practice and enable a more personalized therapeutic approach.

Immune monitoring of a child with autoimmune hepatitis and type 1 diabetes during COVID-19 infection

Immunocompromised patients may be at increased risk to develop COVID-19 during the 2019 β-coronavirus infection. We present the unique opportunity we had to monitor the liver, IL-6 and immune cell course before, during and after COVID-19 in a boy with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and type 1 diabetes (T1D). CD4 and CD8 T cells frequencies decreased because of prednisolone, followed by a plateauing increase whereas CD19CD20 B cell increased strongly and was unaffected by COVID-19 infection. Moreover, the percentage of activated CD8 T cells expressing HLA-DR (CD8HLA-DR) increased during COVID-19 and subsided after its clearance. Total regulatory T cells (Tregs: CD4CD25CD127FOXP3) remained stable. Although activated Tregs (CD4CD45RAFOXP3) strongly increased upon prednisolone, it decreased afterwards. Furthermore, regulatory B cells (Bregs: CD19CD20CD24CD38) declined sharply owing to prednisolone. Serum IL-6 remained undetectable at all times. We demonstrated for the first time immune monitoring in a child with AIH and T1D before, during and after COVID-19. We hypothesize that continuing with low level of prednisolone without azathioprine may have abrogated activated Tregs, Bregs and IL-6 production and therefore permitting the activation of CD8 T cells, clearing the virus.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Autoimmune Hepatitis: A Lesson From Immunosuppressed Patients

Chronic immunosuppression is associated with increased and more severe viral infections. However, little is known about the association between immunosuppression and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Our aim was to describe the clinical course of patients with immunosuppressed autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in Italy. Our study is a case series of patients with AIH treated with immunosuppression, who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in March 2020 during the outbreak of COVID-19. Ten patients from seven different hospitals in Italy were diagnosed with COVID-19 during the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in March 2020. Seven subjects were female (70%), and age ranged from 27 to 73 years. Before the onset of SARS-CoV-2 infection, all patients were taking immunosuppressive therapy for AIH, and eight of them were on biochemical remission. Two other patients had recent acute onset of their AIH, and consequently started high-dose steroids, as per induction protocol. All patients had a respiratory syndrome and a positive nasal swab for SARS-CoV-2. Five patients developed a computed tomography-confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia. Six subjects received a combination of antiretroviral and antimalarial drugs. In seven patients, the dosage of immunosuppressive medication was changed. Liver enzymes were repeated during SARS-CoV-2 infection in all hospitalized cases; they remained within the normal range in all cases, and improved in the two acute cases treated with high-dose steroids. The clinical outcome was comparable to the reported cases occurring in non-immunosuppressed subjects. Conclusion: Patients under immunosuppressive therapy for AIH developing COVID-19 show a disease course presumptively similar to that reported in the non-immunosuppressed population. These data might aid in medical decisions when dealing with SARS-CoV-2 infection in immunocompromised patients.

Pharmacology and safety of tofacitinib in ulcerative colitis

The use of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors is a new approach in the therapy of inflammatory diseases with immune base. Tofacitinib is one of these inhibitors targeting JAK1 and JAK3, and its efficacy has been demonstrated in the treatment of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC). It is a small synthetic molecule administered orally, with a fast bioavailability and elimination rate, predictable pharmacokinetics and lack of immunogenicity, which are convenient characteristics for both efficacy and safety. This article reviews the pharmacological characteristics of tofacitinib and its safety profile.

Biological therapy in pediatric age

Biological therapies, especially blocking tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) agents have radically changed the therapeutic approach and disease course of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In particular, drugs such as infliximab (IFX) and adalimumab (ADA) have been demonstrated to be effective in inducing and maintaining corticosteroid-free remission in both adult and pediatric patients with Crohns Disease (CD) and Ulcerative colitis (UC). Biosimilar biological (BioS) therapy is increasingly being used in pediatric age even though most knowledge on the safety and efficacy of these agents is based on IFX in adult IBD data. Studies show high rates of clinical response and remission in both IFX naïve patients and in patients switched from originator to BioS with similar risks of adverse events (AEs) as those reported with IFX originator. In the present review indications, efficacy and AEs of biological therapy in pediatric IBD will be discussed, as well as the role of other biological agents such as Golimumab, Vedolizumab and Ustekinumab, the role of BioS biological therapy and utility of therapeutic drug monitoring in clinical practice.

