Systematic review: the role of tacrolimus in the management of Crohn's disease

Perianal disease in inflammatory bowel disease: Broadening treatment and surveillance strategies for anal cancer

The perianal disease affects up to one-third of individuals with Crohn's disease (CD), causing disabling symptoms and significant impairment in quality of life, particularly for those with perianal fistulising CD (PFCD). The collaborative effort between gastroenterologists and surgeons is essential for addressing PFCD to achieve fistula closure and promote luminal healing. Limited fistula healing rates with conventional therapies have prompted the emergence of new biological agents, endoscopic procedures and surgical techniques that show promising results. Among these, mesenchymal stem cells injection is a particularly hopeful therapy. In addition to the burden of fistulas, individuals with perianal CD may face an increased risk of developing anal cancer. This underscores the importance of surveillance programmes and timely interventions to prevent late diagnoses and poor outcomes. Currently, there is no established formal anal screening programme. In this review, we provide an overview of the current state of the art in managing PFCD, including novel medical, endoscopic and surgical approaches. The discussion also focuses on the relevance of establishing an anal cancer screening programme in CD, intending to propose a risk-based surveillance algorithm. The validation of this surveillance programme would be a significant step forward in improving patient care and outcomes.

Advancement in therapeutic strategies for immune-mediated oral diseases

BACKGROUND

Immune-mediated diseases are a diverse group of conditions characterized by alteration of cellular homeostasis and inflammation triggered by dysregulation of the normal immune response. Several immune-mediated diseases exhibit oral signs and symptoms. Traditionally, these conditions are treated with corticosteroids or immunosuppressive agents, including azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, and thalidomide. Recent research into the developmental pathways of these diseases has led to the exploration of novel approaches in treatment. This review examines newer treatment modalities for the management of immune-mediated diseases with oral presentations. Topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs) such as tacrolimus and pimecrolimus have been employed successfully in managing oral lichen planus and pemphigus vulgaris. Biologic agents, comprising monoclonal antibodies, fusion proteins, and recombinant cytokines, can provide targeted therapy with fewer adverse effects. Neutraceutical agents comprising aloe vera, curcumin, and honey are commonly used in traditional medicine and offer a holistic approach. They may have a place as adjuvants to current standard therapeutic protocols. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) utilize a specific wavelength of light to achieve desired cellular change. While the use of PDT in immune-mediated diseases is contentious, LLLT has shown positive results. Newer therapeutic modalities involve kinase inhibitors, S1P₁ receptor modulators, MSCs, and iRNA providing targeted treatment of specific diseases.

Core indicators of an evaluation and guidance system for quality of care in inflammatory bowel disease centers: A critical review

The mission of the IBD Quality Care Evaluation Center (IBDQCC) is to establish indicators of quality of care (QoC), certify IBD units to generate a network of IBD quality care, and eventually improve the national level of IBD healthcare. The final list of 28 core and 13 secondary IBD QoC indicators suitable for the healthcare system in China were selected using a Delphi consensus methodology. Units that met all core indicators were qualified as "regional"; units that met all core indicators together with more than 50% of the secondary indicators received a rating of "excellence." Using the selected QoC core indicators for certifying IBD units, a network of IBD quality care units covering the majority of IBD patients in China was established.

FUNDING

This work was financially supported by Cultivation Funding for Clinical Scientific Research Innovation, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University (RJPY-LX-004), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81,770,545), Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Initiative (21SQBS02302), and Cultivated Funding for Clinical Research Innovation, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University (RJPY-LX-004).

Rectovaginal Fistula in Crohn's Disease: When and How to Operate?

Rectovaginal fistula (RVF) occurring during the course of Crohn's disease (CD) constitutes a therapeutic challenge and is characterized by a high rate of recurrence. To optimize the outcome of CD-related RVF repair, the best conditions for correct healing should be obtained. Remission of CD should be achieved with no active proctitis, the perianal CD activity should be minimized, and local septic complications should be controlled. The objective of surgical repair is to close the fistula tract with minimal recurrence and functional disturbance. Several therapeutic strategies exist and the approach should be tailored to the anatomy of the RVF and the quality of the local supporting tissues. Herein, we review the medical and surgical management of CD-related RVF.

Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Comprehensive Review

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as a global disease, has attracted much research interest. Constant research has led to a better understanding of the disease condition and further promoted its management. We here reviewed the conventional and the novel drugs and therapies, as well as the potential ones, which have shown promise in preclinical studies and are likely to be effective future therapies. The conventional treatments aim at controlling symptoms through pharmacotherapy, including aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and biologics, with other general measures and/or surgical resection if necessary. However, a considerable fraction of patients do not respond to available treatments or lose response, which calls for new therapeutic strategies. Diverse therapeutic options are emerging, involving small molecules, apheresis therapy, improved intestinal microecology, cell therapy, and exosome therapy. In addition, patient education partly upgrades the efficacy of IBD treatment. Recent advances in the management of IBD have led to a paradigm shift in the treatment goals, from targeting symptom-free daily life to shooting for mucosal healing. In this review, the latest progress in IBD treatment is summarized to understand the advantages, pitfalls, and research prospects of different drugs and therapies and to provide a basis for the clinical decision and further research of IBD.

ECCO Topical Review: Refractory Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic disease with variable degrees of extent, severity, and activity. A proportion of patients will have disease that is refractory to licensed therapies, resulting in significant impairment in quality of life. The treatment of these patients involves a systematic approach by the entire multidisciplinary team, with particular consideration given to medical options including unlicensed therapies, surgical interventions, and dietetic and psychological support. The purpose of this review is to guide clinicians through this process and provide an accurate summary of the available evidence for different strategies.

