A186 ASSOCIATION OF ULCERATIVE COLITIS BOWEL URGENCY IMPROVEMENT WITH CLINICAL RESPONSE AND REMISSION

Background

Ulcerative colitis (UC) can result in a high prevalence of bowel movement urgency (BU), significantly reducing patient quality of life.

Purpose

Early BU improvement association with later clinical endpoint improvements was examined in moderately-to-severely active UC patients (pts) treated with mirikizumab (miri).

Method

BU was evaluated in Phase 3 randomized placebo (PBO)-controlled 12-week induction (LUCENT-1, NCT03518086) and 40-week maintenance (LUCENT-2, NCT03524092) trials with miri. Pts received IV miri 300mg or PBO during induction. Week (W)12 miri responders were rerandomized at LUCENT-2 baseline (BL) to subcutaneous miri 200mg or PBO. BU was measured with 11-point Urgency Numeric Rating Scale (UNRS) from 0 (no urgency) to 10 (worst possible). Pts’ UNRS scores were an average from 7 consecutive days prior to visit. Association of pts with BU Clinically Meaningful Improvement (CMI) or BU remission between BL and W4 with the proportion of pts achieving clinical response, and clinical, endoscopic, or symptomatic remission at end of W12 was assessed. For pts who achieved clinical response at W12, the analyses were repeated for the end of maintenance based on W12 BU status. Logistic regression models with treatment, urgency (BU CMI or BU Remission), treatment-by-urgency group interaction, and stratification factors were fitted to examine the association between early urgency improvement and later clinical endpoints.

Result(s)

Treatment-by-urgency group interactions were not statistically significant across clinical outcomes for induction and maintenance. For induction, treatment and urgency status were statistically significant. Pts experiencing BU CMI or BU remission at W4 were consistently more likely to achieve clinical response, and clinical, endoscopic, or symptomatic remission at W12 for both treatment groups. For remission, only treatment main effect was statistically significant. Among miri induction clinical responders (an enriched population), BU CMI or BU Remission at end of induction (W12) was not associated with later maintenance efficacy outcomes (W52). Miri-treated pts achieved higher rates of clinical response, and clinical, endoscopic, or symptomatic remission at W52 than with PBO regardless of BU CMI or BU Remission at W12 (Table).

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Conclusion(s)

Early BU Improvement, CMI or Remission, was associated with better clinical outcomes during induction for miri and PBO pts, showing BU is a sensitive predictor of early clinical outcomes. Among miri induction responders, miri consistently provided better maintenance of response and remission rates than PBO.

