Using Number Needed to Harm to Put the Risk of Herpes Zoster From Tofacitinib in Perspective

In Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Racial Disparities Exist in Burden of Vaccine-preventable Disease Hospitalizations and Outcomes

OBJECTIVE

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). Despite the increasing prevalence of IBD in non-white populations, little is known regarding racial disparities in VPD burden.

METHODS

Retrospectively analyzing the 2016 to 2020 National Inpatient Sample, we identified adults with IBD hospitalized for a principal diagnosis of VPD. The primary outcome investigated was hospitalization for VPD stratified by patient-reported race. Secondary outcomes were in-hospital morbidity, mortality, length of stay, and health care utilization. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to adjust for patient and hospital characteristics.

RESULTS

The search identified 554,114 hospitalizations for VPD, including 4170 hospitalizations in patients with IBD. Patients with IBD had significantly greater odds of hospitalization from herpes zoster virus (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.73) and varicella zoster virus (aOR: 2.31). Comparing white and non-white patients with IBD, significant racial disparities were noted. Non-white patients were at greater odds of hospitalization from influenza (aOR: 1.74), herpes zoster virus (aOR: 1.77), and varicella zoster virus (aOR: 1.62). In-hospital morbidity was greater in non-white patients, including greater odds of requiring intensive care unit stay (aOR: 1.18). Morbidity was elevated in African Americans, with greater odds of acute kidney injury (aOR: 1.25), venous thromboembolism (aOR: 1.17), respiratory failure (aOR: 1.16), and intensive care unit stay (aOR: 1.18). No differences were found in mortality, length of stay, and health care utilization.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant racial disparities in VPD hospitalization and in-hospital morbidity were found among adults with IBD in the United States. With the increasing prevalence of IBD in non-white populations, targeted efforts are needed to improve health equity.

The Burden of Vaccine-preventable Diseases in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at an increased risk of infections, including vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). The aim of this study was to explore the inpatient prevalence of VPD in patients with IBD, as well as inpatient outcomes.

METHODS

Retrospective study using the 2013-2017 Nationwide Inpatient Sample databases. All patients 18 years of age or older with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and 10th Revisions , Clinical Modification (ICD-9/10 CM) codes for IBD were included, as well as patients with VPDs as a principal diagnostic code. The primary outcome was the occurrence and odds of VPD in patients with IBD compared with patients with no IBD. Secondary outcomes were inpatient mortality, morbidity, and economic burden compared with patients with IBD and non-vaccine-preventable infections (VPIs). Multivariate regression yielded adjusted odds ratios.

RESULTS

Of 1,622,245 (0.9%) patients with a diagnosis of IBD, 3560 (0.2%) had associated VPDs, while 131,150 patients had non-VPI (8.1%). The most common VPDs were influenza, herpes zoster (HZ), pneumococcal pneumonia, and varicella. Only HZ and varicella had increased odds of occurrence in patients with IBD of all ages. Patients with IBD 65 years of age or older had increased odds of VPD compared with patients under 65 years. Patients with IBD and associated VPD had higher odds of intensive care unit stay, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and multiorgan failure compared with patients with IBD and non-VPI.

CONCLUSIONS

VPDs represent a clinically relevant cause of infectious disease-related hospital admissions in patients with IBD. Patients with IBD are at increased risk for hospitalization due to HZ and varicella. Those hospitalized for VPD have higher morbidity compared with patients with IBD and non-VPI. These findings echo the importance of instituting optimal immunization schedules in patients with IBD, particularly in patients 65 years or older.

Vaccination strategies for Korean patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are vulnerable to vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. Immunosuppressive drugs, which are often used to manage IBD, may increase this vulnerability and attenuate vaccine efficacy. Thus, healthcare providers should understand infectious diseases and schedule vaccinations for them to reduce the infection-related burden of patients with IBD. All patients with IBD should be assessed in terms of immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases at the time of IBD diagnosis, and be vaccinated appropriately. Vaccination is becoming more important because of the unprecedented coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global health crisis. This review focuses on recent updates to vaccination strategies for Korean patients with IBD.