Role of topical tacrolimus in the management of proctitis, perianal manifestations in Crohn's disease, and chronic pouchitis: a systematic review

Several published studies have evaluated the safety and effectiveness of oral and intravenous tacrolimus for the management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, little is known about the effectiveness of topical tacrolimus in this patient population. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the current state of literature to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of rectal administration of topical tacrolimus, in the form of suppository, ointment, and/or enema in patients with ulcerative proctitis, perianal Crohn's disease (CD), and chronic refractory pouchitis. Electronic database searches were conducted in international databases since their inception until February 2020. Study subjects were categorized into three groups: topical tacrolimus for patients with proctitis, perianal CD, and chronic refractory pouchitis. The primary end point of this study was the remission rate. Secondary end points were response rate and the incidence of AEs. Eleven studies were included in the final assessment in this systematic review. This provided information from 188 patients. Tacrolimus was administered topically as suppositories, ointment, or enema. Clinical remission was achieved in 57.1%, 57.14%, and 70.0% in patients with proctitis, fistulizing perianal CD, and chronic pouchitis. The most commonly reported side effect was perianal itching and burning. Reversible nephrotoxicity occurred in a single patient. No clear correlation was found between blood levels and clinical outcomes. Topical tacrolimus is effective for a subset of patients with IBD. The adverse effects were minimal and tolerable. Well-designed randomized clinical trials are warranted to establish the appropriate dose and administration method.

Optimising management strategies of inflammatory bowel disease in resource-limited settings in Asia

Over the 21st century, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has become a global disease with increasing prevalence reported in the Asian subcontinent as a result of rapid urbanisation, industrialisation, and westernisation of lifestyles. Although rates of surgery have shown a temporal decrease globally because of the increasing availability of new drugs and early initiation of effective therapy, health-care costs associated with IBD have continued to rise. The increase in IBD prevalence in resource-limited countries poses a substantial health-care burden. Drugs are not universally accessible or available. An optimised and practical management strategy of IBD in resource-limited countries in Asia is urgently needed. Special consideration should be made to balance the risk of undertreatment (and suboptimal disease control) because of financial constraints with the risk of overtreatment, which is associated with side-effects and costly therapeutics. In this Series paper, we summarise the current approach in optimising conventional therapies, use of other therapies, and de-escalation of biologics in low-resource settings in Asia. The long-term objective is to strive for more effective and affordable therapies with sustained durability of benefit.

Optimizing the Use of Current Treatments and Emerging Therapeutic Approaches to Achieve Therapeutic Success in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The current goal of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment is a symptom-free everyday life accompanied by mucosal healing with minimal use of corticosteroids. Recent therapeutic advances, particularly, the emergence of anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) antibodies, have changed the natural history of IBD. Additionally, these advances also led to the emergence of the therapeutic concept of the “treat to target” strategy. With the development of new drugs and clinical trials, not only biologics but also small molecules have been applied to clinical practice to better individualize and optimize therapy. However, if newer drugs, including anti-TNF therapies, are recommended for all patients diagnosed with IBD, a significant number of patients will be overtreated. The basic goal of IBD treatment is still to make the best use of conventional treatments based on IBD pathophysiology. Thus, physicians should be familiar with the modes of action of the available drugs. In this review, the author discusses the existing data for many approved drugs and provide insights for optimizing current treatments for the management of patients with IBD in the era of biologics.

First United Arab Emirates consensus on diagnosis and management of inflammatory bowel diseases: A 2020 Delphi consensus

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are the main entities of inflammatory bowel disease characterized by chronic remittent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The incidence and prevalence are on the rise worldwide, and the heterogeneity between patients and within individuals over time is striking. The progressive advance in our understanding of the etiopathogenesis coupled with an unprecedented increase in therapeutic options have changed the management towards evidence-based interventions by clinicians with patients. This guideline was stimulated and supported by the Emirates Gastroenterology and Hepatology Society following a systematic review and a Delphi consensus process that provided evidence- and expert opinion-based recommendations. Comprehensive up-to-date guidance is provided regarding diagnosis, evaluation of disease severity, appropriate and timely use of different investigations, choice of appropriate therapy for induction and remission phase according to disease severity, and management of main complications.

Intestinal stenosis in Crohn's disease shows a generalized upregulation of genes involved in collagen metabolism and recognition that could serve as novel anti-fibrotic drug targets

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Crohn's disease (CD) can be complicated by intestinal fibrosis. Pharmacological therapies against intestinal fibrosis are not available. The aim of this study was to determine whether pathways involved in collagen metabolism are upregulated in intestinal fibrosis, and to discuss which drugs might be suitable to inhibit excessive extracellular matrix formation targeting these pathways.

METHODS

Human fibrotic and non-fibrotic terminal ileum was obtained from patients with CD undergoing ileocecal resection due to stenosis. Genes involved in collagen metabolism were analyzed using a microfluidic low-density TaqMan array. A literature search was performed to find potential anti-fibrotic drugs that target proteins/enzymes involved in collagen synthesis, its degradation and its recognition.