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Other

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Eli Lilly and Company

Disclosure of Interest

D. Clemow Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, C. Sapin Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, T. Hibi Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, ActivAid, Alfresa Pharma, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Gilead Sciences, Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., JMDC, Mochida Pharmaceutical, Nippon Kayaku, Pfizer Japan, and Takeda, Consultant of: AbbVie, Apo Plus Station, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celltrion, EA Pharma, Eli Lilly and Company, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Kyorin, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, Takeda, and Zeria Pharmaceutical, Speakers bureau of: AbbVie, Aspen Japan K.K., Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, JIMRO, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Mochida Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, and Takeda, M. Dubinsky Shareholder of: Trellus Health, Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, Janssen, Pfizer, and Prometheus Biosciences, Consultant of: AbbVie, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly and Company, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Pfizer, Prometheus Therapeutics and Diagnostics, Takeda, and UCB Pharma, S. Vermeire Consultant of: AbbVie, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Avaxia Biologics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Dr. Falk Pharma, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Galapagos NV, Genentech/Roche, Gilead Sciences, Hospira, Janssen, Mundipharma, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pfizer, ProDigest, Progenity, Prometheus Therapeutics and Diagnostics, Robarts Clinical Trials, Second Genome, Shire, Takeda, Theravance Biopharma, and Tillots Pharma AG, Speakers bureau of: AbbVie, Dr. Falk Pharma, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Galapagos NV, Genentech/Roche, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Pfizer, Robarts Clinical Trials, and Takeda, S. Schreiber Grant / Research support from: personal fees and/or travel support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Celltrion, Eli Lilly and Company, Dr. Falk Pharma, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Fresenius Kabi, Galapagos NV, Gilead Sciences, I-MAB Biopharma, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Mylan, Novartis, Pfizer, Protagonist Therapeutics, Provention Bio, Roche, Sandoz/Hexal, Shire, Takeda, Theravance Biopharma, and UCB Pharma, T. Gibble Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, L. Peyrin-Biroulet Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, Fresenius Kabi, Merck Sharp & Dohme, and Takeda, Consultant of: AbbVie, Alimentiv, Allergan, Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Celltrion, Eli Lilly and Company, Enthera, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Fresenius Kabi, Galapagos NV, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Gossamer Bio, InDex Pharmaceuticals, Inotrem, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Mylan, Norgine, Ono Pharmaceutical, OSE Immunotherapeutics, Pandion Therapeutics, Pfizer, Roche, Samsung Bioepis, Sandoz, Takeda, Theravance Biopharma, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Tillots Pharma AG, Viatris, and Vifor Pharma, M. Watanabe Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, Alfresa Pharma, EA Pharma, Kissei, Kyorin, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Mochida Pharmaceutical, Nippon Kayaku, Takeda, and Zeria Pharmaceutical, Consultant of: AbbVie, Boehringer Ingelheim, EA Pharma, Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Gilead Sciences, Nippon, and Takeda, Speakers bureau of: EA Pharma, Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Gilead Sciences, Janssen, JIMRO, Kissei, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Mochida Pharmaceutical, Pfizer Japan, Takeda, and Zeria Pharmaceutical, R. Panaccione Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, Pfizer, and Takeda, Consultant of: Abbott, AbbVie, Alimentiv, Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Celltrion, Cosmo Pharmaceuticals, Eisai, Elan Pharma, Eli Lilly and Company, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Galapagos NV, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Merck, Mylan, Oppilan Pharma, Pandion Therapeutics, Pfizer, Progenity, Protagonist Therapeutics, Roche, Sandoz, Satisfai Health, Shire, Sublimity Therapeutics, Takeda, Theravance Biopharma, and UCB Pharma, J. Jones: None Declared

A190 THE IMPACT OF BOWEL URGENCY ON THE LIVES OF PATIENTS WITH ULCERATIVE COLITIS IN THE US AND EUROPE: COMMUNICATING NEEDS AND FEATURES OF IBD EXPERIENCES (CONFIDE) SURVEY

Background

Moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC) exerts a significant burden on patients’ lives. Patients with UC report that bowel urgency has a substantial negative impact on their quality of life and psychosocial functioning, however, this symptom is missing from most disease activity indices.

Purpose

The Communicating Needs and Features of IBD Experiences (CONFIDE) study aims to increase understanding of the impact of symptoms, including bowel urgency, on the lives of patients (pts) with moderate to severe UC and Crohn’s disease in the United States (US), Europe (EUR), and Japan. These data focus on pts in the US and EUR.

Method

Online, quantitative, cross-sectional surveys of pts with moderate to severe UC were conducted in the US and EUR (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and UK). Data included pt perspectives on their UC symptoms and the impact on their daily lives. Moderate to severe UC was defined based on treatment, steroid use, and/or hospitalization history. Descriptive statistics summarise the data.

Result(s)

200 US pts (62% male, mean age 40.4 years) and 556 EUR pts (57% male, mean age 38.9 years) completed the survey, with 77% and 54% currently receiving advanced therapies (biologic or novel oral therapy), respectively. The top 3 symptoms currently (past month) experienced by US and EUR pts were diarrhoea (63% and 50%), bowel urgency (47% and 30%) and increased stool frequency (39% and 30%). In past 3 months, pts who have ever experienced bowel urgency or urge incontinence reported bowel urgency (93% US, 89% EUR) and urge incontinence (86% US, 71% EUR) at least once a month (Table). 69% and 65% of all US and EUR pts, respectively, reported wearing a diaper/pad/protection at least once a month in the past 3 months due to fear/anticipation of urge incontinence. For pts receiving advanced therapies, similar patterns were observed. Among both US and EUR pts, the most common UC-related reasons for declining participation in social events were bowel urgency (43% and 30%) and fear of urge incontinence (40% and 32%). Similarly, the most common reasons for declining participation in work/school and sports/physical exercise were bowel urgency and fear of urge incontinence.

