ECCO Guidelines on Therapeutics in Crohn's Disease: Medical Treatment

Colonic strictures in Crohn's disease: a non-surgical survival

BACKGROUND

Colonic stenosis in Crohn's disease (CD) is uncommon, and data on surgery-free survival are limited. This study aimed to determine surgery-free survival rates and identify associated factors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted from 2003 to 2022, including patients with CD complicated by colonic stenosis. Patients with uncertain diagnoses or follow-up periods of less than six months were excluded.

RESULTS

Fifty-six patients were included (median age 44 years [range 14-65], male-to-female ratio = 0.93). Surgery-free survival rates were 58.9% at 6 months, 43.7% at 2 years, and 31.7% at 5 years, with an average surgery-free survival of 46.7 months. Univariate analysis showed that joint manifestations (p = 0.01), corticosteroids (p = 0.02), anti-TNF alpha (p = 0.02), salicylates (p = 0.02), and azathioprine (p = 0.01) increased surgery-free survival. Complications such as collections or internal fistulas (p = 0.03), parietal ulceration on imaging (p = 0.01), and acute intestinal obstruction (p = 0.01) were associated with reduced surgery-free survival. In multivariate analysis, biologic therapy was the only independent protective factor against surgery (p = 0.001, OR = 0.19).

CONCLUSION

The early introduction of biologic therapy is crucial for increasing surgery-free survival in patients with colonic stenosis in CD, given the limited effectiveness of conventional treatments.

Naproxen and prednisolone reduced intestinal alteration and permeability and bacterial translocation in rat adjuvant-induced arthritis

BACKGROUND

In patients with spondyloarthritis, intestinal permeability (IP) and bacterial translocation (BT) has been described as increased. Anti-inflammatory medications are known to induce deleterious intestinal changes in the general population, their effects in case of arthritis have been poorly studied.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effect of NSAIDs and glucocorticoids on IP, BT and intestinal integrity in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA).

METHODS

Arthritis was induced in 6-week-old male Lewis rats by injection at the base of the tail of Mycobacterium butyricum. At first signs of arthritis, rats were treated daily with naproxen, diclofenac, celecoxib, prednisolone or vehicle (saline). After 21 days of treatment, intestinal damage was determined by measure of levels of intestinal Fatty Acid Binding Protein (iFABP, ELISA), IP by measure of levels of zonulin and BT by measure of levels of soluble CD14 (sCD14, ELISA) and LPS (by liquid chromatography coupled mass spectrometry). Articular inflammation was assessed by the determination of an arthritis and radiographic score.

RESULTS

All treatments reduced and radiographic score in AIA rats (p < 0.05) compared to vehicle. In comparison with AIA, treatment with naproxen significantly reduced circulating zonulin, iFABP, LPS and sCD14 levels. Celecoxib increased zonulin but had no effect on iFABP levels. Diclofenac increased LPS levels but did not change sCD14 or iFABP levels. Prednisolone only reduced iFABP and sCD14 levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study is the first to demonstrate the positive effects of naproxen, a non-selective COX inhibitor and prednisolone on the intestinal barrier in a murine model of reactive arthritis-type spondyloarthritis.

Treatment sequences, outcomes, healthcare utilization, and costs in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases requiring advanced treatment-real world comparative effectiveness from German claims data

BACKGROUND

There is limited data on inflammatory bowel disease advanced therapy sequences. Therefore, we examined real-world advanced therapy sequences to compare persistence, healthcare use and costs in first-line advanced therapy.

METHODS

Evaluable patient characteristics, treatments, sequences, and outcomes were extracted from the WIG2 claims benchmark database and observed from 2014 to 2021. Therapeutic effectiveness (persistence without discontinuation or inadequate response), healthcare resource utilization, and associated costs were analyzed. Advanced treatment group differences were adjusted by inverse probability weighting.

RESULTS

Two thousand nine hundred forty-eight patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis initiated at least one of the following advanced therapies during the study period: adalimumab (1,260), golimumab (111), infliximab (1,035), tofacitinib (17), ustekinumab (138) or vedolizumab (387). In patients with ulcerative colitis, vedolizumab as first-line advanced therapy demonstrated superior effectiveness in persistence without inadequate response over three years compared to infliximab (p < 0.05). Patients taking infliximab or ustekinumab had higher disease-related costs than those taking adalimumab, golimumab, tofacitinib or vedolizumab. In Crohn's disease patients, first-line treatment with adalimumab (p < 0.001), ustekinumab (p < 0.001) and vedolizumab (p < 0.017), showed superior persistence over 3 years compared to infliximab, and time to inadequate response was longer in patients taking adalimumab and vedolizumab (p < 0.001). Disease-specific treatment costs were lower in patients receiving adalimumab or vedolizumab as first-line advanced therapy. Compared to infliximab, patients treated with ustekinumab had significantly higher costs.

CONCLUSIONS

Anti-TNF agents were most frequently used in first-line advanced therapy; however, vedolizumab appeared to be a preferred choice in terms of persistence and cost measures over three years from the start of treatment.

The use of the Crohn's disease exclusion diet (CDED) in adults with Crohn's disease: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The Crohn's disease exclusion diet (CDED) has been shown to induce remission in adult Crohn's disease (CD) patients. The aim of the study is to provide additional evidence-based validation.

METHODS

We conducted an open-label, randomized trial on adult CD patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms to assess CDED efficacy in inducing symptomatic remission using Mediterranean diet as control. We evaluate demographic data, body mass index (BMI), Harvey-Bradshaw Index (HBI), faecal calprotectin, and serum inflammatory indices at baseline, 12, and 24 weeks. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) was used to ensure the safety of the CDED group every 12 weeks.

RESULTS

Twenty-four patients were assigned to CDED, and 21 to controls, with no baseline differences among the parameters considered. Five CDED patients dropped out due to intolerance within the first 6 weeks. At 12 weeks, CDED patients showed significantly lower HBI and higher remission rates than controls. By 24 weeks, remission rates increased (70.8% vs. 38.1% at 12 weeks and 79.2% vs. 42.9% at 24 weeks; p = .027 and p < .0001, respectively), with significantly lower fibrinogen levels in the CDED group. The administration of CDED was associated with a significant decrease in BMI (25.8 kg/m2-24.5 kg/m2, p = .047), although BIA analysis showed a decrease in fat mass (18.2%-15.5%, p < .0001), while fat-free mass and body cellular mass significantly increased at 12 weeks (p = .001 and p = .042, respectively) and remained stable at 24 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

The CDED was effective in inducing remission among patients with mild-to-moderate CD and appeared to be safe and well-accepted.

Clinical outcomes in Crohn's disease patients with short bowel syndrome on home parenteral nutrition are comparable to those with short bowel syndrome from other etiologies

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) and chronic intestinal failure require home parenteral nutrition (PN) support. The main cause of SBS remains Crohn's disease (CD), and complications in this cohort versus SBS from other etiologies remains to be determined. We therefore sought to investigate whether patients with SBS secondary to CD versus SBS secondary to other etiologies, have increased risk of complications and whether there is a difference in overall mortality between groups.

METHODS

This is a multicentre prospective cohort study using the Canadian Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN) Registry. Two groups were compared: 1) SBS secondary to CD (SBS-CD) vs. 2) SBS- secondary to other etiologies (SBS-Other) (including trauma, surgical complication, vascular event, volvulus and malignancy). Clinical data for each patient included: number of hospitalizations, number of hospitalizations related to HPN and number of hospitalization days related to HPN, incidence of line sepsis per 1000 catheter days and mortality. Descriptive statistics are presented as median (interquartile range) for continuous variables and as frequency (percentage) for categorical variables as appropriate. Comparison between groups were performed using a 2-sample t-test,Poisson regression analysis or Wilcoxon rank sum test for continuous variables and Chi-square or Fisher exact tests when appropriate for categorical variables. Kaplan-Meir curve and multivariate analysis was performed to assess mortality. Statistical significance is set at a p-value <0.05.

RESULTS

The study included 383 patients with SBS and intestinal failure: 172 (45 %) SBS-CD and 211 (55 %) SBS-Other; followed for median of 4 (2, 6) years and 2 (2, 4) years respectively (p = 0.027). The groups were comparable at baseline except for younger age, shorter small bowel length and medications with higher use of immunosuppressant therapy (39 % vs. 7 %, p < 0.001) in those with CD. The number of hospitalizations, hospitalization days, and line sepsis per 1000 catheter days were similar amongst the SBS- CD and SBS-Other (p > 0.05 across all primary outcomes). Mortality events were also similar between groups (31 patients (26.72 %) in SBS CD group vs. 37 patients (29.84 %) in SBS- Other group, p = 0.6676). The Kaplan-Meir curve did not show a statistical difference in mortality between groups but a multivariate analysis of the entire patient population showed that age was associated with mortality. In subgroup analysis, patients with SBS- CD taking immunosuppressant therapy were not at higher risk of hospitalizations or line sepsis compared to those not on immunomodulating therapies (0.50 versus 1.57 p = 0.0417).

CONCLUSION

Individuals with SBS CD do not have increased risk of hospitalizations, central line infections or mortality compared to those with SBS from other causes. In CD, those on immunomodulating therapies do not appear to be at increased risk of complications.

Factors affecting response rates in patient-reported outcome measures in inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel diseases, Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are associated with reduced quality of life (QoL). By using questionnaire tools called patient-reported outcome measures (PROM), patients' well-being and health-status can be measured. The aim of this study was to identify subgroups at risk of being missed in questionnaire monitoring and assess QoL and variability of responses over time.

METHODS

CD or UC, age ≥18 years, receiving biological treatment subcutaneously or intravenously, 01 August 2018 to 31 January 2020, at Karolinska University Hospital, were included. Patients completed standardised and validated questionnaires for QoL-measurements; Short Health Scale (SHS) and EuroQol 5-dimension-index (EQ5D).

