Management of Crohn's disease in adults

Defining quality indicators for best-practice management of inflammatory bowel disease in Canada

BACKGROUND

There is a paucity of published data regarding the quality of care of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Canada. Clinical quality indicators are quantitative end points used to guide, monitor and improve the quality of patient care. In Canada, where universal health care can vary significantly among provinces, quality indicators can be used to identify potential gaps in the delivery of IBD care and standardize the approach to interprovincial management.

METHODS

The Emerging Practice in IBD Collaborative (EPIC) group generated a shortlist of IBD quality indicators based on a comprehensive literature review. An iterative voting process was used to select quality indicators to take forward. In a face-to-face meeting with the EPIC group, available evidence to support each quality indicator was presented by the EPIC member aligned to it, followed by group discussion to agree on the wording of the statements. The selected quality indicators were then ratified in a final vote by all EPIC members.

RESULTS

Eleven quality indicators for the management of IBD within the single-payer health care system of Canada were developed. These focus on accurate diagnosis, appropriate and timely management, disease monitoring, and prevention or treatment of complications of IBD or its therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

These quality indicators are measurable, reflective of the evidence base and expert opinion, and define a standard of care that is at least a minimum that should be expected for IBD management in Canada. The next steps for the EPIC group involve conducting research to assess current practice across Canada as it pertains to these quality indicators and to measure the impact of each of these indicators on patient outcomes.

Immunization status in children with inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases have an increased risk of infections due to immunosuppressive therapies. To report the immunization status according to previous recommendations and the reasons explaining a delay, a questionnaire was filled in by the pediatric gastroenterologist, concerning outpatients, in six tertiary centers and five local hospitals, in a study, from May to November 2011. One hundred and sixty-five questionnaires were collected, of which 106 Crohn's diseases, 41 ulcerative colitis, and 17 indeterminate colitis. Sex ratio was 87:78 M/F. Median age was 14.4 years old (4.2-20.0). One hundred and nine patients (66 %) were receiving or had received an immunosuppressive therapy (azathioprine, infliximab, methotrexate, or prednisone). Vaccines were up to date according to the vaccine schedule of French recommendations in 24 % of cases and according to the recommendations for inflammatory bowel disease in 4 % of cases. Coverage by vaccine was the following: diphtheria-tetanus-poliomyelitis 87 %, hepatitis B 38 %, pneumococcus 32 %, and influenza 22 %. Immunization delay causes were as follows: absence of proposal 58 %, patient refusal 41 %, fear of side effects 33 %, and fear of disease activation 5 %. Therefore, immunization coverage is insufficient in children with inflammatory bowel disease, due to simple omission or to refusal. A collaboration with the attending physicians and a targeted information are necessary.

Review article: the psychosexual impact of inflammatory bowel disease in male patients

BACKGROUND

Knowledge of the extent and the impact of sexual dysfunction and interpersonal relationships in men with inflammatory bowel disease is scarce.

AIMS

The aim of this review article was to summarise the current literature on sexual function in male patients with IBD and to provide a critical review of the IBD-related medical, surgical and psychological complications that can result in impaired quality of sexual health.

METHODS

To collect relevant articles, PubMed/Medline and Embase searches were performed using Boolean search phrases.

RESULTS

Reported rates of sexual dysfunction in male IBD patients range from 10% to 50%. Thirty-three to fifty per cent of patients report that sexual desire and satisfaction deteriorated after IBD diagnosis. Of those patients who were sexually inactive, half of these attributed lack of intercourse to underlying IBD. A striking finding reproduced in numerous studies is that disease activity relates strongly to impaired psychological function, and the most consistently reported risk factor for sexual problems in IBD patients is co-existing mood disorders. Hypogonadism is a complication of IBD and its therapies, the role of testosterone deficiency should be further explored as a potentially treatable and reversible factor in sexual dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

By understanding what factors contribute to poor sexual functioning in our patients, we can strive to minimise adverse psychosocial events. Further insight into this complex relationship requires an IBD-specific measure of sexual function in male patients. We recommend screening for and treating co-morbid depression, testosterone deficiency and striving for clinical remission to prevent psychosexual dysfunction in male patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

The role of thiopurine metabolite monitoring in inflammatory bowel disease

Thiopurines are the mainstay of medical management in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), especially in the maintenance of disease remission. Given the limited IBD armamentarium it is important to optimize each therapy before switching to an alternative drug. Conventional weight based dosing of thiopurines in IBD leads to intolerance or inefficacy in many patients. More recently increased knowledge of their metabolism has allowed for dose optimization using thiopurine metabolite levels, namely 6-thioguanine nucleotides and 6-methylmercaptopurine, with the potential for improved outcomes in patients with IBD. This review will outline the current understanding of thiopurine metabolism and pharmacogenomics and will describe the clinical application of this knowledge in the optimization of thiopurines in individual patients.

Safety and efficacy of endoscopic dilation for primary and anastomotic Crohn's disease strictures

BACKGROUND

Literature on endoscopic dilation of Crohn's disease (CD) strictures, especially for primary (non-anastomotic) strictures is limited.

METHODS

A historical cohort study was performed on patients who underwent endoscopic stricture dilations for CD in our IBD center. Primary endpoint was the efficacy of first endoscopic dilation in preventing the need for surgery in primary strictures compared to anastomotic strictures. Cox proportional hazards models using robust sandwich covariance matrix estimate were used to evaluate the need for surgery and any further endoscopic intervention.

RESULTS

In our study cohort (mean age 42.2 ± 13.1 years, 57% females, 16.4% current smokers, and median follow-up 1.8 years), 128 patients underwent a total of 430 endoscopic stricture dilations for 169 strictures (88 primary, 81 secondary). Forty-two patients (32.8%) required surgery in the follow-up period, with a mean interval period between first dilation and surgery of 33 months. There was no difference between primary or anastomotic strictures with respect to the need for surgery (34.1% vs. 29.6%, p=0.53), redilation (59.1% vs. 58%, p=0.89) or total interventions (surgery+redilations, 71.6% vs. 72.8%, p=0.86). Multivariable analysis did not show any significant difference between patients who received and did not receive intralesional steroid injections, biologics or immunomodulators with respect to the need for repeat intervention or surgery.

