Tofacitinib in Pregnancy: Assessing Pregnancy and Infant Outcomes, Cord Blood, and Breast Milk Concentrations

Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are effective anti-inflammatory agents for treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC).1 According to drug regulatory agencies and international guidelines, JAK inhibitors should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation.2-4 The existing evidence on safety of JAK inhibitors during pregnancy is scarce and almost exclusively limited to tofacitinib.4-7.

Subcutaneous Infliximab in Refractory Crohn's Disease Patients: A Possible Biobetter?

Background

A subcutaneous formulation of infliximab (IFX-SC) approved to treat patients with inflammatory bowel disease may offer improved efficacy versus intravenous infliximab.

Methods

Patients with refractory Crohn's disease (CD, n = 32) previously treated unsuccessfully with at least 2 biologics were treated with IFX-SC and followed from baseline at Week 0 (W0) to Week 30 (W30). The study's primary endpoint was the treatment's persistence at W30, while secondary goals included the analysis of serum infliximab trough levels (TL IFX), dynamics of anti-IFX antibodies (ATIs), and clinical, serum and fecal markers of CD activity during IFX-SC treatment.

Results

Midterm treatment persistence with the continuation of treatment after W30 was 53%. TL IFX median values showed rapid, significant upward dynamics and exceeded 15.5 μg/mL at W30, whereas median ATI levels significantly declined. Among ATI-negative patients at W0 (n = 15), only one showed IFX immunogenicity with newly developed ATIs at W30. Among ATI-positive patients at W0, ATI seroconversion from ATI-positive to ATI-negative status was observed in 10 of 17 patients (58.8%). Patients who had continued IFX-SC treatment at W30 showed significant decreases in C-reactive protein (P = .0341), fecal calprotectin (P = .0002), and Harvey-Bradshaw index (P = .0029) since W0.

Conclusions

Patients with refractory CD previously treated with at least 2 biologics exhibited clinically relevant improvement with IFX-SC, which showed less immunogenic potential than IFX-IV and highly stable TL IFX.

The cost of inflammatory bowel disease in high-income settings: a Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology Commission

The cost of caring for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) continues to increase worldwide. The cause is not only a steady increase in the prevalence of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in both developed and newly industrialised countries, but also the chronic nature of the diseases, the need for long-term, often expensive treatments, the use of more intensive disease monitoring strategies, and the effect of the diseases on economic productivity. This Commission draws together a wide range of expertise to discuss the current costs of IBD care, the drivers of increasing costs, and how to deliver affordable care for IBD in the future. The key conclusions are that (1) increases in health-care costs must be evaluated against improved disease management and reductions in indirect costs, and (2) that overarching systems for data interoperability, registries, and big data approaches must be established for continuous assessment of effectiveness, costs, and the cost-effectiveness of care. International collaborations should be sought out to evaluate novel models of care (eg, value-based health care, including integrated health care, and participatory health-care models), as well as to improve the education and training of clinicians, patients, and policy makers.

Safety of Ustekinumab and Vedolizumab During Pregnancy-Pregnancy, Neonatal, and Infant Outcome: A Prospective Multicentre Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Evidence on the safety of newer biologics during pregnancy is limited. We aimed to assess the safety of ustekinumab and vedolizumab treatment during gestation on pregnancy and infant outcome. Furthermore, we evaluated the placental transfer of these agents.

METHODS

We performed a prospective, multicentre, observational study in consecutive women with inflammatory bowel disease exposed to ustekinumab or vedolizumab 2 months prior to conception or during pregnancy. Pregnancy, neonatal, and infant outcomes were evaluated and compared with the anti-tumour necrosis factor [TNF]-exposed control group. Drug levels were assessed in maternal and cord blood at delivery.

RESULTS

We included 54 and 39 pregnancies exposed to ustekinumab and vedolizumab, respectively. In the ustekinumab group, 43 [79.9%] resulted in live births, and 11 [20.4%] led to spontaneous abortion. Thirty-five [89.7%] pregnancies on vedolizumab ended in a live birth, two [5.1%] in spontaneous, and two [5.1%] in therapeutic abortion. No significant difference in pregnancy outcome between either the vedolizumab or the ustekinumab group and controls was observed [p >0.05]. Similarly, there was no negative safety signal in the postnatal outcome of exposed children regarding growth, psychomotor development, and risk of allergy/atopy or infectious complications. The median infant-to-maternal ratio of ustekinumab levels was 1.67 and it was 0.59 in vedolizumab.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of ustekinumab and vedolizumab in pregnancy seems to be safe, with favuorable pregnancy and postnatal infant outcomes. Placental transfer differed between these two drugs, with ustekinumab having similar and vedolizumab having inverse infant-to-maternal ratio of drug levels compared with anti-TNF preparations.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination and Antibody Response in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease on Immune-modifying Therapy: Prospective Single-Tertiary Study

BACKGROUND

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on immune-modifying treatment could be at an increased risk for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); thus, data on the efficacy and safety of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines are essential. We conducted a prospective study of IBD patients vaccinated with BNT162b2, CX-024414, and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccines. The aim was to evaluate the rate and magnitude of seroconversion, assess the effect of different immune-modifying treatment modalities on the magnitude of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody levels, and analyze the impact of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on the inflammatory biomarkers of IBD.

METHODS

The study included 602 IBD patients and 168 immunocompetent health care workers serving as controls. Serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies were measured by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay before the vaccination and 8 weeks after the vaccination.

RESULTS

Of IBD patients, 82.2% were receiving biological treatment: most of them were treated with antitumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors (48.5%), and just under half of them were treated with concomitant thiopurines or methotrexate, followed by vedolizumab (18.6%) and ustekinumab (15.1%). Only 8.1% of patients were on 5-aminosalicylates, and a minority (2.2%) were treatment-free. The postvaccine seropositivity rate among IBD patients and controls was 97.8% vs 100%. Median anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels were lower among IBD recipients of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 compared with 2 other vaccines (P < .0001) and control ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 recipients (P = .01). No correlation was found between serum trough levels and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG concentrations for any of the biological drugs used. The TNF-α inhibitors with concomitant immunosuppressive treatment but no other treatment modalities were associated with a lower postvaccination antibody response (P < .0001). When evaluating the laboratory activity of IBD by C-reactive protein and fecal calprotectin levels, no significant differences were found before the vaccination and 8 weeks after its completion.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings warrant particular attention to the anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination of IBD patients treated with TNF-α inhibitors with concomitant immunomodulators and show the priority of mRNA vaccines in this specific group of patients.

A switch from originator-adalimumab to the biosimilar SB5 in patients with Crohn's disease: an analysis of two propensity score-matched cohorts

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Originator-adalimumab, an established treatment for patients with Crohn's disease (CD), showed no difference in efficacy or adverse events versus adalimumab biosimilar SB5 (SB5-adalimumab) over 10 weeks (W) of treatment. To understand the long-term effectiveness of SB5-adalimumab in CD, patients switched from originator-adalimumab to SB5-adalimumab were compared with patients remaining on originator-adalimumab over 104 W.

METHODS

Data on patients aged ≥18 years, diagnosed with CD and treated at ISCARE, were collected prospectively from July 2018 to January 2021. Primary outcome: clinical disease activity at W52, measured by Harvey-Bradshaw index (HBI). Secondary outcomes: C-reactive protein (CRP), faecal calprotectin (FC) and adalimumab concentrations at W10, 26, 52 and 104, and treatment persistence. To ensure comparable cohorts, patients were propensity score (PS)-matched for age, gender and disease activity.

RESULTS

After matching, 54 patients remained per cohort. At W52, mean (SD) HBI score was 3.2 (2.5) for originator-adalimumab and 4.0 [3.6] for SB5-adalimumab (difference [95% CI] -0.78 [-2.8, 1.3]; n = 18/cohort); no clinically meaningful differences in CRP, FC or drug concentrations were noted. Kaplan-Meier's estimates (95% CI) of remaining on treatment were originator-adalimumab: 0.870 (0.785-0.965) versus SB5-adalimumab: 0.648 (0.533-0.789) at W52 and significantly lower for SB5-adalimumab versus originator-adalimumab (p < .001) over 104 W. Local skin reaction events/pain was the main reason for treatment discontinuation in the SB5-adalimumab cohort (n = 20/54 [37%]).

CONCLUSIONS

These long-term results of CD patients receiving originator-adalimumab or following nonmedical switch to SB5-adalimumab show similar therapeutic effects on clinical disease activity, biological parameters and pharmacokinetic profile in both cohorts from 52 to 104 W. A separation in persistence was observed beyond W26, mainly due to differences in local reactions at the injection site.

Cellular and Humoral Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Knowledge on the immunogenicity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] patients is limited. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses and antibodies were analysed in 60 IBD vaccine recipients and 30 controls.

METHODS

SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies against the viral spike protein were measured at baseline and at 8 and 26 weeks after the second vaccine dose. SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies against the nucleocapsid antigens were measured at week 26. A SARS-CoV-2 interferon-gamma released assay [IGRA] was performed in all vaccinees at week 26.

RESULTS

At weeks 0 and 8, no differences were found in anti-spike antibodies between cohorts. At week 26, the decrease in antibody levels was more significant in the IBD cohort compared to the healthy cohort, and anti-nucleocapsid antibodies were not detected in either group. At week 26, 16 of 90 [18%] vaccinated individuals had a negative IGRA test result, seven of 90 [8%] were borderline and 67 [74%] had a positive IGRA result; 22 of the 23 individuals with negative or borderline IGRA results belonged to the IBD cohort. However, the overall functional ability of T-lymphocytes to produce interferon-gamma after the unspecific mitogen stimulation was lower in IBD patients. In vaccinated individuals with low or borderline IGRA, treatment with tumour necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors was the most frequent. In individuals with a significant drop in anti-spike antibody levels, plasmatic interferon-gamma concentrations after the specific SARS-CoV-2 stimulation were also insufficient.