RESULTS

412 patients, 287 (70%) Crohn's disease, 125 (30%) ulcerative colitis, 267 (65%) males, median age: 33 (range 18-85). Patients receiving subcutaneous treatment completed PROM questionnaires significantly less frequently compared with intravenous treatment (multiplicative factor 6.5, 5.7-7.5 95% CI). Reduced QoL was seen for intravenous treatment (multiplicative factor 2.0, 0.5-3.5 95% CI) and active disease (multiplicative factor -4.0, -6.1 to -1.9 95% CI). Greater variability in responses was seen in active disease, anaemia, faecal calprotectin ≥ 250 mg/kg.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients receiving subcutaneous treatment, equivalent to home-based treatment, completed significantly fewer PROM questionnaires and are therefore less monitored. It is therefore important to offer different modes of questionnaire administration when monitoring a heterogeneous patient population especially as we see a shift towards oral forms of therapy.

Comparative analysis of natural language processing methodologies for classifying computed tomography enterography reports in Crohn's disease patients

Imaging is crucial to assess disease extent, activity, and outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Artificial intelligence (AI) image interpretation requires automated exploitation of studies at scale as an initial step. Here we evaluate natural language processing to classify Crohn's disease (CD) on CTE. From our population representative IBD registry a sample of CD patients (male: 44.6%, median age: 50 IQR37-60) and controls (n = 981 each) CTE reports were extracted and split into training- (n = 1568), development- (n = 196), and testing (n = 198) datasets each with around 200 words and balanced numbers of labels, respectively. Predictive classification was evaluated with CNN, Bi-LSTM, BERT-110M, LLaMA-3.3-70B-Instruct and DeepSeek-R1-Distill-LLaMA-70B. While our custom IBDBERT finetuned on expert IBD knowledge (i.e. ACG, AGA, ECCO guidelines), outperformed rule- and rationale extraction-based classifiers (accuracy 88.6% with pre-tuning learning rate 0.00001, AUC 0.945) in predictive performance, LLaMA, but not DeepSeek achieved overall superior results (accuracy 91.2% vs. 88.9%, F1 0.907 vs. 0.874).

Population Pharmacokinetics and Exposure-Response Relationships of Etrolizumab in Patients with Moderately-to-Severely Active Crohn's Disease

This study aimed to characterize the pharmacokinetics (PK) of etrolizumab, an IgG1-humanized monoclonal anti-β7 integrin antibody, and assess its exposure-response (ER) relationship for key clinical outcomes in patients with moderately-to-severely active Crohn's disease. ER analyses were based on data from Phase 3 BERGAMOT trial, which evaluated etrolizumab at 105 or 210 mg during induction phase and 105 mg during maintenance phase. Population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed to characterize etrolizumab PK and identify influential covariates. ER analyses were conducted at end of induction and maintenance for clinical remission, endoscopic improvement, and endoscopic remission. ER modeling was performed using logistic regression, and full covariate model was used to examine the impact of baseline covariates on clinical outcomes. Pharmacokinetics of etrolizumab was best characterized using a two-compartment model with first-order absorption, demonstrating a time-dependent decrease in clearance. Typical maximum reduction of clearance was 22.0% (95% CI: 20.5%-23.5%) with onset half-life of 3.45 (95% CI: 2.84-4.04) weeks. Baseline body weight, albumin, and C-reactive protein were the most impactful covariates for etrolizumab exposure. Based on population PK results, trough concentration at Week 4 of induction was selected as exposure metric. Etrolizumab exposure-response slope was significant (P < .05) for clinical remission, endoscopic improvement, and endoscopic remission final models in maintenance phase, but none of final ER models of induction phase. For all induction ER endpoints, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-naive patients had significantly higher probability of a favorable outcome at end of induction compared to TNF-experienced patients. In summary, exposure-response was more evident at end of maintenance than at end of induction.

Infliximab Biosimilar Utilization in a Large Pediatric Learning Health System

Background/Objectives: Infliximab biosimilars entered the United States (US) market in November 2016. Uptake of infliximab biosimilars has been slow in adult studies. We aimed to assess variation in the initiation of infliximab biosimilars in a large pediatric cohort. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study using data from 2016 to 2023 prospectively collected by the ImproveCareNow (ICN) Network, a multicenter pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) quality improvement collaborative. Pediatric patients with IBD who started any infliximab therapy were included. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patient characteristics and changes in the use of infliximab agents. Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests were used to evaluate differences in infliximab biosimilar initiation over time by race, age, ethnicity, and region. Results: In total, 4602 patients from 73 ICN centers started an infliximab agent. Infliximab biosimilar initiation rose steadily from 1% in 2018 to nearly 42% in 2023, with 88% of centers using biosimilars in 2023. Overall, from 2016 to 2023, the total percentage of patients who were started on an infliximab biosimilar was 17.3%. There were no differences in infliximab biosimilar initiation by age, race, or ethnicity, except in 2020 for age and race. The Midwest, West, and Southwest regions had higher initiation rates of infliximab biosimilars than the rest of the US. Conclusions: The percentage of patients with IBD initiating an infliximab biosimilar rose slowly to nearly 42% by 2023, and eight (12%) centers never recorded prescribing an infliximab biosimilar in the ICN Network. There were no differences in biosimilar initiation based on race or ethnicity.

Impact of preoperative use of biologics on 30-day surgical morbidity and mortality in patients with Crohn's disease undergoing ileocolectomy: National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database analysis

Preoperative use of biologics has been inconsistently reported to be associated with increased frequency of infectious and surgical anastomotic complications in inflammatory bowel disease patients. We aimed to evaluate the rates of 30-day postoperative morbidity and mortality in Crohn's disease patients exposed preoperatively to biologics. Data were collected from the NSQIP (National Surgical Quality Improvement Program). Crohn's disease patients undergoing open or laparoscopic ileocolectomy were identified using corresponding ICD 10 and CPT Codes from the NSQIP Participant Use Data File (PUF) for 2021. Patients were divided based on the preoperative use of biologics (group 1) and (group 2) for whom no biologics were used. A total of 910 patients (female n = 473; 52%, mean age of 42.3 ± 16.1) were included. The group 1 patients were significantly younger (40.30 years ± 15.33) than group 2 (43.58 years ± 16.8, p = 0.002) and had significantly slightly higher ASA III and IV scores (97.4% vs. 97.2%, p = 0.004). On the other hand, group 2 had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension (20.2% vs. 12.8%, p = 0.003) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2.6% vs. 0%, p = 0.001). No significant difference in remaining preoperative variables, surgical approach (laparoscopic vs. open), and comorbidities were found between the two groups. Only a significant prevalence of deep vein thrombosis and thromboembolism was found in patients exposed to biologics (1.1% vs. 0%, p = 0.027). Crohn's disease patients undergoing ileocolectomy and exposed preoperatively to biologics did not show a significant increase in 30-day postoperative morbidity and mortality. The outcomes did not support the concept that biological agents increase septic complications.

Proactive Drug Monitoring Versus Clinically Based Dosing for Endoscopic Healing in Pediatric Crohn's Disease Receiving Infliximab

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Proactive dosing based on therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of adalimumab is associated with higher rates of sustained corticosteroid-free clinical remission (SCFCR) in children with Crohn's disease (CD) than that with reactive TDM. We aimed to investigate whether proactive dosing of infliximab (IFX) based on TDM is associated with higher rates of endoscopic healing (EH) in pediatric patients with CD than that with clinically based dosing.

METHODS

We conducted a non-blinded, randomized controlled trial of 112 biologic-naïve children with CD who had responded to IFX induction treatment at 4 centers in South Korea between July 2017 and November 2020. Patients were randomly assigned to receive dosing based on proactive TDM (proactive arm) or clinically based dosing (clinical arm). The primary endpoint was EH at week 54.

RESULTS

The primary endpoint was achieved in 80.0% (40/50) of the proactive arm and 57.1% (28/49) of the clinical arm (P = .025). SCFCR was achieved in 69.6% (39/56) of the clinical arm and 89.3% (50/56) of the proactive arm at week 54 of treatment (P = .019). According to the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the intervention group (proactive arm vs clinical arm) was an independent factor associated with EH (odds ratio, 3.48; 95% confidence interval, 1.26-10.43; P = .019) and SCFCR (odds ratio, 5.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.72-21.61; P = .007).

CONCLUSIONS

Dosing based on proactive TDM was superior to clinically based dosing in terms of EH in a randomized controlled trial of pediatric CD. Trial identifier: cris.nih.go.kr: KCT0005190.

Immunogenicity and Efficacy of Subcutaneous Infliximab Monotherapy vs Combination Therapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Intravenous (IV) infliximab (IFX) combined with an immunomodulator (combination therapy) outperforms IV IFX monotherapy in terms of clinical, endoscopic, and immunogenicity outcomes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). With the advent of subcutaneous (SC) IFX, which is associated with higher serum drug concentrations, it is essential to assess whether SC IFX monotherapy provides similar pharmacokinetic and clinical benefits as combination therapy.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis (until August 2024), of studies on patients with IBD treated with SC IFX. The primary outcome was anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) formation within 12 months (M) after starting SC IFX or after switching from IV to SC IFX. Secondary outcomes included treatment persistence, clinical efficacy, and biochemical parameters.

RESULTS

Twenty-four studies (n = 3172) were included. Among patients transitioning from IV IFX induction to SC IFX, immunogenicity was more prevalent with monotherapy than combination treatment (median, 68% vs 48%; odds ratio [OR], 3.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.71-6.31; P < .001). Clinical response rates at 12M were comparable, with a trend favoring combination therapy (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.50-1.06; P = .10). In patients switching from IV maintenance to SC IFX, relapse rates were low (median, 12% at 6M, 11% at week 50), with stable biochemical markers. Treatment persistence was high (93% at 6M, 92% at 12M). Among patients with quiescent disease at the time of switching, 1-year relapse rates were 9% to 11%, with baseline immunogenicity predicting treatment failure.

CONCLUSION

SC IFX monotherapy is associated with higher immunogenicity rates compared with combination therapy, particularly in new IFX starters. Although clinical response was comparable, a trend favoring combination therapy warrants further investigation.

