The Occurrence of Thrombosis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Reflected in the Clot Lysis Profile

The Journey Through the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Narrative Review

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which may result in several extraintestinal complications (∼20-30% of cases), such as increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). The main pathophysiological mechanism of VTE is an inflammation-induced hypercoagulable state, and recent data have shown that endothelial dysregulation due to gut and systemic inflammation may also lead to a prothrombotic state. Several prothrombotic alterations have been described, such as the activation of the coagulation system, platelet abnormalities, and dysregulation of fibrinolysis. Furthermore, the dysregulation of the gut microbiome seems to play a vital role in increasing systemic inflammation and thus inducing a procoagulant state. Our review aims to examine the main correlations between IBD and VTE, the underlying pathophysiology, and current therapeutic options.

Impact of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and IBD Medications on Risk of Hyperlipidemia and in vitro Hepatic Lipogenic-Related Gene Expression: A Population-Based Cohort Study

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) present a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) due to chronic inflammation, which plays an essential role in atherogenesis. Hyperlipidemia is another risk factor for CVDs; however, the association between IBD, IBD medications, and hyperlipidemia remains controversial. We conducted a nationwide, population-based, retrospective, cohort study to examine the effect of IBD and IBD medications on the risk of developing hyperlipidemia. The effects of IBD medications on the expression of lipogenesis-related hepatic genes were also evaluated. We obtained data from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database of Taiwan from patients with new-onset IBD and a comparison cohort of patients without IBD. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the difference in the risk of developing hyperlipidemia between the two cohorts. We also examined the influence of IBD medications on the expression of lipogenesis-related hepatic genes. After adjusting for comorbidities and confounding factors, the case group (N = 14,524) had a higher risk for hyperlipidemia than the control group (N = 14,524) [adjusted hazards ratio (aHR), 2.18]. Patients with IBD that did not receive IBD medications exhibited a significantly higher risk of hyperlipidemia (aHR, 2.20). In those treated with IBD medications, the risk of developing hyperlipidemia was significantly lowered than those without such medications (all aHR ≤ 0.45). Gene expression analysis indicated that IBD medications downregulated the expression of lipogenesis-related genes. Screening blood lipids in IBD patients is needed to explore the specific role and impact of IBD medications in the development of CVD.

Inflammatory bowel disease and thromboembolic events: a c'lot to learn

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with a variety of extraintestinal manifestations including arterial and venous thromboembolism. Research evidences that IBD patients have about a 2- to 3-fold increase in the risk of venous thromboembolism when compared with the general population.

OBJECTIVES

We intended to evaluate the coagulation parameters and the prevalence of thromboembolic events (TE) in IBD patients. It was also our aim to investigate the correlation between coagulation parameters and disease phenotype and activity in this population.

METHODS

This single center prospective observational study was performed between November 2016 and April 2020. The cohort included patients with 18 years of age or older, diagnosed with IBD and followed at a gastroenterology consultation, during a follow-up period of 36 months. Patients were evaluated in terms of IBD type, extent and disease behavior, clinical scores of IBD activity, medication, smoking history, family and personal history of TE, coagulation parameters, fecal calprotectin levels, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hospitalization due to TE, IBD-related hospitalization or surgery, pregnancy, or diagnosis of malignancy.

RESULTS

The study included 149 IBD patients (67 males and 82 females). Coagulation parameters were similar in CD and UC patients and only plasminogen was increased in CD patients [97.4 (17.0) versus 91.6 (13.3), p = 0.035], when comparing with UC patients. The determined values were in the range of the reference values described in literature for the standard population. During the follow-up period, none of the patients experienced a TE that demanded hospitalization.

CONCLUSION

In our study, acquired and inherited risk factors for TE and changes in coagulation parameters did not show to influence prothrombotic predisposition in IBD patients. As such, the clinical relevance of measuring coagulation parameters in this population is questionable.

TRIAL REGISTRY

NCT05162339 (ClinicalTrials.gov ID).