Probiotic Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium Strains Counteract Adherent-Invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) Virulence and Hamper IL-23/Th17 Axis in Ulcerative Colitis, but Not in Crohn's Disease

Hypersecretion of proinflammatory cytokines and dysregulated activation of the IL-23/Th17 axis in response to intestinal microbiota dysbiosis are key factors in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). In this work, we studied how Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains affect AIEC-LF82 virulence mechanisms and the consequent inflammatory response linked to the CCR6–CCL20 and IL-23/Th17 axes in Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. All Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains significantly reduced the LF82 adhesion and persistence within HT29 intestinal epithelial cells, inhibiting IL-8 secretion while not affecting the CCR6–CCL20 axis. Moreover, they significantly reduced LF82 survival within macrophages and dendritic cells, reducing the secretion of polarizing cytokines related to the IL-23/Th17 axis, both in healthy donors (HD) and UC patients. In CD patients, however, only B. breve Bbr8 strain was able to slightly reduce the LF82 persistence within dendritic cells, thus hampering the IL-23/Th17 axis. In addition, probiotic strains were able to modulate the AIEC-induced inflammation in HD, reducing TNF-α and increasing IL-10 secretion by macrophages, but failed to do so in IBD patients. Interestingly, the probiotic strains studied in this work were all able to interfere with the IL-23/Th17 axis in UC patients, but not in CD patients. The different interaction mechanisms of probiotic strains with innate immune cells from UC and CD patients compared to HD suggest that testing on CD-derived immune cells may be pivotal for the identification of novel probiotic strains that could be effective also for CD patients.

A comprehensive review of vaccination in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases: An Indian perspective

The disease burden of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in India is estimated to be one of the highest in the world in the near future. Patients with IBD, particularly those on immunosuppressive therapy, are at increased risk for developing vaccine-preventable illnesses. Adult vaccination policy and vaccination in patients with IBD are presently being at a very low level in India. This review discusses in detail the need for vaccination, levels of immunosuppression, a brief account of live and inactivated vaccines, available vaccines, and their utility in patients with IBD, with a special focus on recent recommendations.

Gastroenterologists' preference and risk perception on the use of immunomodulators and biological therapies in elderly patients with ulcerative colitis: an international survey

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Comorbidities, polypharmacy, malignancies, and infections complicate management of elderly patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). This study assessed gastroenterologists' preference in the prescription of medications or surgery to elderly patients with IBD, and the factors associated with their choices.

METHODS

An international case-based survey was conducted that presented three cases of steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis assessing young-age versus elderly-age patients, with and without comorbidity. Physician characteristics and practice demographics were collected. Factors associated with selection of different choices of therapy were determined by logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 424 respondents from 41 countries were included. Vedolizumab (53.2%) and thiopurines (19.4%) were the top treatment preferences for moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (P < 0.0001). Comorbidity and older age were independently associated with more frequent use of vedolizumab (P < 0.0001), and less frequent use of immunomodulators and anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF; P < 0.0001). Comorbidity was the only independent predictor for selecting colectomy (P < 0.0001). A history of lymphoma (94%) and opportunistic infection (78.3%) were the most frequent conditions precluding the use of thiopurine and anti-TNF in elderly patients with IBD. Only 6.1% of respondents considered patient age a limit for vedolizumab, while 37.9% considered age as a limiting factor in prescribing thiopurines (P < 0.001). Geographical heterogeneity was identified with significantly more physicians from Oceania and North America favouring the use of vedolizumab.