Six-Year Observation Data Reveal Reduction in Concomitant Steroid Overuse for Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Germany

BACKGROUND

Maintenance and/or prolonged treatment with oral corticosteroid (OCS) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is not recommended, yet remains common. This study assessed concomitant OCS use and overuse in IBD patients in Germany from 2017 to 2022.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed German claims data (2017-2022). Patients over 18 years of age with continuous insurance and at least s2 quarterly diagnoses of Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) within 2 years were included. To increase the diagnostic certainty and clinical relevance, only patients with IBD who were currently receiving any form of IBD therapy were included in the analysis. OCS overuse was defined as receiving ≥2 OCS prescriptions within 1 year alongside other IBD medications.

RESULTS

The study identified 9407 patients with confirmed CD and 11 772 patients with confirmed UC who were treated with IBD medications excluding OCS monotherapy within the observation period. Among those, 42.8% of CD patients and 39.0% of UC patients were treated with concomitant OCS (CD vs. UC, P < .0001), while 31.3% of CD patients and 29.4% of UC patients exhibited concomitant OCS overuse (CD vs. UC, P < .01). Concomitant OCS use and overuse were more common among younger age groups (P < .01). OCS use and OCS overuse decreased significantly (P < .0001) from 2017 to 2022.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides real-world insights into the patterns of OCS use and overuse in IBD patients. The continued reliance on OCS is highlighted, particularly in CD patients and younger age groups. Notably, steroid overuse has decreased significantly over the last 6 years.

Anti-IL-12/23p40 antibodies for induction of remission in Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease leading to symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, and complications such as strictures and fistulas. Ustekinumab (CNTO 1275) and briakinumab (ABT-874) are monoclonal antibodies that target the standard p40 subunit of the cytokines interleukin-12 and interleukin-23 (IL-12/23p40), which are involved in the pathogenesis of CD. Briakinumab has been withdrawn for the treatment of CD, making ustekinumab the only available antibody against the p40 subunit of interleukin-12 and interleukin-23 approved for this purpose.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the benefits and harms of anti-IL-12/23p40 antibodies for induction of remission in CD, as compared to no treatment, placebo, other drug treatment, or varying dosing schedules.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the following databases: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PubMed, and MEDLINE (from inception to 2 February 2024) and Embase (from inception until 12 August 2022). We also searched ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO ICTRP, references, and conference abstracts to identify additional studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of at least four weeks' duration in which monoclonal antibodies against IL-12/23p40 were compared to placebo, no treatment, or another active comparator in people with active CD. We also included trials examining different doses of antibodies against IL-12/23p40.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently screened studies for inclusion and extracted data. We assessed the methodological quality of the included studies using Cochrane's RoB 2 tool. The primary outcome was failure to induce clinical remission by week 8, or 6 to 12 as available. Secondary outcomes included failure to induce clinical improvement (clinical response), induction of endoscopic remission, quality of life, and adverse events, serious adverse events, and withdrawals due to adverse events. We calculated the risk ratio (RR) or risk difference (RD) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for each outcome unless substantial heterogeneity was detected. We analyzed data on an intention-to-treat basis. We assessed the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach.

MAIN RESULTS

Eight RCTs involving a total of 3224 participants with CD met the inclusion criteria. All studies were double-blinded. We assessed the risk of bias for most outcomes as either low risk of bias or some concerns. Based on a pooled analysis of three trials, ustekinumab decreased the number of participants failing to achieve clinical remission at eight weeks when compared to placebo. Seventy-four per cent (693/938) of participants in the ustekinumab group and 87% (421/483) of those in the placebo group did not enter clinical remission (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.81 to 0.89; 3 studies; 1421 participants; high-certainty evidence). Treatment with ustekinumab likely did not lead to more serious adverse events when compared to placebo, with 5% (48/966) and 6% (30/505) of participants affected in the ustekinumab and placebo groups, respectively (RD -0.01, 95% CI -0.03 to 0.01; 3 studies; 1471 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). A single small study in children compared two different induction doses of ustekinumab. The evidence for this outcome is very uncertain due to wide CIs. Eighty-one per cent (17/21) of participants receiving the higher induction dose (9 mg/kg or 390 mg) did not enter clinical remission at eight weeks, compared to 78% (18/23) of participants receiving the lower induction dose of 3 mg/kg or 130 mg (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.39; 1 study; 44 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Separate safety data for the eight-week time point were not available for this comparison. Based on one trial comparing ustekinumab to adalimumab, the evidence is very uncertain about which is the more beneficial drug. Fifty per cent (95/191) of participants receiving ustekinumab did not enter remission compared to 52% (101/195) of participants receiving adalimumab (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.17; 1 study; 386 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Separate results on adverse events at eight weeks were not reported for this comparison.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Ustekinumab reduces the risk of people with CD failing to enter clinical remission at eight weeks. It probably does not lead to more serious adverse events when compared to placebo. There were inadequate data to conclude the more effective induction dose of ustekinumab in children. No studies evaluated adverse events at eight weeks for this comparison. There may be little to no difference between ustekinumab and other biologics, such as adalimumab or guselkumab, in inducing clinical remission at week 8, but the evidence is very uncertain, and separate data on adverse events at eight weeks were not available.

Efficacy of Vaccination and Revaccination Against Hepatitis B Virus Using 2 Different Strategies in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) exhibit an increased risk for acquiring hepatitis B virus (HBV), thus they should be vaccinated preferably, if not already infected or immunized. We assessed the efficacy of HBV vaccination in IBD patients and impact of different factors on the immune response. We also evaluated the success rate of 2 different revaccination strategies in the nonresponders.

METHODS

This was a retrospective observational cohort study carried out in 5 tertiary centers. All patients were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen, antibodies against hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs), and antibodies against hepatitis B core antigen. Patients tested negative and underwent the standard schedule with 20 µg at 0, 1, and 6 months. Nonresponders (anti-HBs <10 IU/L) were offered a revaccination scheme with either 3 doses of 40 µg at 0, 1, and 6 months or an accelerated scheme with 20 µg at 0, 1, and 2 months.

RESULTS

A total of 409 patients were included, and 273 (66.7%) of those (females: 49.5%; Crohn's disease [CD]: 56.7%) responded to baseline vaccination. A total of 189 (69.2%) of 273 (females: 48.1%; CD: 60.3%) developed anti-HBs >100 IU/L. Body mass index <30 kg/m2 (P = .017) was positively associated, while diagnosis of CD (P = .013), extensive UC (P <.0001), extraintestinal manifestations (P = .001), and treatment with immunomodulators/anti-tumor necrosis factor (P < .00) negatively affected the response. Revaccination was offered to 103 patients, and 58.3% of them achieved anti-HBs >10 IU/L. Both revaccination strategies were equally effective.

CONCLUSIONS

IBD patients demonstrate lower response to HBV vaccination compared with the general population. Age, body mass index, type, disease activity, and immunosuppression negatively affect the response. Half of nonresponders may benefit from an enhanced revaccination attempt.

Developing a Machine-Learning Prediction Model for Infliximab Response in Crohn's Disease: Integrating Clinical Characteristics and Longitudinal Laboratory Trends

BACKGROUND

Achieving long-term clinical remission in Crohn's disease (CD) with antitumor necrosis factor α (anti-TNF-α) agents remains challenging.

AIMS

This study aims to establish a prediction model based on patients' clinical characteristics using a machine-learning approach to predict the long-term efficacy of infliximab (IFX).

METHODS

Three cohorts comprising 746 patients with CD were included from 3 inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) centers between June 2013 and January 2022. Clinical records were collected from baseline, 14-, 30-, and 52-week post-IFX treatment. Three machine-learning approaches were employed to develop predictive models based on 23 baseline predictors. The SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) algorithm was used to dissect underlying predictors, and latent class mixed model (LCMM) was applied for trajectory analysis of the longitudinal change of blood routine tests along with long-term IFX therapy.

RESULTS

The XGBoost model exhibited the best discrimination between long-term responders and nonresponders. In the internal training and testing set, the model achieved an AUC of 0.91 (95% CI, 0.86-0.95) and 0.71 (95% CI, 0.66-0.87), respectively. Moreover, it achieved a moderate predictive performance in the independent external cohort, with an AUC of 0.68 (95% CI, 0.59-0.77). The SHAP algorithm revealed disease-relevant laboratory measurements, notably hemoglobin (HB), white blood cells (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), albumin (ALB), and platelets (PLT), alongside age at diagnosis and the Montreal classification, as the most influential predictors. Furthermore, 2 distinct patient clusters based on dynamic laboratory tests were identified for monitoring the long-term remission.

CONCLUSIONS

The established prediction model demonstrated remarkable discriminatory power in distinguishing long-term responders from nonresponders to IFX therapy. The identification of distinct patient clusters further emphasizes the need for tailored therapeutic approaches in CD management.

Deep Sequencing of Crohn's Disease Lamina Propria Phagocytes Identifies Pathobionts and Correlates With Pro-Inflammatory Gene Expression

BACKGROUND

Crohn's disease (CD) is characterized by an inflammatory response to gut microbiota. Macrophages and dendritic cells play an active role in CD inflammation. Specific microbiota have been implicated in the pathogenesis of ileal CD. We investigated the phagocyte-associated microbiome using an unbiased sequencing approach to identify potential pathobionts and elucidate the host response to these microbes.

METHODS

We collected ileal and colonic mucosal biopsies from CD patients and controls without inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), isolated lamina propria phagocytes (CD11b+ cells), and performed deep RNA sequencing (n = 37). Reads were mapped to the human genome for host gene expression analysis and a prokaryotic database for microbiome taxonomic and metatranscriptomic profiling. Results were confirmed in a second IBD cohort (n = 17). Lysed lamina propria cells were plated for bacterial culturing; isolated colonies underwent whole genome sequencing (n = 11).

