One in five patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) suffers from anemia, most frequently caused by iron deficiency. Anemia and iron deficiency are associated with worse disease outcomes, ...reduced quality of life, decreased economic participation, and increased healthcare costs. International guidelines and consensus-based recommendations have emphasized the importance of treating anemia and iron deficiency. In this review, we draw attention to the rarely discussed effects of iron deficiency and iron therapy on the redox status, the intestinal microbiota, and the potential interplay between them, focusing on the clinical implications for patients with IBD. Current data are scarce, inconsistent, and do not provide definitive answers. Nevertheless, it is imperative to rule out infections and discern iron deficiency anemia from other types of anemia to prevent untargeted oral or intravenous iron supplementation and potential side effects, including oxidative stress. Further research is necessary to establish the clinical significance of changes in the redox status and the intestinal microbiota following iron supplementation.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Purpose
Liver steatosis is a frequently reported condition in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Different factors, both metabolic and IBD-associated, are believed to contribute to the ...pathogenesis. The aim of our study was to calculate the prevalence of liver steatosis and fibrosis in IBD patients and to evaluate which factors influence changes in steatosis and fibrosis during follow-up.
Methods
From June 2017 to February 2018, demographic and biochemical data was collected at baseline and after 6–12 months. Measured by transient elastography (FibroScan), liver steatosis was defined as Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) ≥248 and fibrosis as liver stiffness value (Emed) ≥7.3 kPa. IBD disease activity was defined as C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥10 mg/l and/or fecal calprotectin (FCP) ≥150 μg/g. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis was performed; a
p
-value of ≤0.05 was considered significant.
Results
Eighty-two out of 112 patients were seen for follow-up; 56% were male. The mean age was 43 ± 16.0 years, and mean BMI was 25.1 ± 4.7 kg/m
2
. The prevalence of liver steatosis was 40% and of fibrosis was 20%. At baseline, 26 patients (32%) had an active episode of IBD. Using a multivariate analysis, disease activity at baseline was associated with an increase in liver steatosis (
B
= 37, 95% CI 4.31–69.35,
p
= 0.027) and liver fibrosis (
B
= 1.2, 95% CI 0.27–2.14,
p
= 0.016) during follow-up.
Conclusions
This study confirms the relatively high prevalence of liver steatosis and fibrosis in IBD patients. We demonstrate that active IBD at baseline is associated with both an increase in liver steatosis and fibrosis during follow-up.
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EMUNI, FZAB, GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
There is an increasing demand for accurate biomarkers for early non-invasive colorectal cancer detection. We employed a genome-scale marker discovery method to identify and verify candidate DNA ...methylation biomarkers for blood-based detection of colorectal cancer.
We used DNA methylation data from 711 colorectal tumors, 53 matched adjacent-normal colonic tissue samples, 286 healthy blood samples and 4,201 tumor samples of 15 different cancer types. DNA methylation data were generated by the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation27 and the HumanMethylation450 platforms, which determine the methylation status of 27,578 and 482,421 CpG sites respectively. We first performed a multistep marker selection to identify candidate markers with high methylation across all colorectal tumors while harboring low methylation in healthy samples and other cancer types. We then used pre-therapeutic plasma and serum samples from 107 colorectal cancer patients and 98 controls without colorectal cancer, confirmed by colonoscopy, to verify candidate markers. We selected two markers for further evaluation: methylated THBD (THBD-M) and methylated C9orf50 (C9orf50-M). When tested on clinical plasma and serum samples these markers outperformed carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) serum measurement and resulted in a high sensitive and specific test performance for early colorectal cancer detection.
Our systematic marker discovery and verification study for blood-based DNA methylation markers resulted in two novel colorectal cancer biomarkers, THBD-M and C9orf50-M. THBD-M in particular showed promising performance in clinical samples, justifying its further optimization and clinical testing.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Summary
Background
Both vedolizumab and ustekinumab can be considered for the treatment of Crohn’s disease (CD) when anti‐TNF treatment fails. However, head‐to‐head trials are currently not available ...or planned.
Aim
To compare vedolizumab and ustekinumab in Crohn´s disease patients in a prospective registry specifically developed for comparative studies with correction for confounders.