CONCLUSION

Vedolizumab was the preferred first-line agent in the treatment of elderly patients with IBD with steroid-dependent moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. Older age and presence of comorbidity influenced the selection of medication. Comorbidity was the main predictor of colectomy. Geographical heterogeneity in prescribing habits may relate to medication reimbursement in individual countries.

Incidence and Patterns of COVID-19 Among Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients From the Nancy and Milan Cohorts

The first cases of COVID-19 infection were reported in December, 2019, in Wuhan, China. Italy (in particular Lombardy) and France (in particular Northeast) have been gravely hit. Both physicians and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients are deeply concerned that immunosuppressants or biologics may increase the risk of COVID-19 infection. IOIBD has put in place an international registry, SECURE-IBD, for tracking all the cases with IBDs infected by COVID-19 (SECURE-IBD registry: http://www.covidibd.org). It will describe the outcomes of infected patients and the association between IBD-related medications and these outcomes.

Safety of Thiopurine Use in Paediatric Gastrointestinal Disease

Thiopurines, alone or in combination with other agents, have a pivotal role in the treatment of specific gastrointestinal and hepatological disorders. In inflammatory bowel disease and autoimmune hepatitis thiopurines have proven their value as steroid sparing agents for the maintenance of remission and may be considered for preventing postoperative Crohn disease recurrence where there is moderate risk of this occurring. Their use with infliximab therapy reduces antibody formation and increases biologic drug levels. The routine clinical use of thiopurines has, however, been questioned due to a number of potential adverse effects. The aim of this article is to provide information regarding the use, and in particular, safety of these agents in clinical practice in the light of such potentially severe, albeit rare, effects.

Corticosteroids, But Not TNF Antagonists, Are Associated With Adverse COVID-19 Outcomes in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Results From an International Registry

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The impact of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is unknown. We sought to characterize the clinical course of COVID-19 among patients with IBD and evaluate the association among demographics, clinical characteristics, and immunosuppressant treatments on COVID-19 outcomes.

METHODS

Surveillance Epidemiology of Coronavirus Under Research Exclusion for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (SECURE-IBD) is a large, international registry created to monitor outcomes of patients with IBD with confirmed COVID-19. We calculated age-standardized mortality ratios and used multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with severe COVID-19, defined as intensive care unit admission, ventilator use, and/or death.

RESULTS

525 cases from 33 countries were reported (median age 43 years, 53% men). Thirty-seven patients (7%) had severe COVID-19, 161 (31%) were hospitalized, and 16 patients died (3% case fatality rate). Standardized mortality ratios for patients with IBD were 1.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.9-2.6), 1.5 (95% CI, 0.7-2.2), and 1.7 (95% CI, 0.9-2.5) relative to data from China, Italy, and the United States, respectively. Risk factors for severe COVID-19 among patients with IBD included increasing age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.02), ≥2 comorbidities (aOR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.1-7.8), systemic corticosteroids (aOR, 6.9; 95% CI, 2.3-20.5), and sulfasalazine or 5-aminosalicylate use (aOR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.3-7.7). Tumor necrosis factor antagonist treatment was not associated with severe COVID-19 (aOR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.4-2.2).

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing age, comorbidities, and corticosteroids are associated with severe COVID-19 among patients with IBD, although a causal relationship cannot be definitively established. Notably, tumor necrosis factor antagonists do not appear to be associated with severe COVID-19.

Increased Discontinuation Rates of Anti-TNF Therapy in Elderly Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

There is paucity of data on safety and efficacy of anti-tumour necrosis factor [TNF] in elderly inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] patients. We aimed to compare the long-term treatment failure rates and safety of a first anti-TNF agent in IBD patients between different age groups [<40 years/40-59 years/≥60 years].

METHODS

IBD patients who started a first anti-TNF agent were identified through IBDREAM, a multicentre prospective IBD registry. Competing risk regression was used to study treatment failure, defined as time to drug discontinuation due to adverse events [AEs] or lack of effectiveness, with discontinuation due to remission as a competing risk.

