Search

A subset of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) do not respond to ustekinumab at the standard dose of 90 mg every 8 weeks. Little is known about the efficacy of shortening the interval between doses.We performed a retrospective study to determine the effectiveness of ustekinumab dose interval shortening, collecting data from 506 patients with CD who received subcutaneous ustekinumab 90 mg every 8 weeks at a single center. We obtained data from 110 patients who initially received subcutaneous ustekinumab 90 mg every 8 weeks and then had their interval shortened to every 4 weeks. Harvey Bradshaw Index (HBI) scores before and after the dose interval shortening was available for 78 patients in the cohort (71%), levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) for 60 patients (55%), and levels of fecal calprotectin for 8 patients (7%).Following dose interval shortening, the patients' median HBI decreased from 4.5 to 3 (P = .002), the median level of CRP decreased from 8 mg/L to 3 mg/L (P = .031), and median level of fecal calprotectin decreased from 378 μg/g to 157 μg/g (P = .57). Among patients who had an HBI4, a level of CRP ≥5mg/dL, a level of fecal calprotectin250ug/g, or endoscopic evidence for disease activity before dose interval shortening, after the dose interval was shortened, 28% achieved clinical remission (an HBI score ≤4), 22% had a normal level of CRP (5 mg/dL), 50% had reduced levels of fecal calprotectin, and 36% achieved endoscopic remission.Shortening the ustekinumab 90 mg dose interval to 4 weeks for patients with CD who did not respond to doses every 8 weeks improved clinical and biological indices of disease activity. Patients who lose response to the standard dose of ustekinumab might benefit from dose interval shortening, which was effective and safe.

Background & Aims Pouchitis is a common complication of ileal pouch–anal anastomosis (IPAA) in patients with ulcerative colitis who have undergone colectomy. Pouchitis has been considered a single entity despite a broad array of clinical and endoscopic patterns. We developed a novel classification system based on the pattern of inflammation observed in pouches and evaluated the contributing factors and prognosis of each phenotype. Methods We identified 426 patients (384 with ulcerative colitis) treated with proctocolectomy and IPAA who subsequently underwent pouchoscopies at the University of Chicago between June 1997 and December 2019. We retrospectively reviewed 1359 pouchoscopies and classified them into 7 main pouch phenotypes: (1) normal, (2) afferent limb involvement, (3) inlet involvement, (4) diffuse, (5) focal inflammation of the pouch body, (6) cuffitis, and (7) pouch with fistulas noted 6 months after ileostomy takedown. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess factors contributing to each phenotype. Pouch survival was estimated by the log-rank test and the Cox proportional hazards model. Results Significant contributing factors for afferent limb involvement were a body mass index of 25 or higher and hand-sewn anastomosis, for inlet involvement the significant contributing factor was male sex; for diffuse inflammation the significant contributing factors were extensive colitis and preoperative use of anti–tumor necrosis factor drugs, for cuffitis the significant contributing factors were stapled anastomosis and preoperative Clostridioides difficile infection. Inlet stenosis, diffuse inflammation, and cuffitis significantly increased the risk of pouch excision. Diffuse inflammation was associated independently with pouch excision (hazard ratio, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.34–5.41; P = .005). Conclusions We describe 7 unique IPAA phenotypes with different contributing factors and outcomes, and propose a new classification system for pouch management and future interventional studies.