Equivalent Cellular and Humoral Immunity to Varicella Zoster Virus in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Healthy Older Adults for Whom Immunization Is Recommended

INTRODUCTION

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at an increased risk of herpes zoster (HZ). HZ is caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (VZV) and is prevented by strong VZV-specific cell-mediated immunity. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether patients with IBD had lower or equivalent protection compared with healthy controls (HCs) at age 50 years and older.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional study at a single academic center and evaluated cellular and humoral immunity to VZV in patients with IBD at age 35-49 years vs HCs aged 50-59 years. All patients with IBD were on stable medication regimens for at least 3 months. VZV-specific cell-mediated immunity was measured via ELISPOT, and humoral immunity was measured via a quantitative VZV antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay assay.

RESULTS

Seventy-seven patients with IBD and 12 HCs were enrolled in the study. There was no significant difference in ELISPOT counts between patients with IBD and HCs (P = 0.54). In addition, there was also no significant difference between ELISPOT counts in immunosuppressed patients with IBD (N = 45) and HCs (P = 0.32). We also found no correlations between ELISPOT counts and age (Spearman rho 0.014; P = 0.90). Patients with IBD had similar IgG VZV antibody levels (median 19 mIU/mL; range 0.5-218) compared with HCs (median 23.5 mIU/mL (range 4-34); P = 0.54).

DISCUSSION

Young patients with IBD have equivalent cellular and humoral immunity to VZV as healthy older adults in whom HZ immunization is recommended.

Herpesvirus Infections Potentiated by Biologics

Herpesviruses such as herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and 2, varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) maintain lifelong latency in the host after primary infection and can reactivate periodically either as asymptomatic viral shedding or as clinical disease. Immunosuppression, including biologic therapy, may increase frequency and severity of herpesvirus reactivation and infection. Licensed biologics are reviewed regarding their risks of potentiating HSV, VZV, and CMV reactivation and infection. Approaches to prophylaxis against HSV, VZV, and CMV infection or reactivation are discussed.

Optimizing Immunization Strategies in Patients with IBD

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

Health Maintenance for Adult Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review serves as a summary of healthcare maintenance items that should be addressed when managing patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This manuscript discusses vaccine-preventable illnesses, cancer prevention recommendations, and other screenings that are important to gastroenterologists and primary care physicians caring for patients with IBD.

RECENT FINDINGS

Patients with IBD often require immunomodulator agents and/or biologics to induce and maintain disease remission which can increase the risk of developing several infections. Also, subsets of patients with IBD are at an increased risk for a number of malignancies including colon, cervical, and skin cancers.

SUMMARY

Staying up-to-date with health care maintenance of patients with IBD is critical, especially given their increased risk for vaccine-preventable infections as well as comorbidities such as cancers, bone health, and mood disorders. Gastroenterologists and primary care physicians should familiarize themselves with the required screenings and vaccines that are recommended for adult patients with IBD, particularly those who are immunosuppressed.

Janus Kinase inhibitors in the New Treatment Paradigms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

This review provides guidance in the decision-making process regarding when to choose a janus kinase [JAK] inhibitor as medical treatment strategy. The focus will be on ulcerative colitis, because the only yet available JAK inhibitor, tofacitinib, has approval for use in ulcerative colitis. The guidance path will include consideration of disease activity, previous treatment, comorbidities, family planning, patient preferences, pharmacology as well as concurrent chronic inflammatory diseases or extraintestinal manifestations. The suggested guidance path illustrates our daily difficulties in the decision-making process regarding best choice for the individual patient. However if predictive biomarkers are lacking, the named criteria can be applied to any other strategy and hence provide support in daily practice.

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

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

Tofacitinib for the treatment of ulcerative colitis: A review of the literature

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory condition affecting the colon. Recently, tofacitinib, an oral small molecule that is an inhibitor of the Janus kinase signal transduction pathway, was proven efficacious for inducing and maintaining remission in adult patients with moderate to severe UC in three global Phase III studies. The purpose of this review is to summarize existing data on the efficacy, safety, and quality of life issues related to use tofacitinib as well as highlight recent real-world experience with this drug among patients with UC.