CONCLUSION

Efficacy and safety of endoscopic dilation are similar between primary and anastomotic CD strictures. Intralesional steroid injection or use of biologics did not decrease the need for re-intervention or surgery for either primary or anastomotic strictures.

Bone loss in patients with the ileostomy and ileal pouch for inflammatory bowel disease

Low bone mineral density (BMD) or low bone mass is common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Studies have shown that low BMD is also common in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) even after colectomy and ileal pouch–anal anastomosis (IPAA). The reported frequency of osteopenia ranged from 26–55% and that of osteoporosis ranged from 13–32% in patients with IPAA. Increasing age, low body mass index, lack of calcium supplementation and high inflammatory activity with villous atrophy in the ileo-anal pouch are risk factors for low bone mass in pouch patients. Bone loss is also common in patients with IBD and ostomy. Current professional society guidelines do not specifically address the need for surveillance in patients with ileal pouches or ostomy. A growing body of evidence suggests that patients with ileal pouch or ostomy are at an increased risk of bone loss. Pending prospective studies, screening and surveillance using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) along with calcium/vitamin D supplementation may be beneficial in those patients.

Psychosocial issues in evidence-based guidelines on inflammatory bowel diseases: A review

AIM: To study statements and recommendations on psychosocial issues as presented in international evidence-based guidelines on the management of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

METHODS: MEDLINE, guidelines International Network, National Guideline Clearing House and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence were searched from January 2006 to June 30, 2013 for evidence-based guidelines on the management of IBD.

RESULTS: The search yielded 364 hits. Thirteen guidelines were included in the review, of which three were prepared in Asia, eight in Europe and two in the United States. Eleven guidelines made statements and recommendations on psychosocial issues. The guidelines were concordant in that mental health disorders and stress do not contribute to the aetiology of IBD, but that they can influence its course. It was recommended that IBD-patients should be screened for psychological distress. If indicated, psychotherapy and/or psychopharmacological therapy should be recommended. IBD-centres should collaborate with mental health care specialists. Tobacco smoking patients with Crohn’s disease should be advised to quit.

CONCLUSION: Patients and mental health specialists should be able to participate in future guideline groups to contribute to establishing recommendations on psychosocial issues in IBD. Future guidelines should acknowledge the presence of psychosocial problems in IBD-patients and encourage screening for psychological distress.

5-Aminosalicylates reduce the risk of colorectal neoplasia in patients with ulcerative colitis: an updated meta-analysis

Background

Although the chemopreventive effect of 5-aminosalicylates on patients with ulcerative colitis has been extensively studied, the results remain controversial. This updated review included more recent studies and evaluated the effectiveness of 5-aminosalicylates use on colorectal neoplasia prevention in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Methods

Up to July 2013, we searched Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, and SinoMed of China for all relevant observational studies (case-control and cohort) about the effect of 5-aminosalicylates on the risk of colorectal neoplasia among patients with ulcerative colitis. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of studies. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were extracted from each study. A random-effects model was used to generate pooled ORs and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Publication bias and heterogeneity were assessed.

Results

Seventeen studies containing 1,508 cases of colorectal neoplasia and a total of 20,193 subjects published from 1994 to 2012 were analyzed. 5-aminosalicylates use was associated with a reduced risk of colorectal neoplasia in patients with ulcerative colitis (OR 0.63; 95%CI 0.48–0.84). Pooled OR of a higher average daily dose of 5-aminosalicylates (sulfasalazine ≥ 2.0 g/d, mesalamine ≥ 1.2 g/d) was 0.51 [0.35–0.75]. Pooled OR of 5-aminosalicylates use in patients with extensive ulcerative colitis was 1.00 [0.53–1.89].

Conclusion

Our pooled results indicated that 5-aminosalicylates use was associated with a reduced risk of colorectal neoplasia in patients with ulcerative colitis, especially in the cases with a higher average daily dose of 5-aminosalicylates use. However, the chemopreventive benefit of 5-aminosalicylates use in patients with extensive ulcerative colitis was limited.

Advanced endoscopic imaging techniques in Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

Endoscopy is of pivotal importance in Crohn's disease (CD) patients for diagnosis, surveillance and assessment of disease activity and extent. Device-assisted enteroscopy (DAE) and small-bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) have recently changed our endoscopic approach to small-bowel imaging. Furthermore, new advanced endoscopic imaging techniques have been implemented into clinical practice to improve both characterization of mucosal inflammation and detection of dysplastic lesions.

AIM

To provide readers with a review about the concept of advanced endoscopic imaging for the diagnosis and characterization of CD.

METHODS

A literature search on the use of advanced endoscopy techniques in IBD patients was performed.

RESULTS

DAE and SBCE allow for deep enteroscopy with high diagnostic yields and low complication's rate but their collocation in the diagnostic algorithm is still not clearly defined. Dye-based chromoendoscopy (DBC) and magnification chromoendoscopy improved dysplasia's detection in long standing colitis and prediction of inflammatory activity and extent. Dye-less chromoendoscopy (DLC) might offer the potential to replace conventional DBC for surveillance. However, both narrow band imaging and i-scan have already shown to significantly improve activity and extent assessment in comparison to white-light endoscopy. Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) can detect more dysplastic lesions in surveillance colonoscopy and predict neoplastic and inflammatory changes with high accuracy compared to histology. Moreover, CLE-based molecular imaging may anticipate the therapeutic responses to biological therapy. Endocytoscopy can identify in vivo inflammatory mucosal cells harboring a new method to assess the mucosal activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Recent progresses in small-bowel enteroscopy offer several potential benefits to improve both diagnosis and characterization of CD. New advanced endoscopic imaging techniques can improve detection of dysplasia and refine mucosal healing assessment, even looking beyond the morphological parameters revealed by conventional endoscopic imaging.

East-West gradient in the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in Europe: the ECCO-EpiCom inception cohort

OBJECTIVE

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing in Eastern Europe. The reasons for these changes remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether an East-West gradient in the incidence of IBD in Europe exists.

DESIGN

A prospective, uniformly diagnosed, population based inception cohort of IBD patients in 31 centres from 14 Western and eight Eastern European countries covering a total background population of approximately 10.1 million people was created. One-third of the centres had previous experience with inception cohorts. Patients were entered into a low cost, web based epidemiological database, making participation possible regardless of socioeconomic status and prior experience.