CONCLUSIONS

Simple humoral and cellular post-vaccination monitoring is advisable in IBD patients so that repeated vaccine doses may be scheduled.

Validation and Update of the Lémann Index to Measure Cumulative Structural Bowel Damage in Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The Lémann Index is a tool measuring cumulative structural bowel damage in Crohn's disease (CD). We reported on its validation and updating.

METHODS

This was an international, multicenter, prospective, cross-sectional observational study. At each center, 10 inclusions, stratified by CD duration and location, were planned. For each patient, the digestive tract was divided into 4 organs, upper tract, small bowel, colon/rectum, anus, and subsequently into segments, explored systematically by magnetic resonance imaging and by endoscopies in relation to disease location. For each segment, investigators retrieved information on previous surgical procedures, identified predefined strictures and penetrating lesions of maximal severity (grades 1-3) at each organ investigational method (gastroenterologist and radiologist for magnetic resonance imaging), provided segmental damage evaluation ranging from 0.0 to 10.0 (complete resection). Organ resection-free cumulative damage evaluation was then calculated from the sum of segmental damages. Then investigators provided a 0-10 global damage evaluation from the 4-organ standardized cumulative damage evaluations. Simple linear regressions of investigator damage evaluations on their corresponding Lémann Index were studied, as well as calibration plots. Finally, updated Lémann Index was derived through multiple linear mixed models applied to combined development and validation samples.

RESULTS

In 15 centers, 134 patients were included. Correlation coefficients between investigator damage evaluations and Lémann Indexes were >0.80. When analyzing data in 272 patients from both samples and 27 centers, the unbiased correlation estimates were 0.89, 0,97, 0,94, 0.81, and 0.91 for the 4 organs and globally, and stable when applied to one sample or the other.

CONCLUSIONS

The updated Lémann Index is a well-established index to assess cumulative bowel damage in CD that can be used in epidemiological studies and disease modification trials.

Differences in the placental pharmacokinetics of vedolizumab and ustekinumab during pregnancy in women with inflammatory bowel disease: a prospective multicentre study

BACKGROUND

Vedolizumab demonstrated different placental pharmacokinetics than other immunoglobulin G1 antibodies, leading to lower drug levels in cord blood in contrast to maternal blood at the time of delivery. The placental transfer of ustekinumab seems to have a pattern similar to anti-tumour necrosis factor agents. Current evidence on the placental pharmacokinetics of vedolizumab and ustekinumab is limited. We aimed to assess the placental transfer of ustekinumab and vedolizumab in pregnant patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

METHODS

Consecutive women from a prospective observational study who were exposed to ustekinumab or vedolizumab within 2 months prior to conception or during pregnancy were included. Ustekinumab and vedolizumab levels were measured in maternal and cord blood at the time of delivery.

RESULTS

Drug levels were available in 31 infant-mother pairs (15 exposed to ustekinumab and 16 to vedolizumab). The median maternal and newborn ustekinumab levels were 5.3 mg/l and 10.3 mg/l, respectively (the median infant-to-maternal ratio was 1.7), while the median maternal and cord vedolizumab levels were 7.3 mg/l and 4.5 mg/l (the median infant-to-maternal ratio was 0.66). The ustekinumab levels in cord blood positively correlated with the maternal levels at delivery (ρ = 0.751, p = 0.001). However, no correlation with the timing of the last drug administration was found. In contrast, the vedolizumab levels in cord blood demonstrated significant positive correlation with the maternal levels (ρ = 0.831, p < 0.001) along with the gestational week of the last infusion (ρ = 0.736, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Vedolizumab demonstrated different placental pharmacokinetics, leading to lower drug levels in cord blood compared to maternal blood at delivery; in contrast, the placental transfer of ustekinumab seems to have a pattern similar to anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents.

Editorial: safety of prenatal exposure to anti-TNF therapy on postnatal infectious complications

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Bröms et al paper. To view this article, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15971

Switching From Originator Adalimumab to the Biosimilar SB5 in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Short-term Experience From a Single Tertiary Clinical Centre

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Patients' perspectives after switching from originator to biosimilar adalimumab have yet to be assessed. We evaluated the efficacy of switching from the originator adalimumab to a biosimilar compound [SB5] in patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD].

METHODS

Data on IBD patients who were switched from the originator to biosimilar adalimumab [SB5] at IBD Center ISCARE were analysed. Disease activity was assessed using standard clinical indices (Harvey-Bradshaw index [HBI] for Crohn's disease [CD] and partial Mayo score for ulcerative colitis [UC]), and laboratory parameters (C-reactive protein [CRP] and faecal calprotectin [FC]). Trough levels and anti-drug antibodies were measured. Patients were evaluated 10 weeks [W10] after the switch, and results were compared with the control group of patients on originator compound.

RESULTS

A total of 93 patients switched to biosimilar adalimumab were included [CD 86%] and were matched to 93 controls for age, gender, diagnosis, and disease activity. There was no difference in the disease activity in either SWITCH or ORIGINATOR cohorts between Weeks 0 and 10. Similarly, no difference was found between cohorts at both prespecified time points. Moreover, no significant differences in CRP or FC concentrations were seen between W0 and W10 either in the SWITCH, or in the ORIGINATOR cohort [p >0.05]. Adalimumab serum trough levels remained stable after the switch. No new safety signals were detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirmed that switching IBD patients from the originator adalimumab to a biosimilar compound [SB5] does not affect treatment efficacy.

The use of 5-aminosalicylate for patients with Crohn's disease in a prospective European inception cohort with 5 years follow-up - an Epi-IBD study

BACKGROUND

The lack of scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of 5-aminosalicylate in patients with Crohn's disease is in sharp contrast to its widespread use in clinical practice.

AIMS

The aim of the study was to investigate the use of 5-aminosalicylate in patients with Crohn's disease as well as the disease course of a subgroup of patients who were treated with 5-aminosalicylate as maintenance monotherapy during the first year of disease.

METHODS

In a European community-based inception cohort, 488 patients with Crohn's disease were followed from the time of their diagnosis. Information on clinical data, demographics, disease activity, medical therapy and rates of surgery, cancers and deaths was collected prospectively. Patient management was left to the discretion of the treating gastroenterologists.

RESULTS

Overall, 292 (60%) patients with Crohn's disease received 5-aminosalicylate period during follow-up for a median duration of 28 months (interquartile range 6-60). Of these, 78 (16%) patients received 5-aminosalicylate monotherapy during the first year following diagnosis. Patients who received monotherapy with 5-aminosalicylate experienced a mild disease course with only nine (12%) who required hospitalization, surgery, or developed stricturing or penetrating disease, and most never needed more intensive therapy. The remaining 214 patients were treated with 5-aminosalicylate as the first maintenance drug although most eventually needed to step up to other treatments including immunomodulators (75 (35%)), biological therapy (49 (23%)) or surgery (38 (18%)).

CONCLUSION

In this European community-based inception cohort of unselected Crohn's disease patients, 5-aminosalicylate was commonly used. A substantial group of these patients experienced a quiescent disease course without need of additional treatment during follow-up. Therefore, despite the controversy regarding the efficacy of 5-aminosalicylate in Crohn's disease, its use seems to result in a satisfying disease course for both patients and physicians.

Health-care costs of inflammatory bowel disease in a pan-European, community-based, inception cohort during 5 years of follow-up: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) places a significant burden on health-care systems because of its chronicity and need for expensive therapies and surgery. With increasing use of biological therapies, contemporary data on IBD health-care costs are important for those responsible for allocating resources in Europe. To our knowledge, no prospective long-term analysis of the health-care costs of patients with IBD in the era of biologicals has been done in Europe. We aimed to investigate cost profiles of a pan-European, community-based inception cohort during 5 years of follow-up.

METHODS

The Epi-IBD cohort is a community-based, prospective inception cohort of unselected patients with IBD diagnosed in 2010 at centres in 20 European countries plus Israel. Incident patients who were diagnosed with IBD according to the Copenhagen Diagnostic Criteria between Jan 1, and Dec 31, 2010, and were aged 15 years or older the time of diagnosis were prospectively included. Data on clinical characteristics and direct costs (investigations and outpatient visits, blood tests, treatments, hospitalisations, and surgeries) were collected prospectively using electronic case-report forms. Patient-level costs incorporated procedures leading to the initial diagnosis of IBD and costs of IBD management during the 5-year follow-up period. Costs incurred by comorbidities and unrelated to IBD were excluded. We grouped direct costs into the following five categories: investigations (including outpatient visits and blood tests), conventional medical treatment, biological therapy, hospitalisation, and surgery.

FINDINGS

The study population consisted of 1289 patients with IBD, with 1073 (83%) patients from western Europe and 216 (17%) from eastern Europe. 488 (38%) patients had Crohn's disease, 717 (56%) had ulcerative colitis, and 84 (6%) had IBD unclassified. The mean cost per patient-year during follow-up for patients with IBD was €2609 (SD 7389; median €446 [IQR 164-1849]). The mean cost per patient-year during follow-up was €3542 (8058; median €717 [214-3512]) for patients with Crohn's disease, €2088 (7058; median €408 [133-1161]) for patients with ulcerative colitis, and €1609 (5010; median €415 [92-1228]) for patients with IBD unclassified (p<0·0001). Costs were highest in the first year and then decreased significantly during follow-up. Hospitalisations and diagnostic procedures accounted for more than 50% of costs during the first year. However, in subsequent years there was a steady increase in expenditure on biologicals, which accounted for 73% of costs in Crohn's disease and 48% in ulcerative colitis, in year 5. The mean annual cost per patient-year for biologicals was €866 (SD 3056). The mean yearly costs of biological therapy were higher in patients with Crohn's disease (€1782 [SD 4370]) than in patients with ulcerative colitis (€286 [1427]) or IBD unclassified (€521 [2807]; p<0·0001).

