Prognostic Value of the Modified Rutgeerts Score for Long-Term Outcomes After Primary Ileocecal Resection in Crohn's Disease

INTRODUCTION

The prognostic value of the modified Rutgeerts score (mRS) in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) needs to be further elucidated. This study assessed the prognostic value of the mRS for long-term outcomes after primary ileocecal resection in patients with CD.

METHODS

Patients with CD after primary ileocecal resection with an available mRS at first postoperative ileocolonoscopy (index mRS) were retrospectively included. The primary outcome was surgical recurrence. Secondary outcomes were clinical recurrence and progression to severe endoscopic recurrence (≥i3). Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between index mRS and outcomes.

RESULTS

Six hundred fifty-two patients were included (mean follow-up: 6.4 years, SD: 4.6). Surgical recurrence rates were 7.7%, 5.3%, 12.9%, 19.1%, 28.8%, 47.8% for index mRS i0, i1, i2a, i2b, i3, and i4, respectively. Clinical recurrence occurred in 42.2% (i0), 53.7% (i1), 58.5% (i2a), 80.2% (i2b), 79.4% (i3), and 95.3% (i4) of patients. Progression to severe endoscopic recurrence occurred in 21.1% (i0), 33.9% (i1), 26.8% (i2a), and 33.3% (i2b) of patients. An index mRS of i2b (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 3.0; 1.5-5.6), i3 (aHR 4.0; 2.0-7.9) and i4 (aHR 8.0; 4.0-16.0) were associated with surgical recurrence. An index mRS of i1 (aHR 1.7; 1.2-2.4), i2a (aHR 1.7; 1.2-2.4), i2b (aHR 4.4; 3.2-6.0), i3 (aHR 3.6; 2.5-5.2), and i4 (aHR 7.3; 4.8-10.9) were associated with clinical recurrence. An index mRS of i1 (aHR 2.0; 1.1-3.7) or i2b (aHR 2.5; 1.4-4.6) was associated with progression to severe endoscopic recurrence.

DISCUSSION

The increasing mRS corresponds closely with the risk of surgical and clinical recurrence. An index mRS ≥ i2b is associated with surgical recurrence, an index mRS ≥ i1 is associated with clinical recurrence, and i1 or i2b with progression to severe endoscopic recurrence. These results support tight monitoring of disease activity and treatment optimization in patients with ileal lesions and a more conservative management in patients with anastomotic lesions.

Safety of Accelerated Infliximab Infusions in Children With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

Accelerated infliximab (IFX) infusions have shown to be safe in adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but data on its safety in pediatric IBD is limited. This study aimed to assess the incidence and timing of infusion reactions (IR) in children with IBD who received accelerated (1-h) versus standard (2-h) IFX infusions.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included IBD patients 4-18 years of age and initiated IFX between January 2006 and November 2021 at Amsterdam University Medical Centre, location Academic Medical Centre (AMC) and VU Medical Centre (VUmc). The AMC protocol was adjusted in July 2019 from standard to accelerated infusions with 1-h intrahospital post-infusion observation period, whereas in VUmc only standard infusions were administered without an observation period. After merging the departments in 2022, all VUmc patients were allocated to the accelerated infusions (AMC) protocol. Primary outcome was the incidence of acute IR among maintenance accelerated versus standard infusions.

RESULTS

Totally, 297 (150 VUmc, 147 AMC) patients (221 Crohn disease; 65 ulcerative colitis; 11 IBD-unclassified) with cumulative n = 8381 IFX infusions were included. No statistically significant difference in the per-infusion incidence of IR was observed between maintenance standard infusions (26/4383, 0.6% of infusions) and accelerated infusions (9/3117, 0.3%) ( P = 0.33). Twenty-six of 35 IR (74%) occurred during the infusion, while 9 occurred post-infusion (26%). Only 3 of 9 IR developed in the intrahospital observation period following the switch to accelerated infusions. All post-infusion IR were mild, requiring no intervention or only oral medication.

CONCLUSIONS

Accelerated IFX infusion without a post-infusion observation period for children with IBD seems a safe approach.

Safety of Thioguanine in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Multi-Center Case Series

OBJECTIVES

Thioguanine (TG) has been shown as a safe alternative in adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who did not tolerate conventional thiopurines [azathioprine (AZA)/mercaptopurine]. However, data in pediatric IBD are scarce. Therefore, we aimed to assess the safety of TG as maintenance therapy.