Venous and arterial thromboembolism in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases

The risk of thromboembolism (TE) is increased in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), mainly due to an increased risk of venous TE (VTE). The risk of arterial TE (ATE) is less pronounced, but an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases needs to be addressed in IBD patients. IBD predisposes to arterial and venous thrombosis through similar prothrombotic mechanisms, including triggering activation of coagulation, in part mediated by impairment of the intestinal barrier and released bacterial components. VTE in IBD has clinical specificities, i.e., an earlier first episode in life, high rates during both active and remission stages, higher recurrence rates, and poor prognosis. The increased likelihood of VTE in IBD patients may be related to surgery, the use of medications such as corticosteroids or tofacitinib, whereas infliximab is antithrombotic. Long-term complications of VTE can include post-thrombotic syndrome and high recurrence rate during post-hospital discharge. A global clot lysis assay may be useful in identifying patients with IBD who are at risk for TE. Many VTEs occur in IBD outpatients; therefore, outpatient prophylaxis in high-risk patients is recommended. It is crucial to continue focusing on prevention and adequate treatment of VTE in patients with IBD.

Shedding Light on Hemostasis in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have an increased risk of thrombosis, possibly due to changes in blood cells and molecules involved in hemostasis. They have increased platelet counts and reactivity as well as increased platelet-derived large extracellular vesicles. Coagulation is continuously activated in patients with IBD, based on measured markers of thrombin generation, and the anticoagulant functions of endothelial cells are damaged. Furthermore, fibrinogen is increased and fibrin clots are denser. However, pathogenesis of thrombosis in patients with IBD appears to differ from that of patients without IBD. Patients with IBD also take drugs that might contribute to risk of thrombosis, complicating the picture. We review the features of homeostasis that are altered in patients with IBD and possible mechanisms of this relationship.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Acute Coronary Syndromes: From Pathogenesis to the Fine Line Between Bleeding and Ischemic Risk

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a pathological condition that first involves the gastrointestinal wall but can also trigger a systemic inflammatory state and thus extraintestinal manifestations. Systemic inflammation is probably secondary to the passage of bacterial products into the bloodstream because of altered intestinal permeability and the consequent release of proinflammatory mediators. Inflammation, through several diverse pathophysiological pathways, determines both a procoagulative state and systemic endothelial dysfunction, which are both deemed to be responsible for venous and arterial thromboembolic adverse events. The management of systemic thrombotic complications is particularly challenging in this category of patients, who also present a high bleeding risk; what is more, both bleeding and thrombotic risks peak during the active phases of the disease. The literature suggests that treating physicians have been, so far, more heavily influenced by concerns about bleeding than by the thrombotic risk. Despite the absence of data provided by large cohorts or randomized studies, the high risk of arterial and venous atherothrombosis in patients with IBD seems unquestionable. Moreover, several reports suggest that when arterial thromboembolism involves the coronary vessels, causing acute coronary syndromes, ischemic complications from antithrombotic drug undertreatment are frequent and severe. This review aims to shed light on the tricky balance between the ischemic and hemorrhagic risks of patients with IBD and to highlight how difficult it is for clinicians to define a tailored therapy based on a case-by-case, careful, and unprejudiced clinical evaluation.

Venous thromboembolism in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: review of literature and practical algorithms

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with several extra-intestinal complications, including venous thromboembolism (VTE). In patients with IBD, VTE occurs at younger age and is associated with higher recurrence and mortality rates as compared to patients without IBD. The risk appears to be higher during active disease and hospitalization. In this review we target the importance of prophylaxis and aim to describe strategies for treatment of VTE in patients with IBD. More awareness is needed, given the fact that VTE is often preventable with appropriate pharmacological prophylaxis. Algorithms are provided on which patients should be given prophylaxis and on treatment duration of VTE in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Successful Infliximab Treatment is Associated With Reversal of Clotting Abnormalities in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

BACKGROUND AND GOALS

Active inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) represent an independent risk factor for venous thromboembolism. The authors investigated the hemostatic profile of IBD patients before and after induction treatment with infliximab, vedolizumab, and methylprednisolone.