INTERPRETATION

Overall direct expenditure on health care decreased over a 5-year follow-up period. This period was characterised by increasing expenditure on biologicals and decreasing expenditure on conventional medical treatments, hospitalisations, and surgeries. In light of the expenditures associated with biological therapy, cost-effective treatment strategies are needed to reduce the economic burden of inflammatory bowel disease.

FUNDING

Kirsten og Freddy Johansens Fond and Nordsjællands Hospital Forskningsråd.

Disease course of inflammatory bowel disease unclassified in a European population-based inception cohort: An Epi-IBD study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

A definitive diagnosis of Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) is not always possible, and a proportion of patients will be diagnosed as inflammatory bowel disease unclassified (IBDU). The aim of the study was to investigate the prognosis of patients initially diagnosed with IBDU and the disease course during the following 5 years.

METHODS

The Epi-IBD study is a prospective population-based cohort of 1289 IBD patients diagnosed in centers across Europe. Clinical data were captured prospectively throughout the follow-up period.

RESULTS

Overall, 476 (37%) patients were initially diagnosed with CD, 701 (54%) with UC, and 112 (9%) with IBDU. During follow-up, 28 (25%) IBDU patients were changed diagnoses to either UC (n = 20, 71%) or CD (n = 8, 29%) after a median of 6 months (interquartile range: 4-12), while 84 (7% of the total cohort) remained IBDU. A total of 17 (15%) IBDU patients were hospitalized for their IBD during follow-up, while 8 (7%) patients underwent surgery. Most surgeries (n = 6, 75%) were performed on patients whose diagnosis was later changed to UC; three of these colectomies led to a definitive diagnosis of UC. Most patients (n = 107, 96%) received 5-aminosalicylic acid, while 11 (10%) patients received biologicals, of whom five remained classified as IBDU.

CONCLUSIONS

In a population-based inception cohort, 7% of IBD patients were not given a definitive diagnosis of IBD after 5 years of follow-up. One in four patients with IBDU eventually was classified as CD or UC. Overall, the disease course and medication burden in IBDU patients were mild.

Safety of Anti-TNF-Alpha Therapy During Pregnancy on Long-term Outcome of Exposed Children: A Controlled, Multicenter Observation

BACKGROUND

Evidence of the impact of in utero exposure to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha on long-term childhood development is limited. The aim was to assess the impact of in utero exposure to anti-TNF-alpha due to mothers' inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on long-term postnatal development of exposed children.

METHODS

We included consecutive children (≥12 months of age) born to mothers with IBD (2007-2016) treated with anti-TNF-alpha during pregnancy in 3 centers in the Czech Republic. A control group was comprised of unexposed children of non-IBD mothers undergoing mandatory check-ups at general pediatricians' offices. Data on perinatal period, psychomotor development, vaccination, infections, antibiotics, and allergy were collected by treating pediatricians using a predefined questionnaire.

RESULTS

Seventy-two exposed and 69 unexposed children were included (median age, 35 and 50 months, respectively). Exposed children had growth and psychomotor development similar to controls. There was no significant difference in infectious complications within the first year of life (23.9% vs 17.4%; P = 0.36) or during the whole follow-up between exposed infants and controls (P = 0.32). Concomitant immunosuppressants during pregnancy and anti-TNF-alpha levels in cord blood were not associated with elevated infection rate within the first year of life (P > 0.05). Over 95% of exposed children had adequate serologic response to vaccination, except for haemophilus and mumps vaccines. Clinically manifested allergy was similar between the groups (P = 0.98).

CONCLUSIONS

Anti-TNF-alpha exposure in utero does not seem to have a negative impact on postnatal development of children with regard to infectious complications, allergy, growth, or psychomotor development when compared with unexposed children of non-IBD women.

Natural disease course of Crohn's disease during the first 5 years after diagnosis in a European population-based inception cohort: an Epi-IBD study

OBJECTIVE

The Epi-IBD cohort is a prospective population-based inception cohort of unselected patients with inflammatory bowel disease from 29 European centres covering a background population of almost 10 million people. The aim of this study was to assess the 5-year outcome and disease course of patients with Crohn's disease (CD).

DESIGN

Patients were followed up prospectively from the time of diagnosis, including collection of their clinical data, demographics, disease activity, medical therapy, surgery, cancers and deaths. Associations between outcomes and multiple covariates were analysed by Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

In total, 488 patients were included in the study. During follow-up, 107 (22%) patients received surgery, while 176 (36%) patients were hospitalised because of CD. A total of 49 (14%) patients diagnosed with non-stricturing, non-penetrating disease progressed to either stricturing and/or penetrating disease. These rates did not differ between patients from Western and Eastern Europe. However, significant geographic differences were noted regarding treatment: more patients in Western Europe received biological therapy (33%) and immunomodulators (66%) than did those in Eastern Europe (14% and 54%, respectively, P<0.01), while more Eastern European patients received 5-aminosalicylates (90% vs 56%, P<0.05). Treatment with immunomodulators reduced the risk of surgery (HR: 0.4, 95% CI 0.2 to 0.6) and hospitalisation (HR: 0.3, 95% CI 0.2 to 0.5).

CONCLUSION

Despite patients being treated early and frequently with immunomodulators and biological therapy in Western Europe, 5-year outcomes including surgery and phenotype progression in this cohort were comparable across Western and Eastern Europe. Differences in treatment strategies between Western and Eastern European centres did not affect the disease course. Treatment with immunomodulators reduced the risk of surgery and hospitalisation.

Natural Disease Course of Ulcerative Colitis During the First Five Years of Follow-up in a European Population-based Inception Cohort-An Epi-IBD Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Few population-based cohort studies have assessed the disease course of ulcerative colitis [UC] in the era of biological therapy and widespread use of immunomodulators. The aim of this study was to assess the 5-year outcome and disease course of patients with UC in the Epi-IBD cohort.

METHODS

In a prospective, population-based inception cohort of unselected patients with UC, patients were followed up from the time of their diagnosis, which included the collection of their clinical data, demographics, disease activity, medical therapy, and rates of surgery, cancers, and deaths. Associations between outcomes and multiple covariates were analysed by Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 717 patients were included in the study. During follow-up, 43 [6%] patients underwent a colectomy and 163 [23%] patients were hospitalised. Of patients with limited colitis [distal to the left flexure], 90 [21%] progressed to extensive colitis. In addition, 92 [27%] patients with extensive colitis experienced a regression in disease extent, which was associated with a reduced risk of hospitalisation (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.5 95% CI: 0.3-0.8]. Overall, patients were treated similarly in both geographical regions; 80 [11%] patients needed biological therapy and 210 [29%] patients received immunomodulators. Treatment with immunomodulators was found to reduce the risk of hospitalisation [HR: 0.5 95% CI: 0.3-0.8].

CONCLUSIONS

Although patients in this population-based cohort were treated more aggressively with immunomodulators and biological therapy than in cohorts from the previous two decades, their disease outcomes, including colectomy rates, were no different. However, treatment with immunomodulators was found to reduce the risk of hospitalisation.

Impact of Extra-Intestinal Manifestations at Diagnosis on Disease Outcome in Pediatric- and Elderly-Onset Crohn's Disease: A French Population-Based Study

BACKGROUND

Extraintestinal manifestations (EIM) have been associated with more severe course of inflammatory bowel disease. The aim was to study the frequency of EIM in pediatric- and elderly-onset Crohn's disease (CD) and the factors associated with EIM and their impact on long-term disease outcome.

METHODS

Pediatric- (age at diagnosis younger than 17 years) and elderly-onset CD patients (age at diagnosis 60 years or older) from a prospective population-based registry (EPIMAD) were recruited. Data on EIM and clinical factors at diagnosis and at maximal follow-up were collected.

RESULTS

We included 535 pediatric- and 370 elderly-onset patients (median age 14.5 and 69.9 years; median follow-up 11.1 and 5.9 years). Extraintestinal manifestations presented in 23.5% of childhood-onset and 4.9% of elderly-onset individuals at diagnosis, while in 29.8% and 5.9% of patients, EIM developed newly during the follow-up (hazard ration [HR] 4.4, 95% CI, 2.7-7.0, P < 0.001). The most frequently involved organ in both age cohorts, either at diagnosis or during disease course, were joints (pediatric: 11.2% and 22.6%; elderly: 3.2% and 3.5%, respectively) followed by skin (pediatric: 15.9% and 13.6%; elderly: 2.7% and 2.7%, respectively). Extraintestinal manifestations at diagnosis were associated with increased risk for corticosteroids (HR 1.42, 95% CI, 1.14-1.78 and HR 3.38, 95% CI, 1.88-6.08) and immunosuppressive therapy (HR 1.30, 95% CI, 1.02-1.65 and HR 4.24, 95% CI, 1.91-9.42), in both age populations.

CONCLUSIONS

Extraintestinal manifestations occurred at lower frequency in elderly-onset compared with pediatric-onset patients. In both age populations, presence of EIM at diagnosis independently increased the need for corticosteroid and immunosuppressive treatment.

Infliximab biosimilar CT-P13 therapy is effective in maintaining endoscopic remission in ulcerative colitis - results from multicenter observational cohort

BACKGROUND

CT-P13, the first biosimilar monoclonal antibody to infliximab (IFX), has previously been confirmed to be efficacious in inducing mucosal healing in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of CT-P13 therapy in maintaining mucosal healing in UC.