RESULTS

A total of 895 IBD patients were included; 546 started anti-TNF at age <40 [61.0%], 268 at age 40-59 [29.9%], and 81 at age ≥60 [9.1%]. Treatment failure rate was higher in the two older groups (subhazard rate [SHR] age ≥60 1.46, SHR age 40-59 1.21; p = 0.03). The SHR in the elderly [>60] was 1.52 for discontinuation due to AEs and 1.11 for lack of effectiveness. Concomitant thiopurine use was associated with a lower treatment failure rate (SHR 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.62-0.98, p = 0.031). Serious adverse event [SAE] rate, as well as serious infection rate, were significantly higher in elderly IBD patients [61.2 versus 16.0 and 12.4 per 1000 patient-years, respectively] whereas the malignancy rate was low in all age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly IBD patients starting a first anti-TNF agent showed higher treatment failure rates, but concomitant thiopurine use at baseline was associated with lower failure rates. Elderly IBD patients demonstrated higher rates of SAEs and serious infections.

Differential regulation of JAK/STAT-signaling in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease

In 2018, the pan-Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor tofacitinib was launched for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). Although tofacitinib has proven efficacious in patients with active UC, it failed in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). This finding strongly hints at a different contribution of JAK signaling in both entities. Here, we review the current knowledge on the interplay between the JAK/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). In particular, we provide a detailed overview of the differences and similarities of JAK/STAT-signaling in UC and CD, highlight the impact of the JAK/STAT pathway in experimental colitis models and summarize the published evidence on JAK/STAT-signaling in immune cells of IBD as well as the genetic association between the JAK/STAT pathway and IBD. Finally, we describe novel treatment strategies targeting JAK/STAT inhibition in UC and CD and comment on the limitations and challenges of the new drug class.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease and COVID-19

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[Addendum to S3-Guidelines Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis: Management of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the COVID-19 Pandemic - open questions and answers]

Die COVID-19-Pandemie ist ein weltweiter Ausbruch von neu aufgetretenen Infektionen mit dem SARS-CoV-2-Virus, von denen weltweit derzeit mehr als 10.670.000 Menschen erkrankt sind bzw. waren. In Deutschland leiden ca. 450.000 Patienten an einer chronisch entzündlichen Darmerkrankung; diese Patienten benötigen in der Regel eine kontinuierliche und kompetente Betreuung. Vor dem Hintergrund eines rasch zunehmenden Wissenszuwachses haben 68 Experten, die die derzeit gültigen Leitlinien der DGVS zum Morbus Crohn und zur Colitis ulcerosa erstellt haben, im Rahmen einer virtuellen Konferenz aktuelle und praxisnahe Empfehlungen formuliert, um die Versorgung von CED-Patienten zu verbessern. Diese adressieren das Infektionsrisiko einschließlich des Risikos für besondere Gruppen, den möglichen Verlauf der Erkrankung und die Konsequenzen für die medikamentöse und die operative Therapie der Grunderkrankung sowie allgemeine Maßnahmen zur Infektionsprävention und adjuvante Präventions- und Therapiemöglichkeiten.

Safety considerations with biologics and new inflammatory bowel disease therapies

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The safety profile of therapies is an important issue that should always be shared with patients when choosing their treatment. The introduction of biologics over the past 2 decades represented a breakthrough in the management of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). With better understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease, emerging therapies targeting different mechanisms of action have been developed including targeted monoclonal antibodies and small molecules. However, increasing concerns about the safety and side effects of these drugs have been challenging clinicians in clinical practice.

RECENT FINDINGS

Comparative safety data between different therapies are lacking in the literature. Most safety recommendations are based on adverse events reported in clinical trials and register-based cohorts. An extensive literature review addressing the risk of infections, malignancies, immunogenicity, and metabolic disorders was performed for biologics and new IBD therapies based on reported adverse events in pivotal trials, long-term extension trials and real-world studies.