RESULTS

1515 patients aged 15 years or older were included, of whom 535 (35%) were diagnosed with Crohn's disease (CD), 813 (54%) with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 167 (11%) with IBD unclassified (IBDU). The overall incidence rate ratios in all Western European centres were 1.9 (95% CI 1.5 to 2.4) for CD and 2.1 (95% CI 1.8 to 2.6) for UC compared with Eastern European centres. The median crude annual incidence rates per 100,000 in 2010 for CD were 6.5 (range 0-10.7) in Western European centres and 3.1 (range 0.4-11.5) in Eastern European centres, for UC 10.8 (range 2.9-31.5) and 4.1 (range 2.4-10.3), respectively, and for IBDU 1.9 (range 0-39.4) and 0 (range 0-1.2), respectively. In Western Europe, 92% of CD, 78% of UC and 74% of IBDU patients had a colonoscopy performed as the diagnostic procedure compared with 90%, 100% and 96%, respectively, in Eastern Europe. 8% of CD and 1% of UC patients in both regions underwent surgery within the first 3 months of the onset of disease. 7% of CD patients and 3% of UC patients from Western Europe received biological treatment as rescue therapy. Of all European CD patients, 20% received only 5-aminosalicylates as induction therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

An East-West gradient in IBD incidence exists in Europe. Among this inception cohort--including indolent and aggressive cases--international guidelines for diagnosis and initial treatment are not being followed uniformly by physicians.

Thiopurine-methyltransferase variants in inflammatory bowel disease: Prevalence and toxicity in Brazilian patients

AIM: To analyze the prevalence of thiopurine-methyltransferase (TPMT) genotypes and their association with drug toxicity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients from southeastern Brazil.

METHODS: A total of 219 consecutive patients with IBD, of which 146 had Crohn’s disease and 73 had ulcerative colitis, regularly seen at the outpatient unit of the Division of Gastroenterology at the University Hospital Pedro Ernesto of the State University of Rio de Janeiro, a tertiary referral center, were enrolled in this study from February 2009 to January 2011. We analyzed the presence of major TPMT genetic variants (TPMT*2, *3A, *3C) in IBD patients by means of a specific allele and RFLP-PCR. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood leukocytes by proteinase-K/Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate digestion and phenol-chloroform extraction. TPMT*2 (C238G), TPMT*3A (G460A/A719G), and TPMT*3C (A719G) genotypes were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction followed by direct sequencing with specific primers. Clinical data were systematically recorded, and correlated with the genotype results.

RESULTS: The distribution of the selected TPMT gene polymorphism TPMT*2 (C238G), TPMT*3A (G460A/A719G), and TPMT*3C (A719G) genotypes was 3.6%, 5.4%, and 7.7% of the patients, respectively. Among the side effects recorded from patients taking azathioprine, 14 patients presented with pancreatitis and/or an elevation of pancreatic enzymes, while 6 patients had liver toxicity, and 2 patients exhibited myelosuppression/neutropenia. TPMT polymorphisms were detected in 37/219 patients (8 heterozygous for *2, 11 heterozygous for *3A, and 18 heterozygous for *3C). No homozygotic polymorphisms were found. Despite the prevalence of the TPMT*3C genotype, no differences among the genotype frequencies were significant. Although no association was detected regarding myelotoxicity or hepatotoxicity, a trend towards the elevation of pancreatic enzymes was observed for TPMT*2 and TPMT*3C genotypes.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of TPMT genotypes was high among Brazilian patients. Variants genes *2 and *3C may be associated with azathioprine pancreatic toxicity in a IBD southeastern Brazilian population.

A guide to prepare patients with inflammatory bowel diseases for anti-TNF-α therapy

Current therapy of moderate-to-severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often involves the use of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) agents. Although very effective, theses biologics place the patient at increased risk for developing infections and lymphomas, the latter especially when in combination with thiopurines. Appropriate patient selection, counseling, and education are all important features for the successful use of anti-TNF-α therapy. A thorough history to rule-out contraindications of this therapy and emphasis on monitoring guidelines are important steps preceding administration of anti-TNF-α agents. This therapy should only be considered if a recent evaluation has established that the patient has active IBD. In addition, it is important to exclude disease mimickers. Anti-TNF-α agents have been considered to present a globally favorable benefit/risk ratio. However, it is important that in routine practice, initiation of anti-TNF-α therapy be carefully discussed with the patient, extensively explaining the potential benefits and risks of such treatment. Prior to starting anti-TNF-α therapy, the patients need to be screened for latent tuberculosis, hepatitis B virus infection, and (usually) hepatitis C virus and HIV infection. Vaccination schedules of IBD patients should be evaluated and updated prior to the commencement of anti-TNF-α therapy. Ordinarily, immunization in adult patients with IBD should not deviate from recommended guidelines for the general population. With the exception of live vaccines, immunizations can be safely administered in patients with IBD, even those on immunosuppressants or biologics. The purpose of this review is providing an overview of appropriate steps to prepare patients with IBD for anti-TNF-α therapy.

Menstrual cycle changes in women with inflammatory bowel disease: a study from the ocean state Crohn's and colitis area registry

BACKGROUND

The effect of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) on menstrual function is largely unknown. The aims of this study were to determine whether changes in menstrual function occur in the year before IBD diagnosis or in the initial years after diagnosis.

METHODS

Women aged 18 years and older in the Ocean State Crohn's and Colitis Area Registry with at least 2 years of follow-up were eligible for this study. All patients were enrolled within 6 months of IBD diagnosis and followed prospectively. Menstrual cycle characteristics were retrospectively assessed. To assess for changes over time, general linear models for correlated data were used for continuous outcomes, and generalized estimating equations were used for discrete outcomes.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-one patients were studied. Twenty-five percent of patients experienced a change in cycle interval in the year before IBD diagnosis and 21% experienced a change in the duration of flow. Among women with dysmenorrhea, 40% experienced a change in the intensity of their menstrual pain and 31% experienced a change in its duration. Overall cycle regularity increased over time. Quality of life was significantly lower in women without regular cycles across all time points.

CONCLUSIONS

Changes in menstrual function occur frequently in the year before IBD diagnosis; therefore, screening for menstrual irregularities should be considered in women with newly diagnosed IBD. Patients can be reassured that cycles typically become more regular over time.