RESULTS

mRNA expression of collagen type I (COL1A1, 0.76 ± 0.28 versus 37.82 ± 49.85, p = 0.02) and III (COL3A1, 2.01 ± 2.61 versus 68.65 ± 84.07, p = 0.02) was increased in fibrotic CD compared with non-fibrotic CD. mRNA expression of proteins involved in both intra- and extracellular post-translational modification of collagens (prolyl- and lysyl hydroxylases, lysyl oxidases, chaperones), collagen-degrading enzymes (MMPs and cathepsin-K), and collagen receptors were upregulated in the fibrosis-affected part. A literature search on the upregulated genes revealed several potential anti-fibrotic drugs.

CONCLUSION

Expression of genes involved in collagen metabolism in intestinal fibrosis affected terminal ileum of patients with CD reveals a plethora of drug targets. Inhibition of post-translational modification and altering collagen metabolism might attenuate fibrosis formation in the intestine in CD. Which compound has the highest potential depends on a combination anti-fibrotic efficacy and safety, especially since some of the enzymes play key roles in the physiology of collagen.

Recommendations of the Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Spanish Working Group (GETECCU) for the treatment of perianal fistulas of Crohn's disease

Recommendations are advice that is given and considered to be beneficial; however, they are still suggestions and are therefore open to different interpretations. In this sense, the final objective of the review has been to try to homogenize, with the evidence available, the approach to the diagnosis and medical/surgical treatment of one of the most complex manifestations of Crohn's disease, such as simple and complex perianal fistulas.

Therapeutic Efficacy and Adverse Events of Tacrolimus in Patients with Crohn's Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Only a few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and some uncontrolled trials have reported the efficacy and adverse events (AEs) of tacrolimus (Tac) in patients with refractory Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this study was to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis of the therapeutic efficacy and AEs of Tac in patients with CD.

METHODS

We investigated studies reporting the therapeutic efficacy of Tac in patients with CD from 1950 until December 2017. Study subjects were categorized into three groups: systemic administration of Tac for patients with luminal CD (Group 1); systemic administration of Tac for patients with perianal CD (Group 2); and topical administration of Tac for patients with localized CD (Group 3). The primary endpoint of this study was the remission rate. Secondary endpoints were partial response rate, factors related to remission, and the incidence of AEs.

RESULTS

The remission rate of Group 1, 2, and 3 was 37.1, 32.0, and 22.7%, respectively. The partial response rate of those was 42.3, 42.9, and 44.3%, respectively. In addition, the incidence of AEs of those was 50.9, 65.5, and 40.0%, respectively. No life-threatening AEs were observed in any study.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated that Tac therapy was effective for subpopulation of CD patients and that the incidence of AEs was tolerable. Therefore, Tac therapy should be considered an option for patients with CD. However, there have been few well-designed RCTs on this subject and further studies are required.

Imatinib in Refractory Crohn Disease: A Series of 6 Cases

Biologics have revolutionized Crohn disease (CD) treatment. Nevertheless, absence or loss of response is frequent and alternative therapeutic options may be necessary. Imatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is used in chronic myeloid leukemia. A positive impact on CD in 2 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia treated with imatinib led us to propose the drug in 4 additional patients with refractory CD. Four out of these 6 patients reached clinical and endoscopic remission at a median time of 3 months. Remission was maintained for 9 months to 7 years. Imatinib may thus be considered as new therapeutic options for refractory CD.

We report 6 CD patients treated with imatinib. Two of them because of a leukemia and 4 because of a disease refractory to all medical options. Four patients experienced full and sometimes prolonged remission of their digestive disease.

Advances in research of tacrolimus for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

Traditional drugs for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) include aminosalicylic acid preparations, glucocorticoids, and immunosuppressive agents such as thiopurine and cyclosporine. In recent ten years, the application of anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs has greatly improved the clinical remission of patients with IBD, but there are still some problems, such as no response, intolerance, and recurrence after withdrawal. In recent years, tacrolimus, as a new powerful immunosuppressive agent, has been used as a second-line therapeutic drug for IBD. At present, the tacrolimus induced short-term remission effect in IBD is relatively obvious, and it has been gradually used for treatment of IBD refractory to traditional drugs or anti-TNF drugs. A few studies have found that tacrolimus can be used safely for a long time under proper monitoring. However, there is little evidence of long-term efficacy and safety. In this paper, we review the latest advances in the treatment of IBD with tacrolimus and make a comparison with anti-TNF drugs.

Systematic review: outcomes and adverse events from randomised trials in Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

The suitability of disease activity indices has been challenged, with growing interest in objective measures of inflammation.

AIM

To undertake a systematic review of efficacy and safety outcomes in placebo-controlled randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of patients with Crohn's disease.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane Library were searched until November 2015, for RCTs of adult Crohn's disease patients treated with medical or surgical therapies. Data on efficacy and safety outcomes, end-point definitions, and measurement instruments were extracted and stratified by publication date (pre-2009 and 2009 onwards).

RESULTS

One hundred and eighty-one RCTs (110 induction and 71 maintenance) were identified, including 23 850 patients. About 92.3% reported clinical efficacy endpoints. The Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) dominated, defining clinical response or remission in 63.5% of trials (35 definitions of response or remission). CDAI < 150 was the commonest endpoint, but reporting reduced between periods (46.4%-41.1%), whilst use of CDAI100 increased (16.8%-30.4%). Fistula studies most commonly reported fistula closure (9, 90.0%). Reporting of biomarker, endoscopy and histology endpoints increased overall (33.3%-40.6%, 14.4%-30.4% and 3.2%-12.5%, respectively), but were heterogeneous and rarely reported in fistula trials. Patient-reported outcome measures were reported in 41.4% of trials and safety endpoints in 35.4%. Many of the common adverse events relate to disease exacerbation or treatment failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Trial endpoints vary across studies, over time and are distinct in fistula studies. Despite growth in reporting of objective measures of inflammation and in patient-reported outcome measures, there is a lack of standardisation. This confirms the need for a core outcome set for comparative effectiveness research in Crohn's disease.