SUMMARY

In this article, we summarize the most recent data on safety of biologics and new IBD therapies and propose hierarchical positioning of drugs regarding safety based on expert opinion recommendations.

Review article: prevention, diagnosis and management of COVID-19 in the IBD patient

BACKGROUND

The current COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has emerged as a public health emergency. All nations are seriously challenged as the virus spreads rapidly across the globe with no regard for borders. The primary management of IBD involves treating uncontrolled inflammation with most patients requiring immune-based therapies. However, these therapies may weaken the immune system and potentially place IBD patients at increased risk of infections and infectious complications including those from COVID-19.

AIM

To summarise the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic, review unique concerns regarding IBD management and infection risk during the pandemic and assess COVID-19 management options and drug interactions in the IBD population.

METHODS

A literature review on IBD, SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 was undertaken and relevant literature was summarised and critically examined.

RESULTS

IBD patients do not appear to be more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and there is no evidence of an association between IBD therapies and increased risk of COVID-19. IBD medication adherence should be encouraged to prevent disease flare but where possible high-dose systemic corticosteroids should be avoided. Patients should exercise social distancing, optimise co-morbidities and be up to date with influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. If a patient develops COVID-19, immune suppressing medications should be withheld until infection resolution and if trial medications for COVID-19 are being considered, potential drug interactions should be checked.

CONCLUSIONS

IBD patient management presents a challenge in the current COVID-19 pandemic. The primary focus should remain on keeping bowel inflammation controlled and encouraging medication adherence.

Outcomes of COVID-19 in 79 patients with IBD in Italy: an IG-IBD study

OBJECTIVES

COVID-19 has rapidly become a major health emergency worldwide. Patients with IBD are at increased risk of infection, especially when they have active disease and are taking immunosuppressive therapy. The characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with IBD remain unclear.

DESIGN

This Italian prospective observational cohort study enrolled consecutive patients with an established IBD diagnosis and confirmed COVID-19. Data regarding age, sex, IBD (type, treatments and clinical activity), other comorbidities (Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI)), signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and therapies were compared with COVID-19 outcomes (pneumonia, hospitalisation, respiratory therapy and death).

RESULTS

Between 11 and 29 March 2020, 79 patients with IBD with COVID-19 were enrolled at 24 IBD referral units. Thirty-six patients had COVID-19-related pneumonia (46%), 22 (28%) were hospitalised, 7 (9%) required non-mechanical ventilation, 9 (11%) required continuous positive airway pressure therapy, 2 (3%) had endotracheal intubation and 6 (8%) died. Four patients (6%) were diagnosed with COVID-19 while they were being hospitalised for a severe flare of IBD. Age over 65 years (p=0.03), UC diagnosis (p=0.03), IBD activity (p=0.003) and a CCI score >1 (p=0.04) were significantly associated with COVID-19 pneumonia, whereas concomitant IBD treatments were not. Age over 65 years (p=0.002), active IBD (p=0.02) and higher CCI score were significantly associated with COVID-19-related death.

CONCLUSIONS

Active IBD, old age and comorbidities were associated with a negative COVID-19 outcome, whereas IBD treatments were not. Preventing acute IBD flares may avoid fatal COVID-19 in patients with IBD. Further research is needed.

Varicella zoster virus in inflammatory bowel disease patients: what every gastroenterologist should know

Primary Varicella Zoster virus (VZV) infection results in varicella (chickenpox) while its reactivation results in herpes zoster (HZ; shingles). Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are susceptible to complications of primary VZV infection and have an increased risk of HZ. Concerns of VZV and HZ infection in the IBD population has been highlighted by the emergence of JAK-inhibitors and their safety profile in this patient population such as tofacitinib for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). The current pipeline of emerging therapies include novel molecules targeting multiple pathways including JAK/signal transducer and cytokine signalling pathways such as JAK/STAT. Hence VZV and HZ will be increasingly relevant for gastroenterologists treating IBD patients in light of these emerging therapies.