Azathioprine-Induced Rapid Hepatotoxicity

Objective: To report a case of rapid hepatotoxicity seen within days of initiating azathioprine therapy as a possible adverse reaction. Case Summary: A 62-year-old female with Crohn’s disease was being maintained on occasional oral prednisone when more aggressive therapy became indicated. The patient was started on azathioprine and continued a prednisone taper. Liver enzymes became elevated by the third day of therapy. Peak liver enzyme values on day 10 of therapy were aspartate aminotransferase 119 U/L, alanine aminotransferase 210 U/L, and alkaline phosphatase 460 U/L. The patient did not develop any symptoms of hepatotoxicity. Azathioprine was discontinued and liver enzyme levels returned to baseline within 3 weeks. Discussion: Azathioprine hepatotoxicity has been reported previously. A MEDLINE search (1966 to August 2013) found 39 articles related to various types of azathioprine hepatotoxicity. Previous literature predominately involves male patients and a general onset of 2 to 12 months after starting azathioprine therapy. Our case involves a female patient with an onset of days. According to the Naranjo probability scale, this reaction is considered possible, whereas the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences Probability Scale categorized this reaction as probable. The concurrent prednisone therapy may have increased the patient’s risk of azathioprine hepatotoxicity, but is not likely the sole cause as prior to and after discontinuing azathioprine the liver enzymes remained normal despite prednisone therapy. Conclusions: Prescribers should be aware that monitoring liver enzymes when initiating azathioprine may be warranted within the first week, especially if the patient is taking corticosteroids or other high-risk medications that cause hepatotoxicity.

Clinical implications of ageing for the management of IBD

As the global population ages, the number of older people (≥65 years) living with IBD is expected to increase. IBD therapeutics have advanced considerably over the past few decades with the introduction of multiple steroid-sparing agents as well as numerous clinical trials that have tested new therapeutic targets. However, the current paradigms for IBD management might not be directly translatable to older patients with IBD. Age-related factors such as immunodeficiency relative to younger patients, comorbidity, polypharmacy and diminished physical reserve directly or indirectly affect the natural history of their disease. This Review highlights how these age-associated variables can affect older patients with IBD and also illustrates the multiple gaps in our current knowledge of IBD in the elderly.

Immunopathology of inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) results from a complex series of interactions between susceptibility genes, the environment, and the immune system. The host microbiome, as well as viruses and fungi, play important roles in the development of IBD either by causing inflammation directly or indirectly through an altered immune system. New technologies have allowed researchers to be able to quantify the various components of the microbiome, which will allow for future developments in the etiology of IBD. Various components of the mucosal immune system are implicated in the pathogenesis of IBD and include intestinal epithelial cells, innate lymphoid cells, cells of the innate (macrophages/monocytes, neutrophils, and dendritic cells) and adaptive (T-cells and B-cells) immune system, and their secreted mediators (cytokines and chemokines). Either a mucosal susceptibility or defect in sampling of gut luminal antigen, possibly through the process of autophagy, leads to activation of innate immune response that may be mediated by enhanced toll-like receptor activity. The antigen presenting cells then mediate the differentiation of naïve T-cells into effector T helper (Th) cells, including Th1, Th2, and Th17, which alter gut homeostasis and lead to IBD. In this review, the effects of these components in the immunopathogenesis of IBD will be discussed.

Switching from insulin to liraglutide improved glycemic control and the quality of life scores in a case of type 2 diabetes and active Crohn's disease

A 44-year-old man with type 2 diabetes of five years' duration was admitted for the management of poor glycemic control despite the administration of insulin therapy. On admission, he received vigorous treatment for a 28-year history of Crohn's disease and a 14-year history of a psychiatric disorder. His glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level was 11.3%, his fasting blood glucose level was 567 mg/dL and his C-peptide level was 1.0 ng/mL. His quality of life (QOL) was severely impaired as a result of frequent episodes of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. Treatment with liraglutide was commenced in place of insulin, which improved the patient's glycemic control to an HbA1c level of 5.5% and markedly increased his QOL score with no hypoglycemia.

Progressing the utilisation of pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics into clinical care

Understanding human genetic variation and how it impacts on gene function is a major focus in genomic-based research. Translation of this knowledge into clinical care is exemplified by pharmacogenetics/pharmacogenomics. The identification of particular gene variants that might influence drug uptake, metabolism, distribution or excretion promises a more effective personalised medicine approach in choosing the right drug or its dose for any particular individual. Adverse drug responses can then be avoided or mitigated. An understanding of germline or acquired (somatic) DNA mutations can also be used to identify drugs that are more likely to be therapeutically beneficial. This represents an area of growing interest in the treatment of cancer.

Exploring the use of adalimumab for patients with moderate Crohn's disease: subanalyses from induction and maintenance trials

BACKGROUND

Anti-TNF agents are often reserved for patients with severe Crohn's disease (CD).

AIMS

We explored the predictive value of baseline disease activity and C-reactive protein (CRP) for disease course, adalimumab efficacy for remission (induction and maintenance) in patients with moderate and severe CD, and adalimumab efficacy in moderate CD by CRP category.

METHODS

Post hoc analyses of remission data were performed for all randomized patients from induction (CLASSIC I) and maintenance (CHARM, EXTEND) adalimumab trials in patients with moderate (CDAI≤300) or severe (CDAI>300) CD, and in high (≥10 mg/L) or low (<10 mg/L) CRP moderate CD subgroups. Placebo-treated CHARM patients were evaluated for disease activity over time and time to CD-related hospitalization, by baseline disease severity and CRP.

RESULTS

Moderate CD patients had the highest clinical remission rate and largest treatment effect size compared with placebo at week 4 after 160/80 mg induction (46.3% adalimumab, 17.4% placebo; versus 22.9%, 3.6% for severe patients). Moderate-CD/high-CRP patients had the most pronounced efficacy (57.1% adalimumab, 6.7% placebo; versus 40.7%, 20.0% for lower CRP group). Adalimumab maintenance treatment (40 mg every-other-week) achieved superior remission versus placebo at one year in moderate (32.9% versus 13.7%) and severe (27.2% versus 7.5%) cohorts. Among moderate patients, efficacy was similar by CRP category. Moderate-CD/high-CRP placebo-treated patients experienced disease activity and hospitalization rates at week 56 of CHARM approaching those of severe CD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis suggests that moderate CD patients can be treated effectively with adalimumab, and supports using CRP to identify moderate CD patients at greatest risk of disease progression.