Safety and Efficacy of Combination Treatment With Calcineurin Inhibitors and Vedolizumab in Patients With Refractory Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Little is known about the efficacy and safety of induction therapy with calcineurin inhibitors in combination with vedolizumab for patients with Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC). We analyzed the outcomes of patients receiving vedolizumab along with calcineurin inhibitors.

METHODS

We collected data on patients with CD (n = 9) or UC (n = 11) who began treatment with vedolizumab from May 20, 2014, through March 30, 2015, and received calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus or cyclosporin) during the first 12 months of vedolizumab therapy. Clinical activity scores and inflammatory markers were measured at baseline and at weeks 14, 30, and 52 of vedolizumab treatment. Clinical remission was defined as a Harvey-Bradshaw index score ≤4 or short clinical colitis activity index score ≤2; steroid-free clinical remission was defined as clinical remission without corticosteroids.

RESULTS

By week 14 of treatment, 44% of the patients with CD and 55% of the patients with UC achieved steroid-free clinical remission; after 52 weeks of treatment, 33% of the patients with CD and 45% of the patients with UC were in steroid-free clinical remission. Seven patients received salvage therapy with a calcineurin inhibitor after primary nonresponse to vedolizumab-1 of the 2 patients with UC and 2 of 5 patients with CD stopped taking the calcineurin inhibitors and achieved steroid-free remission at week 52. In total, 16 patients (59%) received 52 weeks of treatment with vedolizumab. Three serious adverse events were associated with calcineurin inhibitors.

CONCLUSIONS

Combination therapy of vedolizumab with either cyclosporin or tacrolimus is effective and safe at inducing and maintaining clinical remission in patients with CD and UC with up to 52 weeks of follow-up evaluation. Larger studies of the ability of calcineurin inhibitors to induce remission in patients on vedolizumab are warranted.

Clinical Pharmacology in Adult and Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

This review describes the clinical pharmacology of the major drugs used for the treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Pharmacokinetics, drug metabolism, mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety profile are discussed. Some small molecules were developed to act systemically (eg, ozanimod) or locally (eg, aminosalicylates) and thus have disparate pharmacokinetic properties. In addition, locally acting compounds have been optimized to mitigate systemic exposure-eg, budesonide, which undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism-thereby reducing systemic bioavailability and side effects. Other small molecules such as thiopurines are precursors of their active metabolites and differences in genotype or phenotype of metabolizing enzymes may affect efficacy and safety, requiring therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). Monoclonal antibodies (MAs) are large molecules administered parenterally, and their pharmacokinetics may be influenced not only by the general immunoglobulin (Ig) G metabolism and recycling pathways but also by antigen properties such as antigen distribution and antigen concentration. In addition, antibody structure, host factors, concurrent medications, and immunogenicity may contribute to the substantial inter- and intrapatient variability in drug exposure and response observed for MAs. Current guidelines recommend reactive TDM of tumor necrosis factor antagonists at the time of loss of response. Evidence for proactive TDM and for the role of TDM for biologics with a different mechanism of action is emerging. Although small molecules offer potential benefits over biologics with oral administration and lack of immunogenicity, there may be risk for more systemic side effects due to off-target binding. Understanding drug metabolism, pharmacokinetic characteristics, and mechanism of action are important in selecting the right drug at the right time at the right dose for patients with IBD.10.1093/ibd/izy189_video1izy189.video15786062223001.

ACG Clinical Guideline: Management of Crohn's Disease in Adults

Crohn's disease is an idiopathic inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology with genetic, immunologic, and environmental influences. The incidence of Crohn's disease has steadily increased over the past several decades. The diagnosis and treatment of patients with Crohn's disease has evolved since the last practice guideline was published. These guidelines represent the official practice recommendations of the American College of Gastroenterology and were developed under the auspices of the Practice Parameters Committee for the management of adult patients with Crohn's disease. These guidelines are established for clinical practice with the intent of suggesting preferable approaches to particular medical problems as established by interpretation and collation of scientifically valid research, derived from extensive review of published literature. When exercising clinical judgment, health-care providers should incorporate this guideline along with patient's needs, desires, and their values in order to fully and appropriately care for patients with Crohn's disease. This guideline is intended to be flexible, not necessarily indicating the only acceptable approach, and should be distinguished from standards of care that are inflexible and rarely violated. To evaluate the level of evidence and strength of recommendations, we used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. The Committee reviews guidelines in depth, with participation from experienced clinicians and others in related fields. The final recommendations are based on the data available at the time of the production of the document and may be updated with pertinent scientific developments at a later time.

Time to clinical response and remission for therapeutics in inflammatory bowel diseases: What should the clinician expect, what should patients be told?