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Conclusion(s)

Bowel urgency, which was the second-most frequently reported symptom, has an extensive impact on the lives of pts with moderate to severe UC. In this younger pt population, including pts receiving advanced therapies, almost two thirds of US and EUR pts reported wearing diapers/pads/protection at least once a month in the past 3 months due to fear/anticipation of urge incontinence. Both US and EUR pts reported bowel urgency and fear of urge incontinence as the top reasons for declining participation in social events, work/school, and sports/physical exercise.

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Other

Please indicate your source of funding;

Eli Lilly and Company

Disclosure of Interest

S. Schreiber Grant / Research support from: personal fees and/or travel support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Celltrion, Eli Lilly and Company, Dr. Falk Pharma, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Fresenius Kabi, Galapagos NV, Gilead Sciences, I-MAB Biopharma, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Mylan, Novartis, Pfizer, Protagonist Therapeutics, Provention Bio, Roche, Sandoz/Hexal, Shire, Takeda, Theravance Biopharma, and UCB Pharma, A. Bleakman Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, M. Dubinsky Shareholder of: Trellus Health, Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, Janssen, Pfizer, and Prometheus Biosciences, Consultant of: AbbVie, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly and Company, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Pfizer, Prometheus Therapeutics and Diagnostics, Takeda, and UCB Pharma, D. Rubin Grant / Research support from: Takeda, Consultant of: AbbVie, Allergan, AltruBio, American College of Gastroenterology, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Athos Therapeutics, Bellatrix Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene/Syneos Health, Cornerstones Health (non-profit), Eli Lilly and Company, Galen/Atlantica, Genentech/Roche, Gilead Sciences, GoDuRn, InDex Pharmaceuticals, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Iterative Scopes, Janssen, Materia Prima, Pfizer, Prometheus Therapeutics and Diagnostics, Reistone Biopharma, Takeda, and TechLab, T. Hibi Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, Activaid, Alfresa Pharma, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Gilead Sciences, Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., JMDC, Nippon Kayaku, Mochida Pharmaceutical, Pfizer Japan, and Takeda, Consultant of: AbbVie, Apo Plus Station, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celltrion, EA Pharma, Eli Lilly and Company, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Kyorin, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, Takeda, and Zeria Pharmaceutical, Speakers bureau of: AbbVie, Aspen Japan K.K., Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, JIMRO, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Mochida Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, and Takeda, R. Panaccione Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, Pfizer, and Takeda, Consultant of: Abbott, AbbVie, Alimentiv, Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Celltrion, Cosmo Pharmaceuticals, Eisai, Elan Pharma, Eli Lilly and Company, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Galapagos NV, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Merck, Mylan, Oppilan Pharma, Pandion Therapeutics, Pfizer, Progenity, Protagonist Therapeutics, Roche, Sandoz, Satisfai Health, Shire, Sublimity Therapeutics, Takeda, Theravance Biopharma, and UCB Pharma, T. Gibble Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, C. Kayhan Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, E. Flynn Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, C. Sapin Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, C. Atkinson Consultant of: Eli Lilly and Company in connection with the development of this publication, Employee of: Adelphi Real World, S. Travis Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, BUHLMANN Diagnostics, ECCO, Eli Lilly and Company, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Normal Collision Foundation, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble, Schering-Plough, Takeda, UCB Pharma, Vifor Pharma, and Warner Chilcott, J. Jones: None Declared

A216 BOWEL URGENCY COMMUNICATION GAP BETWEEN HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS AND PATIENTS WITH ULCERATIVE COLITIS IN THE US AND EUROPE: COMMUNICATING NEEDS AND FEATURES OF IBD EXPERIENCES (CONFIDE) SURVEY

Background

The Communicating Needs and Features of IBD Experiences (CONFIDE) study aims to increase understanding of the impact of symptoms on patients with moderate to severe UC and Crohn’s disease and to investigate gaps in communication with healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the United States (US), Europe (EUR), and Japan.

Purpose

This report focuses on patients with moderate to severe UC and HCPs from the US and EUR.

Method

Online, quantitative, cross-sectional surveys of patients with UC and HCPs were conducted in the US and EUR (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and UK). HCP surveys included physicians and non-physician HCPs responsible for making prescribing decisions. Moderate to severe UC was defined based on treatment, steroid use, and/or hospitalization history. Data collected included perspectives on the experience of patients with UC.