The risks of post-operative complications following pre-operative infliximab therapy for Crohn's disease in patients undergoing abdominal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Infliximab is an anti-TNF alpha blocker frequently utilized in the management of moderate to severe Crohn's Disease. The immunosuppressive effects of infliximab may increase the risk for post-operative complications among Crohn's Disease patients undergoing abdominal surgery. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing the rates of post-operative complications among Crohn's disease patients treated with Infliximab therapy versus alternative therapies.

METHODS

We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and searched 4 electronic databases along with major conference abstract databases from inception of database until November, 2012. English-language articles and abstracts evaluating post-operative complications among Crohn's disease patients were considered eligible. We applied meta-analysis with random effects model to calculate the overall odds ratio for total major complications as well as several secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

Data were extracted from six studies including 1159 patients among whom 413 complications were identified. The most common complications were wound infections, anastomotic leak and sepsis. There was no significant difference in the major complication rate (OR=1.59[95% CI: 0.89-2.86]; p=0.15), minor complication rate (OR=1.80 [CI: 0.87-3.71]; p=0.11), reoperation rate (OR=1.33 [CI: 0.55-3.20]; p=0.52) or 30 day mortality rate (OR=3.74 [CI: 0.56-25.16]; p=0.13) between the Infliximab and control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta analysis provides some evidence that infliximab may be safe to continue in the pre-operative period without increasing the risk of post-operative complications for Crohn's disease patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

The incidence and predictors of lupus-like reaction in patients with IBD treated with anti-TNF therapies

BACKGROUND

The incidence of lupus-like reactions (LLRs) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (ATNF) has not been well defined. We aimed to characterize the features and predictors associated with LLR.

METHODS

We studied a cohort of adult patients with IBD treated with ATNF by a single specialist during 2009. Patients with LLR were characterized and compared with those without LLR for possible predictors.

RESULTS

Twenty of 289 patients (6.9%) had LLR (19.9 cases per 1000 patient-years). Female gender and IBD-unclassified were more prevalent in the LLR group (85% versus 54%, P = 0.009; and 15% versus 2.2%, P = 0.018, respectively), with a hazard ratio of 3.89 (95% confidence interval = 1.12-13.55; P = 0.033) and 7.38 (95% confidence interval = 1.93-28.23; P = 0.003), respectively. ATNF duration was shorter in the LLR group (median, 1 year [interquartile range, 0-3] versus 3 years [interquartile range, 1-6.5], P = 0.005). Arthropathy was universal, followed by fatigue and dermatitis (30% each). Antinuclear antibodies were universally positive, and 16 of 20 had anti-double-stranded DNA. ATNF was discontinued in all; 8 patients required corticosteroids and 1 required hydroxychloroquine followed by complete clinical resolution (mean 7.9 ± 5.9 months). Antinuclear antibodies reverted or normalized in 7 of 16 patients (44%). Fourteen patients (70%) were switched to a second ATNF, 2 with concomitant immunomodulators, and 12 as monotherapy. One patient on ATNF monotherapy developed a second LLR and was successfully switched to a third ATNF.

CONCLUSION

LLRs secondary to ATNFs are more frequent than previously reported, more common in women and IBD-unclassified. It is reversible with cessation of the culprit agent and steroids. Switching to an alternative ATNF rarely results in recurrence.

Use of exclusive enteral nutrition in adults with Crohn’s disease: A review

Exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) is well-established as a first line therapy instead of corticosteroid (CS) therapy to treat active Crohn’s disease (CD) in children. It also has been shown to have benefits over and above induction of disease remission in paediatric populations. However, other than in Japanese populations, this intervention is not routinely utilised in adults. To investigate potential reasons for variation in response between adult studies of EEN and CS therapy. The Ovid database was searched over a 6-mo period. Articles directly comparing EEN and CS therapy in adults were included. Eleven articles were identified. EEN therapy remission rates varied considerably. Poor compliance with EEN therapy due to unpalatable formula was an issue in half of the studies. Remission rates of studies that only included patients with previously untreated/new CD were higher than studies including patients with both existing and new disease. There was limited evidence to determine if disease location, duration of disease or age of diagnosis affected EEN therapy outcomes. There is some evidence to support the use of EEN as a treatment option for a select group of adults, namely those motivated to adhere to an EEN regimen and possibly those newly diagnosed with CD. In addition, the use of more palatable formulas could improve treatment compliance.

Comparing guidelines for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

As we enter into the era of 'personalized medicine', many of the recommendations of 'evidence-based medicine' require scrutiny and adaptation to optimize individual outcomes. Several examples of these discrepancies are exemplified by the topics of aminosalicylate use in Crohn's disease, early use of biologic agents that target TNF and the role of calcineurin inhibitors versus anti-TNF agents in steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis.

Efficacy and safety of sulfasalazine in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria

BACKGROUND

There are limited data regarding alternative treatments for antihistamine refractory chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). Patients with recalcitrant skin disease often cannot gain satisfactory symptom control with standard therapies and may require prolonged courses of oral corticosteroids. There is a lack of information describing the degree and duration of sulfasalazine's efficacy, the frequency and nature of adverse reactions, and the appropriate safety monitoring parameters.

OBJECTIVE

To present a case series detailing the efficacy and safety of sulfasalazine therapy in patients with CIU.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was conducted of 39 patients with sulfasalazine-treated CIU evaluated at Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center from October 2007 to March 2012. Eight patients were excluded from the final analysis.

RESULTS

Twenty-six patients (83.9%) showed an improvement in symptoms within the first 3 months, with 51.6% of patients (n = 16) becoming asymptomatic within the first 6 months of starting sulfasalazine. Eleven patients (35.4%) achieved complete relief of symptoms after tapering off sulfasalazine therapy. Five of the 31 patients (16.1%) failed treatment, defined as worsening symptoms and pursuit of an alternative therapy. Six of 31 patients (19.4%) had a modified course of sulfasalazine therapy owing to abnormal hematologic parameters. Serious adverse events leading to drug discontinuation occurred in 6.5% of patients (n = 2) and included a patient with drug-induced leukopenia and one with rhabdomyolysis.