RESULTS

Crohn's disease ileal phagocytes contained higher relative abundances of Escherichia coli, Ruminococcus gnavus, and Enterocloster spp. than those from controls. CD phagocyte-associated microbes had increased expression of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis pathways. Phagocytes with a higher pathobiont burden showed increased expression of pro-inflammatory and antimicrobial genes, including PI3 (antimicrobial peptide) and BPIFB1 (LPS-binding molecule). E. coli isolated from the CD lamina propria had more flagellar motility and antibiotic resistance genes than control-derived strains.

CONCLUSIONS

Lamina propria resident phagocytes harbor bacterial strains that may act as pathobionts in CD. Our findings shed light on the role of pathobionts and the immune response in CD pathogenesis and suggest new targets for therapies.

Prolonged time to treatment of biologics in inflammatory bowel disease: disparities from a retrospective study in a tertiary referral centre in the UK

BACKGROUND

Several disparities in healthcare utilisation and delivery are reported in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We examined disparities for delays in biologic administration.

METHODS

This is a tertiary centre, retrospective, cohort study of consecutive adult IBD outpatients referred to the biologics clinic (BC) for initiation of therapy over 2 years. We collected patient-, disease- and service-related data in addition to adverse clinical outcomes (primary non-response, corticosteroid prescription, IBD hospital admission and surgery) within 6 months of the first dose of therapy. The primary outcome was time-to-therapy (TTT): time interval from referral to the first drug dose. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses examined associations between variables and TTT.

RESULTS

240 patients started biologics: 87 (36%) ulcerative colitis (UC) and 153 (64%) Crohn's disease (CD). Median referral age was 43 years (IQR 34-56) and 128 (53%) were male. Charlson Comorbidity Index was ≤ 1 in 185 patients (77%) and 141 (59%) were biologic naïve. 91 (37.9%) were White British, 88 (36.7%) Asian (Indian or Pakistani), 61 (25.4%) were from other ethnic groups. Median TTT was 76 (IQR 56-97) days. In multivariable analysis, longer TTT was associated with CD, other ethnic groups and Adalimumab. Lack of funding at the time of BC and referral age were of borderline statistical significance. Adverse outcomes at 6 months was significantly associated with C-reactive protein level > 10 mg/L (OR 2.13; p = 0.03) but not with longer TTT.

CONCLUSIONS

Delays in initiating biologic therapy are significantly associated with IBD type, ethnicity and therapy type. Unwarranted variation in IBD care can be mitigated by concerted initiatives to address modifiable factors for timely access to effective therapies.

Applications of generative artificial intelligence in inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic conditions that can lead to a physical, social, and economic burden. Generative artificial intelligence (AI), particularly ChatGPT, gained attention for its potential to support medical practice. However, concerns remain about the reliability and consistency of its responses. This study systematically reviews the existing evidence on the role of generative AI in IBD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines. Studies investigating generative AI in IBD care were identified through PubMed and Embase (Jan 2020-Sep 2024).

RESULTS

From 2875 records, 8 studies (2023-2024) met inclusion criteria: 5 on patient education, 2 on decision support, and 1 on research ideation. For patient education, ChatGPT provided clear and accurate responses, with accuracy reaching 84.2 % in a study, though sometimes lacked consistency. In decision support, ChatGPT's classifications of ulcerative colitis severity aligned with clinician assessments in 80 % of cases and in 87.8 % of cases for guideline-based dysplasia management. For research ideation, ChatGPT generated highly relevant (mean score: 4.9 ± 0.26) and clear (4.8 ± 0.41) questions, but lacked specificity (2.86/5) and originality (1.07/5).

CONCLUSIONS

Generative AI shows promise in IBD care, but concerns about accuracy, consistency, and outdated information highlight the need for expert oversight before clinical integration.

Monitoring Structural Bowel Damage in Patients With Crohn's Disease Using Intestinal Ultrasonography: Can It Be Reversed by Biological Treatment?

BACKGROUND

Currently, medical therapy of Crohn's disease (CD) can reduce the progression of some forms of structural bowel damage (SBD), but it does not prevent it. Once SBD has developed, it is important to assess the potential of medical treatments to reverse this damage.

AIMS

To determine whether transmural healing (TH), assessed by intestinal ultrasonography (IUS), can be achieved with medical treatment in CD patients with SBD compared to those without.

METHODS

A prospective, longitudinal, observational study was conducted to compare IUS monitoring at 3 and 12 months of treatment between CD patients with SBD prior to treatment and those with an inflammatory pattern.

RESULTS

Three months after starting treatment, patients without SBD had a significantly higher TH rate than those with SBD (25.8% vs 7.8%, respectively; P = .004). However, after 12 months, the TH rate was not significantly higher in patients without SBD compared to those with SBD (34% vs 26.6%, respectively; P = .317). During these 12 months, the need for corticosteroids, hospitalizations, and surgical resection was significantly higher in the SBD group.

CONCLUSIONS

Biological treatment can reverse SBD in CD, but hospitalizations and surgery rates remain higher in this group.

5-Aminosalicylates for non-surgical patients with active or quiescent Crohn's disease: an overview of systematic reviews (umbrella review)

BACKGROUND

5-aminosalicylates (5-ASAs) are commonly used in non-surgical patients with Crohn's disease (CD), especially in mild-to-moderate disease, despite current guidelines against their use. Despite this, the evidence regarding their efficacy is mixed, with conflicting findings in systematic reviews (SRs).

AIMS

We conducted an overview of reviews (umbrella review) to consolidate existing knowledge from published SRs on using 5-ASAs in patients with active or quiescent CD.

METHODS

We systematically searched for relevant SRs published in English until July 6, 2024, summarizing data on 5-ASAs used in induction, maintenance, or withdrawal trials of CD. We also searched for placebo-controlled RCTs of 5-ASAs published after 2015.

RESULTS

Eight SRs met our inclusion criteria, with the number of included RCTs of 5-ASAs in CD ranging from 2 to 22. Two were network meta-analyses (NMA); 4 were Cochrane SRs. SRs found no evidence of benefit for oral 5-ASAs over placebo for maintaining medically induced remission. The latest NMA in 2017, including 22 RCTs for induction of remission, suggested that high-dose mesalamine (≥ 2.4 g) was more effective than placebo, though ranking lower than systemic corticosteroid and high-dose budesonide. No placebo-controlled RCT of 5-ASAs was published after 2015, only the ongoing STATIC trial is investigating the withdrawal of 5-ASAs in patients with quiescent CD.

CONCLUSION

This overview of SRs suggests that the evidence does not support the use of 5-ASAs for maintaining medically induced remission. However, high-dose mesalamine may be considered for inducing remission in selected patients with mild luminal CD who prefer to avoid steroids.

Prevalence of opportunistic infections in Syrian inflammatory bowel disease patients on biologic therapy: a multi-center retrospective cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B, hepatitis C, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and tuberculosis (TB) pose significant risks to patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) receiving biological therapy. However, data on the prevalence of these infections in Syria are scarce.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective chart review of IBD patients receiving biologic therapy at Damascus Hospital and Ibn Al-Nafees Hospital, two major public institutions in Syria, between January 2021 and November 2024. A minimum sample size of 130 was estimated; however, all available records were reviewed.

RESULTS

Among 185 IBD patients (104 from Damascus and 81 from Ibn Al-Nafees), 51.4% had ulcerative colitis and 47.6% had Crohn's disease. The smoking prevalence was 9.2%, which was higher in Crohn's disease (5.9%) than in ulcerative colitis (3.2%). TST performed in 61.1% of patients, with 4.3% positivity, and interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) in 8.7% (1.1% positive). Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HBc antibodies were found in 2.7% and 5.4% of the patients, respectively, while hepatitis C seroprevalence was low (0.5%). CMV seropositivity was high in Damascus (50.8%), with two cases (1.1%) of CMV colitis. Biologic therapies included infliximab (42.7%), ustekinumab (24.3%), golimumab (10.8%), and adalimumab (6.5%). Data gaps, particularly in viral serology and TB screening, are notable.

CONCLUSION

This study identifies deficiencies in TB/hepatitis B screening (notably anti-HBs Ab) and elevated CMV seroprevalence among Syrian IBD patients receiving biologics, extending to immunosuppressed cohorts (rheumatology, dermatology, oncology). Insufficient screening heightens occult infection/reactivation risks, necessitating standardized pretreatment protocols to reduce morbidity in high-risk populations.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

Not applicable.

Thiopurines and the Risk of Cancer in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Reference Individuals Without Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Danish Nationwide Cohort Study (1996-2018)

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Thiopurine therapy is a cornerstone in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to assess the effect of thiopurines on cancer risk in IBD according to drug exposure and age.

METHODS

Danish national registers were used to identify incident IBD patients, exposure to drugs, and status of cancers, in 1996 to 2018. Cox regressions were used to compare cancer risks in IBD and non-IBD individuals and to assess IBD patients' cumulative drug exposure and the association to first cancer, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer.

RESULTS

We followed 43,419 patients with IBD for a median of 8.2 years (interquartile range, 3.7-14.2 years) after IBD diagnosis. Cancer was reported in 3128 (7.2%) patients with IBD. The risk of cancer was increased in patients with IBD in all age categories compared with non-IBD individuals (<50 years: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43-1.77; 50-65 years: aHR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.19-1.44; and >65 years: aHR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05-1.24). Monotherapy (aHR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.17-1.57) and combination therapy (aHR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.64-3.78) were associated with an increased risk of cancer compared to unexposed patients with IBD. Among elderly patients (>65 years), the aHR was 2.79 (95% CI, 1.24-6.28) in those receiving combination therapy. In patients discontinuing thiopurines, aHRs returned to the level of unexposed (aHR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.78-1.01). The aHR was positively associated with cumulative thiopurine exposure and in patients with >5 years of exposure, reaching an aHR of 1.36 (95% CI, 1.15-1.61).

CONCLUSIONS

Thiopurines were associated with increased hazard of cancer, especially when used in combination therapy in the elderly. The hazard increased by 36% when patients were exposed to thiopurines for more than 5 years. Reassuringly, the hazard returned to baseline after discontinuation of thiopurines.