Result(s)

A total of 200 US (62% male, mean age 40.4 years) and 556 EUR patients (57% male, mean age 38.9 years), and 200 US and 503 EUR HCPs completed the survey. According to US and EUR patients, the top 3 symptoms currently (past month) experienced were diarrhoea (63% and 50%), bowel urgency (47% and 30%) and increased stool frequency (39% and 30%). Blood in stool was reported as currently experienced by 27% and 24% of US and EUR patients, respectively. Among patients currently experiencing bowel urgency, 47% of US and 27% of EUR patients discuss this symptom at every appointment. Among those who do not discuss bowel urgency at every appointment, 74% and 75% of US and EUR patients would like to discuss this symptom more frequently with their HCP. A total of 30% and 43% of US and EUR patients that ever experienced bowel urgency were not comfortable reporting it to their HCP, with 62% and 58% of these US and EUR patients feeling embarrassed talking about this symptom (Table). HCPs in both the US and EUR ranked diarrhoea (74% and 65%), blood in stool (69% and 65%) and increased stool frequency (38% and 34%) as the top 3 symptoms most reported by patients. According to US and EUR HCPs, the top 4 symptoms proactively discussed in routine appointments were blood in stool (93% and 94%), diarrhoea (90% and 91%), increased stool frequency (82% and 82%) and bowel urgency (76% and 82%). Among HCPs who did not proactively discuss bowel urgency, 47% of US and 40% of EUR HCPs expect patients to bring this up if it is an issue.

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Conclusion(s)

Communication gaps were similar between US and EUR patients and HCPs. Bowel urgency is the second-most reported symptom by patients with moderate to severe UC. However, this symptom is not among the HCP-perceived top 3 most reported symptoms. Although a substantial proportion of patients reported a desire to discuss bowel urgency more frequently with their HCP, some patients reported feeling embarrassed talking about it. Many HCPs who do not proactively discuss this symptom expect patients to bring this up. A communication gap was identified and highlights the under-appreciation of bowel urgency as an important symptom of UC.

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Other

Please indicate your source of funding;

Eli Lilly and Company

Disclosure of Interest

S. Travis Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, BUHLMANN Diagnostics, ECCO, Eli Lilly and Company, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Normal Collision Foundation, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble, Schering-Plough, Takeda, UCB Pharma, Vifor Pharma, and Warner Chilcott, A. Bleakman Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, D. Rubin Grant / Research support from: Takeda, Consultant of: AbbVie, Allergan, AltruBio, American College of Gastroenterology, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Athos Therapeutics, Bellatrix Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene/Syneos Health, Cornerstones Health (non-profit), Eli Lilly and Company, Galen/Atlantica, Genentech/Roche, Gilead Sciences, GoDuRn, InDex Pharmaceuticals, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Iterative Scopes, Janssen, Materia Prima, Pfizer, Prometheus Therapeutics and Diagnostics, Reistone Biopharma, Takeda, and TechLab, M. Dubinsky Shareholder of: Trellus Health, Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, Janssen, Pfizer, and Prometheus Biosciences, Consultant of: AbbVie, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly and Company, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Pfizer, Prometheus Therapeutics and Diagnostics, Takeda, and UCB Pharma, R. Panaccione Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, Pfizer, and Takeda, Consultant of: Abbott, AbbVie, Alimentiv, Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Celltrion, Cosmo Pharmaceuticals, Eisai, Elan Pharma, Eli Lilly and Company, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Galapagos NV, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Merck, Mylan, Oppilan Pharma, Pandion Therapeutics, Pfizer, Progenity, Protagonist Therapeutics, Roche, Sandoz, Satisfai Health, Shire, Sublimity Therapeutics, Takeda, Theravance Biopharma, and UCB Pharma, T. Hibi Grant / Research support from: AbbVie, Activaid, Alfresa Pharma, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Gilead Sciences, Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., JMDC, Nippon Kayaku, Mochida Pharmaceutical, Pfizer Japan, and Takeda, Consultant of: AbbVie, Apo Plus Station, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celltrion, EA Pharma, Eli Lilly and Company, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, Kyorin, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, Takeda, and Zeria Pharmaceutical, Speakers bureau of: AbbVie, Aspen Japan K.K., Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Gilead Sciences, Janssen, JIMRO, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Mochida Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, and Takeda, T. Gibble Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, C. Kayhan Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, E. Flynn Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, C. Sapin Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, C. Atkinson Consultant of: Eli Lilly and Company in connection with the development of this publication, Employee of: Adelphi Real World, S. Schreiber Grant / Research support from: personal fees and/or travel support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Celltrion, Eli Lilly and Company, Dr. Falk Pharma, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Fresenius Kabi, Galapagos NV, Gilead Sciences, I-MAB Biopharma, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Mylan, Novartis, Pfizer, Protagonist Therapeutics, Provention Bio, Roche, Sandoz/Hexal, Shire, Takeda, Theravance Biopharma, and UCB Pharma, J. Jones: None Declared