Methods
Crohn´s disease patients, who failed anti‐TNF treatment and started vedolizumab or ustekinumab in standard care as second‐line biological, were identified in the observational prospective Dutch Initiative on Crohn and Colitis Registry. Corticosteroid‐free clinical remission (Harvey Bradshaw Index ≤4), biochemical remission (C‐reactive protein ≤5 mg/L and fecal calprotectin ≤250 µg/g), combined corticosteroid‐free clinical and biochemical remission, and safety outcomes were compared after 52 weeks of treatment. To adjust for confounding and selection bias, we used multiple logistic regression and propensity score matching.
Results
In total, 128 vedolizumab‐ and 85 ustekinumab‐treated patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. After adjusting for confounders, ustekinumab‐treated patients were more likely to achieve corticosteroid‐free clinical remission (odds ratio OR: 2.58, 95% CI: 1.36‐4.90, P = 0.004), biochemical remission (OR: 2.34, 95% CI: 1.10‐4.96, P = 0.027), and combined corticosteroid‐free clinical and biochemical remission (OR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.23‐6.09, P = 0.014), while safety outcomes (infections: OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 0.63‐2.54, P = 0.517; adverse events: OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 0.62‐2.81, P = 0.464; hospitalisations: OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.32‐1.39, P = 0.282) were comparable between the two groups. The propensity score matched cohort with sensitivity analyses showed comparable results.
Conclusions
Ustekinumab was associated with superior effectiveness outcomes when compared to vedolizumab, while safety outcomes were comparable after 52 weeks of treatment in CD patients who have failed anti‐TNF treatment.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract
This article reports on the sixth scientific workshop of the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation ECCO on the pathogenesis of extraintestinal manifestations EIMs in inflammatory bowel ...disease IBD. This paper has been drafted by 15 ECCO members and 6 external experts in rheumatology, dermatology, ophthalmology, and immunology from 10 European countries and the USA. Within the workshop, contributors formed subgroups to address specific areas. Following a comprehensive literature search, the supporting text was finalized under the leadership of the heads of the working groups before being integrated by the group consensus leaders.
Abstract
Background and Aims
Ustekinumab is approved for the treatment of Crohn’s disease CD. Systematically registered prospective real-world data are scarce. We therefore aimed to study the ...effectiveness, safety and usage of ustekinumab for CD in everyday practice.
Methods
We prospectively enrolled CD patients initiating ustekinumab in regular care between December 2016 and January 2019. Clinical (Harvey Bradshaw Index HBI), biochemical (C-reactive protein CRP and faecal calprotectin FCP), extra-intestinal manifestations and, peri-anal fistula activity, ustekinumab dosage, concomitant medication use, and adverse events were documented at weeks 0, 12, 24, and 52. The primary outcome was corticosteroid-free clinical remission.
Results
In total, 221 CD patients were included (98.6% anti-tumour necrosis factor TNF and 46.6% vedolizumab exposed) with a median follow-up of 52.0 weeks interquartile range 49.3–58.4. Corticosteroid-free clinical remission rates at weeks 24 and 52 were 38.2% and 37.1%, respectively. An initial dosing schedule of 8 weeks, compared to 12 weeks, correlated with a lower discontinuation rate 20.0% vs 42.6%, p = 0.01, but comparable corticosteroid-free clinical remission at week 52 (46.3% q8w vs 34.6% q12w, p = 0.20). There was no clinical benefit of combination therapy after 52 weeks when compared to ustekinumab monotherapy combi 40.6% vs mono 36.0%, p = 0.64. At baseline, 28 patients had active peri-anal fistula, of whom 35.7% showed complete clinical resolution after 24 weeks. During follow-up we encountered six severe infections 3.5 per 100 patient-years, with all patients being on concomitant immunosuppressant therapies. Ustekinumab treatment discontinuation was observed in 75 33.9% patients mainly due to lack of response.
Conclusion
Ustekinumab is a relatively safe and effective treatment option for CD patients with prior failure of anti-TNF and anti-integrin therapies.
Summary
Background
Tofacitinib is a Janus kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC).
Aim
To evaluate effectiveness, safety and use of tofacitinib in daily practice.
...Methods
UC patients initiating tofacitinib were prospectively enrolled in 15 hospitals in the Netherlands. Corticosteroid‐free clinical remission (short clinical colitis activity index SCCAI ≤2), biochemical remission (faecal calprotectin level ≤250 µg/g), combined corticosteroid‐free clinical and biochemical remission, predictors of remission, safety outcomes, treatment dose and effect on lipids were determined at weeks 12 and 24. Endoscopic outcomes were evaluated in centres with routine endoscopic evaluation.