An awareness of the expected time for therapies to induce symptomatic improvement and remission is necessary for determining the timing of follow-up, disease (re)assessment, and the duration to persist with therapies, yet this is seldom reported as an outcome in clinical trials. In this review, we explore the time to clinical response and remission of current therapies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as well as medication, patient and disease related factors that may influence the time to clinical response. It appears that the time to therapeutic response varies depending on the indication for therapy (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis). Agents with the most rapid time to clinical response included corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, exclusive enteral nutrition, aminosalicylates and anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy which will work in most patients within the first 2 mo. Vedolizumab, methotrexate and thiopurines had a longer time to clinical response and can take several months to achieve maximal efficacy. Factors affecting the time to clinical response of therapies included use of concomitant therapy, disease duration, smoking status, disease phenotype and advanced age. There appears to be marked variation in time to clinical response for therapies used in IBD which is further influenced by disease and patient related factors. Understanding the expected time to therapeutic response is integral to inform further decision making, maintain a patient-centered approach and ensure treatment is given an appropriate timeframe to achieve maximal benefit prior to cessation.

TRPML1: The Ca(2+)retaker of the lysosome

Efficient functioning of lysosome is necessary to ensure the correct performance of a variety of intracellular processes such as degradation of cargoes coming from the endocytic and autophagic pathways, recycling of organelles, and signaling mechanisms involved in cellular adaptation to nutrient availability. Mutations in lysosomal genes lead to more than 50 lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs). Among them, mutations in the gene encoding TRPML1 (MCOLN1) cause Mucolipidosis type IV (MLIV), a recessive LSD characterized by neurodegeneration, psychomotor retardation, ophthalmologic defects and achlorhydria. At the cellular level, MLIV patient fibroblasts show enlargement and engulfment of the late endo-lysosomal compartment, autophagy impairment, and accumulation of lipids and glycosaminoglycans. TRPML1 is the most extensively studied member of a small family of genes that also includes TRPML2 and TRPML3, and it has been found to participate in vesicular trafficking, lipid and ion homeostasis, and autophagy. In this review we will provide an update on the latest and more novel findings related to the functions of TRPMLs, with particular focus on the emerging role of TRPML1 and lysosomal calcium signaling in autophagy. Moreover, we will also discuss new potential therapeutic approaches for MLIV and LSDs based on the modulation of TRPML1-mediated signaling.

Tacrolimus Exerts Only a Transient Effectiveness in Refractory Pediatric Crohn Disease: A Case Series

OBJECTIVES

Tacrolimus is an immunosuppressive agent that has been proposed in the treatment of severe ulcerative colitis. The present study examined the effectiveness and safety of tacrolimus in treating refractory Crohn disease (CD) colitis in children.

METHODS

All children treated by oral tacrolimus for CD colitis at a tertiary pediatric center were included in the study. All patients were refractory to steroids and infliximab. Clinical response (decreased pediatric CD activity index [PCDAI] >15 and PCDAI <30) and remission (PCDAI <10) were monitored at 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 months after induction. Tacrolimus blood levels and adverse effects were also noted.

RESULTS

Among 220 patients with CD, 8 children (including 3 girls, median age 14 [9.5-18] years) were registered with a median PCDAI of 58.7 (32.5-65) before tacrolimus initiation. In patients treated with tacrolimus, the overall clinical response rates were 6/8, 3/8, 2/8, 2/8, and 1/8 with a remission rate of 4/8, 0/8, 0/8, 2/8, and 0/8 at 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. At 2 months, the PCDAI scores were lower than those at induction (median 11.2; P = 0.004) with the mean whole plasma level of tacrolimus being 8.75 ng/mL (5.9-10 ng/mL). Adverse events occurred in 6 of 8 patients, including renal dysfunction, insulin-dependent diabetes, paresthesia, and tremor. Tacrolimus interruption was required in 2 cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Tacrolimus could be considered to transiently treat refractory CD colitis. Tacrolimus could be used as a "bridge" toward another medical option in pediatric CD, although its adverse events are frequent.

EFFICACY OF TACROLIMUS FOR INDUCTION OF REMISSION IN PATIENTS WITH MODERATE-TO-SEVERE ULCERATIVE COLITIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

BACKGROUND

There is evidence that shows that calcineurin inhibitors may be useful for the treatment of severe ulcerative colitis. However, evidence regarding the efficacy of tacrolimus for remission induction in this setting is scarce.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a systematic review on the existing evidence regarding the clinical efficacy of tacrolimus for the induction of remission in patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis.

METHODS

A literature search was undertaken from 1966 to August 2016 using MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS and the Cochrane Library. The following MeSH terms were used: "Inflammatory Bowel Diseases" or "Ulcerative Colitis" and "Calcineurin Inhibitors" or "Tacrolimus" or "FK506". Studies performed in adult ulcerative colitis patients that evaluated the clinical efficacy of tacrolimus for the induction of remission were considered for revision. A meta-analysis was performed with those included studies that were also placebo-controlled and randomized. Clinical response as well as clinical remission and mucosal healing were evaluated.

RESULTS

Overall, 755 references were identified, from which 22 studies were finally included. Only two of them were randomized, placebo-controlled trials. A total of 172 patients were evaluated. A significantly lower risk of failure in clinical response was found for tacrolimus versus placebo [RR 0.58 (0.45-0.73)]; moreover, a lower risk of failure in the induction of remission was also found versus placebo [RR 0.91 (0.82-1)].

CONCLUSION

Tacrolimus seems to be a valid therapeutic alternative for the induction of remission in patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis.

Management of Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease (CD) is rapidly increasing in children so an up to date knowledge of diagnosis, investigation and management is essential. Exclusive enteral nutrition is the first line treatment for active disease. The vast majority of children will need immunosuppressant treatment and around 20% will need treatment with biologics. Recent guidelines have helped make best use of available therapies.

