Inflammatory bowel disease in pregnancy

Case report: A pregnant woman with Crohn disease who used ustekinumab to the 3rd trimester developed severe infection

RATIONALE

Crohn disease (CD) and pregnancy often impact each other, which poses challenges for women with CD to successfully give birth to a healthy baby. The latest guideline recommends that patients with active inflammatory bowel disease delay pregnancy to induce remission and optimize disease control. Research data has showed that the incidence of infection and severe infection in patients treated with ustekinumab (UST) did not increase compared to those treated with a placebo.

PATIENT CONCERNS

This report describes the entire process of a pregnant woman with CD who has undergone ileostomy and long-term enteral nutrition and requires biological agents to control the disease, from conception to delivery. This case was pregnant during CD period and regularly treated with UST to the third trimester, with the onset of sepsis and septic shock at 38 weeks gestation.

DIAGNOSES

The patient was pathologically diagnosed with CD 16 years ago and admitted to our department at 38 weeks gestation.

INTERVENTIONS

After admission to our department, fetal heart monitoring indicated fetal distress, so we immediately terminated the pregnancy by cesarean section. After the diagnosis of septic shock, the patient was transferred to intensive care unit for active anti-infection and symptomatic supportive treatment.

OUTCOMES

The mother only experienced an infection in the third trimester, and cured by active treatment. The newborn was delivered at full term and confirmed to be low birth weight.

LESSONS

Her experience suggests that although pregnant during Crohn active period, a good outcome can be achieved through positively controlling with medication and closely monitoring it. The use of UST during pregnancy appears to be safe for both the mother and fetus but may be associated with severe infections.

Prescribing for pregnancy: inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases commonly present in young adulthood and it is estimated that up to one in 200 pregnant women have IBD. Key factors for successful pregnancy outcome are disease remission at the time of conception and optimal disease control during pregnancy, with active disease increasing the risk of adverse effects for both mother and baby. This article forms part of a series on prescribing for pregnancy and discusses the impact of IBD on pregnancy and the influence pregnancy may have on IBD. It highlights the importance of prepregnancy care and collaborative working between obstetric and gastroenterology specialties as well as focusing on prescribing before, during and after pregnancy, exploring treatment options for IBD which are evolving rapidly as new immunosuppressive agents emerge.

Biologics During Pregnancy in Women With Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Risk of Infantile Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Biologics, such as tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, anti-integrins and anticytokines, are therapies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that may increase the risk of infection. Most biologics undergo placental transfer during pregnancy and persist at detectable concentrations in exposed infants. Whether this is associated with an increased risk of infantile infections is controversial. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the risk of infantile infections after in utero exposure to biologics used to treat IBD.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and CENTRAL from inception to June 2020 to evaluate the association of biologic therapy during pregnancy in women with IBD and risk of infantile infections. Odds ratios of outcomes were pooled and analyzed using a random effects model.

RESULTS

Nine studies met the inclusion criteria comprising 8,013 women with IBD (5,212 Crohn's disease, 2,801 ulcerative colitis) who gave birth to 8,490 infants. Biologic use during pregnancy was not associated with an increased risk of all infantile infections (odds ratio [OR] 0.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73-1.14, I2 = 30%). In a subgroup analysis for the type of infection, biologic use was associated with increased infantile upper respiratory infections (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.02-2.40, I2 = 4%). Biologic use during pregnancy was not associated with infantile antibiotic use (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.73-1.14, I2 = 30%) or infection-related hospitalizations (OR 1.33, 95% CI 0.95-1.86, I2 = 26%).

DISCUSSION

Biologics use during pregnancy in women with IBD is not associated with the overall risk of infantile infections or serious infections requiring antibiotics or hospitalizations but is associated with an increased risk of upper respiratory infections.

Depression, Anxiety, Related Risk Factors and Cognitive Distortion in Korean Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the severity of depression, anxiety, associated risk factors, and cognitive distortion in Korean patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD).

METHODS

This study included 369 patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The severity of depression and anxiety was examined using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The Anxious Thoughts and Tendencies scale was used to measure catastrophizing tendency. Multivariate regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The predictors of depression were marital status, anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) agent use, age, and body mass index in UC patients and marital status, disease activity, alcohol use, and employment status in CD patients. For anxiety, sex and marital status were the associated factors in UC patients, whereas steroid use was the only significant predictor in CD patients. Comparing the cognitive distortion level, there were no significant differences between UC and CD patients although there was an increasing tendency according to the severity of depression or anxiety.