METHODS

A retrospective, multicenter cohort study of children with IBD on TG was performed in the Netherlands. TG-related adverse events (AE) were assessed and listed according to the common terminology criteria for AE.

RESULTS

Thirty-six children with IBD (median age 14.5 years) on TG (median dose 15 mg/day) were included in 6 centers. Five AE occurred during follow-up [pancreatitis (grade 3), hepatotoxicity (grade 3) (n = 2), Clostridium difficile infection (grade 2), and abdominal pain (grade 2)]. All patients (n = 8) with a previously AZA-induced pancreatitis did not redevelop pancreatitis on TG.

CONCLUSIONS

In pediatric IBD, TG seems a safe alternative in case of AZA-induced pancreatitis. Further research assessing long-term TG-related safety and efficacy is needed.

A comparative analysis of tioguanine versus low-dose thiopurines combined with allopurinol in inflammatory bowel disease patients

BACKGROUND

Both tioguanine and low-dose thiopurines combined with allopurinol (LDTA) can be considered for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) when conventional thiopurines fail due to adverse events.

AIM

To compare the safety of tioguanine and LDTA in IBD patients.

METHODS

Inflammatory bowel disease patients who failed conventional thiopurines due to adverse events and initiated LDTA in standard care were identified in the prospective ICC Registry. IBD patients who failed conventional thiopurines due to adverse events and initiated tioguanine were enrolled in three university hospitals. Patients on concomitant biologicals were excluded. The primary outcome was discontinuation of therapy due to adverse events. Secondary outcomes included: safety outcomes and surgery-, biological- and corticosteroid-free clinical remission (physician global assessment = 0) after 104 weeks. Both multiple logistic regression and propensity score matching were used to correct for confounders.

RESULTS

In total, 182 IBD patients treated with tioguanine (n = 94) or LDTA (n = 88) were included with a median follow-up of 104 weeks (IQR 91-104). Of these, 19% (tioguanine: 20%, LDTA: 18%) of patients discontinued therapy due to adverse events. After adjusting for confounders, there were no differences in terms of discontinuation rate due to adverse events (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.15-1.68, P = 0.26), adverse events (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.44-1.81, P = 0.75), infections (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.40-2.73, P = 0.93), hospitalisations (OR 2.00, 95% CI 0.64-6.23, P = 0.23) or clinical remission (OR 0.74, 95%CI 0.33-1.68, P = 0.48). All results are comparable with the propensity score matched cohort.

CONCLUSION

Nineteen percent of IBD patients with prior failure to conventional thiopurines due to adverse events discontinued therapy with tioguanine or LDTA due to adverse events. Either therapy may be considered before escalating to biological therapy.

Non-Invasive Detection of Anastomotic Leakage Following Esophageal and Pancreatic Surgery by Urinary Analysis

BACKGROUND

Esophagectomy or pancreaticoduodenectomy is the standard surgical approach for patients with tumors of the esophagus or pancreatic head. Postoperative mortality is strongly correlated with the occurrence of anastomotic leakage (AL). Delay in diagnosis leads to delay in treatment, which ratifies the need for development of novel and accurate non-invasive diagnostic tests for detection of AL. Urinary volatile organic compounds (VOCs) reflect the metabolic status of an individual, which is associated with a systemic immunological response. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of urinary VOCs to detect AL after esophagectomy or pancreaticoduodenectomy.

METHODS

In the present study, urinary VOCs of 63 patients after esophagectomy (n = 31) or pancreaticoduodenectomy (n = 32) were analyzed by means of field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry. AL was defined according to international study groups.

RESULTS

AL was observed in 15 patients (24%). Urinary VOCs of patients with AL after pancreaticoduodenectomy could be distinguished from uncomplicated controls, area under the curve 0.85 (95% CI 0.76-0.93), sensitivity 76%, and specificity 77%. However, this was not observed following esophagectomy, area under the curve 0.51 (95% CI 0.37-0.65).

CONCLUSION

In our study population AL following pancreaticoduodenectomy could be discriminated from uncomplicated controls by means of urinary VOC analysis, NTC03203434.