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Pediatric IBD: Current Application and Future Perspectives

BACKGROUND

as the paradigm for IBD management is evolving from symptom control to the more ambitious goal of complete deep remission, the concept of personalized medicine, as a mean to deliver individualized treatment with the best effectiveness and safety profile, is becoming paramount. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is an essential part of personalized medicine and its role in the management of IBD patients is rapidly expanding.

OBJECTIVE

to review the current knowledge that poses the rationale for the use of TDM, and the present and future role of TDM-based approaches in the management of pediatric IBD.

METHOD

literature review.

RESULTS

the concept of TDM has been introduced in the field of IBD along with thiopurines, over a decade ago, and evolved around anti-TNF therapies. TDM-based strategies proved to be costeffective in the management of patients with loss of response to biologics and, more recently, proactive TDM to optimize drug exposure has been shown to reduce treatment failure and drug adverse events. The role of TDM with new biologics and the usefulness of software-systems support tools to guide drug dosing are now under investigation.

CONCLUSION

Therapeutic drug monitoring has the potential to maximize the cost-benefit profile of therapies and is becoming an essential part of IBD management.

A validated web-based tool to display individualised Crohn's disease predicted outcomes based on clinical, serologic and genetic variables

BACKGROUND

Early treatment for Crohn's disease (CD) with immunomodulators and/or anti-TNF agents improves outcomes in comparison to a slower 'step up' algorithm. However, there remains a limited ability to identify those who would benefit most from early intensive therapy.

AIM

To develop a validated, individualised, web-based tool for patients and clinicians to visualise individualised risks for developing Crohn's disease complications.

METHODS

A well-characterised cohort of adult patients with CD was analysed. Available data included: demographics; clinical characteristics; serologic immune responses; NOD2 status; time from diagnosis to complication; and medication exposure. Cox proportional analyses were performed to model the probability of developing a CD complication over time. The Cox model was validated externally in two independent CD cohorts. Using system dynamics analysis (SDA), these results were transformed into a simple graphical web-based display to show patients their individualised probability of developing a complication over a 3-year period.

RESULTS

Two hundered and forty three CD patients were included in the final model of which 142 experienced a complication. Significant variables in the multivariate Cox model included small bowel disease (HR 2.12, CI 1.05-4.29), left colonic disease (HR 0.73, CI 0.49-1.09), perianal disease (HR 4.12, CI 1.01-16.88), ASCA (HR 1.35, CI 1.16-1.58), Cbir (HR 1.29, CI 1.07-1.55), ANCA (HR 0.77, CI 0.62-0.95), and the NOD2 frameshift mutation/SNP13 (HR 2.13, CI 1.33-3.40). The Harrell's C (concordance index for predictive accuracy of the model) = 0.73. When applied to the two external validation cohorts (adult n = 109, pediatric n = 392), the concordance index was 0.73 and 0.75, respectively, for adult and pediatric patients.

CONCLUSIONS

A validated, web-based tool has been developed to display an individualised predicted outcome for adult patients with Crohn's disease based on clinical, serologic and genetic variables. This tool can be used to help providers and patients make personalised decisions about treatment options.

Differences in the management of Crohn's disease among experts and community providers, based on a national survey of sample case vignettes

BACKGROUND

When faced with the same set of facts, healthcare providers often make different diagnoses, employ different tests and prescribe disparate therapies.

AIM

To perform a national survey to measure process of care and variations in decision-making in Crohn's disease, and the compared results between experts and community providers.