Immunomodulators for the treatment of Crohn's disease in adults: optimal use and prospects for future drug treatments

Crohn's disease (CD) requires treatment beyond symptoms by enabling and maintaining mucosal healing and therefore clinical remission. However, with the increasing use of biologics there have been safety concerns and there is a significant cost implication with the early use of biologics. Therefore, it is imperative that patients with severe/complicated disease or poor prognostic factors are treated with an aggressive strategy while all remaining patients should be treated in a step-up strategy. The potential for disease modification with thiopurines and methotrexate is debated in CD when they are used as a monotherapy. In this review we discuss existing and newer therapies that have recently been developed for CD. We will also provide an algorithm for current management of adult CD patients in routine clinical practice.

Modern Treatments and Stem Cell Therapies for Perianal Crohn's Fistulas

Crohn's disease (CD) is a complex disorder with important incidence in North America. Perianal fistulas occur in about 20% of patients with CD and are almost always classified as complex fistulas. Conventional treatment options have shown different success rates, yet there are data indicating that these approaches cannot achieve total cure and may not improve quality of life of these patients. Fibrin glue, fistula plug, topical tacrolimus, local injection of infliximab, and use of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are newly suggested therapies with variable success rates. Here, we aim to review these novel therapies for the treatment of complex fistulizing CD. Although initial results are promising, randomized studies are needed to prove efficacy of these approaches in curing fistulizing perianal CD.

Pharmacologic therapy for inflammatory bowel disease refractory to steroids

Although corticosteroids are an effective treatment for induction of remission in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), many patients are dependent on or refractory to corticosteroids. This review is based on scrutinizing current literature with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and Cochrane reviews on the management of IBD refractory to corticosteroids. Based on this evidence, we propose algorithms and optimization strategies for use of immunomodulator and biologic therapy in IBD refractory to corticosteroids.

Inflammatory bowel disease meta-evidence and its challenges: is it time to restructure surgical research?

AIM

The aim of this study was to compare the methodological quality and input paper characteristics of systematic reviews and meta-analyses reported in the medical and surgical literature by performing a systematic 'overview of reviews'. Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) were used as the framework for this comparison as they are relatively common serious conditions, with both medical and surgical options for therapy.

METHOD

Medline, Embase, CINHAL and the Cochrane Database were searched to November 2013. Eligible papers were systematic reviews or meta-analyses that considered a question of therapy in CD or UC. Two independent reviewers selected the papers, extracted the data and scored their methodology using the AMSTAR scoring system. The papers were categorized into medical therapy (M), surgical therapy (S) or medical and surgical therapy (MS) groups. Following retrieval of the sample of meta-evidence papers, the original input studies used in their creation were identified and a search of Medline, Embase, CINHAL and the Cochrane Database was performed. A team of researchers then examined the collection of papers for bibliographic and financial information.

RESULTS

Five hundred papers were identified in the meta-evidence search, of which 118 were deemed eligible. There was a difference in the AMSTAR-rated average quality of the papers between the S and M group (S 7.36 vs M 8.75, P = 0.01). On average S papers were published in journals with a lower impact factor (S 3.26, M 5.04, MS 5.30, P < 0.001). S papers also showed more heterogeneity (I(2) ; S 37%, M 24%, MS 10%, P < 0.001). Some 25% of S meta-analyses used data-sets with significant heterogeneity (I(2) > 75%), compared with 8% of M meta-analyses and 3% of the MS meta-analyses. Some 5% of S papers were done on data sets that had I(2) values > 90%. There was no difference in the average number of papers assessed in each group, the average number of patients per meta-paper, the average time covered by the reviews, the average number of papers considered within each meta-analysis, or the average number of patients considered within each meta-analysis. Considering the conclusions of each meta-analysis, S meta-evidence was 50% more likely than M meta-evidence to be unable to make recommendations for practice. A total of 1499 original input papers were identified, of which 283 were used in more than one review. Within the non-repeated papers (n = 1023) the average impact factor within the S group was lower than that of the M and the MS groups (3.720 vs 11.230 vs 7.563, respectively; ANOVAP < 0.001). M papers had higher rates of pharmaceutical sponsorship than S papers (M 56% vs S 1%) and twice the level of government support (M 16% vs S 8%). Of note, 21% of M papers had corporate sponsorship but did not list any conflict of interest.

CONCLUSION

Compared with M meta-analyses, S meta-analyses in the UC and CD domain are more likely to be of poorer methodological quality, are of a greater degree of heterogeneity and less often offer a positive conclusion. The papers used to generate meta-evidence in M papers have a greater degree of corporate and government sponsorship, and are more likely to come from journals with higher impact factors.

Conventional drug therapy for inflammatory bowel disease

Most patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are offered conventional medical therapy, because emerging therapies for IBD are regulated by health-care jurisdiction and often limited to academic centres. This review distils current evidence to provide a pragmatic approach to conventional IBD therapy, including aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, thiopurines, methotrexate, calcineurin inhibitors, infliximab and adalimumab. It addresses drug efficacy, safety and salient practice points for optimal and appropriate practice.

Role in calcineurin inhibitors for inflammatory bowel disease in the biologics era: when and how to use

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, which is the 2 major forms of inflammatory bowel disease, are chronic relapsing and remitting inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. During the last 30 years, the therapy for patients with refractory inflammatory bowel diseases is still challenging despite the fact that morbidity and mortality rates have been obviously reduced. The conventional management with corticosteroids has been modified by the introduction of calcineurin inhibitors and biologics. In this review, we focus on role in calcineurin inhibitors for patients with inflammatory bowel disease in the currently clinical practice.