Background & Aims In women with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), exposure to immunomodulator or biologic therapy has not been associated with adverse events during pregnancy or outcomes of newborns. We investigated whether exposure of patients to these agents during pregnancy affects serologic responses to vaccines in newborns. Methods We collected data from the Pregnancy in IBD and Neonatal Outcomes registry, which records outcomes of pregnant women with diagnosis of IBD receiving care at multiple centers in the United States, from 2007 through 2016. Serum samples collected from infants at least 7 months old were analyzed for titers of antibodies to Haemophilus influenzae B (HiB) or tetanus toxin; mothers completed a survey of vaccine practices and outcomes from July 2013 through October 2016. Umbilical cord blood samples from 33 infants were assayed for concentration of biologic agents. Vaccination response was compared between infants born to mothers exposed to biologic therapy (infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, golimumab, natalizumab, vedolizumab, or ustekinumab—either as a single agent or in combination with an immunomodulator, at any time between conception and delivery) and infants born to unexposed mothers. Results A total of 179 women completed the vaccine survey (26 biologic unexposed, 153 exposed to a biologic agent). We found no significant difference in proportions of infants with protective antibody titers against HiB born to exposed mothers (n = 42, 71%) vs unexposed mothers (n = 8, 50%) ( P = .41). We also found no difference in the proportion of infants with protective antibody titers to tetanus toxoid born to exposed mothers (80%) vs unexposed mothers (75%) ( P = .66). The median concentration of infliximab in cord blood did not differ significantly between infants with vs without protective antibody titers to HiB ( P = .30) or tetanus toxoid ( P = .93). Mild reactions were observed in 7/40 infants who received rotavirus vaccine and whose mothers had been exposed to biologic therapies. Conclusions Vaccination of infants against HiB and tetanus toxin, based on antibody titers measured when infants were at least 7 months old, does not appear to be affected by in utero exposure to biologic therapy.

The natural history of ulcerative colitis (UC) follows a relapsing and remitting course of inflammation and is accompanied by associated mucosal injury and historically, microscopic features of chronicity that were the sine qua non for the diagnosis.1 As goals for the management of UC have evolved to include objectively measured endoscopic improvement of the mucosa, there also has been a move to include histological endpoints in assessment of disease activity.2,3 However, there remain a number of unanswered questions about histology in UC and this is not yet a specific treatment goal.4.

The historical approach to neoplasia in the setting of chronic colitis was to perform a total proctocolectomy. Recent consensus and society guidelines1-3 suggest that when dysplastic lesions can be removed endoscopically, continued surveillance is appropriate. This is based on improvements in optical technologies and the low risk of metachronous colorectal carcinoma in these patients.4-6 We hypothesized that if a lesion was completely removed surgically and followed up endoscopically, metachronous colorectal carcinoma would be a rare occurrence. Thus, segmental resection may be offered as a definitive surgery in patients with chronic colitis and localized colorectal neoplasia in whom endoscopic resection is not feasible. Retention of the distal colon/rectum is expected to result in an overall improved quality of life compared with permanent ileostomy or an ileoanal J-pouch. Here, we report our experience and follow-up evaluation of segmental resections for preoperative neoplasia in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC).

Background & Aims Natalizumab, a humanized antibody against the α4 integrin subunit, effectively induces and maintains remission in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) refractory to conventional treatments. Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is a rare but fatal brain infection caused by John Cunningham (JC) virus and has been associated with natalizumab use. We assessed the prevalence of and risk factors for antibodies to JC virus in serum of patients with refractory CD who were candidates for, or already were receiving, natalizumab. We also assessed the effects of natalizumab treatment of these patients. Methods In a retrospective study, we analyzed clinical charts from 191 patients with CD (74 males; mean age, 38.7 y; mean duration of disease, 14.9 y) tested for serum JC virus antibody from December 2012 through May 2014 at 2 medical centers in the United States. We calculated JC virus antibody prevalence and compared the characteristics of patients who tested negative vs those who tested positive, to identify risk factors. We also assessed the rate of subsequent natalizumab use, surgery, and seroconversion during natalizumab therapy. Results A total of 129 of the patients (67.5%) tested positive for serum JC virus antibody. Multivariate analysis showed that past use of thiopurine was a risk factor for testing positive for JC virus antibody (odds ratio, 7.8; 95% confidence interval, 2.0−30.4; P = .003). Twenty-two of the patients who tested negative for JC virus antibody (35.5%) and 16 of the 129 patients who tested positive (12.4%) had been treated with natalizumab. Cox regression analysis determined that natalizumab use was the only factor associated with avoiding subsequent surgery (hazard ratio, 0.23; 95% confidence interval, 0.06−0.98). Seroconversion (from testing negative to positive for JC virus antibody) occurred in 1 of the 22 patients (4.5%) who initially tested negative during natalizumab therapy. Conclusions The prevalence of CD patients exposed to JC virus is comparable with that of the general population. In this retrospective study, prior thiopurine use was associated with an increased risk for testing positive for JC virus antibody. Natalizumab use reduced the risk of subsequent surgery.

