Abstract Background Direct health care costs have shifted towards drug-related expenditures in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Frequently, patients will have to switch to a second- or third-line biological therapy due to no response or loss of response. The aim of this study was to describe the use and efficacy of biological therapy in a tertiary centre during a 10-year period and investigate the need for surgery. Methods The study population consisted of all bio-naïve IBD patients who initiated biological therapy between January 1, 2010 and February 19, 2020 at the Gastro unit, Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark. The electronic medical records were reviewed, and data were systematically registered. Failure of the biological therapy as no response and loss of response was defined by the need for surgery, steroid or shift in biological therapy. Results The study population consisted of 291 (46.9%) patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 327 (52.7%) with Crohn’s disease (CD) and 3 with (0.5%) IBD Unclassified (IBDU), who initiated biological therapy with a median follow-up of 3 (IQR=2–5) years from initiation of therapy. The annual number of patients who initiated biological therapy was increasing throughout the study period. Most patients (457, 73.6%) received one biological drug, 126 (20.3%) received two, and 38 (6.1%) received three or more different types of biological drugs during the study period. Systemic steroid was required in 99 patients (15.9%) and the 5-year surgery-free survival was 76.5% (120 patients with surgery). 302 patients (54.3%) had effect of the first biological therapy at one year follow-up. In multivariate Cox-regression analyses, concurrent treatment with thiopurines decreased the risk of failure of the first biological therapy in UC patients (hazard ratio (HR) 0.745, 95% CI: 0.559–0.992) but not in CD patients (HR 0.969, 95% CI: 0.722–1.300). Male gender decreased the risk of failure (HR: 0.677, 95% CI: 0.505–0.908) while higher age at initiation of biological therapy increased the risk (HR: 1.0152, 95% CI: 1.004–1.027) in CD patients. These factors had no impact in UC patients. Prior surgery, disease duration and location were not associated with increased risk of failure of first biological therapy. Conclusion In conclusion, an increasing number of IBD patients received biological therapy during the 10-year period at our tertiary centre. A considerable part of IBD patients in biological therapy will require surgery, additional steroids, or second line biological therapy. Our findings suggest a beneficial role of thiopurine in combination with biological therapy. Improved identification of patients not responding to first line biological therapy is of great importance.
Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who receive biologicals frequently experience lack or loss of response. Our aim was to describe the use and efficacy of biological therapy in a tertiary IBD center.We included all bio-naive IBD patients who initiated biological therapy between 2010 and 2020 at our centre. Their medical records were reviewed.The population consisted of 327 Crohn's disease (CD) patients, 291 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, and 3 patients with IBD unclassified (IBDU). The median follow-up was 3 years (interquartile range = 2-5) after initiating therapy. The annual number of patients initiating biological therapy rose from 29 (2010) to 85 (2019). Most patients (457, 73.6%) received 1 biological drug; 164 (26.4%) patients received 2 or more biologicals. Primary lack of response was observed in 36.4% (106/291) and 17.4% (57/327) of UC and CD patients; loss of response was observed in 27.1% (79/291) and 31.5% (103/327) of UC and CD patients, respectively. The 5-year surgery rates were 26.6% and 20.4% in UC and CD patients, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression showed that treatment with thiopurine reduced the likelihood of needing to switch biological therapy, requiring surgery or corticosteroids in UC patients (HR: 0.745, 95% CI: 0.559-0.993), but not in CD patients (HR: 0.996, 95% CI: 0.736-1.349).The annual number of IBD patients initiated on biological therapy increased considerably between 2010 and 2020. One-quarter of these patients required surgery after 5 years. Our findings suggest a beneficial effect of concurrent thiopurines for UC patients receiving biologicals, but this was not found for CD patients. This effect in UC patients was not observed when we included patients initiating thiopurines up to 6 months after the introduction of biological therapy.
In luminal Crohn's disease with moderate to severe inflammatory activity, infliximab and adalimumab can be used in the case of treatment failure with conventional therapies, such as systemic steroids and immunosuppressive therapy or if this treatment is not tolerated. Further treatment strategy depends on the primary response to induction therapy. Effect of maintenance therapy should be evaluated clinically and paraclinically at least every 26-52 weeks, and maybe supplemented by endoscopy or MRI scan. Decision of treatment discontinuation is based on disease manifestation, treatment response and paraclinical parameters. In fistulising Crohn's disease, treatment with infliximab or adalimumab can be initiated in simple fistula with rectal inflammation or complex fistula when the initial treatment has insufficient effect. Further treatment strategy depends on the primary response to induction therapy. Maintenance therapy is often necessary in complex fistulas. Treatment efficacy and possible discontinuation of treatment is evaluated at least every 26-52 weeks - if possibly with diagnostic imaging. In acute severe ulcerative colitis, treatment with infliximab can be used in patients with partial response after 3-5 days of treatment with a high-dose systemic steroid and when surgical treatment is not preferred or required. Further treatment strategy depends on the response to the first drug administration and colectomy should always be considered as an option. Effect of subsequent initiated maintenance therapy should be evaluated at least every 26-52 weeks on the basis of symptoms, clinical markers, paraclinical parameters and possibly by endoscopy. In chronic active ulcerative colitis, infliximab and adalimumab can be used in the case of treatment with immunosuppressive therapy fails and if surgery is not preferred. Further treatment strategy depends on the response to induction therapy. Treatment efficacy is assessed by symptoms, clinical markers, paraclinical parameters and possibly by endoscopy. Effect of maintenance therapy should be evaluated at least every 26-52 weeks. During treatment with biologic drugs focus should be on possible complications, such as infections, infusion or injection reactions and dermatological side effects. An overview of levels of evidence and recommendations is presented.