Perianal Fistulizing Crohn's Disease: Utilizing the TOpClass Classification in Clinical Practice to Provide Targeted Individualized Care

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Perianal fistulation is a challenging phenotype of Crohn's disease, with significant impact on quality of life. Historically, fistulae have been classified anatomically in relation to the sphincter complex, and management guidelines have been generalized, with lack of attention to the clinical heterogenicity seen. The recent 'TOpClass classification system' for perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease (PFCD) addresses this issue, and classifies patients into defined groups, which provide a focus for fistula management that aligns with disease characteristics and patient goals. In this article, we discuss the clinical applicability of the TOpClass model and provide direction on its use in clinical practice.

METHODS

An international group of perianal clinicians participated in an expert consensus to define how the TOpClass system can be incorporated into real-life practice. This included gastroenterologists, inflammatory bowel disease surgeons, and radiologists specialized in PFCD. The process was informed by the multi-disciplinary team management of 8 high-volume fistula centres in North America, Europe, and Australia.

RESULTS

The process produced position statements to accompany the classification system and guide PFCD management. The statements range from the management of patients with quiescent perianal disease to those with severe PFCD requiring diverting-ostomy and/or proctectomy. The optimization of medical therapies, as well as the use of surgery, in fistula closure and symptom management is explored across each classification group.

CONCLUSION

This article provides an overview of the system's use in clinical practice. It aims to enable clinicians to have a pragmatic and patient goal-centered approach to medical and surgical management options for individual patients with PFCD.

Global prevalence of biologic drugs use in inflammatory bowel diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Biologics are increasingly essential in managing inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) worldwide, as they can modify disease progression and improve patients' quality of life. This study aimed to analyze the global prevalence of and geographic variations in the use of biological drugs for IBD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Articles published up to 21 July 2024, were identified from the PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, IBECS, WPRIM, BRISA/RedETSA and LILACS databases. Population-based studies (cohort, case-control and cross-sectional) and studies using administrative databases with data on the prevalence of biological medicine use in patients with IBD were included. Two reviewers independently screened the studies, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality. Estimates were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis, whereas heterogeneity was evaluated using Cochran's Q test and I2.

RESULTS

Of the 8239 titles, 68 (n = 3,482,385 patients) were included. An increase in the number of studies on the subject has been reported since 2017, and these studies have been mostly concentrated in high-income countries. A 15.06% (95% CI 11.84-18.28%) prevalence of biologic use in IBD worldwide was reported, predominantly concentrated in the use of anti-TNF agents 15.01% (95% CI 10.35-19.67%). Furthermore, patients with Crohn's disease (CD) had a greater prevalence of biologic use (21.41%; 95% CI 16.31-26.50%) than ulcerative colitis (UC) patients (9.70%; 95% CI 6.20-13.18%).

CONCLUSIONS

Further studies using population-based and administrative data and stratifying their analyses by disease type are required to confirm our findings. Future studies should be conducted in Latin America, Asia and Africa.

Overcoming the challenges of overtreating and undertreating inflammatory bowel disease

Several therapeutic advances have been achieved over the past two decades for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The expanding therapeutic armamentarium and the increasingly ambitious treatment targets have led to an increased use of advanced therapies and better outcomes. Nevertheless, many patients remain suboptimally treated and are at risk of disease progression, hospital admission, and surgery, even when advanced therapies are cycled, escalated, or combined. Conversely, IBD can also be characterised by an indolent disease course. Top-down and treat-to-target strategies, although beneficial in a substantial proportion of patients, might not be advantageous in patients with mild disease and might risk overtreatment. Identifying patients with mild activity and a benign disease trajectory in the long-term is important; unnecessary exposure to advanced therapies increases the risk of adverse events and increases financial costs and health-care resource utilisation. This Review details the importance of adopting clinical strategies to avoid the pitfalls of undertreating and overtreating IBD.

Use of Intraoperative Ultrasonography of the Small Bowel to Reduce Histologically Positive Margins in Crohn's Disease Surgery: A Pilot Study

Background/Objectives: The histological involvement of surgical resection margins in Crohn's disease (CD) is an important risk factor for postoperative recurrence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS) of the small bowel to best identify the surgical site of resection and reduce the rate of the histological involvement of margins. Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent ileocolic surgery for CD were prospectively enrolled (IOUS group) and underwent IOUS to fix the resection site. A control historical group of patients undergoing the same surgical procedures was considered and a 1:1 propensity score matching for location of disease and repeated surgery was performed. The primary endpoint was the histological involvement of resection margins. The secondary endpoint was to assess the feasibility of the method. Results: Twenty-seven patients were enrolled in the IOUS group and twenty-seven were enrolled in the non-IOUS group. The two groups were homogeneous in terms of gender, age, smoking, BMI, behavior of disease, and surgical technique. The IOUS group presented a lower rate of histological positive margins (18.5% vs. 48.1%; p = 0.021). No significant differences were found in terms of mean duration of surgery (IOUS: 254.2 min vs. non-IOUS: 225 min [SD = 49.3-77.8]; p = 0.11) or in terms of mean length of surgical specimen (IOUS: 24.1 cm vs. non-IOUS: 34.1 cm [SD = 13.5-23.1]; p = 0.058). Conclusions: IOUS of the small bowel appears to be a useful tool to obtain a lower rate of histologically positive margins with a comparable duration of surgery and no significant difference in the intestinal specimen length.

Isolated perianal Crohn's disease: a systematic review and expert consensus proposing novel diagnostic criteria and management advice

Perianal fistulae can present a diagnostic challenge when distinguishing perianal Crohn's disease from idiopathic perianal fistulae. This distinction is key, as perianal Crohn's disease requires inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) therapy, whereas idiopathic perianal fistulae are primarily managed surgically. When luminal inflammation is absent, but Crohn's disease is suspected, the term isolated perianal Crohn's disease is sometimes applied. However, no formal guidance exists for diagnosing or managing isolated perianal Crohn's disease. Furthermore, whereas fistula granuloma might provide specific evidence of Crohn's disease, they are rarely detected in perianal fistulae, so are unlikely to sensitively delineate aetiology. This project aimed to develop an opinion-based framework for isolated perianal Crohn's disease. A systematic review evaluated clinical features suggestive of isolated perianal Crohn's disease and evidence for IBD therapies in patients with perianal fistulae without luminal IBD. The findings of this systematic review informed a multidisciplinary consensus process with IBD specialists, resulting in the formulation of diagnostic criteria and management recommendations for isolated perianal Crohn's disease. We then tested this diagnostic approach in a prospective cohort of 50 patients treated as having idiopathic perianal fistulae at a proctology referral centre, identifying six (12%) individuals as meeting the diagnostic criteria. Our findings underscore the scarcity of evidence guiding isolated perianal Crohn's disease diagnosis and the need for a composite risk-based assessment. The proposed framework provides a tool for clinical practice and research but requires validation and refinement. Clear communication with patients is essential, given the diagnostic and therapeutic uncertainties. Future studies should refine these criteria, explore biological markers for isolated perianal Crohn's disease, and establish evidence-based methods to differentiate isolated perianal Crohn's disease within the perianal fistulae spectrum.

Annual Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease During Infliximab Maintenance Therapy: Balancing Efficacy with Risk of Pharmacokinetic Failure

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Recent studies indicate that proactive therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) can improve clinical outcomes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated with infliximab. Repetitive infliximab trough level (IFX TL) measurements for proactive TDM may increase patient inconvenience and medical costs. Therefore, we aimed to determine the optimal interval for TDM during infliximab maintenance therapy in patients with IBD.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study was performed on the patients with IBD who were in clinical remission on infliximab maintenance therapy and had IFX TL ≥ 3 μg/mL after one-time dose optimization. Infliximab TL were measured before each infliximab infusion to identify the pharmacokinetic (PK) relapse (two consecutive IFX TL < 3 μg/mL). Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the time to PK relapse.

RESULTS

A total of 103 patients were enrolled and followed for a median of 18.5 months. PK relapse occurred in 19 patients (18.5%), with a higher rate of PK relapse in patients with IFX TL 3-5 μg/mL (16/60, 26.7%) compared to those with IFX TL ≥ 5 μg/mL (3/43, 7.0%). Kaplan-Meier survival time to maintain 95%, 90%, 85%, 80%, and 75% therapeutic IFX TL persistence rate without PK relapse was 4.1, 10.3, 13.3, 14.3, and 19.8 months, respectively. Log-rank test showed that therapeutic IFX TL persistence rates were significantly lower in patients with IFX TL 3-5 μg/mL group compared to those with IFX TL ≥ 5 μg/mL group (p = 0.010). Kaplan-Meier retention time to maintain 85% therapeutic IFX TL persistence rate without PK relapse was 10.3 months in IFX TL 3-5 μg/mL group and 20.2 months in IFX TL ≥ 5 μg/mL group, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Proactive TDM measuring with IFX TL annually may be helpful in maintaining therapeutic IFX TL ≥ 3 μg/mL in 85% of patients with IBD and clinical remission on infliximab maintenance therapy.

Factors driving persistence to first-line advanced therapies in inflammatory bowel disease: a real-world study from a tertiary referral centre

Factors driving the persistence of advanced therapies-defined as the duration from therapy initiation to discontinuation-in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the persistence of biologics and oral small molecules in a real-word IBD cohort and to identify influencing factors. Data from IBD patients starting advanced therapy at a tertiary referral centre after 2010 were retrospectively collected, including persistence and discontinuation reasons. Differences in persistence probability among therapies were analysed, and factors influencing persistence versus discontinuation due to failure were assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses. Among 274 included patients [median age 42.5 years; F/M 119/155; 146 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 128 with ulcerative colitis; median follow-up 38 months (IQR 14-75)], 141 (51.5%) remained persistent with first-line therapy, while 70 (26%) discontinued due to failure. No significant difference in persistence was observed among drugs (p = 0.11). Univariate analysis identified CD phenotype (p < 0.01), disease duration prior to therapy (p = 0.01), concomitant mesalamine or steroids (p < 0.01), and therapy optimisation (p < 0.01) as factors influencing persistence. Multivariate analysis confirmed CD phenotype as associated with higher persistence, while therapy optimisation was linked to increased discontinuation risk. CD was associated with better drug persistence, while therapy optimisation correlated with a higher discontinuation rate. Targeting deep healing and enhancing timely, precise optimisation strategies is essential for improving treatment outcomes.