STUDY

This prospective study included 62 patients with active IBD starting infliximab, vedolizumab, and/or methylprednisolone, and 22 healthy controls (HC). Plasma was collected before (w0) and after induction therapy (w14). Using a clot lysis assay, amplitude (marker for clot intensity), time to peak (Tmax; marker for clot formation rate), area under the curve (AUC; global marker for coagulation/fibrinolysis), and 50% clot lysis time (50%CLT; marker for fibrinolytic capacity) were determined. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and fibronectin were measured by ELISA. Clinical remission was evaluated at w14.

RESULTS

At baseline, AUC, amplitude, and 50%CLT were significantly higher in IBD patients as compared with HC. In 34 remitters, AUC [165 (103-229)% vs. 97 (78-147)%, P=0.001], amplitude [119 (99-163)% vs. 95 (82-117)%, P=0.002], and 50%CLT [122 (94-146)% vs. 100 (87-129)%, P=0.001] decreased significantly and even normalized to the HC level. Vedolizumab trough concentration correlated inversely to fibronectin concentration (r, -0.732; P=0.002). The increase in Tmax for infliximab-treated remitters was significantly different from the decrease in Tmax for vedolizumab-treated remitters (P=0.028). The 50%CLT increased (P=0.038) when remitters were concomitantly treated with methylprednisolone.

CONCLUSIONS

Control of inflammation using infliximab most strongly reduced those parameters that are associated with a higher risk of venous thromboembolism.

Cardiovascular Manifestations of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Preventive Strategies

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to a group of chronic inflammatory diseases that targets mainly the gastrointestinal tract. The clinical presentation of IBD includes both gastrointestinal manifestations and extraintestinal manifestations (EIM). The reported cardiovascular manifestations in IBD patients include pericarditis, myocarditis, venous and arterial thromboembolism, arrhythmias, atrioventricular block, heart failure, endocarditis, valvulopathies, and Takayasu arteritis. The aim of this article is to review the available literature about the possible pathogenic mechanisms and determine preventive measures capable of reducing the incidence and severity of the cardiovascular manifestations. In IBD patients, the incidence of cardiovascular manifestations is low, but higher than that in the general population. Therefore, clinicians should pay attention to any new modification that might indicate cardiovascular involvement in IBD patients, and they should consider chronic inflammatory diseases in patients with cardiac conditions without an evident cause. Considering the role of inflammation in the development of cardiovascular manifestations, the management should include prevention of flares and maintenance of remission for as long as possible. Preventive measures should also include active screening and strict control of the cardiovascular risk factors in all IBD patients.

Steroid but not Biological Therapy Elevates the risk of Venous Thromboembolic Events in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] is associated with a 1.5- to 3-fold increased risk of venous thromboembolism [VTE] events. The aim of this study was to determine the risk of VTE in IBD as a complication of systemic corticosteroids and anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha [TNFα] therapies.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted, which conforms to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses [PRISMA] statement. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched for English-language studies published from inception inclusive of 15 April 2017. The population-intervention-comparison-outcome [PICO] format and statistically the random-effects and fixed-effect models were used to compare VTE risk during steroid and anti-TNFα treatment. Quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The PROSPERO registration number is 42017070084.

RESULTS

We identified 817 records, of which eight observational studies, involving 58518 IBD patients, were eligible for quantitative synthesis. In total, 3260 thromboembolic events occurred. Systemic corticosteroids were associated with a significantly higher rate of VTE complication in IBD patients as compared to IBD patients without steroid medication (odds ratio [OR]: 2.202; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.698-2.856, p < 0.001). In contrast, treatment with anti-TNFα agents resulted in a 5-fold decreased risk of VTE compared to steroid medication [OR: 0.267; 95% CI: 0.106-0.674, p = 0.005].

CONCLUSION

VTE risk should be carefully assessed and considered when deciding between anti-TNFα and steroids in the management of severe flare-ups. Thromboprophylaxis guidelines should be followed, no matter the therapy choice.