Background and aim: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. The probiotic bacterium Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) has been used to maintain and induce clinical remission in UC. Our aim was to test the effect of Ciprofloxacin and/or orally administered EcN as add-on to conventional therapies in patients with active UC.
BackgroundProbiotic treatment may be effective in diseases involving gut microflora and intestinal inflammation. In collagenous colitis (CC), a potential pathogenic role of the gut microflora has been proposed. The effect of probiotic treatment in CC is unknown. Our aim was to investigate the clinical effect of treatment with Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 (AB-Cap-10) in patients with CC.
Abstract Background Low-dose azathioprine in combination with allopurinol (LD-AZA/ALLO) is a widely used treatment option in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Data on pregnancy and birth outcomes from exposure to combination therapy are sparse. The aim of this study was to provide data on safety and risk for adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes in women with IBD treated with LD-AZA/ALLO at the Gastrounit, Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen. Methods The study was a retrospective single center study. Inclusion criteria were established IBD diagnosis and treatment with LD-AZA/ALLO (AZA 50-75 mg/ ALLO 100 mg) during conception and pregnancy between 2013-2023. Data was collected from electronic medical charts and by questionnaire to all included women. Data registered was; demographics, diagnosis, disease characteristics, disease activity, IBD medications and number of pregnancies. Pregnancy outcomes were neonatal characteristics, obstetric complications, lactation and congenital malformations, disease, infections and admission to the hospital during the first year of life. Results In all, 44 women with 62 pregnancies (one twin pregnancy) and 59 live births were included. There were 1 spontaneous and 3 provoked abortions due to genetic disorders (1 trisomy 21 and 2 spinocerebellar ataxia). Obstetric complications were present in 8 (13%) pregnancies, (1 pre-eclampsia, 1 HELLP syndrome, 6 hypertension and/or gestational diabetes mellitus). 7 (11%) women had an IBD flare during pregnancy, none resulting in obstetrical complications. 5 (9 %) children were born prematurely, 4 (7 %) had low birth weight. No congenital malformations were reported. One child was born with facial nerve paralysis and later diagnosed with hyper-IgD syndrome. 8 (14 %) were admitted to neonatal ward (hours to days), mainly due to immature lungs. During the first year of life, one child was admitted to the hospital due to COVID. One child was suspected to have an immune defect, but all symptoms and biochemical abnormalities resolved and interpreted as side effect to LD-AZA/ALLO. 5 children (9%) were treated with antibiotics due to minor infections. In total 84 % of the children were breastfed during LD-AZA/ALLO treatment. Conclusion In this large single center experience with 62 pregnancies in women treated with LD- AZA/ALLO, no malformations or indications of increased risk of complications of pregnancy and birth were observed. The majority of children were breastfed and no serious signals or complications were reported first year of life. Treatment with LD-AZA/ALLO during pregnancy and breastfeeding seems safe.
Several serologic tests, including anti-outer membrane porin C antibody (Omp C), are used for screening and as marker of disease course in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Our aim was to investigate possible differences in Omp C level in patients with active and inactive IBD compared to controls.All blood samples were tested for Omp C. Disease activity was evaluated by Harvey Bradshaw Index, Simple Clinical Activity Index and Modified Pouchitis Disease Activity Index.Blood samples were collected from 113 patients and 60 controls. Patients with active IBD did not have a higher level of Omp C than patients in remission. Surprisingly, in patients with active Crohn's disease a significantly lower level of Omp C was found compared with patients with inactive Crohn's disease (p < 0.05). All other groups among patients with IBD did have a significantly higher level of Omp C, compared with controls, including patients with acute gastroenteritis (p < 0.05). Although IBD patients with phylogroup B2 E. coli cultured from their fecal samples, were more likely to have a positive Omp C test (p < 0.05), this could not explain the low Omp C level in the subgroup of patients with active Crohn's disease.Omp C titer was not raised in patients with active IBD compared with patients in remission. In addition, there was no difference in Omp C level in patients with active Crohn's disease compared with controls. These observations do not support the use of Omp C serology testing, either in disease activity assessment, or in screening for active Crohn's disease.