Comparative efficacy of subcutaneous infliximab switching in remission and non-remission patients with inflammatory bowel disease after intravenous maintenance: 1-year outcome from a multicentre cohort study

Background

Elective switching from intravenous (IV) to subcutaneous (SC) infliximab (IFX) has shown efficacy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, long-term outcomes for patients not in remission remain unclear.

Objectives

We evaluated the effectiveness of SC IFX switching in both remission and non-remission patients.

Design

This study was a retrospective multicentre study conducted across five tertiary hospitals in Korea.

Methods

Patients with IBD who switched to SC IFX between January 2021 and January 2023 were included. Clinical remission was defined as a Crohn's Disease Activity Index of <150 or a partial Mayo score of <2. Biochemical remission was defined as faecal calprotectin of <250 µg/g and C-reactive protein of <0.5 mg/dL. We investigated the treatment persistence rate of SC IFX and trends in pharmacokinetics, clinical indices and biomarkers over 1 year of follow-up, analysing the data based on the baseline remission state.

Results

Among 127 patients included, 90 (70.9%) were in clinical remission, and 37 (29.1%) were not at the time of switching. The one-year treatment persistence rate was 92.1%, with no significant difference between the clinical remission and non-remission groups (p = 0.139). Persistence was also unaffected by baseline biochemical remission status. IFX pharmacokinetics and biomarkers improved significantly in both clinical groups over 12 months (p < 0.005). Disease activity indices remained stable in the remission group and decreased in the non-remission group after switching. Previous biologics exposure was the only significant predictor of treatment persistence (hazard ratio, 5.634; 95% confidence interval, 1.357-23.384; p = 0.017). Adverse events related to SC IFX occurred in 15.7% of patients. The optimal SC IFX cutoff levels associated with clinical and biochemical remission were 11 and 17 μg/mL, respectively.

Conclusion

Switching from IV to SC IFX during maintenance therapy demonstrated high treatment persistence and safety, irrespective of clinical and biochemical remission status.

The active ingredient β-sitosterol in the anti-inflammatory agents alleviates perianal inflammation in rats by inhibiting the expression of Srebf2, activating the PPAR signaling pathway, and altering the composition of gut microbiota

BACKGROUND

Anti-inflammatory herbal formulations are common in traditional Chinese medicine for clearing heat and detoxifying; however, the specific active components and their mechanisms remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates the role of Sitosterol in alleviating perianal inflammation and its underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

Sitosterol was identified as a key active ingredient through the TCMSP database. Its structure was analyzed using PubChem, target genes were explored with STITCH, and KEGG pathways related to Srebf2 were revealed by STRING. An animal model of perianal inflammation was induced with 75 % acetic acid and treated with Sitosterol, water, normal saline, or antibiotics. The effects on gut microbiota were assessed using 16S rRNA sequencing, and inflammation was evaluated through HE stains, IHC, and TUNEL assays. In vitro, LPS-treated Caco-2 cells were used to measure proliferation, apoptosis, and cytokine levels, with PPAR pathway involvement examined using GW6471.

RESULTS

Sitosterol emerged as the primary active ingredient targeting Srebf2, with KEGG analysis highlighting the PPAR signaling pathway. In rats, Sitosterol reduced weight loss, inflammatory cell infiltration, edema, and vasodilation in perianal tissue. Additionally, it decreased PCNA levels, increased apoptosis, and elevated serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, particularly at high doses compared to antibiotics. Sitosterol also restored gut microbiota. Srebf2 knockdown improved tissue conditions and modulated cytokine levels, effects that were countered by GW6471. In LPS-treated Caco-2 cells, Sitosterol reversed reductions in cell viability and proliferation and modulated the expression of proteins and cytokines.

CONCLUSION

Sitosterol restores gut microbiota composition and further alleviates perianal inflammation in rats by inhibiting Srebf2 expression and activating the PPAR signaling pathway.

Real-World Treatment Patterns Among Pediatric and Adult Patients with Crohn's Disease in the United States

BACKGROUND

The advent of biologics has expanded treatment options for Crohn's disease (CD). This study assessed treatment patterns in pediatric and adult patients with CD in the United States during 1- and 3-year follow-up periods.

METHODS

This retrospective, claims-based cohort study utilized the Merative™ MarketScan® Research Databases from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2021. The index date was the date of the first CD diagnosis during the identification period. Among pediatric and adult CD cohorts, patients were stratified into two subgroups: (a) previously diagnosed (presence of a CD claim) and (b) newly diagnosed (absence of a CD claim) in the 12-month pre-index period. Results were summarized descriptively.

RESULTS

Data from 2809 pediatric and 25,940 adult patients were analyzed at 1-year follow-up. Mean age in years was 13.5 for pediatric and 46.0 for adult patients. Combination therapies were more common in pediatric versus adult patients, especially among those newly diagnosed with CD (38.2% vs 13.9%). A higher percentage of pediatric patients were prescribed biologics than adults (35.1% vs 24.3%). Numerically shorter time from diagnosis to corticosteroid initiation was observed in pediatric versus adult patients (9.5 vs 35 days). Higher persistence to biologics was observed in pediatric versus adult patients (94.6% vs 87.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

Combination therapies with biologics were more frequent among pediatric patients than adults. Although the overall treatment pattern among pediatric and adult patients was similar, early initiation of corticosteroids and adoption of biologics were more frequently observed in pediatric than adult patients, consistent with pediatric CD presenting with more aggressive disease.

Biosimilars versus biological therapy in inflammatory bowel disease: challenges and targeting strategies using drug delivery systems

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a multifactorial illness with a climbing prevalence worldwide. While biologics are commonly prescribed especially for severe cases, they may worsen patients' outcomes due to financial burden. Consequently, there has been an increased focus on biosimilars to improve overall disease outcomes by maintaining similar efficacy and safety while minimizing the cost of therapy. Infliximab-dyyb was the first biosimilar approved by US-FDA for IBD. Since that, the US-FDA approved 14 biosimilars with different mechanisms of action and different routes of administration for IBD patients (four infliximab biosimilars, nine adalimumab biosimilars, and most recently one ustekinumab biosimilar). It should be noted that more biologics are in the pipeline as golimumab and natalizumab patents are set to expire in the near future, and biosimilars are now in pre-clinical to phase 3 trials. Different studies have evaluated biologics' effectiveness and safety and concluded that the majority of available biosimilars are efficacious and have similar adverse effect profiles compared to their reference biologics. It is worth mentioningthat post-marketing surveillance reports revealed some risks associated with biosimilars which should be taken into consideration in future research and clinical trials to avoid health hazards. Most biologics and biosimilars are administered parenterally which results in several drawbacks such as raised risk of infections, hypersensitivity, autoimmunity, development of malignancies, liver toxicity as well as worsening of heart failure. Several drug delivery systems based on passive and active targeting mechanisms are under active investigation to overcome these limitations. This review sheds light on the emergence of biologics and biosimilars as alternatives in IBD management, the differences between them, challenges and risks, and future perspectives in IBD therapy and new trends in drug delivery systems.

Fatigue in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Remission One Year After Diagnosis (the IBSEN III Study)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Fatigue is commonly observed in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) but its association to achieving remission is not clearly established. In this study, we describe the odds for fatigue in patients with CD/UC 1 year after diagnosis based on different definitions of remission and identified factors associated with chronic fatigue (CF) among patients in endoscopic/radiological remission.

METHODS

Patients ≥ 18 years old with CD/UC were recruited from the IBSEN III cohort. Using the Fatigue Questionnaire, and dichotomizing the score, CF was defined as the presence of substantial fatigue (SF) for ≥6 months. Remission was divided into symptomatic (CD: Harvey-Bradshaw Index score < 5/UC: SCCAI score < 3), biochemical (fecal calprotectin ≤ 250 µg/g), endoscopic/radiological (CD: normal intestinal MRI/CT combined with normal endoscopy/UC: Mayo endoscopic score 0), and histological (normal mucosal biopsies). Both the likelihood of SF/CF, depending on the definition of remission, and associations between CF and selected factors for CD/UC in endoscopic/radiological remission were evaluated using binary logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

In total, 711/1416 patients were included. For both CD and UC, symptomatic remission significantly reduced the odds for SF and CF. In addition, the odds for SF were significantly reduced for UC in biochemical remission. Among those in endoscopic/radiological remission (n = 181), CF was independently associated with sleep disturbances (OR = 10.40, 95%CI [3.28;32.99], p < 0.001) and current treatment with infliximab (OR = 4.31, 95%CI [1.15;16.17], p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Stricter definitions of disease remission were not associated with a decreased likelihood of fatigue. For patients in endoscopic/radiological remission, CF was independently associated with sleep disturbances and current treatment with infliximab.

Comparative real-world effectiveness of ustekinumab versus anti-TNF in Crohn's disease: 12-month maintenance phase results from the prospective, observational RUN-CD study using propensity score adjustment

BACKGROUND

The prospective RUN-CD registry investigates the effectiveness of ustekinumab (UST) and other biologics in Crohn's disease (CD) across Germany. Based on data from the registry, this study presents the maintenance phase results of a 12-month real-world-evidence (RWE) comparison of CD patients initiating new biologic therapies with UST or anti-TNF.

METHODS

After excluding patients using biologics other than UST and anti-TNF and those with missing outcomes, the final sample consisted of 618 CD patients. Clinical remission (CR), defined as a Harvey-Bradshaw Index (HBI) ≤4, was the prespecified endpoint at 12 months. Switching to another biologic therapy was considered an outcome failure. Propensity score adjustment was used to reduce the effect of confounders.