CONCLUSION

If patients are accompanied by high levels of depression or anxiety and their associated risk factors including TNF-α agent or steroid use, it is recommended that not only symptoms are treated but also cognitive approach and evaluation be performed.

What factors could influence physicians' management of women of childbearing age with chronic inflammatory disease? A systematic review of behavioural determinants of clinical inertia

BACKGROUND

Pregnancy represents a complex challenge to clinicians treating women with chronic inflammatory disease. Many clinicians face a situation of heightened sensitivity to the potential risks and uncertainties associated with the effect of pharmacological treatment on pregnancy outcomes. This may create an environment vulnerable to clinical inertia, whereby behavioural factors such as cognitive heuristics and biases, and other factors such as attitudes to risk and emotion can contribute. This systematic review was undertaken to assess if clinical inertia has been investigated/identified in this setting and took a behavioural science approach to identify and understand the potential determinants of clinical inertia in this treatment setting.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted to identify publications which investigated or described clinical inertia or its determinants (e.g. heuristics, biases etc.). Results were coded for thematic analysis using two inter-related behavioural models: the COM-B model and the Theoretical Domains Framework.

RESULTS

Whilst studies investigating or describing clinical inertia in this treatment setting were not identified, the behavioural analysis revealed a number of barriers to the pharmacological management of women of fertile age affected by chronic inflammatory disease. Factors which may be influencing clinician's behaviour were identified in all domains of the COM-B model. The primary factors identified were a lack of knowledge of treatment guidelines and fears concerning the safety of medications for mother and fetus. Lack of experience of treating pregnant patients was also identified as a contributing factor to undertreatment.

CONCLUSION

Using a behavioural approach, it was possible to identify potential factors which may be negatively influencing clinician's behaviour in this treatment setting, although specific research was limited.

Pregnant Women with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Are at Increased Risk of Vitamin D Insufficiency: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Vitamin D insufficiency is prevalent in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD], as well as in pregnant women; however, the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in pregnant women with IBD is unknown. This study assessed the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in pregnant women with IBD and the adequacy of recommended supplementation.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in pregnant women with inflammatory bowel disease [Crohn's disease = 61, ulcerative colitis = 41] and without inflammatory bowel disease [n = 574]. Chi square tests and log binomial regression were used to examine the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency. Covariates included ethnicity and season. Adequacy of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy was also assessed.

RESULTS

The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency [25-OHD ≤75 nmol/L] in those with Crohn's disease was 50.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 38.4%-63.2%) and 60.9% [95% CI: 45.3%-74.7%] with ulcerative colitis compared with 17.4% [95% CI: 14.6%-20.8%] without inflammatory bowel disease. Women with inflammatory bowel disease were more likely to be vitamin D insufficient after adjusting for ethnicity and season (Crohn's disease-adjusted relative risk [aRR] = 2.98,;: 2.19-4.04; ulcerative colitis-aRR = 3.61; 95% CI: 2.65-4.93). Despite vitamin D supplementation, 32.3% [95% CI: 17.8%-51.2%] of those with Crohn's disease, 58.3% [95% CI: 37.1%-76.9%] of those with with ulcerative colitis, and 10.8% [95% CI: 6.9%-16.6%] of those without inflammatory bowel disease were still vitamin D insufficient.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnant women with inflammatory bowel disease are at increased risk of vitamin D insufficiency compared with those without inflammatory bowel disease. The current guidelines for vitamin D supplementation may be inadequate for pregnant women with inflammatory bowel disease.

A free terminal ileal perforation from active crohn disease in pregnancy: a diagnostic challenge

The surgical management of the complications of Crohn disease is often challenging. These difficulties are compounded in pregnancy by competing interests of the mother and the baby. In this report, we describe the presentation and surgical management of a patient in her second trimester with active Crohn disease who required emergent surgical intervention. She had presented with the uncommon complication of a free perforation in the presence of active untreated disease.

Asia-Pacific consensus statements on Crohn's disease. Part 2: Management

The Asia Pacific Working Group on Inflammatory Bowel Disease was established in Cebu, Philippines, at the Asia Pacific Digestive Week conference in 2006 under the auspices of the Asian Pacific Association of Gastroenterology (APAGE) with the goal of developing best management practices, coordinating research and raising awareness of IBD in the region. The consensus group previously published recommendations for the diagnosis and management of ulcerative colitis (UC) with specific relevance to the Asia-Pacific region. The present consensus statements were developed following a similar process to address the epidemiology, diagnosis and management of Crohn's disease (CD). The goals of these statements are to pool the pertinent literature specifically highlighting relevant data and conditions in the Asia-Pacific region relating to the economy, health systems, background infectious diseases, differential diagnoses and treatment availability. It does not intend to be all-comprehensive and future revisions are likely to be required in this ever-changing field.

Treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Pregnancy: The Issues We Face Today

Many women of childbearing age are living with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD], yet there are limited studies on the use of IBD medications in pregnancy. In this review, we provide a comprehensive update on the safety of these medications during pregnancy, particularly thiopurines and biologicals. Antibiotics, steroids, and aminosalicylates are relatively low risk for use in pregnancy, and growing evidence supports the safety of immunomodulators and anti-tumour necrosis factor agents as well. Available studies on infliximab, adalimumab, and certolizumab pegol show no increase in adverse events during pregnancy or perinatally. Similarly, studies on lactation demonstrate that concentrations of subcutaneous anti-tumour necrosis factor biologicals are undetectable, and levels of thiopurines and infliximab are negligible in breast milk. Less is known about anti-integrins in pregnancy [eg natalizumab and vedolizumab] but currently available data suggest they may be safe as well. Although more studies are needed to examine the long-term effects of these medications on offspring, the available data provide reassuring information for providers caring for women of childbearing age.

Surgical management of colonic perforation due to ulcerative colitis during pregnancy: Report of a case

This report describes a young female in her second trimester of pregnancy with known ulcerative colitis on maintenance medical therapy. She was admitted for abdominal pain, and workup revealed a colonic stricture and ulceration with contained perforation. After multidisciplinary discussion she was managed with colectomy and end ileostomy. She delivered a healthy newborn 18 wk after surgery. Only a few prior reports described surgical management of inflammatory bowel disease during pregnancy, with recent results indicating low risk of adverse outcomes.

Brief report: Risk of adverse fetal outcomes associated with immunosuppressive medications for chronic immune-mediated diseases in pregnancy

OBJECTIVE

To assess the risk of adverse fetal outcomes following exposure to individual immunosuppressive drugs in pregnant women with chronic immune-mediated diseases.

METHODS

Health plan data were obtained from the Tennessee Medicaid and Kaiser Permanente Northern California and Southern California claims databases, with linkage to both vital records and medical records. Women with inflammatory arthropathies, those with systemic lupus erythematosus, and those with inflammatory bowel disease who filled prescriptions for immunosuppressive treatments during pregnancy were included. Major congenital malformations, fetal deaths, and life-threatening neonatal complications were identified from the electronic data and validated with medical record review.

RESULTS

The cohort included 608 infants, including 437 with exposure to immunosuppressive drugs during the mother's pregnancy (402 during the first trimester, and 35 during the second and third trimester only) and 171 whose mothers filled prescriptions for immunosuppressive treatments before, but not during, pregnancy. There were 25 pregnancies (4.1% of the cohort) with confirmed major congenital malformations, and 10 fetal deaths (1.6% of the cohort). Among 113 preterm infants with exposures during pregnancy, 23 (20.4%) had life-threatening neonatal complications, and among 485 term infants, 10 (2.1%) had life-threatening complications. Compared to the reference group (treatment before, but not during, pregnancy), the risk ratios (RRs) for adverse fetal outcomes associated with immunosuppressive treatments (by exposure category) during pregnancy included the following: methotrexate (RR 1.39, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.43-4.53), tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.38-2.55), hydroxychloroquine (RR 1.33, 95% CI 0.69-2.55), and other immunosuppressive medications (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.48-1.98).

CONCLUSION

In this study, there was no evidence of a large increase in risk of adverse fetal outcomes from first-trimester exposure to immunosuppressive medications, although the confidence intervals for the risk ratios were wide. Further studies will be needed as use of these medications increases over time.

Update on pregnancy and breastfeeding in the era of biologics

Inflammatory bowel diseases are chronic conditions that frequently affect patients during their childbearing years. Considering the characteristics of disease and the medications used to treat it, several issues arise in the care of these patients when they attempt or achieve conception. We review the most current evidence concerning fertility and pregnancy outcomes in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. With the exception of those women who undergo pelvic surgery, patients with inflammatory bowel diseases have no decreased fertility. Sulfasalazine decreases fertility in men. When looking at obstetrical outcomes, active disease at conception is associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery and low birth weight. While most medications used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases are low risk, some precautions need to be taken and the risk-to-benefit ratio needs to be considered on an individualized basis. In general, aminosalicylates and thiopurines should be continued, but methotrexate is contraindicated. Anti-tumour necrosis factor agents are considered safe to continue but full monoclonal antibodies do cross the placenta. As a general rule, the it is important to counsel women that conception is optimal when disease is in remission, as adverse obstetrical outcomes are directly associated with disease activity. Clinicians need to educate patients before, during and after conception, emphasizing treatment compliance.