METHODS

CT-P13 trough levels, antibody positivity, serum inflammatory markers as CRP level, fecal calprotectin at weeks 14 and 54, concomitant steroid and azathioprine therapy at the time of induction therapy and at weeks 14 and 54, previous use of anti TNF drug and the need of dose intensification as possible predictive factors for mucosal healing at week 54 were evaluated in this prospective study.

RESULTS

61 patients had already completed the 54-week treatment period. Mucosal healing was shown in 65.5 % and 62.1 %, complete mucosal healing was present in 31% and 38 % at week 14 and 54, respectively. The median values of CRP, leukocytes, thrombocytes, and albumin showed significant difference between baseline and week 54. Serum antibody positivity was proved in 6.5 % and 19.7 % of cases at week 14 and 54, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our study confirmed the long-term efficacy of CT-P13 therapy on mucosal healing in UC.

Impact of age at diagnosis on natural history of patients with elderly-onset ulcerative colitis: A French population-based study

BACKGROUND

Recent population-based study of elderly-onset Crohn's disease patients reported age-related differences in disease phenotype and outcome.

AIMS

The aim was to assess the impact of age at diagnosis on natural history of elderly-onset ulcerative colitis patients with emphasis on disease presentation, phenotype and treatment.

METHODS

Elderly-onset patients with ulcerative colitis (≥60 years at diagnosis) registered in a French population-based Registry EPIMAD (1988-2006) were included. Demographic and clinical data at diagnosis and at maximal follow-up were collected using predefined questionnaire.

RESULTS

Four-hundred and sixty-five elderly-onset ulcerative colitis patients were included (median follow-up 6.2 years); 276 (59%) were <70 and 189 (41%) ≥70 years at diagnosis. Patients aged <70 years presented with more rectal bleeding (86% vs. 79%, p = .06) and abdominal pain (44% vs. 34%, p = .04) while those ≥70 years had higher rate of left-sided colitis (62% vs. 49%; p = .02). Cumulative exposure to 5-ASA, corticosteroids and immunosuppressants was similar between the groups as well as surgery rate. However, patients <70 years were significantly more steroid-resistant than older individuals (12% vs. 3%, p < .05) while no significant difference in steroid-dependency was observed.

CONCLUSION

Patients with elderly-onset ulcerative colitis differed in presentation, disease phenotype and response to medication with respect to age at diagnosis.

Extra-intestinal Manifestations at Diagnosis in Paediatric- and Elderly-onset Ulcerative Colitis are Associated With a More Severe Disease Outcome: A Population-based Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Data on extra-intestinal manifestations [EIM] and their impact on the disease course of ulcerative colitis [UC] in population-based cohorts are scarce, particularly in paediatric- and elderly-onset UC patients. The aims of this population-based study were to assess: 1] the occurrence of EIM in paediatric- and elderly-onset UC; 2] the factors associated with EIM; and 3] their impact on long-term disease outcome.

METHODS

Paediatric-onset [< 17 years at diagnosis] and elderly-onset UC patients [> 60 years at diagnosis] from a French prospective population-based registry [EPIMAD] were included. Data on EIM and other clinical factors at diagnosis and at maximal follow-up were collected.

RESULTS

In all, 158 paediatric- and 470 elderly-onset patients were included [median age at diagnosis 14.5 and 68.8 years, median follow-up 11.2 and 6.2 years, respectively]. EIM occurred in 8.9% of childhood- and 3% of elderly-onset patients at diagnosis and in 16.7% and 2.2% of individuals during follow-up [p < 0.01], respectively. The most frequent EIM was joint involvement [15.8% of paediatric onset and 2.6% of elderly-onset]. Presence of EIM at diagnosis was associated with more severe disease course [need for immunosuppressants or biologic therapy or colectomy] in both paediatric- and elderly-onset UC (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0-4.2; and HR = 2.8, 0.9-7.9, respectively). Extensive colitis was another independent risk factor in both age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly-onset UC patients had lower risk of EIM either at diagnosis or during follow-up than paediatric-onset individuals. EIM at diagnosis predicted more severe disease outcome, including need for immunosuppressive or biologic therapy or surgery, in both paediatric- and elderly-onset UC.

Occurrence of Anaemia in the First Year of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in a European Population-based Inception Cohort-An ECCO-EpiCom Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Anaemia is an important complication of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anaemia and the practice of anaemia screening during the first year following diagnosis, in a European prospective population-based inception cohort.

METHODS

Newly diagnosed IBD patients were included and followed prospectively for 1 year in 29 European and one Australian centre. Clinical data including demographics, medical therapy, surgery and blood samples were collected. Anaemia was defined according to the World Health Organization criteria.

RESULTS

A total of 1871 patients (Crohn's disease [CD]: 686, 88%; ulcerative colitis [UC]: 1,021, 87%; IBD unclassified [IBDU] 164. 81%) were included in the study. The prevalence of anaemia was higher in CD than in UC patients and, overall, 49% of CD and 39% of UC patients experienced at least one instance of anaemia during the first 12 months after diagnosis. UC patients with more extensive disease and those from Eastern European countries, and CD patients with penetrating disease or colonic disease location, had higher risks of anaemia. CD and UC patients in need of none or only mild anti-inflammatory treatment had a lower risk of anaemia. In a significant proportion of patients, anaemia was not assessed until several months after diagnosis, and in almost half of all cases of anaemia a thorough work-up was not performed.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, 42% of patients had at least one instance of anaemia during the first year following diagnosis. Most patients were assessed for anaemia regularly; however, a full anaemia work-up was frequently neglected in this community setting.

Infliximab Biosimilar (Remsima™) in Therapy of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Patients: Experience from One Tertiary Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Centre

BACKGROUND

The evidence on the efficacy and safety of biosimilar infliximab (IFX) in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) is sparse.

METHODS

Consecutive IBD patients visiting our centre were included. One cohort composed of prospectively followed patients who were switched from original to biosimilar IFX between January and March 2015. The second cohort included retrospectively assessed anti-tumor necrosis factor α-naïve patients who started therapy between January 2015 and January 2016. Disease activity was assessed using standard clinical indices, endoscopic evaluation, and laboratory parameters (blood count, C-reactive protein (CRP) and fecal calprotectin (FC)). Trough levels and anti-drug antibodies (ATIs) were also measured. Patients were evaluated 56 weeks (W56) after switch and at week 14 (W14) and week 46 (W46) in the naïve cohort.

RESULTS

Seventy-four IBD patients were switched to biosimilar IFX and 119 naïve patients newly initiated therapy with the preparation. Disease activity remained stable in a majority of switched patients (remission at week 0 (W0) vs. W56: 72.2 vs. 77.8%; median difference of both Harvey-Bradshaw index and Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index between W0 and W56 was 0). When W0 and W56 were compared, no significant difference in CRP (4.3 ± 8.0 vs. 3.3 ± 3.8 mg/l; p = 0.89) and FC (135 ± 153 vs. 199 ± 225 µg/g; p = 0.17) was observed. In total, 92% of Crohn's disease (CD) and 83% of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients responded to induction therapy (W14) with biosimilar IFX. At W46, the response rate was 86% in CD and 64% in UC. Moreover, half of UC patients experienced mucosal healing at W14 and improvement of perianal disease occurred in 95% of CD at W46. In this cohort, clear steroid-sparing effect was observed. No increase in immunogenicity was found in switched patients (ATI positivity: 9.5 vs. 6.0%, p = 0.54) and the type and frequency of adverse events were comparable to the original preparation in both cohorts.

CONCLUSION

Switching of IBD patients from original to biosimilar IFX is effective and safe.

What Can We Learn from Epidemiological Studies in Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

BACKGROUND

Population-based studies represent the whole spectrum of patient population and should represent the mainstay when evaluating patients' prognosis. A high number of CD patients need surgical intervention during the disease course. The disease course of inflammatory bowel diseases, including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), is quite varied and still quite unpredictable. Key Messages: According to earlier studies, up to 60% of patients undergo at least one operation after 10 years of CD duration. Newer cohorts report lower cumulative probability of surgery of approximately 40% after 10 years. The colectomy rate in UC is approximately 10% after 10 years from diagnosis with a geographic difference. Similarly to CD, the colectomy rate seems to decrease over time. There is some evidence that the increasing use of immunosuppressive and/or biological therapy might have been responsible for this favourable trend. However, other factors may have an impact on decreasing surgical trend over time. The relative risk (RR) of colorectal cancer (CRC) in UC is approximately doubled compared to background population. However, the absolute risk in general is relatively low between 1.1 and 5.3% after 20 years of disease duration. Furthermore, a decreasing trend in the incidence of CRC has been reported in recent studies. Importantly, several factors such as disease extent, activity, age at UC onset, and so on may increase/modify an individual risk. Similar to UC, CD patients have approximately 2 times higher RR of cancer compared to background population. The risk is higher for colon than for rectum cancer and present only in CD patients with colonic involvement.

CONCLUSIONS

The surgery rate in CD has decreased over the time period. The evidence on colectomy rate in UC is less conclusive. The RR of CRC in UC and CD is approximately doubled compared to that of the background population, but it seems to be decreasing in more recent cohorts.

Efficacy of Infliximab Biosimilar CT-P13 Induction Therapy on Mucosal Healing in Ulcerative Colitis

INTRODUCTION

CT-P13 is the first biosimilar to infliximab that has been approved for the same indications as its originator infliximab. No data are available on the effect of infliximab biosimilar on mucosal healing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of CT-P13 induction therapy on mucosal healing in patients with ulcerative colitis [UC].