JAK Inhibition as a Therapeutic Strategy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background:

Inflammatory bowel disease, including both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, are two chronic and progressive disorders affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Research on the molecular mechanisms of both diseases has led to the introduction of targeted therapies which are able to selectively block the key inflammatory mediators.

Methods:

Here, we discuss the current evidence about the mechanism of action with an up to date review of the efficacy and safety of Janus kinase inhibitors in inflammatory bowel disease.

Results:

Multiple small molecule drugs have been evaluated for their use in both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Janus kinase inhibitors represent the most important family of these drugs, as their particular mechanism of action enables a simultaneous and effective blockade of multiple cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Conclusion:

Janus kinase inhibitors represent a promising therapeutic strategy, especially in ulcerative colitis. More data are still necessary regarding its efficacy and safety in clinical practice.

Implications of recurrent SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks for IBD management

The initial phases of the global SARS-CoV2 pandemic had significant implications for the management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This impact is likely to be sustained and far-reaching across all models of care. Initial questions about the risk of SARS-CoV2 infection, and COVID-19 complications, in patients taking maintenance anti-TNFs, JAK inhibitors and other immune modulators have preliminary data. Current models for SARS-CoV-2 transmission predict intermittent outbreaks until 2022, which could disrupt clinical care and negatively affect outcomes for many patients across the globe. This review summarises changes in IBD clinical practice that will be required during the 'post-peak' phase of viral pandemics.

Factors associated with sepsis risk in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases receiving tumor necrosis factor inhibitors: a nationwide study

Background:

Risk factors for sepsis have not been assessed in patients receiving tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors (TNFi) for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) who are vulnerable to serious/hospitalized infections.

Methods:

Data from 2003–2017 were obtained from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database to identify patients receiving TNFi, including etanercept, adalimumab, and golimumab, for IMIDs including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriasis (PsO), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), Crohn’s disease (CD), and ulcerative colitis (UC). To investigate risk factors for sepsis, we used the Sepsis-3 definition and calculated hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using Cox regression analysis.

Results:

There were 17,764 patients (mean age 49.3 ± 14.3 years; females, 57.6%) receiving TNFi for IMIDs, including RA (58.6%), AS (19.1%), PsO (15.1%), PsA (2.5%), CD (3.0%), and UC (1.7%). The overall incidence rate of sepsis was 1088 per 100,000 person-years. After adjustment for potential confounders, recent sepsis within 3 months before TNFi initiation (HR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.73–3.20), CD (HR, 3.36; 95% CI 2.11–5.34; reference group: AS) and glucocorticoid use (prednisolone-equivalent dose, mg/day HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.05–1.06) were associated with the risk of sepsis. Intriguingly, golimumab users appeared to have a lower risk of sepsis compared with etanercept users (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.38–0.83). In addition, socioeconomic status, including urbanization level and insured amount, was associated with sepsis in a dose-response manner.

Conclusions:

Recent sepsis, CD, concomitant glucocorticoid use, and low socioeconomic status, which were associated with an increased risk of sepsis, are crucial for individualized risk management plans.

Safety of Drugs During Previous and Current Coronavirus Pandemics: Lessons for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The coronavirus 2019 [COVID-19] pandemic has posed challenges in the routine care of patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. One of the key challenges is quantification of the risks of immunosuppressive and biological therapies in IBD patients during the pandemic. The similarities and differences between previous coronavirus outbreaks and the pathobiology of the infections can give useful information in understanding the risks, and perhaps potential beneficial aspects of drugs used in IBD. Although clinical, immunological and pharmacological data from the experience with previous coronavirus outbreaks cannot be automatically translated to predict the safety of IBD therapies during the COVID-19 pandemic, the signals so far from these outbreaks on IBD patients who are on immunomodulators and biologics are reassuring to patients and clinicians alike.