METHODS

We constructed a survey with five vignettes to elicit provider beliefs regarding the appropriateness of diagnostic tests and therapies in Crohn's disease. We measured agreement between community gastroenterologists and Crohn's disease experts, and measured variation within each group using the RAND Disagreement Index (DI), which is a validated measure of provider variation.

RESULTS

We received 186 responses (42% response rate). Experts and community providers generally agreed on diagnostic testing decisions in Crohn's disease. However, there was a significant disagreement between groups for several decisions (use of 5-aminosalicylate in particular), and there was evidence of 'extreme variation' (defined as DI > 1.0) within groups across a range of decisions.

CONCLUSIONS

Although experts and community providers are in general consensus about diagnostic decision-making in Crohn's disease, extreme variation exists both between and within groups for key therapeutic decisions in Crohn's disease. We must understand and decrease this variation prior to future efforts of creating explicit quality indicators in Crohn's disease.

New patients: should children be treated differently?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in childhood is often diagnosed at a vulnerable time of growth and development, and is recognized as one of the most significant chronic gastrointestinal diseases to affect children. Children and adolescents with IBD are at increased risk of complications as a result of malnutrition secondary to reduced appetite, increased metabolism and decreased absorptive capacity. The most common and serious complications are growth failure, bone demineralization and impaired psychosocial development. These issues add to the complexity of childhood IBD management and it is essential that adequate medical management is in place to prevent these long-term complications. Current treatment options include 5-aminosalicylic acid, antibiotics, corticosteroids, nutritional therapy and immunomodulators used to induce and maintain remission; some are specifically employed to maintain a steroid free long-term remission. As a general rule, long-term corticosteroid use should be avoided to reduce the risk of bone demineralization and growth failure. Newer treatment options such as infliximab have been shown to be effective for inducing and prolonging remission of Crohn's disease in children and paediatric use of infliximab is likely to increase in the near future. A recent case report, involving a 15-year old boy presenting with abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea, illustrates the difficulty in correctly diagnosing IBD in children and the need for optimizing therapy to achieve treatment success.

An open-label pilot study using thioguanine as a therapeutic alternative in Crohn's disease patients resistant to 6-mercaptopurine therapy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

A substantial number of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) fail to achieve a complete clinical response with 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and azathioprine (AZA). Inability to achieve therapeutic 6-thioguanine nucleotide (6-TGN) levels due to the preferential overproduction of 6-methylmercaptopurine ribonucleotides (6-MMPR) upon dose escalation characterizes a newly described subgroup of IBD patients resistant to 6-MP/AZA therapy. Treatment with 6-thioguanine (6-TG), a related thiopurine, which forms 6-TGNs more directly may be beneficial in such patients. This pilot study evaluated the safety, tolerance, and efficacy of 6-TG in the subgroup of Crohn's disease (CD) patients failing to attain adequate disease control with traditional 6-MP/AZA therapy.

METHODS

Ten CD patients with preferential 6-MMPR production upon 6-MP/AZA dose escalation were enrolled in an open-label pilot study. Seven of 10 patients had experienced dose-related 6-MP toxicities.

RESULTS

Seventy percent of the patients (7 of 10) responded or were in remission at week 16. Clinical response was evident by week 4 in most. 6-TGN levels were nine-fold higher with 6-TG treatment than with 6-MP, whereas 6-MMPR levels were undetectable. No patient developed a recurrence of hepatic or hematological toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

6-TG was a safer and more efficacious thiopurine in this subgroup of IBD patients resistant to 6-MP therapy. Larger controlled trials are warranted to further evaluate both the short- and long-term safety and efficacy in this subgroup of patients as well as a broader spectrum of IBD patients.

Clinical utility of serodiagnostic testing in suspected pediatric inflammatory bowel disease

OBJECTIVES

Confronted with nonspecific symptoms, accurate screening tests would be useful to clinicians to distinguish between functional childhood disorders and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), thus avoiding invasive diagnostic testing. Traditional ulcerative colitis-specific perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (pANCA) and Crohn's disease-specific anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody (ASCA) serodiagnostic assays have recently been modified, with ELISA cut-off values recalculated to maximize sensitivity. The aim of this study was to determine whether the combination of these serodiagnostic tests could maximize diagnostic accuracy and minimize invasive investigations in pediatric patients presenting with nonspecific symptoms suggestive of IBD.