PATIENTS AND METHODS

UC patients, who received CT-P13 therapy from its local introduction at three Hungarian and one Czech inflammatory bowel disease centres, were prospectively enrolled. Sigmoidoscopy was performed after the end of the induction therapy at week 14. Mucosal healing was defined as Mayo endoscopic subscore 0 or 1. Complete mucosal healing was defined as Mayo endoscopic subscore 0. Trough level of CT-P13 was measured at week 14.

RESULTS

Sixty-three UC patients who underwent CT-P13 induction therapy were enrolled in the study. Indication for the therapy was acute, severe flare up and chronic, refractory activity in 24 and 39 patients, respectively. Cumulative clinical response and steroid-free remission at week 14 were achieved in 82.5% and 47.6% of the patients, respectively. Sigmoidoscopy revealed steroid-free mucosal healing in 47.6% of the patients, and complete mucosal healing was present in 27%. Mayo endoscopic subscore decreased significantly at week 14 compared to baseline. Trough levels of infliximab correlated with mucosal healing.

CONCLUSION

This is, to our knowledge, the first study examining the efficacy of CT-P13 induction therapy on mucosal healing in UC. The results indicate that mucosal healing is achieved in two-thirds of UC patients by the end of the induction treatment with CT-P13.

Discontinuation of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy in inflammatory bowel disease patients: a prospective observation

BACKGROUND

Discontinuation of anti-TNF therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in remission remains a controversial issue. The aims of our study were to assess the proportion of patients who relapse after cessation of biological treatment, and to identify potential risk factors of disease relapse.

METHODS

Consecutive IBD patients who discontinued anti-TNF therapy in steroid-free clinical and endoscopic remission were prospectively followed. Multiple logistic regression and Cox proportional-hazards models were used to assess the predictors of disease relapse.

RESULTS

Seventy-eight IBD patients (Crohn's disease, CD 61; ulcerative colitis, UC 17) were included and followed for a median of 30 months (range 7-47). A total of 32 (53%) CD patients and nine (53%) UC patients relapsed by the end of the follow-up with a median time to relapse of 8 months (range 1-25) in CD patients and 14 months (range 4-37) in UC patients, respectively. The cumulative probabilities of maintaining remission at 6, 12, and 24 months were 82%, 59%, and 51% in CD patients, and 77%, 77%, and 64% in UC patients, respectively. Survival of CD patients who were in deep remission (clinical and endoscopic healing; faecal calprotectin <150 mg/kg; CRP ≤5 mg/l) was not better compared with those who did not fulfill these criteria. In multivariate models, only colonic CD protected patients from disease relapse.

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately half of the IBD patients relapsed within 2 years after anti-TNF discontinuation. In CD patients, no difference between those who were or were not in deep remission was found. Colonic localization protected patients from relapse.

Impact of New Treatments on Hospitalisation, Surgery, Infection, and Mortality in IBD: a Focus Paper by the Epidemiology Committee of ECCO

The medical management of inflammatory bowel disease has changed considerably over time with wider use of immunosuppressant therapy and the introduction of biological therapy. To what extent this change of medical paradigms has influenced and modified the disease course is incompletely known. To address this issue, an extensive review of the literature has been carried out on time trends of hospitalization, surgery, infections, cancer, and mortality rates in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] patients. Preference was given to population-based studies but, when data from these sources were limited, large cohort studies and randomised controlled trials were also considered. In general, data on hospitalisation rates are strikingly heterogeneous and conflicting. In contrast, the consistent drop in surgery/colectomy rates suggests that the growing use of immunosuppressants and biological agents has had a positive impact on the course of IBD. Most clinical trial data indicate that the risk of serious infections is not increased in patients treated with anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha [TNFα] agents, but a different picture emerges from cohort studies. The use of thiopurines increases the risk for non-melanoma skin cancers and to a lesser extent for lymphoma and cervical cancer [absolute risk: low], whereas no clear increase in the cancer risk has been reported for anti-TNF agents. Finally, the majority of studies reported in the literature do not reveal any increase in mortality with immunosuppressant therapy or biologicals/anti-TNF agents.

Review article: the natural history of paediatric-onset ulcerative colitis in population-based studies

BACKGROUND

A better knowledge of the natural history of disabling chronic diseases is essential to improve patient management, evaluate the impact of treatment strategies and provide predictors for disabling disease and comprehensive information for patients.

AIM

To summarise our current knowledge issued from population-based studies of the natural history of ulcerative colitis (UC) in children.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE (source PubMed) and international conference abstracts, and included all population-based studies that evaluated long-term outcome of paediatric-onset (<17 years at diagnosis) UC.

RESULTS

A total of 26 population-based studies were considered in this review from the total of 61 articles or abstracts screened. Most patients presented disease extension and about two-thirds of patients had pancolitis at the end of follow-up. One-half of patients experienced extra-intestinal manifestations and primary sclerosing cholangitis was observed in 5-10% of patients. Overall, patients did not appear to have any significant growth retardation or delayed puberty. About two-thirds of patients required corticosteroid therapy and up to 25% were steroid dependent. An increased use of thiopurines was observed and the most recent data indicate that up to one-half of patients were exposed to thiopurines and 10-30% were exposed to anti-tumour necrosis factor. One-half of patients required hospitalisations and 20% of patients required colectomy after a follow-up of 10 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Paediatric-onset UC is characterised by a high rate of disease extension. About 20% of patients had been operated at 10-year follow-up. New population-based studies are needed to evaluate the impact of new treatment strategies comprising immunosuppressants and biologics.

Treatment Steps, Surgery, and Hospitalization Rates During the First Year of Follow-up in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases from the 2011 ECCO-Epicom Inception Cohort

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The ECCO-EpiCom study investigates the differences in the incidence and therapeutic management of inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD] between Eastern and Western Europe. The aim of this study was to analyse the differences in the disease phenotype, medical therapy, surgery, and hospitalization rates in the ECCO-EpiCom 2011 inception cohort during the first year after diagnosis.

METHODS

Nine Western, five Eastern European centres and one Australian centre with 258 Crohn's disease [CD], 380 ulcerative colitis [UC] and 71 IBD unclassified [IBDU] patients [female/male: 326/383; mean age at diagnosis: 40.9 years, SD: 17.3 years] participated. Patients' data were registered and entered in the web-based ECCO-EpiCom database [www.epicom-ecco.eu].

RESULTS

In CD, 36 [19%] Western Europe/Australian and 6 [9%] Eastern European patients received biological therapy [p = 0.04], but the immunosuppressive [IS] use was equal and high in these regions [Eastern Europe vs Western Europe/Australia: 53% vs 45%; p = 0.27]. Surgery was performed in 17 [24%] CD patients in Eastern Europe and 13 [7%] in Western Europe/Australia [p < 0.001, pLogRank = 0.001]. Of CD patients from Eastern Europe, 24 [34%] were hospitalized, and 39 [21%] from Western Europe/Australia, [p = 0.02, pLogRank = 0.01]. In UC, exposure to biologicals and colectomy rates were low and hospitalization rates did not differ between these regions during the 1-year follow-up period [16% vs 16%; p = 0.93].

CONCLUSIONS

During the first year after diagnosis, surgery and hospitalization rates were significantly higher in CD patients in Eastern Europe compared with Western Europe/Australia, whereas significantly more CD patients were treated with biologicals in the Western Europe/Australian centres.

Systematic versus Endoscopy-driven Treatment with Azathioprine to Prevent Postoperative Ileal Crohn's Disease Recurrence

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Prophylactic azathioprine (AZA) is efficacious in preventing postoperative Crohn's disease (CD) recurrence. However, it is unknown whether AZA should be started immediately after surgery. We compared the efficacy of systematic vs endoscopy-driven AZA in preventing CD recurrence at week 102.

METHODS

This prospective, multicentre trial included CD patients undergoing curative resection with ileocolonic anastomosis and at higher risk of recurrence. Patients were randomized to systematic AZA initiated ≤2 weeks from surgery, or endoscopy-driven AZA in which therapy was only initiated in case of endoscopic recurrence (Rutgeerts' score ≥i2) at weeks 26 or 52 following surgery. The primary endpoint was endoscopic remission (i0-i1) at week 102. Secondary endpoints included complete endoscopic remission (i0) and clinical remission.

RESULTS

The study was prematurely stopped due to slow recruitment. Between 2005 and 2011, 63 patients (28 male, median age 36 years) were randomized to systematic (n = 32) or endoscopy-driven AZA (n = 31). Twenty-one patients withdrew prematurely (8 clinical recurrence, 6 adverse reactions to AZA, 7 patient's preference). In the endoscopy-driven AZA group, 14 patients had to initiate AZA (11 at week 26, 3 at week 52). Endoscopic remission was achieved by 50% in the systematic and 42% in the endoscopy-driven AZA group (p = 0.521). No difference in secondary endpoints was found.

CONCLUSIONS

Systematic AZA therapy in patients at higher risk of postoperative CD recurrence is not superior to endoscopy-driven treatment. Early postoperative endoscopic evaluation between weeks 26 and 52 seems most appropriate to guide further therapy, but larger studies are warranted. (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02247258.).

Incidence and initial disease course of inflammatory bowel diseases in 2011 in Europe and Australia: results of the 2011 ECCO-EpiCom inception cohort

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The aim of the present study was to validate the IBD (inflammatory bowel diseases) incidence reported in the 2010 ECCO-EpiCom (European Crohn's and Colitis Organization-Epidemiological Committee) inception cohort by including a second independent inception cohort from participating centers in 2011 and an Australian center to investigate whether there is a difference in the incidence of IBD between Eastern and Western European countries and Australia.

