Effectiveness and safety of tofacitinib in patients with chronic pouchitis multirefractory to biologics

Key Focus Areas in Pouchitis Therapeutic Status: A Narrative Review

Pouchitis, as the most common complication after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA), has an incidence from 7% to 46%. Pouchitis treatment still represents one of the biggest gaps of knowledge in the treatment of diseases. This review has focused on achievements and challenges in the treatment of pouchitis. A combined assessment of symptoms, endoscopic findings, histologic results, quick biomarkers, and fecal calprotectin test were determined to be valuable diagnostic criteria. Conventional therapy was described as a modification of bacterial flora, mainly with antibiotics and more recently with probiotics such as bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, and streptococci. Other therapeutic approaches such as anti-tumor necrosis factor, infliximab, adalimumab, vedolizumab, ustekinumab, tacrolimus, tofacitinib, thiopurines, corticosteroids, prolyl hydroxylase-containing enzymes, povidone-iodine, dextrose spray, fecal microbiota transplantation, herbal medicines, and leukocyte apheresis have been discussed. Changes in dietary components, and administration of complementary and alternative medicine, probiotics, and fecal transplantation in addition to conventional therapies were also shown to affect the outcome of disease. Due to the potential significant impairment in quality of life caused by pouchitis, it is essential to address the gaps in knowledge for both patients and physicians in its treatment. Therefore, well-designed and adequately powered studies should assess the optimal treatment for pouchitis.

Pouchitis: pathophysiology and management

Pouchitis is an acute or chronic inflammatory disease of the ileal reservoir. It is common after restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, and treatment of chronic antibiotic-refractory pouchitis has proven challenging. Most cases of acute pouchitis evolve into chronic pouchitis. The aetiology of acute pouchitis is likely to be partly related to the gut microbiota, whereas the pathophysiology of chronic pouchitis involves abnormal interactions between genetic disposition, faecal stasis, the gut microbiota, dysregulated host immunity, surgical techniques, ischaemia and mesentery-related factors. Pouchoscopy with biopsy is the most valuable modality for diagnosis, disease monitoring, assessment of treatment response, dysplasia surveillance and delivery of endoscopic therapy. Triggering or risk factors, such as Clostridioides difficile infection and use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, should be modified or eradicated. In terms of treatment, acute pouchitis usually responds to oral antibiotics, whereas chronic antibiotic-refractory pouchitis often requires induction and maintenance therapy with integrin, interleukin or tumour necrosis factor inhibitors. Chronic pouchitis with ischaemic features, fistulae or abscesses can be treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

The Natural History After Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis for Ulcerative Colitis: A Population-Based Cohort Study From the United States

INTRODUCTION

There are limited data regarding the natural history after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) for ulcerative colitis (UC). The principal objectives of this study were to identify 4 key outcomes in the natural history after IPAA within 1, 3, 5, and 10 years: the incidence of pouchitis, Crohn's-like disease of the pouch, use of advanced therapies after IPAA, and pouch failure requiring excision in a network of electronic health records.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study in TriNetX, a research network of electronic health records. In addition to evaluating incidence rates, we also sought to identify factors associated with pouchitis and advanced therapy use within 5 years of IPAA after 1:1 propensity score matching, expressed as adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs).

RESULTS

Among 1,331 patients who underwent colectomy with IPAA for UC, the incidence of pouchitis increased from 58% in the first year after IPAA to 72% at 10 years after IPAA. After propensity score matching, nicotine dependence (aHR 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19-2.18), antitumor necrosis factor therapy (aHR 1.33, 95% CI 1.13-1.56), and vedolizumab prior to colectomy (aHR 1.44, 95% CI 1.06-1.96) were associated with an increased risk of pouchitis in the first 5 years after IPAA. The incidence of Crohn's-like disease of the pouch increased to 10.3% within 10 years of IPAA while pouch failure increased to 4.1%. The incidence of advanced therapy use peaked at 14.4% at 10 years after IPAA.

DISCUSSION

The incidence of inflammatory conditions of the pouch remains high in the current era, with 14% of patients requiring advanced therapies after IPAA.

Treatment of Chronic Pouchitis With JAK Inhibitors: Results from A Large Multicenter Database

This retrospective study assessed the use of Janus kinase inhibitors in treating chronic pouchitis. While showing relative safety, Janus kinase inhibitors demonstrated effectiveness in <50% of cases, cautioning against their use as first-line agents. Larger randomized trials are recommended for further investigation.

Treatment of Antibiotic Refractory Chronic Pouchitis With JAK Inhibitors and S1P Receptor Modulators: An ECCO CONFER Multicentre Case Series

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Data regarding the effectiveness and safety of Janus kinase [JAK] inhibitors and sphingosine-1-phosphate [S1P] receptor modulators in antibiotic refractory chronic pouchitis [CARP] are lacking.

METHODS

This ECCO-CONFER project retrospectively collected data for JAK inhibitor or S1P receptor modulator treatments for CARP with at least 3 months of follow-up. The outcomes included corticosteroid- and antibiotic-free clinical response and remission at 3 and 12 months, and trends in modified pouchitis disease activity index [mPDAI], endoscopic PDAI, C-reactive protein, and calprotectin.

RESULTS

Seventeen treatments in 15 patients were evaluated. Previous pouchitis treatments included infliximab [5/15], adalimumab [4/15], vedolizumab [9/15], and ustekinumab [5/15]. Pooling data on JAK inhibitors [eight tofacitinib, one filgotinib, and six upadacitinib] after 3 months [T3], steroid- and antibiotic-free clinical response was achieved in 53.3% [8/15], and steroid- and antibiotic-free clinical remission was achieved in 40% [6/15]. Of the patients with at least 12 months of follow-up, steroid- and antibiotic-free clinical response was achieved in 50% [3/6] and remission in one patient [16.7%], endoscopic response in 50% [3/6], and endoscopic remission in 50% [3/6]. Of the two ozanimod treatments at T3, steroid- and antibiotic-free clinical response was achieved in one patient, without remission; both discontinued ozanimod before T12. No side effects were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Small molecules may represent a suitable option for CARP refractory to multiple biologics, deserving further investigation.

Efficacy and Safety of Upadacitinib in the Treatment of Chronic Pouchitis, Cuffitis, and Crohn's Disease of the Pouch

Upadacitinib has shown efficacy in the treatment of moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (CD). The use of upadacitinib in the treatment of chronic antibiotics-refractory pouchitis (CARP), as well as CD of the pouch, has not been previously reported. We treated a series of 6 patients with CARP or CD of the pouch with a minimal 6 weeks of upadacitinib. The patients showed minimal or no significant improvement in clinical and endoscopic presentations. Our findings warrant further study to validate the efficacy and safety of upadacitinib in the treatment of CARP or CD of the pouch.

The Rational Use of Advanced Therapies for Inflammatory Conditions of the Pouch

We have seen an emergence of new literature supporting the use of advanced therapies in the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions of the pouch. In this discussion, we review the use of advanced therapies for chronic pouchitis and Crohn’s-like disease of the pouch and suggest future directions for research and clinical care.