METHODS

With investigators blinded to clinical diagnoses, ASCA, ANCA, and pANCA profiles were obtained prospectively from 128 patients undergoing complete diagnostic evaluation for IBD. In phase I, diagnostic accuracy and predictive values of the modified and traditional assays were compared for the IBD (n = 54) and non-IBD groups (n = 74). In phase II, the overall accuracy of a novel sequential diagnostic testing strategy was determined. Additionally, the potential number of invasive investigations avoided with the hypothetical application of this strategy to the cohort was determined.

RESULTS

For phase I, the modified serodiagnostic assay was more sensitive (81 vs 69%), whereas the traditional assay had a higher specificity (96 vs 72%) for IBD (p < 0.05) For phase II, false-positive diagnoses would have been reduced by 81%, yielding an overall sequential testing strategy accuracy of 84%.

CONCLUSIONS

The incorporation of sequential noninvasive testing into a diagnostic strategy may avoid unnecessary and costly evaluations and facilitate clinical decision making when the diagnosis of IBD in children is initially uncertain.

Diagnostic markers of inflammatory bowel disease

The diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease is usually straightforward, based on a detailed history and physical examination, along with standard radiographic and endoscopic investigations, biopsies, and laboratory parameters. More challenging is the search for clinically useful, noninvasive markers for Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis to accurately screen cases with nonspecific and indolent symptoms. Equally required are diagnostic markers that discriminate between these two disorders in cases with indeterminate colitis. Another dilemma for clinicians is that there are no simple measures to observe disease activity and predict relapses. This review describes the recent advances in diagnostic markers that afford the ability to screen for inflammatory bowel disease, discriminate between its types, and monitor disease activity. These include serological, fecal, and tissue markers; permeability tests; and diagnostic imaging using color Doppler ultrasonography.

Pharmacogenomics and metabolite measurement for 6-mercaptopurine therapy in inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The effects of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) are mediated via its intracellular conversion to 6-thioguanine (6-TG) and 6-methylmercaptopurine (6-MMP) nucleotide metabolites, the latter genetically controlled by thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT). We sought to determine optimal therapeutic 6-MP metabolite levels and their correlation with medication-induced toxicity and TPMT genotype.

METHODS

Therapeutic response was determined in 92 pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease coincidentally with hematologic, pancreatic, and hepatic laboratory parameters, and compared with erythrocyte metabolite levels and TPMT genotype.

RESULTS

Clinical response was highly correlated with 6-TG levels (P < 0.0001) but not with any other variable, including 6-MMP levels, drug dose, gender, and concurrent medications. The frequency of therapeutic response increased at 6-TG levels > 235 pmol/8 x 10(8) erythrocytes (P < 0.001). Hepatotoxicity correlated with elevated 6-MMP levels (>5700 pmol/8 x 10(8) erythrocytes; P < 0.05). Although leukopenia was associated with higher 6-TG levels (P < 0.03), it was observed in only 8% of responders. Patients heterozygous for TPMT (8/92) had higher 6-TG levels (P < 0.0001), and all responded to therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

6-MP metabolite levels and TPMT genotyping may assist clinicians in optimizing therapeutic response to 6-MP and identifying individuals at increased risk for drug-induced toxicity.

Novel immunosuppressive therapies for intestinal and hepatic diseases

Recent advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of immune-mediated hepatic and intestinal diseases have led to major therapeutic advances. The introduction of genetically engineered biologic agents specifically designed to target inflammatory mediators responsible for the perpetuation of chronic inflammatory processes is a novel example. Although corticosteroids remain important as a first-line therapeutic option for active inflammatory bowel disease, approximately one third and one fifth of patients develop steroid dependence and resistance, respectively. From a pediatric perspective, a major advance has thus been the advocation of prolonged immunosuppressive therapy with 6-mercaptopurine or azathioprine for children with inflammatory bowel disease. The introduction of effective steroid-sparing agents for the induction and maintenance of remission is a key management issue. The past year has also witnessed the increased utilization of powerful immunosuppressive agents with rapid onset of action, such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus, in patients resistant to conventional therapies. This review will afford pediatricians a sense of what to expect for the management of hepatic and intestinal disorders with immunosuppression as we advance into the new millenium.