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Meima - van Praag EM, Becker MA, van Rijn KL, Wasmann KA, Stoker J, D'Haens GR, Ponsioen CY, Gecse KB, Dijkgraaf MG, Spinelli A, Danese S, Bemelman WA, Buskens CJ. Short-term anti-TNF therapy with surgical closure versus anti-TNF therapy alone for Crohn's perianal fistulas (PISA-II): long-term outcomes of an international, multicentre patient preference, randomised controlled trial. EClinicalMedicine 2023; 61:102045. [PMID: 37457118 PMCID: PMC10344824 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The PISA-II trial showed that short-term anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy followed by surgical closure induces radiological healing of perianal fistulas in patients with Crohn's disease more frequently than anti-TNF therapy alone after 18 months. This study aimed to compare long-term outcomes of both treatment arms. Methods Follow-up data were collected from patients who participated in the PISA-II trial, an international patient preference randomised controlled trial. This multicentre trial was performed in nine hospitals in the Netherlands and one hospital in Italy. Patients with Crohn's disease above the age of 18 years with an active high perianal fistula and a single internal opening were asked to participate. Patients were allocated to anti-TNF therapy (intravenous infliximab, or subcutaneous adalimumab, at the discretion of the gastroenterologist) for one year, or surgical closure combined with 4-months anti-TNF therapy. Patients without a treatment preference were randomised (1:1) using random block randomisation (block sizes of six without stratification), and patients with a treatment preference were treated according to their preferred treatment arm. For the current follow-up study, data were collected until May 2022. Primary outcome was radiological healing on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including all participants with a MRI made less than 6 months ago at the time of data collection. Analysis was based on observed data. Findings Between September 14, 2013, and December 7, 2019, 94 patients were enrolled in the trial. Long-term follow-up data were available in 91 patients (36/38 (95%) anti-TNF + surgical closure, 55/56 (98%) anti-TNF). A total of 14/36 (39%) patients in the surgical closure arm were randomly assigned, which was not significantly different in the anti-TNF treatment arm (16/55 (29%) randomly assigned). Median follow-up was 5.7 years (interquartile range (IQR) 5-7). Radiological healing occurred significantly more often after anti-TNF + surgical closure (15/36 = 42% versus 10/55 = 18%; P = 0.014). Clinical closure was comparable (26/36 = 72% versus 34/55 = 62%; P = 0.18) in both groups. However, clinical closure in the surgical group was achieved with less re-interventions 4/26 (= 15%) versus 18/34 (= 53%), including (redo-)surgical closure procedures. Recurrences occurred in 0/25 (0%) patients with radiological healing versus 27/76 (36%) patients with clinical closure, sometime during follow-up. Anti-TNF trough levels were higher in patients with long-term clinical closure in both groups (P = 0.031 and P = 0.014). In 6/11 (55%) patients in the anti-TNF group with available trough levels, recurrences were diagnosed within three months of a drop under 3.5ug/ml. 36 patients stopped anti-TNF, after which 0/14 (0%) patients with radiological healing developed a recurrence and 9/22 (41%) with clinical closure. Self-rated (in)continence was comparable between groups, and 79% (60/76) of patients indicated comparable/improved continence after treatment. Decision-regret analysis showed that all (30/30) anti-TNF + surgical closure patients agreed or strongly agreed that surgery was the right decision versus 78% (36/46) in the anti-TNF arm. All surgical closure patients would go for the same treatment again, whereas this was 89% (41/46) in the anti-TNF arm. Interpretation This study confirmed that surgical closure should be considered in amenable patients with perianal fistulas and Crohn's disease as long-term outcomes were favourable, and that radiological healing should be the aim of treatment as recurrences only occurred in patients without radiological healing. In patients with complete MRI closure, anti-TNF could be safely stopped. Funding None.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise M. Meima - van Praag
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marte A.J. Becker
- Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research and Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Kyra L. van Rijn
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Karin A.T.G.M. Wasmann
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jaap Stoker
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Geert R.A.M. D'Haens
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Cyriel Y. Ponsioen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Krisztina B. Gecse
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marcel G.W. Dijkgraaf
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Antonino Spinelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvio Danese
- Department of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Ospedale San Raffaele and University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Willem A. Bemelman
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Ospedale San Raffaele and University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Christianne J. Buskens
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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