METHODS

Fourteen centers from 5 Eastern and 9 Western European countries and one center from Australia participated in the ECCO-EpiCom 2011 inception cohort. Patients' data regarding disease type, socio-demographic factors, extraintestinal manifestations and therapy were entered into the Web-based EpiCom database, www.ecco-epicom.eu.

RESULTS

A total of 711 adult patients were diagnosed during the inclusion year 2011, 178 (25%) from Eastern, 461 (65%) from Western Europe and 72 (10%) from Australia; 259 (37%) patients were diagnosed with Crohn's disease, 380 (53%) with ulcerative colitis and 72 (10%) with IBD unclassified. The mean annual incidence rate for IBD was 11.3/100,000 in Eastern Europe, 14.0/100,000 in Western Europe and 30.3/100,000 in Australia. Significantly more patients were diagnosed with complicated disease at diagnosis in Eastern Europe compared to Western Europe (43% vs. 27%, p=0.02).

CONCLUSION

Incidence rates, disease phenotype and initial treatment characteristics in the 2011 ECCO-EpiCom cohort were not significantly different from that reported in the 2010 cohort.

Age-related differences in presentation and course of inflammatory bowel disease: an update on the population-based literature

Current data indicate a change in the epidemiology of inflammatory bowel diseases. The disease has become more widespread and the rise in the incidence has been reported in all age groups including early childhood and according to recent data also the elderly population. Some earlier studies have suggested that the phenotype and natural history of the disease may be different according to age of onset. Recently the importance of age at onset was reported in two population-based studies from France and Hungary including both paediatric and adult onset inception cohorts. Early onset disease was associated with more frequent disease extension in both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and in most but not all studies with higher frequency of complicated disease behaviour. This is also accompanied by striking differences in the medical management with earlier and more prevalent (2-3-fold) use of immunosuppressives and to some extent biologicals in patients with early compared to elderly-onset disease, especially in Crohn's disease. However, the results of population-based studies on impact of age on surgery rates in Crohn´s disease as well as ulcerative colitis are conflicting. Furthermore, published data indicate that relative but not absolute risk of developing cancer and mortality is higher in patients with an early onset disease. Critical reviews that focus on the importance of age at onset in inflammatory bowel disease are rare. Therefore, the aim of this review is to describe the differences in epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and natural history of paediatric and elderly-onset inflammatory bowel disease based on studies performed in general population.

Health-related quality of life improves during one year of medical and surgical treatment in a European population-based inception cohort of patients with inflammatory bowel disease--an ECCO-EpiCom study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is impaired in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The aim was prospectively to assess and validate the pattern of HRQoL in an unselected, population-based inception cohort of IBD patients from Eastern and Western Europe.

METHODS

The EpiCom inception cohort consists of 1560 IBD patients from 31 European centres covering a background population of approximately 10.1 million. Patients answered the disease specific Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ) and generic Short Form 12 (SF-12) questionnaire at diagnosis and after one year of follow-up.

RESULTS

In total, 1079 patients were included in this study. Crohn's disease (CD) patients mean SIBDQ scores improved from 45.3 to 55.3 in Eastern Europe and from 44.9 to 53.6 in Western Europe. SIBDQ scores for ulcerative colitis (UC) patients improved from 44.9 to 57.4 and from 48.8 to 55.7, respectively. UC patients needing surgery or biologicals had lower SIBDQ scores before and after compared to the rest, while biological therapy improved SIBDQ scores in CD. CD and UC patients in both regions improved all SF-12 scores. Only Eastern European UC patients achieved SF-12 summary scores equal to or above the normal population.

CONCLUSION

Medical and surgical treatment improved HRQoL during the first year of disease. The majority of IBD patients in both Eastern and Western Europe reported a positive perception of disease-specific but not generic HRQoL. Biological therapy improved HRQoL in CD patients, while UC patients in need of surgery or biological therapy experienced lower perceptions of HRQoL than the rest.

Health care and patients' education in a European inflammatory bowel disease inception cohort: an ECCO-EpiCom study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The EpiCom study and inception cohort was initiated in 2010 in 31 centers from 14 Western and 8 Eastern European countries, covering a 10.1million person background population. Our aim was to investigate whether there is a difference between Eastern and Western Europe in health care and education of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

METHODS

A quality of care (QoC) questionnaire was developed in the EpiCom group consisting of 16 questions covering 5 items: time interval between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis, information, education, empathy and access to health care providers.

RESULTS

Of 1,515 patients, 947 (217 east/730 west) answered the QoC questionnaire. Only 23% of all patients had knowledge about IBD before diagnosis. In Eastern Europe, significantly more patients searched out information about IBD themselves (77% vs. 68%, p<0.05), the main source was the Internet (92% vs. 88% p=0.23). In Western Europe, significantly more patients were educated by nurses (19% vs. 1%, p<0.05), while in Eastern Europe, gastroenterologists were easier to contact (80% vs. 68%, p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Health care differed significantly between Eastern and Western Europe in all items, but satisfaction rates were high in both geographic regions. Because of the low awareness and the rising incidence of IBD, general information should be the focus of patient organizations and medical societies. In Western Europe IBD nurses play a very important role in reducing the burden of patient management.

Environmental factors in a population-based inception cohort of inflammatory bowel disease patients in Europe--an ECCO-EpiCom study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing in Eastern Europe possibly due to changes in environmental factors towards a more "westernised" standard of living. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in exposure to environmental factors prior to diagnosis in Eastern and Western European IBD patients.

METHODS

The EpiCom cohort is a population-based, prospective inception cohort of 1560 unselected IBD patients from 31 European countries covering a background population of 10.1 million. At the time of diagnosis patients were asked to complete an 87-item questionnaire concerning environmental factors.

RESULTS

A total of 1182 patients (76%) answered the questionnaire, 444 (38%) had Crohn's disease (CD), 627 (53%) ulcerative colitis (UC), and 111 (9%) IBD unclassified. No geographic differences regarding smoking status, caffeine intake, use of oral contraceptives, or number of first-degree relatives with IBD were found. Sugar intake was higher in CD and UC patients from Eastern Europe than in Western Europe while fibre intake was lower (p<0.01). Daily consumption of fast food as well as appendectomy before the age of 20 was more frequent in Eastern European than in Western European UC patients (p<0.01). Eastern European CD and UC patients had received more vaccinations and experienced fewer childhood infections than Western European patients (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In this European population-based inception cohort of unselected IBD patients, Eastern and Western European patients differed in environmental factors prior to diagnosis. Eastern European patients exhibited higher occurrences of suspected risk factors for IBD included in the Western lifestyle.

East-West gradient in the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in Europe: the ECCO-EpiCom inception cohort

OBJECTIVE

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing in Eastern Europe. The reasons for these changes remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether an East-West gradient in the incidence of IBD in Europe exists.

DESIGN

A prospective, uniformly diagnosed, population based inception cohort of IBD patients in 31 centres from 14 Western and eight Eastern European countries covering a total background population of approximately 10.1 million people was created. One-third of the centres had previous experience with inception cohorts. Patients were entered into a low cost, web based epidemiological database, making participation possible regardless of socioeconomic status and prior experience.

RESULTS

1515 patients aged 15 years or older were included, of whom 535 (35%) were diagnosed with Crohn's disease (CD), 813 (54%) with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 167 (11%) with IBD unclassified (IBDU). The overall incidence rate ratios in all Western European centres were 1.9 (95% CI 1.5 to 2.4) for CD and 2.1 (95% CI 1.8 to 2.6) for UC compared with Eastern European centres. The median crude annual incidence rates per 100,000 in 2010 for CD were 6.5 (range 0-10.7) in Western European centres and 3.1 (range 0.4-11.5) in Eastern European centres, for UC 10.8 (range 2.9-31.5) and 4.1 (range 2.4-10.3), respectively, and for IBDU 1.9 (range 0-39.4) and 0 (range 0-1.2), respectively. In Western Europe, 92% of CD, 78% of UC and 74% of IBDU patients had a colonoscopy performed as the diagnostic procedure compared with 90%, 100% and 96%, respectively, in Eastern Europe. 8% of CD and 1% of UC patients in both regions underwent surgery within the first 3 months of the onset of disease. 7% of CD patients and 3% of UC patients from Western Europe received biological treatment as rescue therapy. Of all European CD patients, 20% received only 5-aminosalicylates as induction therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

An East-West gradient in IBD incidence exists in Europe. Among this inception cohort--including indolent and aggressive cases--international guidelines for diagnosis and initial treatment are not being followed uniformly by physicians.

East-West gradient in the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in Europe: the ECCO-EpiCom inception cohort

OBJECTIVE

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing in Eastern Europe. The reasons for these changes remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether an East-West gradient in the incidence of IBD in Europe exists.

DESIGN

A prospective, uniformly diagnosed, population based inception cohort of IBD patients in 31 centres from 14 Western and eight Eastern European countries covering a total background population of approximately 10.1 million people was created. One-third of the centres had previous experience with inception cohorts. Patients were entered into a low cost, web based epidemiological database, making participation possible regardless of socioeconomic status and prior experience.