Results
In total, 123 UC patients (95% anti‐TNF, 62% vedolizumab and 3% ustekinumab experienced) were followed for a median duration of 24 weeks (interquartile range 12‐26). The proportion of patients in corticosteroid‐free clinical, biochemical, and combined corticosteroid‐free clinical and biochemical remission rate at week 24 was 29% (n: 22/77), 25% (n: 14/57), and 19% (n: 11/57) respectively. Endoscopic remission (Mayo = 0) was achieved in 21% of patients at week 12 (n: 7/33). Prior vedolizumab exposure was associated with reduced clinical remission (odds ratio 0.33, 95% confidence interval CI 0.11‐0.94). At week 24, 33% (n: 14/42) of patients still on tofacitinib treatment used 10 mg twice daily. In total, 33 tofacitinib‐related adverse events (89 per 100 patient years) occurred, 7 (6% of total cohort) resulted in discontinuation. Cholesterol, HDL and LDL levels increased during induction treatment by 18% (95% CI 9‐26), 18% (95% CI 8‐28) and 21% (95% CI 14‐39) respectively.
Conclusion
Tofacitinib is an effective treatment for UC after anti‐TNF and vedolizumab failure. However, a relatively high rate of adverse events was observed resulting in discontinuation in 6% of patients.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Smoking affects the course of inflammatory bowel disease IBD. We aimed to study the impact of smoking on IBD-specific costs and health-related quality-of-life HrQoL among adults with Crohn's disease ...CD and ulcerative colitis UC.
A large cohort of IBD patients was prospectively followed during 1 year using 3-monthly questionnaires on smoking status, health resources, disease activity and HrQoL. Costs were calculated by multiplying used resources with corresponding unit prices. Healthcare costs, patient costs, productivity losses, disease course items and HrQoL were compared between smokers, never-smokers and ex-smokers, adjusted for potential confounders.
In total, 3030 patients 1558 CD, 1054 UC, 418 IBD-unknown were enrolled; 16% smoked at baseline. In CD, disease course was more severe among smokers. Smoking was associated with > 30% higher annual societal costs in IBD (€7,905 95% confidence interval €6,234 - €9,864 vs €6,017 €5,186 - €6,946 in never-smokers and €5,710 €4,687 - €6,878 in ex-smokers, p = 0.06 and p = 0.04, respectively). In CD, smoking patients generated the highest societal costs, primarily driven by the use of anti-tumour necrosis factor compounds. In UC, societal costs of smoking patients were comparable to those of non-smokers. Societal costs of IBD patients who quitted smoking > 5 years before inclusion were lower than in patients who quitted within the past 5 years (€ 5,135 95% CI €4,122 - €6,303 vs €9,342 €6,010 - €12,788, p = 0.01). In both CD and UC, smoking was associated with a lower HrQoL.
Smoking is associated with higher societal costs and lower HrQoL in IBD patients. Smoking cessation may result in considerably lower societal costs.
Randomized trials demonstrated that chromoendoscopy is superior to white light endoscopy with random biopsy sampling (WLE) for the detection of dysplasia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease ...(IBD). Whether implementing chromoendoscopy can increase the detection of dysplasia in clinical practice is unknown.
Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) undergoing colonoscopic surveillance between January 2000 and November 2013 in three referral centers were identified using the patients' medical records. In recent years, the use of high-definition chromoendoscopy was adopted in all three centers using segmental pancolonic spraying of 0.1% methylene blue or 0.3% indigo carmine (chromoendoscopy group). Previously, surveillance was performed employing WLE with random biopsies every 10 cm (WLE group). The percentage of colonoscopies with dysplasia was compared between both groups.
A total of 440 colonoscopies in 401 patients were performed using chromoendoscopy and 1,802 colonoscopies in 772 patients using WLE. Except for a higher number of CD patients with extensive disease and more patients with a first-degree relative with colorectal cancer (CRC) in the chromoendoscopy group, the known risk factors for IBD-associated CRC were comparable between both groups. Dysplasia was detected during 48 surveillance procedures (11%) in the chromoendoscopy group as compared with 189 procedures (10%) in the WLE group (P=0.80). Targeted biopsies yielded 59 dysplastic lesions in the chromoendoscopy group, comparable to the 211 dysplastic lesions detected in the WLE group (P=0.30).
Despite compelling evidence from randomized trials, implementation of chromoendoscopy for IBD surveillance did not increase dysplasia detection compared with WLE with targeted and random biopsies.