Optimization of the treatment with immunosuppressants and biologics in inflammatory bowel disease

Many placebo controlled trials and meta-analyses evaluated the efficacy of different drugs for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including immunosuppressants and biologics. Their use is indicated in moderate to severe disease in non responders to corticosteroids and in steroid-dependent patients, as induction and maintainance treatment. Infliximab, as well as cyclosporine, is considered a second line therapy in the case of severe ulcerative colitis, or non-responders to intravenous corticosteroids. An adequate dosage and duration of therapy with thiopurines should be reached before evaluating their efficacy. Methotrexate is a valid option in patients with Crohn's disease but its use is confined to patients who are intolerant or non-responders to thiopurines. Evidence for the use of methotrexate in ulcerative colitis is insufficient. The use of thalidomide and mycophenolate mofetil is not recommended in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, these treatments could be considered in case of failure of all other therapeutic options. In patients with moderately active ulcerative colitis, refractory to thiopurines, the use of tacrolimus is considered an alternative to biologics. An increase of the dose or a decrease in the interval of administration of biological treatment could be useful in the presence of an incomplete clinical response. In the case of primary failure of an anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha a switch to another one should be considered. Data on the efficacy of combination therapy are up to now insufficient to consider this strategy in all IBD patients. The final outcome of the treatment should be considered the clinical remission, with mucosa healing, and not the clinical response. The evaluation of serum concentration of thiopurine methyl transferase activity, thiopurine metabolites, biologic serum levels and antibiologic antibodies could be useful for the management of the treatment but it has not been routinely applied in clinical practice. The evidence of high risk development of lymphoma and cutaneous malignancies should be considered in patients treated with immunosuppressants and biologics for a long period.

What is left when anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases fails?

The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic incurable conditions that primarily present in young patients. Being incurable, the IBDs may be part of the patient’s life for many years and these conditions require therapies that will be effective over the long-term. Surgery in Crohn’s disease does not cure the disease with endoscopic recurrent in up to 70% of patients 1 year post resection. This means that, the patient will require many years of medications and the goal of the treating physician is to induce and maintain long-term remission without side effects. The development of the anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) agents has been a magnificent clinical advance in IBD, but they are not always effective, with loss of response overtime and, at times, discontinuation is required secondary to side effects. So what options are available if of the anti-TNFα agents can no longer be used? This review aims to provide other options for the physician, to remind them of the older established medications like azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate, the less established medications like mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus as well as newer therapeutic options like the anti-integins, which block the trafficking of leukocytes into the intestinal mucosa. The location of the intestinal inflammation must also be considered, as topical therapeutic agents may also be worthwhile to consider in the long-term management of the more challenging IBD patient. The more options that are available the more likely the patient will be able to have tailored therapy to treat their disease and a better long-term outcome.

Oral tacrolimus for the treatment of refractory inflammatory bowel disease in the biologic era

BACKGROUND

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease who are refractory to standard therapies frequently require surgery. The long-term efficacy of tacrolimus in patients who fail standard immunosuppressive and antitumor necrosis factor α therapy is unknown.

METHODS

Thirty-five patients (11 Crohn's disease and 24 ulcerative colitis) with medication-resistant disease were treated with oral tacrolimus and reviewed retrospectively. Patients were commenced on tacrolimus 0.1 mg/kg/day, with a trough level targeted between 8 and 12 ng/mL. Clinical response or remission at 30 days, 90 days, and 1 year was assessed. The overall risk of requiring surgery and predictive factors were also assessed.

RESULTS

All patients had failed a thiopurine, 5 (14%) had also failed methotrexate, while 90% had a primary or secondary nonresponse, or an incomplete response, to an antitumor necrosis factor α agent. The proportions that achieved a clinical response at 30 days, 90 days, and 1 year was 65.7%, 60%, and 31.4%, respectively, whereas the corresponding proportions in remission were 40%, 37.1%, and 22.9%. The cumulative risk of requiring surgery was 40.4% at 1 year and 59.3% at 2 years with a median time to surgery of 22 months (range, 0.5-84 months). Patients who were steroid refractory, or dependent, before starting tacrolimus were more likely to have surgery (P = 0.006), whereas patients who were able to achieve or maintain a clinical response with tacrolimus by 90 days were less likely (P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Tacrolimus is able to induce a clinical response in a third and remission in a fifth of medically refractory patients with inflammatory bowel disease at 1 year. A 90-day therapeutic trial is worthwhile in difficult to treat patients.

Tacrolimus salvage in anti-tumor necrosis factor antibody treatment-refractory Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

Several small retrospective studies have reported encouraging response rates in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) treated with tacrolimus.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of the use of oral tacrolimus for severe CD refractory to anti-tumor necrosis factor agents. Response was defined as a clinician's assessment of improvement after at least 7 days of treatment of one or more of the following: bowel movement frequency, fistula output, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, extraintestinal manifestations, or well-being. Remission required all of the following: <3 stools per day, no bleeding, abdominal pain or extraintestinal manifestations, and increased well-being.