CONCLUSION

Sulfasalazine is a highly effective treatment for patients with antihistamine resistant CIU. The frequency of adverse events leading to an alteration of sulfasalazine treatment supports the need for close monitoring of these patients.

Fecal microbiota transplantation for severe enterocolonic fistulizing Crohn’s disease

The concept of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine at least since the 4^th century. Evidence from recent human studies strongly supports the link between intestinal bacteria and inflammatory bowel disease. We proposed that standardized FMT might be a promising rescue therapy for refractory inflammatory bowel disease. However, there were no reports of FMT used in patients with severe Crohn’s disease (CD). Here, we report the successful treatment of standardized FMT as a rescue therapy for a case of refractory CD complicated with fistula, residual Barium sulfate and formation of intraperitoneal large inflammatory mass. As far as we know, this is the first case of severe CD treated using FMT through mid-gut.

Practical medical management of Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. After proper diagnosis, treatment decisions must be made on precise clinical judgment. During the course of the disease there are variable clinical features, so each case must be managed individually. Physicians who care for patients with Crohn's disease should be prepared for treatment options in different states of the disease and possible complications of both the disease and medications. This paper will focus on the management of Crohn's disease. We aim to discuss current treatment options in different presentations of the disease and to provide algorithmic management strategy.

A systematic review of economic studies on biological agents used to treat Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

Identifying clinical scenarios that maximize the cost-effectiveness of biological treatments can lead to optimized health care cost-saving and clinical effectiveness from a society's perspective.

METHODS

Published articles between January 1995 and June 2012 were searched in PubMed, EMBASE, ABI/INFORM, Tuft's Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Registry Database, Cochrane National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Studies of interest included the following: (1) cost studies, (2) economic evaluations, or (3) narrative or systematic reviews related to economic evaluations of biological treatments for moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease (CD). The primary outcomes of interest included costs associated with biological treatments and cost-effectiveness measures, including incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. A threshold of $100,000/quality-adjusted life year (£60,000/quality-adjusted life year) gained was used for treatment cost-effectiveness.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight studies were identified, including 15 economic evaluations and 23 cost studies or reviews of economic evaluations. Economic evaluations found that infliximab and adalimumab were more cost-effective than standard therapy for luminal CD when provided as an induction therapy followed by episodic therapy over 5 or more years. The cost-effectiveness of infliximab and adalimumab versus standard therapy for luminal CD was less certain when used as 1-year maintenance treatment with or without previous induction therapy. Cost studies revealed that infliximab therapy reduced health care resource utilization and cost. Older reviews were inconclusive about the cost-effectiveness of biological treatments used for CD.

CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence suggests that biological treatments may be cost-effective for CD under certain clinical scenarios. Future studies evaluating all biological treatments are needed to compare their respective benefits and costs.

Review article: immunogenicity of anti-TNF biologics in IBD - the role of patient, product and prescriber factors

BACKGROUND

Anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) to biologic therapies contribute to the loss of response and infusion reactions to anti-TNF drugs in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The reasons behind this immunogenicity are complex, and have not been the focus of a dedicated review for prescribers.

AIM

To provide an overview of the patient, product and prescriber factors, which have been associated with the immunogenicity of anti-TNF therapy, and draw conclusions for clinical practice.

METHODS

Review of representative observational studies and clinical trials from the IBD and other literature, which report associations with ADA development, with a focus on infliximab and adalimumab.

RESULTS

ADAs develop in 10-20% of patients receiving anti-TNF maintenance therapy, and these patients are three times more likely to lose response as ADA-negative patients. Patient genotype plays a role in ADA risk in a minority of patients, but age or disease type is not a major factor. Drug mishandling, such as agitation or freeze-thaw cycles, can induce protein aggregates, which are known to be immunogenic. Prescription of maintenance therapy with concomitant immunomodulators, and achieving suitable trough drug levels, reduces the risk of ADAs in patients with IBD.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients and prescribers can take several steps to reduce the risk of development of anti-drug antibodies to anti-TNF antibodies. Further research is required to determine if immunogenic factors identified in other situations apply to use of anti-TNFs in IBD.

Comparative outcomes of younger and older hospitalized patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with corticosteroids

BACKGROUND

Data on the differences in inpatient treatment approaches and outcomes between younger and older patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are limited. Therefore, we used a parallel cohort study design to compare outcomes between younger and older patients with IBD.

METHODS

All anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-naive patients aged 60 years and older hospitalized at our institution between 2003 and 2011 and treated with corticosteroids for an IBD flare were matched 1:1 to younger patients aged 18 to 50 years. Rates of corticosteroid response, colectomy, and initiation of anti-TNF therapy were compared.

RESULTS

Sixty-five patients were identified in each cohort. Median ages were 70 years (range, 60-94) and 30 years (range, 18-50) for the older and younger groups, respectively. Twenty-three percent of older patients were refractory to corticosteroids compared with 38% of the younger cohort (odds ratio, 0.5; 95% confidence intervals, 0.2-1.1). Older corticosteroid-refractory patients had surgery (80% versus 72%) and were started on anti-TNF therapy (20% versus 12%; P = 0.71), at a similar frequency as younger patients. Older steroid-responsive patients were less likely to start an anti-TNF agent during the first year of follow-up than younger patients (7% versus 31%, P = 0.006), but there was no difference in 1-year colectomy rates (27% versus 28%, P = 0.63).

CONCLUSIONS

Corticosteroid response was similar in older and younger patients hospitalized for IBD. Inpatient treatment for corticosteroid-refractory patients was similar between cohorts. Older corticosteroid-responsive patients were less likely to be treated with an anti-TNF than younger patients.

Interventions and targets aimed at improving quality in inflammatory bowel disease ambulatory care

Over the past decade, there has been increasing focus on improving the quality of healthcare delivered to patients with chronic diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease. Inflammatory bowel disease is a complex, chronic condition with associated morbidity, health care costs, and reductions in quality of life. The condition is managed primarily in the outpatient setting. The delivery of high quality of care is suboptimal in several ambulatory inflammatory bowel disease domains including objective assessments of disease activity, the use of steroid-sparing agents, screening prior to anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy, and monitoring thiopurine therapy. This review outlines these gaps in performance and provides potential initiatives aimed at improvement including reimbursement programs, quality improvement frameworks, collaborative efforts in quality improvement, and the use of healthcare information technology.