RESULTS

The study included 343 CD patients treated with UST and 264 treated with anti-TNF. Over 12 months, the frequency of therapy switches was significantly higher for infliximab (28%) compared with UST (17%) and adalimumab (17%) (P =.045). There was no significant difference in CR rates at 12 months between the UST and anti-TNF groups (65.8% vs 60.0%, P =.262). However, in week-16 responders, CR rates at 12 months were significantly higher with UST (77.6%) versus anti-TNF (65.4%) (P =.041). The change in EQ-VAS (QoL) scores between UST and anti-TNF showed a 5.1-point difference favoring UST (P =.002).

CONCLUSIONS

In this 12-month RWE comparison, overall CR rates were similar between UST and anti-TNF. However, among week-16 responders, CR rates were significantly higher with UST. Additionally, UST was associated with a significantly greater improvement in QoL compared with anti-TNF.

[Position statement of the Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians (SEMERGEN) and Spanish Working Group on Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (GETECCU) on the management of inflammatory bowel disease in Primary Care]

Primary Care is the first point of contact for most patients after the onset of symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Establishing an initial diagnostic process based on compatible symptoms and agreed criteria and referral pathways, depending on the degree of suspicion and the patient's situation, can reduce diagnostic delays. Once the patient is referred to the Digestive specialist and the diagnosis of IBD is established, a treatment and follow-up plan is structured. The management of the patient must be shared with the participation of the family practitioners in the diagnosis and treatment of concomitant or intercurrent pathologies, the recognition of flare-ups or complications (of IBD or treatments), education tasks or adherence control. With the purpose of developing a comprehensive guide on the management of IBD aimed at Primary Care doctors, we have developed this positioning document collaboratively between the Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians (SEMERGEN) and the Spanish Working Group on Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (GETECCU).

Medical Management of Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease-Strategies for Inducing and Maintaining Remission

Medical management of ulcerative colitis (UC) and crohn's sisease (CD) is complex. While there is significant overlap in medical therapies used for UC and CD, there remain few distinct differences in their management. The overall goals of therapy are to achieve disease remission, prevent complications, decrease the need for surgical interventions, and restore patients' quality of life. In the current article, we discuss currently available therapies and their mechanisms, limitations and side effects, followed by a comprehensive discussion of key consideration points in regards to the medical management.

Switching to Subcutaneous Infliximab Maintenance Therapy Is Effective in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND

Recent studies suggest that subcutaneous infliximab is effective and safe for treating patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Real-world studies with larger cohorts are needed to confirm the efficacy of subcutaneous treatment.

AIMS

The aim was to assess real-world treatment persistence, clinical outcomes, infliximab concentrations, and treatment safety after switching from intravenous to subcutaneous infliximab treatment with patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

METHODS

This retrospective register-based study included patients with inflammatory bowel disease who were in clinical remission and switched from intravenous infliximab maintenance therapy to subcutaneous infliximab in two tertiary centers.

RESULTS

A total of 274 patients (104 Crohn's disease and 170 ulcerative colitis) were included. After the switch, the treatment persistence at 12 months was 94.8% in patients with Crohn's disease and 88.8% in patients with ulcerative colitis. Only 11.3% (n = 31) of the patients discontinued the treatment during 79-week median follow-up. Compared to the baseline, no change occurred in clinical disease activity at the time points of 3, 6, and 12 months, based on the Harvey-Bradshaw Index or partial Mayo Score (p = 0.792 and p = 0.426, respectively). Infliximab median concentrations were higher (p < 0.0001) during subcutaneous treatment (16.75 µg/ml) compared to the intravenous treatment median trough levels before the switch (6.71 µg/ml). In total, 15.0% (n = 41) of the patients reported adverse events.

CONCLUSION

Switching to subcutaneous infliximab maintenance therapy was associated with high treatment persistence, a stable disease course, increased infliximab concentrations, and an acceptable safety profile.

Assessment of cardiovascular, thromboembolic and cancer risk in patients eligible for treatment with Janus Kinase inhibitors: The JAK-ERA multidisciplinary consensus

INTRODUCTION

JAK inhibitors (JAKi) have emerged as effective treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases, including gastrointestinal, dermatological, and rheumatological conditions. Despite their efficacy, concerns about their safety profile necessitate a comprehensive framework for their optimal use. This study aimed to establish an expert consensus (the JAK-ERA [Janus Kinase-inhibitors Evidence-based Risk Analysis] Multidisciplinary Expert Consensus) on the principles guiding JAKi therapy to maximize therapeutic benefits while mitigating risks.

METHODS

A Delphi method was employed, gathering opinions from experts across multiple disciplines. This iterative process involved rounds of surveys and feedbacks to synthesize diverse expert knowledge into a cohesive set of principles and consensus statements. The multidisciplinary panel included specialists in cardiology, oncology, hematology, gastroenterology, dermatology, and rheumatology.

RESULTS

A total of 6 overarching principles and 13 expert consensus statements were developed. The percentage of agreement ranged between 78 and 100 %. The principles highlight the importance of rapid intervention to prevent complications and alleviate psychological burdens. Detailed risk assessments for cardiovascular (CV), thromboembolic, and cancer risks were deemed essential. Recommendations included using validated tools for CV risk evaluation, comprehensive thromboembolic risk assessment, and routine cancer screenings based on standard protocols. Multidisciplinary collaboration was stressed to ensure precise risk management and optimal therapeutic outcomes.

CONCLUSION

The consensus provides a structured approach to JAKi therapy, balancing efficacy with safety considerations. The overarching principles and expert consensus statements offer a robust framework for clinical practice, ensuring that JAKi use is tailored to individual patient profiles, thereby enhancing outcomes and minimizing risks. Ongoing validation through prospective studies and real-world data is essential to further refine these recommendations.

Modifiable Factors Influencing Disease Flares in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Literature Overview of Lifestyle, Psychological, and Environmental Risk Factors

Background: A significant concern for patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is predicting and managing disease flares. While healthcare providers rely on biomarkers, providing conclusive patient advice remains challenging. This review explores the role of lifestyle, psychological health, and environmental exposures in the prediction and management of IBD flares. Methods: This review followed PRISMA guidelines (2020). A structured search was conducted in PubMed for articles published between 2012 and 2024, using free and Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms for predicting factors in IBD. Inclusion criteria included studies reporting primary data on modifiable clinical or environmental predictors of IBD relapse, excluding studies on post-operative investigations, treatment cessation, and pediatric or pregnant populations. The Mixed Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used to assess the quality of the studies. Results: Out of 2287 identified citations, 58 articles were included. Several modifiable factors influencing disease flares were identified, including psychological stress, sleep disturbances, smoking, and nutrition. Poor sleep quality and mental health were linked to increased flare risks, while smoking was associated with higher relapse rates in Crohn's disease. Environmental exposures, such as heat waves and high-altitude regions, also contributed. Predictive models integrating clinical, lifestyle, and psychological factors showed promising accuracy but require further refinement. Limitations of this review include the potential for publication bias, variability in flare definitions, and limited sample sizes Conclusions: Key predictors of IBD flares include dietary factors, psychological stress, poor sleep quality, and pharmacological influences. Personalized approaches integrating these predictors can optimize disease control and improve patient outcomes.

Gut Microbiota Modulation in IBD: From the Old Paradigm to Revolutionary Tools

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic inflammatory disorders primarily comprising two main conditions: ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The gut microbiota's role in driving inflammation in IBD has garnered significant attention, yet the precise mechanisms through which the microbiota influences IBD pathogenesis remain largely unclear. Given the limited therapeutic options for IBD, alternative microbiota-targeted therapies-including prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and symbiotics-have been proposed. While these approaches have shown promising results, microbiota modulation is still mainly considered an adjunct therapy to conventional treatments, with a demonstrated impact on patients' quality of life. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), already approved for treating Clostridioides difficile infection, represents the first in a series of innovative microbiota-based therapies under investigation. Microbial biotherapeutics are emerging as personalized and cutting-edge tools for IBD management, encompassing next-generation probiotics, bacterial consortia, bacteriophages, engineered probiotics, direct metabolic pathway modulation, and nanotherapeutics. This review explores microbial modulation as a therapeutic strategy for IBDs, highlighting current approaches and examining promising tools under development to better understand their potential clinical applications in managing intestinal inflammatory disorders.

Complications of invasive oral procedures in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory disorders treated with biological and conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or glucocorticoids: a scoping review of the literature

OBJECTIVES

By a scoping review, to evaluate whether patients with immune-mediated inflammatory disorders (IMIDs) treated with biological and conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/cDMARDs) and/or glucocorticoids (GCs) experience complications after invasive oral procedures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Primary search was conducted on PubMed/MEDLINE database, Google Scholar, Embase and Web of Science up to December 31, 2023. The PICO question was "Does a patient with IMIDs and treated with b/cDMARDs in mono/bi or combination therapies have delayed oral wound healing or infectious complications after an invasive oral procedure?". To be included, references had to be primary studies written in English or French. Qualitative assessment was performed.

RESULTS

From 1,494 initial articles, 59 full-text articles were selected, including 47 case reports and case series, 7 comparative non-randomized studies, 1 randomized clinical trial, 2 case-case studies, 1 case-control study, and 1 prospective cohort study. Most reports involved patients with rheumatoid arthritis on methotrexate and/or anti-TNF. Complications (medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw, delayed healing, local infection) occurred predominantly after tooth extractions, particularly affecting women, patients over 50 with bisphosphonate use, unhealthy lifestyle habits, or diabetes. They were generally managed with prolonged antibiotic and antiseptic courses, and surgical interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

Local infectious complication or jaw osteonecrosis could occur post-invasive procedures, especially tooth extractions, in IMIDs patients on b/cDMARDs and/or GCs, often in patients with comorbidities and/or concurrent medications such as bone-modifying drugs.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

It is essential for dentists to be alert to the existence of local or focal infectious complications after tooth extraction in patients with IMIDs on immunosuppressive therapy.