RESULTS

1515 patients aged 15 years or older were included, of whom 535 (35%) were diagnosed with Crohn's disease (CD), 813 (54%) with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 167 (11%) with IBD unclassified (IBDU). The overall incidence rate ratios in all Western European centres were 1.9 (95% CI 1.5 to 2.4) for CD and 2.1 (95% CI 1.8 to 2.6) for UC compared with Eastern European centres. The median crude annual incidence rates per 100,000 in 2010 for CD were 6.5 (range 0-10.7) in Western European centres and 3.1 (range 0.4-11.5) in Eastern European centres, for UC 10.8 (range 2.9-31.5) and 4.1 (range 2.4-10.3), respectively, and for IBDU 1.9 (range 0-39.4) and 0 (range 0-1.2), respectively. In Western Europe, 92% of CD, 78% of UC and 74% of IBDU patients had a colonoscopy performed as the diagnostic procedure compared with 90%, 100% and 96%, respectively, in Eastern Europe. 8% of CD and 1% of UC patients in both regions underwent surgery within the first 3 months of the onset of disease. 7% of CD patients and 3% of UC patients from Western Europe received biological treatment as rescue therapy. Of all European CD patients, 20% received only 5-aminosalicylates as induction therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

An East-West gradient in IBD incidence exists in Europe. Among this inception cohort--including indolent and aggressive cases--international guidelines for diagnosis and initial treatment are not being followed uniformly by physicians.

Infliximab trough levels may predict sustained response to infliximab in patients with Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Over 10% of Crohn's disease (CD) patients annually lose response to infliximab. Infliximab trough levels (TL), concomitant immunosuppressants and endoscopic healing were proposed as predictors of favourable infliximab outcome. We assessed infliximab TL measured after induction therapy as predictors of sustained clinical response. Furthermore, we tried to identify other predictors of long-term benefit of infliximab therapy.

METHODS

We included CD patients treated with infliximab between October 2007 and March 2010 who responded to 3-dose induction followed by maintenance therapy and in whom blood samples taken at treatment week 14 or 22 were available in blood bank. Sustained response to infliximab was defined as absence of treatment failure due to loss of response or drug intolerance.

RESULTS

Eighty four patients were included. Sustained response to infliximab was observed in 47 (56%) patients during a median follow-up of 25 months (14-37). Infliximab TL>3μg/ml were associated with a decreased risk of treatment failure (HR 0.34; 95% CI: 0.16-0.75), whereas the presence of antibodies against infliximab and need for corticosteroids increased this risk (HR 4.34; 95% CI: 1.51-12.5 and HR 2.49, 95% CI: 1.08-5.73, respectively). No impact of concomitant thiopurines was observed, although patients receiving thiopurines had higher infliximab TL than those without immunomodulators (5.51 vs. 0.71μg/ml; p=0.01).

CONCLUSION

During a median follow up of 2 years sustained response to infliximab was observed in slightly more than half of CD patients. Infliximab TL>3μg/ml at the start of maintenance regime were predicative of sustained response to infliximab.

The course of inflammatory bowel disease during pregnancy and postpartum: a prospective European ECCO-EpiCom Study of 209 pregnant women

BACKGROUND

The impact of pregnancy on the course of IBD is still controversial.

AIM

To investigate the impact of pregnancy on IBD and to search for factors with potential impact on remission.

METHODS

Pregnant IBD women from 12 European countries were enrolled between January 2003 and December 2006 and compared at conception (1:1) with nonpregnant IBD women. Data on disease course were prospectively collected at each trimester during pregnancy and in the postpartum (6 months) using a standardised questionnaire.

RESULTS

A total of 209 pregnant IBD women were included: 92 with Crohn's disease (CD; median age 31 years, range 17-40) and 117 with ulcerative colitis (UC; median age 32 years, range 19-42). No statistically significant difference in disease course during pregnancy and postpartum was observed between pregnant and nonpregnant CD women. Longer disease duration in CD and immunosuppressive therapy were found to be risk factors for activity during pregnancy. Pregnant UC women were more likely than nonpregnant UC women to relapse both during pregnancy (RR 2.19; 95% CI: 1.25-3.97, 0.004) and postpartum (RR 6.22; 95% CI: 2.05-79.3, P = 0.0004). During pregnancy, relapse was mainly observed in the first (RR 8.80; 95% CI 2.05-79.3, P < 0.0004) and the second trimester (RR 2.84, 95% CI 1.2-7.45, P = 0.0098).

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnant women with Crohn's disease had a similar disease course both during pregnancy and after delivery as the nonpregnant women. In contrast, pregnant women with ulcerative colitis were at higher risk of relapse during pregnancy and in the postpartum than nonpregnant ulcerative colitis women.

Pregnancy and newborn outcome of mothers with inflammatory bowel diseases exposed to anti-TNF-α therapy during pregnancy: three-center study

OBJECTIVE

Substantial number of women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) conceives while on anti-TNF-α therapy. The aim was to assess the safety and efficacy of anti-TNF-α treatment during pregnancy and to analyze relationship of neonatal and maternal anti-TNF-α levels at delivery with gestational age at the last exposure.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Women with IBD exposed to anti-TNF-α therapy during pregnancy were included. Data on anti-TNF-α treatment, disease activity, concomitant medication, pregnancy and newborn outcome were recorded. Anti-TNF-α levels from cord blood were assessed by ELISA.

RESULTS

Forty-one pregnancies (27 Crohn's disease; 14 ulcerative colitis) were exposed to infliximab (IFX; 32) and adalimumab (ADA; 9). Ten (24%) women had active disease at conception and 31 (76%) were in remission with 3 patients experiencing relapse during pregnancy. Anti-TNF-α therapy started prior to and after conception in 32 and 9 women, respectively. There were 34 (83%) live births (median birth weight 3145 g) of which 28 were at-term and 6 preterm deliveries. Five (12%) pregnancies ended in spontaneous and two in therapeutic abortion. No congenital malformations except for one case of hip dysplasia were observed. Similarly, no serious perinatal complication occurred. IFX cord levels measured in 11 children positively correlated with gestational week at the last drug administration and maternal levels at delivery, while no such correlation was found in case of ADA.

CONCLUSIONS

The results confirm that anti-TNFs are effective and safe during pregnancy. A positive correlation between IFX cord levels and gestational week of last exposure as well as maternal serum levels was observed.

eHealth: individualisation of infliximab treatment and disease course via a self-managed web-based solution in Crohn’s disease

BACKGROUND

Infliximab (IFX) maintenance therapy for Crohn's disease (CD) is administered every 8 weeks, but inter-patient variation in optimal treatment intervals may exist.

AIM

To assess, in a prospective pilot study, the efficacy, safety and quality of life (QoL) of IFX maintenance treatment scheduled through web-based self-monitoring of disease activity.

METHODS

Twenty-seven CD patients in IFX maintenance therapy were enrolled and received a standardised disease education and web-training. Using the http://www.cd.constant-care.dk concept, patients recorded their disease activity and faecal calprotectin weekly. From this, the inflammatory burden (IB) score was calculated, placing patients in the green, yellow or red zones of a ‘traffic light’ system. If placed in the yellow or red zones, the computer directed these patients to consult their physician for IFX infusion.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients (63%) completed 52 weeks of follow-up, 6 (22%) completed 26 weeks and 4 (15%) were excluded due to loss of response, patient decision or non-adherence. In total, 121 IFX infusions were given with a median interval of 9 (range: 4–18) weeks. Only 10% of infusions were given at 8-week intervals, whereas 39% were administered with shorter and 50% with longer intervals respectively. The mean IB and the QoL remained stable during the web-treatment. One mild infusion reaction and one case of folliculitis were observed, while three patients underwent surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

The program http://www.cd.constant-care.dk appears to be a practical and safe concept for the individualised scheduling of maintenance treatment with IFX in patients with Crohn's disease. Larger studies are awaited to confirm this preliminary outcome.

Pregnancy outcome in inflammatory bowel disease: prospective European case-control ECCO-EpiCom study, 2003-2006

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) frequently affects women during their reproductive years. Pregnancy outcome in women with IBD is well described, particularly in retrospective studies.

AIM

To evaluate the pregnancy outcome in patients with IBD in a prospective European multicentre case-control study.

METHODS

Inflammatory bowel disease pregnant women from 12 European countries were enrolled between January 2003 and December 2006 and matched (1:1) to non-IBD pregnant controls by age at conception and number of previous pregnancies. Data on pregnancy and newborn outcome, disease activity and therapy were prospectively collected every third month using a standard questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis with odds ratio was used for statistical analyses. P value<0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

A total of 332 pregnant women with IBD were included: 145 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 187 with ulcerative colitis (UC). Median age (range) at conception was 31 years (15-40) in CD and 31 (19-42) in UC patients. No statistically significant differences in frequency of abortions, preterm deliveries, caesarean sections, congenital abnormalities and birth weight were observed comparing CD and UC women with their non-IBD controls. In CD, older age was associated with congenital abnormalities and preterm delivery; smoking increased the risk of preterm delivery. For UC, older age and active disease were associated with low birth weight; while older age and combination therapy were risk factors for preterm delivery.

CONCLUSION

In this prospective case-control study, women with either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis have a similar pregnancy outcome when compared with a population of non-inflammatory bowel disease pregnant women.

Two independent genetic factors responsible for the associations of the IBD5 locus with Crohn's disease in the Czech population

BACKGROUND

The role of the IBD5 locus in development of Crohn's disease (CD) has not been clarified. In the Czech population we examined its genetic association using variants of the SLC22A4 (rs1050152), SLC22A5 (rs2631367), two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) shown to be associated with CD in genome-wide studies (rs6596075 and rs2188962), and four SNPs previously shown to tag the haplotype blocks 4, 7, 9, 10 of the IBD5 locus (IGR2063b_1, IGR2230a_1, IGR100Xa_1, IGR3236a_1).

METHODS

The genotype, phenotype, and allelic frequencies were compared between 469 unrelated patients with CD (177 pediatric-onset, 292 adult-onset) and 470 unrelated healthy controls, all Caucasians of Czech ancestry.