Identification of novel predictor classifiers for inflammatory bowel disease by gene expression profiling

Background

Improvement of patient quality of life is the ultimate goal of biomedical research, particularly when dealing with complex, chronic and debilitating conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This is largely dependent on receiving an accurate and rapid diagnose, an effective treatment and in the prediction and prevention of side effects and complications. The low sensitivity and specificity of current markers burden their general use in the clinical practice. New biomarkers with accurate predictive ability are needed to achieve a personalized approach that take the inter-individual differences into consideration.

Methods

We performed a high throughput approach using microarray gene expression profiling of colon pinch biopsies from IBD patients to identify predictive transcriptional signatures associated with intestinal inflammation, differential diagnosis (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), response to glucocorticoids (resistance and dependence) or prognosis (need for surgery). Class prediction was performed with self-validating Prophet software package.

Results

Transcriptional profiling divided patients in two subgroups that associated with degree of inflammation. Class predictors were identified with predictive accuracy ranging from 67 to 100%. The expression accuracy was confirmed by real time-PCR quantification. Functional analysis of the predictor genes showed that they play a role in immune responses to bacteria (PTN, OLFM4 and LILRA2), autophagy and endocytocis processes (ATG16L1, DNAJC6, VPS26B, RABGEF1, ITSN1 and TMEM127) and glucocorticoid receptor degradation (STS and MMD2).

Conclusions

We conclude that using analytical algorithms for class prediction discovery can be useful to uncover gene expression profiles and identify classifier genes with potential stratification utility of IBD patients, a major step towards personalized therapy.

Addition of thiopurines can recapture response in patients with Crohn's disease who have lost response to anti-tumor necrosis factor monotherapy

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antibodies are effective in maintaining remission in Crohn's disease. However, a significant proportion of patients lose response to these agents with time. This study aimed to determine whether the introduction of a thiopurine in patients who have lost response to anti-TNF monotherapy results in regained response.

METHODS

Five patients (four males; aged 22-38 years) with active Crohn's disease, who had an initial response to anti-TNF therapy but had lost response, were commenced on azathioprine or mercaptopurine at standard doses while continuing anti-TNF therapy. All had previously failed thiopurine therapy prior to starting anti-TNF treatment.

RESULTS

All patients experienced improved clinical symptoms within 2-6 months, with benefit sustained over a mean follow-up of 19 months. Two patients with an elevated C-reactive protein at the time of thiopurine addition demonstrated a fall in C-reactive protein. Colonoscopy before and after thiopurine addition in four patients showed improvement in all, with mucosal healing achieved in two. No adverse effects of treatment were noted.

CONCLUSIONS

Addition of a thiopurine in patients who have lost response to anti-TNF monotherapy is an effective strategy to recapture response even if the patient has previously failed thiopurine therapy. Thiopurines may reduce immunogenicity or act synergistically with anti-TNF therapy.

Review of the use of intralesional steroid injections in the management of ileocolonic Crohn's strictures

Most patients with Crohn's disease present with either terminal ileal or colonic disease, with 70% requiring surgery by 10 years after diagnosis. Recurrent stricturing at the anastomotic site is common, often symptomatic and can require re-operation with its inherent risks. Balloon dilation has been shown to provide good symptom relief from such strictures. However, repeat dilations may be required, and further surgical intervention to an anastomotic stricture is needed in up to 30% of cases. Injection of corticosteroids has been suggested as an adjunct to dilation in order to improve outcomes. This paper reviews the current literature on the use of intralesional steroid injections following endoscopic balloon dilation of anastomotic and de novo Crohn's strictures. There have been only two randomised placebo controlled trials and five small non-controlled or retrospective studies. Study numbers vary from 10 to 29 patients. The two randomised trials conflict in their conclusions and numbers are small in these studies. Currently therefore, no firm support can be given to the routine use of intralesional steroid injections.

Achievement of deep remission during scheduled maintenance therapy with TNFα-blocking agents in IBD

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Deep remission, meaning clinical remission with mucosal healing (MH), with anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) agents is a new target for therapy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our aim was to study how often patients on TNF-α blocking therapy actually achieve deep remission.

METHODS

The total of 252 IBD patients retrospectively included (183 Crohn's disease (CD), 62 ulcerative colitis (CU) or 7 inflammatory bowel disease unclassified-type colitis (IBDU)) received TNFα-antagonists (177 infliximab, 75 adalimumab) for at least 11 months and underwent ileocolonoscopy. We reviewed endoscopic and histological findings, clinical symptoms, C-reactive protein (CRP), and fecal calprotectin (FC) levels, and data on TNF-α blocking therapy. Defining deep remission as no clinical symptoms with endoscopic remission (the simple endoscopic score for Crohn's disease, SES-CD 0-2 or Mayo endoscopic subscore 0-1).

RESULTS

Of the 252 patients, 168 (67%) were in clinical remission and 122 (48%) in deep remission after a median of 23 months of maintenance therapy. Of the 183 CD patients, 117 (64%) reached clinical remission and 79 (43%) deep remission. Of the UC patients, 52 (75%) were in clinical remission and 43 (62%) in deep remission. The majority of patients in deep remission (n=99, 81%) also had histologically inactive disease. Both median CRP and FC levels were significantly lower in patients with deep remission.

CONCLUSION

Reassuringly, half of the IBD patients on the TNFα-blocking maintenance therapy achieved deep remission. The majority of patients in deep remission also achieved histological remission.

Dual therapy with infliximab and immunomodulator reduces one-year rates of hospitalization and surgery among veterans with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Effectiveness of early treatment with biologics and immunomodulator therapy on healthcare utilization remains poorly defined. We assessed rates of hospitalization and surgery within 1 year after initiation of infliximab and/or immunomodulator therapy in a United States cohort of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, observational cohort study of veterans with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis by using administrative data from 176 Department of Veteran Affairs facilities (October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2009). Inpatient, outpatient, and death records were linked longitudinally with prescription fill data. Each person-day of follow-up was assessed for treatment with infliximab, immunomodulators, both (dual therapy), or neither. We calculated drug exposure time and used Poisson and logistic regression analyses to assess outcomes.