Family planning and inflammatory bowel disease: the patient and the practitioner

BACKGROUND

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are commonly in their child-bearing years. Maintainance medication, as recommended by international guidelines, is an emotive topic and an anxiety source. This study measures the awareness of patients and primary practitioners of the issues involved.

METHODS

A prospective questionnaire was sent to female patients (18-50 years) with an IBD diagnosis in Kerry General Hospital, Ireland, who were identified from radiology and pathology databases. A seperate questionnaire was sent to General Practitioners (GPs) in the region.

RESULTS

About 31 female patients (42%) and 49 GPs (43%) returned completed questionnaires. About 29% had Crohn's disease and 71% ulcerative colitis. A total of 42% of patients would allow having IBD or its treatment to influence decisions about family planning. Most patients were on maintainance medications. Despite this, 68% had not discussed family planning with a doctor. One-third believed all medications should be stopped during pregnancy and 68% reported significant anxiety about future pregnancies. A total of 68% GPs report regular contact with IBD patients, but consultations with pregnant IBD patients are less frequent. About 41% of GPs have not opportunistically raised family planning with this patient group and 67% would refer to a tertiary specialist for advice. About 2% of GP's had need to research the topic in the last 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a significant patient knowledge deficit about pregnancy and IBD resulting in unwarranted fears and anxiety. Further evidence based education for GP's with increased gastroenterologist/IBD nurse specialist support should maximize exploitation of health promotion opportunities to electively address this issue.

[Depression and risk factors in patients with Crohn's disease]

PURPOSE

This study was conducted to determine the risk factors among patients with depression with Crohn's disease.

METHODS

Data were collected by questionnaire from 276 patients who were diagnosed with Crohn's disease at a tertiary hospital located in Seoul. Measurements included patients' demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, depression level, and health-related quality of life. Data were analyzed using t-test, χ²-test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, and logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

The incidence rate of depression (BDI-II ≥ 14 scores) was 31.9% (n=88). Univariate analysis revealed that being a woman, school graduation status, economic status (low), BMI(<18.5 Kg/m²), disease duration (≥ 3 years), CDAI (≥ 150 scores), frequency of hospital admission (≥ 2), extra-intestinal manifestation (arthralgia, stomatitis), administration of 5-aminosalicylic acid, and disease related quality of life (SIBDQ<50 scores) were associated with depression. Multivariate analysis revealed that economic status (low), school graduation status, and quality of life (SIBDQ<50 scores) were more likely to report high level of depression.

CONCLUSION

Future research should consider managing depression as an essential component of comprehensive care for patients with Crohn's disease. In addition, further research is needed to develop strategies to better improve quality of life among patients with Crohn's disease who are depressed.

Safety and efficacy of immunomodulators and biologics during pregnancy and lactation for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

INTRODUCTION

The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic, idiopathic, inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, that peak in incidence during the reproductive years. Therefore, the safety of IBD medications during pregnancy and lactation is of significant interest to patients. Unfortunately, the current pregnancy labeling used by the United States Food and Drug Association (FDA) is often misinterpreted and may mislead healthcare providers and their patients to believe that risk increases from Category A to B to C to D to X, which in fact, is not the case. In addition, the FDA categories do not always distinguish between risks based on human versus animal data, or between differences in frequency, severity, and type of fetal developmental toxicities.

AREAS COVERED

This article provides an in-depth review of the available safety data during pregnancy and lactation for the more potent immunosuppressants used to treat IBD: the immunomodulators and biologics. It also includes the authors' expert opinions on the use of these medications during these critical periods.

EXPERT OPINION

The benefit-to-risk ratio for most immunomodulators and biologics used in the treatment of IBD favors medication continuation during pregnancy. Certain immunomodulators, however, can cause extreme fetal harm and should be used with caution. While human safety data regarding teratogenesis and some data on pregnancy outcomes exist for most IBD medications, long-term follow-up studies of children and young adults exposed to these drugs in utero are lacking. These studies are needed to determine if these drugs are of sufficiently low risk to be considered safe.