Introducing a Novel Personalized Microbiome-Based Treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Results from NostraBiome's Internal Validation Study

Background/Objectives: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, is characterized by chronic gut inflammation driven by microbial dysbiosis and immune dysfunction. Current therapies primarily involve anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory strategies; however, many patients experience an inadequate response or a gradual loss of efficacy over time. This study evaluates the clinical efficacy of personalized microbiome modulation (PMM)-an AI-driven intervention designed to restore microbial balance and improve key treatment outcomes such as symptom control and remission rates. Methods: This was a single-arm, open-label validation trial involving 27 patients with moderate-to-severe IBD who had experienced prior treatment failure. Participants underwent three months of PMM, which included personalized dietary modifications, targeted probiotic supplementation, and antimicrobial interventions based on gut microbiome sequencing. Primary outcomes included stool frequency and consistency as well as inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein and fecal calprotectin), while secondary outcomes assessed nutritional status, metabolic function, and quality of life. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests and repeated measures ANOVA to determine significant changes over time. Results: PMM led to significant clinical improvements, including a 58% reduction in stool frequency (p < 0.001) and improved stool consistency. CRP and fecal calprotectin levels decreased markedly (p < 0.001), suggesting reduced systemic inflammation. Additionally, iron, vitamin B12, and vitamin D deficiencies improved (p < 0.001), alongside weight gain and increased energy levels. Notably, patients on anti-TNF biologics showed enhanced response rates, suggesting potential synergistic effects between microbiome modulation and biologic therapy. Conclusions: This study highlights PMM as a promising adjunctive therapy for IBD, demonstrating benefits across clinical, inflammatory, and metabolic parameters. While findings support the role of microbiome-targeted interventions in disease management, larger randomized controlled trials are required to confirm the long-term efficacy and applicability in broader patient populations.

Persistence and Efficacy of Ustekinumab in Crohn's Disease After Anti-TNF Failure: An Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Anti-TNF treatment failure in Crohn's disease is common, and the literature on the selection of subsequent treatment is scant. Ustekinumab may be associated with high persistence rates and it appears to be effective in perianal disease.

AIMS

Primary objective: persistence, clinical, and biologic remission with ustekinumab.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES

Persistence of the first biologic therapy, reasons for change of treatment, need for dose optimization, surgery, hospitalizations, and adverse events with ustekinumab.

METHODS

Retrospective, observational, single-center study from a prospective database of Crohn's disease adult patients receiving ustekinumab after failure of anti-TNF or vedolizumab. A sub-analysis was performed to evaluate ustekinumab persistence after the approval of risankizumab and upadacitinib.

RESULTS

Mean duration with ustekinumab was 27.65 months (SD 18.27) and persistence was 86.76%. Clinical remission was 40.63% at week 4, 54.35% at week 8, 54.9% at year 1, 76.92% at year 4, and 100% at year 5. Persistence with ustekinumab was longer than with anti-TNF: year 1, 93.2 vs 72.06%; year 2, 89.4 vs 45.59%; and year 3, 86.1 vs 30.88%. Just over one-third (36.76%) of patients required dose optimization. Nine (13.24%) patients stopped treatment due to primary non-response [1 (1.47%)], loss of response [5(7.35%)], and adverse events [3 (4.41%)]. Eleven (16.18%) patients needed surgery and hospitalization. After the approval of upadacitinib and risankizumab, ustekinumab persistence was 80.88%. Seven (70%) of the patients with perianal disease achieved clinical remission and 4 (40%) completed fistula healing.

CONCLUSIONS

Ustekinumab may have better persistence as a second-line treatment compared to anti-TNF and may be effective in perianal disease.

Relapse Rates and Predictors for Relapse in Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease Patients After Discontinuation of Vedolizumab or Ustekinumab: The REVEUS Study

Background/Objectives: In the current era of tailored therapy, biologics such as vedolizumab (VDZ) and ustekinumab (UST) are increasingly administered to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. The decision to discontinue biologics after side effects or a lack of response is usually simple, but the decision to stop treatment in patients in remission is more difficult: to date, no study has been conducted to investigate the effects of VDZ or UST withdrawal. Our study aims to investigate the rates and predictors of relapse of IBD after the discontinuation of VDZ and UST during a well-controlled disease phase and to evaluate the response to retreatment. Methods: In this observational, multicenter, retrospective study, we included IBD patients who discontinued VDZ or UST during a well-controlled disease phase after at least 1 year of treatment. We collected demographic and clinical data for each patient at the time of discontinuation and at follow-up visits. Results: We included 36 IBD patients from 5 different centers; 80.0%, 58.5%, and 48.3% of patients maintained clinical remission at 12, 24, and 48 months after discontinuation, respectively. Crohn's disease (CD) patients were more likely to maintain remission than ulcerative colitis (UC) patients at 48 months (70.0% vs. 40.0%). No predictors of relapse were identified, but UC patients had a higher risk of early relapse than CD patients (HR = 3.23); 81.3% of retreated IBD patients achieved clinical remission after induction and at 12 months. Conclusions: No predictors of disease relapse after treatment discontinuation were identified. Half of the patients had a relapse within 48 months after discontinuation, but most of them achieved clinical remission after retreatment.

Prolonged Time to Diagnosis of Crohn's Disease in Patients With Perianal Fistulas Negatively Affects Long-Term Outcomes

BACKGROUND AND AIM

This study aims to evaluate the effect of time to Crohn's disease (CD) diagnosis on perianal fistula (PAF) outcomes in patients with a fistula as the first manifesting sign.

METHODS

In this multicenter, retrospective study, CD patients with a PAF preceding CD diagnosis between November 2015 and June 2022 were included. The primary outcome parameter was the time to CD diagnosis and its correlation with long-term outcomes.

RESULTS

In total, 126 patients with a PAF prior to CD diagnosis were identified. The median time to CD diagnosis was 15.0 months (IQR 3.8-47.3). A total of 49 patients (38.9%) had a clinically closed fistula of which 21 patients (42.9%) achieved radiological healing. Twenty-five patients (19.8%) underwent defunctioning, of which 9 patients (36.0%) needed proctectomy. Median time to CD diagnosis was shortest in patients with radiological healing (4.0 months, IQR 2.0-16.5) or clinical closure without radiological healing (11.0 months, IQR 3.0-47.8). In patients without fistula closure (n = 51), the median time to CD diagnosis was significantly longer compared to patients with fistula closure, 18.0 months vs 8.0 months (p = 0.031). In patients who needed defunctioning, the median time to diagnosis was more than twice as long compared to patients without defunctioning, 30.0 months vs 12.0 months (p = 0.054).

CONCLUSION

A prolonged time to CD diagnosis in patients with a PAF as a manifesting sign is associated with worse long-term outcomes. Patients in whom radiological healing could be achieved had the shortest time to CD diagnosis, emphasizing the relevance of increased clinical awareness of underlying CD in fistula patients.

Prospective Evaluation of the Prediction Score for a Mild Course of Crohn's Disease (PreMiCC) in Newly Diagnosed Patients With Crohn's Disease: The PROGNOS Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The course of Crohn's disease (CD) is highly variable. The Prospektive Evaluation eines Score zur Vorhersage eines milden Verlaufsbei neu diagnostizierten Morbus Crohn-Patienten in gastroenterologischen Fachpraxen (PROGNOS) study aimed to determine the frequency of a mild disease course and validate a proposed prediction score.

METHODS

The PROGNOS study is a prospective study of CD patients who were newly diagnosed and, except for 1 course of 5-aminosalicylic acid or steroids for ≤10 days, therapy-naïve. Among other predefined inclusion criteria, the initial diagnosis had to be made ≤6 weeks before enrollment. All inception cohort patients were diagnosed and screened consecutively in participating gastroenterology practices in Germany specialized in inflammatory bowel disease. All screened CD patients were scored and, if possible, included in the study for up to 5 years (NCT02193048).

RESULTS

A total of 201 CD patients were included in the study (43.3% male; mean age 33 years, mean follow-up 38 months). Altogether, 29.5% of the patients had a mild course at 36 months. Among those with a score ≤2, therapy escalation at 36 months was necessary for only 24.2%, whereas in the group with a score >2, therapy escalation was necessary for 70.2% of patients. In the Kaplan-Meier curve showing time to therapy escalation in the 2 groups, there was a pronounced and statistically significant divergence of the curves starting at 3 months and extending to 48 months (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

In this prospective study, about 30% of incident CD patients had a mild disease course. Our suggested PreMiCC (prediction score for a mild course of Crohn's disease) successfully predicted this.

Mucosal and Transmural Healing and Long-term Outcomes in Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND

Healing in Crohn's disease is complex and difficult to measure due to incongruencies between clinical symptoms and disease states. Mucosal healing (MH) and transmural healing (TH) are increasingly used to measure clinical improvement in Crohn's disease, but definitions of MH and TH can vary across studies, and their relationship to long-term outcomes is not clear. To address this knowledge gap, we performed a systematic literature review (SLR) to examine studies measuring MH and TH in Crohn's disease.

METHODS

Database records from 2012 to 2022 were searched for real-world evidence and interventional studies that reported the association of MH or TH with clinical, economic, or quality of life outcomes of adult patients with Crohn's disease.

RESULTS

A total of 46 studies were identified in the systematic literature review, representing a combined patient population of 5530. Outcomes of patients with MH were reported by 39 studies; of these, 14 used validated scales for endoscopic assessment. Thirteen studies reported outcomes of patients with TH. Among studies that examined the outcomes of patients with and without MH or TH, patients with healing generally experienced improved clinical outcomes and reduced healthcare resource utilization, including fewer hospitalizations and surgeries and improved rates of clinical remission. This was especially true for patients with TH.

CONCLUSIONS

Mucosal and transmural healing are associated with positive long-term outcomes for adult patients with Crohn's disease. The adoption of standardized measures and less invasive assessment tools will maximize the benefits of patient monitoring.