RESULTS

The cohort of 20,474 patients included 8042 patients with Crohn's disease and 12,432 with ulcerative colitis (93.9% male; 72.5% white; mean age, 60.9 ± 14.5 years) prescribed infliximab (0.17%), immunomodulator (1.3%), or dual therapy (1.5%). Adjusted models revealed 50% relative reductions in hospitalization among patients who received 9.2 months of immunomodulator monotherapy, 8 months of infliximab, or 7.7 months of dual therapy. A 50% relative reduction in surgery was observed among patients receiving 7 months of infliximab or 5 months of dual therapy. Analysis of dose-response data revealed 73.1% and 92% reductions in risk of hospitalization and surgery, respectively, after 9 months of dual therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of a retrospective cohort study, dual therapy with infliximab and an immunomodulator for <8 months is associated with significant reductions in hospitalization and surgery within 1 year of the start of therapy. These findings indicate that patients with IBD are more likely to benefit if dual therapy is initiated earlier in their first year of therapy.

Exploring associations of 6-thioguanine nucleotide levels and other predictive factors with therapeutic response to azathioprine in pediatric patients with IBD using multilevel analysis

BACKGROUND

Metabolite monitoring and response predictors to azathioprine (AZA) in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are debatable. In an attempt to optimize thiopurine therapy and understand the mechanism of action of thiopurines, we correlated metabolites and other factors with AZA efficacy in children with IBD.

METHODS

Data from 86 children with IBD with 440 metabolite measurements were retrospectively analyzed using multilevel logistic regression analyses. A therapeutic response was defined as a pediatric Crohn's disease activity index ≤10 for Crohn's disease or a pediatric ulcerative colitis activity index ≤10 for ulcerative colitis without any treatment with steroids, antitumor necrosis factor, other immunomodulators, or exclusive enteral nutrition.

RESULTS

The 6-thioguanine nucleotide levels >250 pmol per 8 × 10 red blood cells correlated with a higher response (odds ratio, 4.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.49-11.46, P = 0.007), whereas 6-methyl-mercaptopurine and 6-methyl-mercaptopurine:6-thioguanine nucleotide ratio showed no correlation. Other novel response predictors in children with IBD were relative leukopenia (odds ratio, 14.01; 95% confidence interval, 3.77-52.10; P < 0.001) and the absence of lymphopenia (odds ratio, 3.71; 95% confidence interval, 1.26-10.89; P = 0.017). Lower thiopurine methyltransferase activity (P = 0.015), lower platelet count (P = 0.020), and higher aspartate aminotransferase level (P = 0.009) also predicted therapeutic response. Age, gender, patient adherence, the duration of AZA therapy, IBD type, erythrocyte count, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate did not predict efficacy. The high interindividual variability accounting for 57.7% of variance in therapeutic response was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The significant 6-thioguanine nucleotide level-response relationship may support metabolite monitoring to improve thiopurine efficacy in pediatric IBD. The reported response predictors may be helpful for treatment optimization in AZA-treated children with IBD, but should be proved in prospective studies.

Vedolizumab as induction and maintenance therapy for Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of vedolizumab, an α4β7 integrin antibody, in Crohn's disease is unknown.

METHODS

In an integrated study with separate induction and maintenance trials, we assessed intravenous vedolizumab therapy (300 mg) in adults with active Crohn's disease. In the induction trial, 368 patients were randomly assigned to receive vedolizumab or placebo at weeks 0 and 2 (cohort 1), and 747 patients received open-label vedolizumab at weeks 0 and 2 (cohort 2); disease status was assessed at week 6. In the maintenance trial, 461 patients who had had a response to vedolizumab were randomly assigned to receive placebo or vedolizumab every 8 or 4 weeks until week 52.

RESULTS

At week 6, a total of 14.5% of the patients in cohort 1 who received vedolizumab and 6.8% who received placebo were in clinical remission (i.e., had a score on the Crohn's Disease Activity Index [CDAI] of ≤150, with scores ranging from 0 to approximately 600 and higher scores indicating greater disease activity) (P=0.02); a total of 31.4% and 25.7% of the patients, respectively, had a CDAI-100 response (≥100-point decrease in the CDAI score) (P=0.23). Among patients in cohorts 1 and 2 who had a response to induction therapy, 39.0% and 36.4% of those assigned to vedolizumab every 8 weeks and every 4 weeks, respectively, were in clinical remission at week 52, as compared with 21.6% assigned to placebo (P<0.001 and P=0.004 for the two vedolizumab groups, respectively, vs. placebo). Antibodies against vedolizumab developed in 4.0% of the patients. Nasopharyngitis occurred more frequently, and headache and abdominal pain less frequently, in patients receiving vedolizumab than in patients receiving placebo. Vedolizumab, as compared with placebo, was associated with a higher rate of serious adverse events (24.4% vs. 15.3%), infections (44.1% vs. 40.2%), and serious infections (5.5% vs. 3.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

Vedolizumab-treated patients with active Crohn's disease were more likely than patients receiving placebo to have a remission, but not a CDAI-100 response, at week 6; patients with a response to induction therapy who continued to receive vedolizumab (rather than switching to placebo) were more likely to be in remission at week 52. Adverse events were more common with vedolizumab. (Funded by Millennium Pharmaceuticals; GEMINI 2 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00783692.).

Docosahexaenoic acid, inflammation, and bacterial dysbiosis in relation to periodontal disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and the metabolic syndrome

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, has been used to treat a range of different conditions, including periodontal disease (PD) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). That DHA helps with these oral and gastrointestinal diseases in which inflammation and bacterial dysbiosis play key roles, raises the question of whether DHA may assist in the prevention or treatment of other inflammatory conditions, such as the metabolic syndrome, which have also been linked with inflammation and alterations in normal host microbial populations. Here we review established and investigated associations between DHA, PD, and IBD. We conclude that by beneficially altering cytokine production and macrophage recruitment, the composition of intestinal microbiota and intestinal integrity, lipopolysaccharide- and adipose-induced inflammation, and insulin signaling, DHA may be a key tool in the prevention of metabolic syndrome.