RESULTS

Twenty-four eligible patients were treated with tacrolimus for a median of 4 months. Approximately 37% were steroid dependent or steroid refractory. Response and steroid-free remission rates were 67% and 21%, respectively, and lasted for a median of 4 months. Approximately 42% of patients were able to stop steroids and 54% of patients ultimately required surgery within a median of 10 months after starting tacrolimus. Patients with mean tacrolimus trough levels of 10 to 15 ng/mL had the highest rates of response (86%) and remission (57%). Surgery seemed to be postponed in this group compared with others. An adverse event occurred in 75% of patients. Eight of these events (33%) required dose reduction and 6 (25%) led to treatment discontinuation. There were no irreversible side effects or deaths attributable to tacrolimus over a median follow-up of 56 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral tacrolimus seems to be safe and effective in some patients with severe CD refractory to anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy, particularly at a mean trough level of 10 to 15 ng/mL.

Clinical application of development of nonantibiotic macrolides that correct inflammation-driven immune dysfunction in inflammatory skin diseases

BACKGROUND

Inflammation-driven immune dysfunction supports the development of several chronic human disorders including skin diseases. Nonantibiotic macrolides have anti-inflammatory and/or immunomodulatory activity that suggests the exploitation of these in the treatment of skin diseases characterized by inflammatory disorders.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed an extensive review of the nonantibiotic macrolide literature published between 2005 and 2012, including cross-references of any retrieved articles. We also included some data from our own experience.

RESULTS

Calcineurin antagonists such as tacrolimus and ascomycins (e.g., pimecrolimus) act by inhibiting the activation of the nuclear factor for activated T cells (NFAT). There are new applications for these macrolides that have been available for several years and have been applied to skin and hair disorders such as atopic dermatitis, oral lichen planus, vitiligo, chronic autoimmune urticaria, rosacea, alopecia areata, pyoderma gangrenosum, Behcet's disease, neutrophilic dermatosis, and lupus erythematosus. We also reviewed new macrolides, like rapamycin, everolimus, and temsirolimus. In addition to the literature review, we report a novel class of nonantibiotic 14-member macrocycle with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.

CONCLUSIONS

This paper summarizes the most important clinical studies and case reports dealing with the potential benefits of nonantibiotic macrolides which have opened new avenues in the development of anti-inflammatory strategies in the treatment of cutaneous disorders.

Tacrolimus (FK506) suppresses TNF-α-induced CCL2 (MCP-1) and CXCL10 (IP-10) expression via the inhibition of p38 MAP kinase activation in human colonic myofibroblasts

In order to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the immunosuppressive effects of tacrolimus (FK506) on intestinal inflammation, we examined whether FK506 effects cytokine/chemokine secretion in human colonic myofibroblasts. Human colonic myofibroblasts were isolated from normal human colonic tissue. The mRNA and protein expression for human CCL2 and CXCL10 were analyzed by real-time PCR and ELISA, respectively. p38 MAP kinase activation was evaluated by western blotting. Tacrolimus (1 µM) suppressed tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced CCL2 and CXCL10 mRNA expression, but did not modulate TNF-α-induced interleukin (IL)-6 or CXCL8 mRNA expression. Dose-dependent, inhibitory effects of tacrolimus on CCL2 and CXCL10 expression were observed at the mRNA and protein levels. Significant inhibitory effects of tacrolimus were observed at concentrations as low as 0.5 µM for CCL2 and 0.1 µM for CXCL10, respectively. TNF-α-induced CCL2 and CXCL10 expression depended on p38 MAP kinase activation, and tacrolimus strongly inhibited the TNF-α-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase. Tacrolimus did not affect interferon (IFN)-γ-induced signaling transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-1 phosphorylation, nor did it modulate CXCL10 mRNA and protein expression. In conclusion, tacrolimus suppressed CCL2 and CXCL10 expression in human colonic myofibroblasts. These inhibitory effects of tacrolimus may play key roles in the therapeutic effects of colonic inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients.

The safety and efficacy of antitumour necrosis factor-alpha therapy for inflammatory bowel disease in patients post liver transplantation: a case series

BACKGROUND

The role of antitumour necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF) therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) among liver transplant recipients is largely unknown given the rarity of this population and the paucity of literature on the subject.

AIM

To investigate the safety and efficacy of anti-TNF therapy for refractory IBD in the post liver transplant population.

METHODS

The liver transplant database at London Health Sciences Centre was searched to identify adult patients with IBD treated with anti-TNF therapy post transplantation.

RESULTS

Six patients (five men, one woman) were identified, aged 28-65. All patients had cadaveric orthotopic liver transplants. Four patients required transplantation due to primary sclerosing cholangitis, one due to autoimmune hepatitis, and one due to biliary atresia. Five patients suffered from Crohn's disease and the remaining patient from indeterminate colitis. All patients were treated with infliximab 5 mg/kg every 8 weeks after undergoing induction at weeks 0, 2 and 6, with the exception of one patient. The duration of infliximab therapy ranged from 8 weeks to 4 years. Four patients treated with infliximab experienced sustained improvement of their IBD symptoms post transplantation, as documented by Harvey-Bradshaw Index scores demonstrating clinical remission. Of the remaining two patients, neither had sustained improvement of their IBD with infliximab or subsequent adalimumab. One patient was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus and another with colorectal adenocarcinoma following anti-TNF therapy. Otherwise, no side effects were attributed to anti-TNF therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on this case series, anti-TNF therapy appears to be safe and effective for treating refractory IBD in patients post liver transplantation. These patients respond to anti-TNF therapy similar to those who have not been previously transplanted.