RESULTS

The most significant difference between patients and controls was found for the SNP rs6596075 (odds ratio [OR] = 0.70 for the G allele; 95% CI 0.52-0.94) in the dominant model and SNP IGR2063b_1 (OR = 1.38 for the G allele; 95% CI 1.14-1.67) in the log-additive model. We found a strong linkage disequilibrium across the IBD5 locus except rs6596075. The haplotype consisting of minor alleles of all tested SNPs except rs6596075 was carried by 31% patients and 23% control subjects (OR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.06-1.72). The association of variants in SLC22A4 and SLC22A5 was dependent on this risk haplotype, while the strong association of the rs6596075 was seemingly independent. In the analysis of subphenotypes we found only an association of the penetrating disease with rs6596075 (OR = 2.13; 95% CI 1.31-3.47).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirms the importance of IBD5 in determining CD susceptibility, and demonstrates that two independent genetic factors may be responsible for the association observed within this locus.

Bile acid malabsorption in inflammatory bowel disease: assessment by serum markers

BACKGROUND

Bile acid malabsorption (BAM) is a common feature of Crohn's disease (CD). We aimed to determine whether BAM develops only in patients with a resected distal ileum or if it also occurs in patients who have not undergone surgery for CD.

METHODS

The study included 347 patients with CD or ulcerative colitis (UC) and 119 healthy subjects (controls). BAM was assessed by measurement of serum levels of 7α-hydroxycholest-4-en-3-one (C4) and fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19). We surveyed members of the European Crohn's and Colitis Organization and International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease to collect current information about BAM diagnosis.

RESULTS

The severity of BAM was associated with resection of the distal ileum. Compared with controls, patients who received moderate or extensive ileal resection had significantly increased levels of serum C4 (12 versus 62 versus 243 μg/L, respectively; P < 0.001). However, BAM was also present in a substantial number of the patients with CD who were not treated by surgery who had ileitis or colitis (14% and 11%, respectively). There was an indirect, proportional relationship between levels of C4 and FGF19 (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The most severe BAM occurs in CD patients after resection of the distal ileum, but BAM can occur in surgically untreated CD patients, regardless of disease localization. Laboratory tests for BAM should become a part of the algorithm for diagnosis of CD to identify patients who might respond to therapies such as bile acid sequestrants. FGF19 appears to be a reliable marker of BAM.

The clinical implication of drug dependency in children and adults with inflammatory bowel disease: a review

Drug dependency in adult and paediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is described and the significance of this response pattern in clinical practice discussed in this review. Dependent patients maintain remission while on the treatment, but they relapse shortly after drug cessation or dose decrease. However, a quick restoration of remission and sustained response is achieved when the therapy is re-introduced or dose increased. Population-based studies have demonstrated that 22-36% of adults and 14-50% of children become corticosteroid dependent. Approximately 1/4-1/3 of treated patients undergo surgery ≤1 year after treatment start, although newer paediatric studies reported lower risk of surgery (5-11%), including dependent patients. The frequent use of immunosuppressants (68-80% of children) might explain this favourable outcome and thus reduce importance of the term corticosteroid dependency. Infliximab dependency was described in 42-66% of children and 29% of adults with Crohn's disease. The risk of surgery 50 and 40 months after treatment start was 10% and 23% in infliximab dependent children and adults, respectively. Maintenance of infliximab in dependent patients was suggested to postpone if not avoid the need of surgery. Lastly, mesalazine dependency was identified in 23% of adults with Crohn's disease. These patients were characterized by mild disease course and lower surgical risk compared to non-responders to mesalazine (32 vs. 61%). Identification of drug dependency is useful for prediction of a certain disease course and surgery. An adjustment of medical therapy may alter the prognosis and disease course.

NKX2-3 and IRGM variants are associated with disease susceptibility to IBD in Eastern European patients

AIM: To investigate variants of immunity-related GTPase family M (IRGM) and NKX2-3 genes and genotype-phenotype in Eastern European patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

METHODS: We analyzed 1707 Hungarian and Czech subjects with Crohn’s disease (CD) (n = 810, age: 37.1 ± 12.6 years, duration: 10.7 ± 8.4 years) and ulcerative colitis (UC) (n = 428, age: 43.7 ± 15.0 years, duration: 12.6 ± 9.9 years), as well as 469 healthy controls. IRGM rs13361189, NKX2-3 rs10883365 and ECM1 rs13294 polymorphisms were tested by LightCycler allele discrimination. Detailed clinical phenotypes were determined by reviewing the medical charts.

RESULTS: NKX2-3 rs10883365 variant allele was associated with increased risk for CD (P = 0.009, OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.06-1.48) and UC (P = 0.001, OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.13-1.63), whereas variant IRGM allele increased risk for CD (P = 0.029, OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.03-1.79). In contrast, ECM1 rs13294 was not associated with either CD or UC. In CD, the variant IRGM allele was associated with a colon-only location (P = 0.02, OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.07-2.44), whereas in UC, the ECM1 variant was associated with cutaneous manifestations (P = 0.002, OR = 3.36, 95% CI = 1.48-7.63). Variant alleles did not predict resistance to steroids or azathioprine, efficacy of infliximab, or need for surgery.

CONCLUSION: NKX2-3 and IRGM are susceptibility loci for IBD in Eastern European patients. Further studies are needed to confirm the reported phenotype-genotype associations.

Risk of extra-intestinal cancer in inflammatory bowel disease: meta-analysis of population-based cohort studies

OBJECTIVES

Extra-intestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are relatively common, whereas the risk of extra-intestinal cancer (EIC) remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to obtain a reliable estimate of the risk of EIC in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) by performing a meta-analysis of population-based cohort studies.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was performed using MEDLINE (1966-2009) and abstracts from recent international conferences. Eight population-based cohort studies comprising a total of 17,052 patients with IBD were available. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of EICs were pooled in a meta-analysis approach using STATA software.

RESULTS

Overall, IBD patients were not at increased risk of EIC (SIR, 1.10; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.96-1.27). However, site-specific analyses revealed that CD patients had an increased risk of cancer of the upper gastrointestinal tract (SIR 2.87, 95% CI 1.66-4.96), lung (SIR 1.82, 95% CI 1.18-2.81), urinary bladder (SIR 2.03, 95% CI 1.14-3.63), and skin (SIR 2.35, 95% CI 1.43-3.86). Patients with UC had a significantly increased risk of liver-biliary cancer (SIR 2.58, 95% CI 1.58-4.22) and leukemia (SIR 2.00, 95% CI 1.31-3.06) but a decreased risk of pulmonary cancer (SIR 0.39, 95% CI 0.20-0.74).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the overall risk of EIC was not significantly increased among patients with IBD, the risk of individual cancer types differed from that of the background population as well as between CD and UC patients. These findings may primarily be explained by smoking habits, extra-intestinal manifestations of IBD, and involvement of the upper gastrointestinal tract in CD.

Exogenous alkaline phosphatase for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND

Increased activity of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (AP) occurs locally in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), aimed at repairing inflammatory tissue damage. We evaluated the safety and preliminary efficacy of exogenous AP administered to patients with UC in an open-label, first-in-patient exploratory trial, conducted in the Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology hospital departments in the Czech Republic and Italy.

METHODS

Twenty-one patients were enrolled (13 females), age 23-54 years, with steroid- and/or immunosuppressant-refractory, moderate/severe UC (Mayo score 6-11). Oral AP enzyme 30,000 U was administered daily for 7 days, intraduodenally. Efficacy outcomes were changes in Mayo score at Day 21 posttreatment; changes in Modified Truelove-Witts Severity index (MTWSI) at Days 21, 63; C-reactive protein and stool calprotectin levels at Days 7, 21, 63. Safety evaluations were adverse events and laboratory abnormalities reported up to Day 63 posttreatment.

RESULTS

No clinically relevant adverse events causing withdrawal or considered serious, or laboratory abnormalities or antibody formation against AP were observed. Mayo scores were significantly decreased at Day 21, and MTWSI at Days 21 and 63. C-reactive protein and stool calprotectin levels were decreased at Days 21 and 63. Clinical response on the Mayo score after a single 7-day AP course was 48% at Day 21.

CONCLUSIONS

In this uncontrolled trial, administration of exogenous AP enzyme daily over a 7-day course to patients with UC was associated with short-term improvement in disease activity scores, with clinical effects being observed within 21 days and associated with reductions in C-reactive protein and stool calprotectin. AP enzyme treatment was well tolerated and nonimmunogenic.

Overall and cause-specific mortality in Crohn's disease: a meta-analysis of population-based studies

BACKGROUND

An overview of mortality risk among unselected patients with Crohn's disease (CD) is lacking. We therefore performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies on overall and cause-specific mortality in CD.

METHODS

MEDLINE (January 1965 to February 2008), abstracts from international conferences and reference lists of selected articles were searched systematically. All articles fulfilling the predefined inclusion criteria were scrutinized for data on population size, time of follow-up, gender, age, and observed to expected deaths. STATA meta-analysis software was used to calculate overall and cause-specific pooled standardized mortality ratios (SMR, observed/expected).

RESULTS

Nine studies were included with overall SMRs ranging from 0.72-3.2, resulting in a significantly increased pooled SMR of 1.39 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.30-1.49). Regarding cause-specific mortality, a significantly increased risk of death from cancer (SMR 1.50, 95% CI: 1.18-1.92), in particular of pulmonary cancer (SMR 2.72, 95% CI: 1.35-5.45), as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (SMR 2.55, 95% CI: 1.19-5.47), gastrointestinal diseases (SMR 6.76, 95% CI: 4.37-10.45), and genitourinary diseases (SMR 3.28, 95% CI: 1.69-6.35) was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Among unselected patients with CD, overall mortality was slightly but significantly higher than in the general population-primarily explained by deaths from gastrointestinal, respiratory, and genitourinary diseases. Notably, mortality from colorectal cancer was not increased.