Long-term safety data for infliximab and other therapies in Crohn's disease (CD) are needed.We prospectively evaluated patients for prespecified safety-related outcomes.As of August 2004, 6290 patients were enrolled; 3179 received infliximab (5519 patient-years), 87% of whom received at least 2 infusions, and 3111 received other therapies (6123 patient-years). The mean length of follow-up evaluation was 1.9 years. More infliximab-treated patients had moderate-to-severe (30.8% vs 10.3%) or severe-fulminant (2.5% vs .6%) CD, and had surgical (17.5% vs 13.8%) or medical (14.4% vs 9.1%) hospitalizations in the previous year. More patients were taking prednisone (27.4% vs 16.1%), immunomodulators (49.4% vs 32.2%), or narcotic analgesics (9.8% vs 5.4%) when compared with those receiving other therapies (P.001, all comparisons). The mortality rates were similar for infliximab- and non-infliximab-treated patients (.53 per 100 patient-years vs .43; relative risk, 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], .73-2.10). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, only prednisone was associated with an increased mortality risk (odds ratio [OR], 2.10; 95% CI, 1.15-3.83; P=.016). Although the unadjusted analysis showed an increased risk for infection with infliximab use, multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that infliximab was not an independent predictor of serious infections (OR, .99; 95% CI, .64-1.54). Factors independently associated with serious infections included prednisone use (OR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.46-3.34; P.001), narcotic analgesic use (OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.56-3.63; P.001), and moderate-to-severe disease activity (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.10-4.05; P=.024).Mortality rates were similar between infliximab- and non-infliximab-treated patients. The increased risk for serious infection observed with infliximab likely was owing to disease severity and prednisone use.

An association between inflammatory activity and colorectal neoplasia (CRN) has been documented in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). However, previous studies did not address the duration of inflammation or the effects of therapy on risk for CRN. We investigated the effects of inflammation, therapies, and characteristics of patients with UC on their risk for CRN.We collected data from 141 patients with UC without CRN (controls) and 59 matched patients with UC who developed CRN (cases), comparing disease extent and duration and patients' ages. We used a new 6-point histologic inflammatory activity (HIA) scale to score biopsy fragments (n = 4449). Information on medications, smoking status, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and family history of CRN were collected from the University of Chicago Inflammatory Bowel Disease Endoscopy Database. Relationships between HIA, clinical features, and CRN were assessed by conditional logistic regression.Cases and controls were similar in numbers of procedures and biopsies, exposure to steroids or mesalamine, smoking status, and family history of CRN. They differed in proportion of men vs women, exposure to immune modulators, and primary sclerosing cholangitis prevalence. In univariate analysis, HIA was positively associated with CRN (odds ratio [OR], 2.56 per unit increase; P = .001), whereas immune modulators (including azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, and methotrexate) reduced the risk for CRN (OR, 0.35; P.01). HIA was also associated with CRN in multivariate analysis (OR, 3.68; P = .001).In a case-control study, we associated increased inflammation with CRN in patients with UC. Use of immune modulators reduced the risk for CRN, indicating that these drugs have chemoprotective effects. On the basis of these data, we propose new stratified surveillance and treatment strategies to prevent and detect CRN in patients with UC.