Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Who Respond to Treatment with Anti-tumor Necrosis Factor Agents Demonstrate Improvement in Pre-treatment Frailty

Digestive Diseases and Sciences - Frailty may be a risk factor for complications in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) patients. We examined the impact of treatment on IBD patients who were frail...     

Factors Associated with the Immunogenicity of Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Agents in Pediatric Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background/AimsAnti-drug antibodies (ADAs) can develop during treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents. We aimed to investigate the factors associated with immunogenicity of anti-TNF agents in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and observe the clinical course of ADA-positive patients.MethodsPediatric IBD patients receiving maintenance treatment with anti-TNF agents who had been tested for ADAs against infliximab (IFX) or adalimumab (ADL) were included in this cross-sectional study. Factors associated with ADA positivity were investigated by analyzing clinicodemographic, laboratory, and treatment-related factors.ResultsA total of 76 patients (Crohn’s disease, 65; ulcerative colitis, 11) were included. Among these, 59 and 17 patients were receiving IFX and ADL, respectively. ADAs were found in 10 patients (13.2%), all of whom were receiving IFX. According to multivariable logistic regression analysis, the IFX trough level (TL) was associated with ADA positivity (odds ratio, 0.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08 to 0.51; p=0.002). According to the receiver operating characteristic analysis, the optimal cutoff of the IFX TLs for stratifying patients based on the presence of ADAs against IFX was 1.88 μg/mL (area under curve, 0.941; 95% CI, 0.873 to 1.000; sensitivity, 80.0%; specificity, 95.9%; p<0.001). Among the 10 patients with ADAs against IFX, five patients (50%) switched to ADL within 1 year, while five patients (50%) kept receiving IFX. Transient ADAs were observed in three patients (30%).ConclusionsIFX TL was the only factor associated with ADA formation in pediatric IBD patients receiving IFX. Future studies based on serial and proactive therapeutic drug monitoring are required in the future.     

Rates and Predictors of Vaccinations Among Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Receiving Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Agents

Digestive Diseases and Sciences - As an important quality measure, the rates of recommended immunizations among immunocompromised inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients in community practice...     

Risk of Serious Infections With Vedolizumab Versus Tumor Necrosis Factor Antagonists in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

1. Download : Download high-res image (334KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

Immunomodulator Therapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Opinion statement  

Clinical Course of Hepatitis B Viral Infection in Patients Undergoing Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor α Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background/AimsLittle is known about the clinical course of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients undergoing anti-tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to investigate the clinical course of HBV infection and IBD and to analyze liver dysfunction risks in patients undergoing anti-TNF-α therapy.MethodsThis retrospective multinational study involved multiple centers in Korea, China, Taiwan, and Japan. We enrolled IBD patients with chronic or resolved HBV infection, who received anti-TNF-α therapy. The patients’ medical records were reviewed, and data were collected using a web-based case report form.ResultsOverall, 191 patients (77 ulcerative colitis and 114 Crohn’s disease) were included, 28.3% of whom received prophylactic antivirals. During a median follow-up duration of 32.4 months, 7.3% of patients experienced liver dysfunction due to HBV reactivation. Among patients with chronic HBV infection, the proportion experiencing liver dysfunction was significantly higher in the non-prophylaxis group (26% vs 8%, p=0.02). Liver dysfunction occurred in one patient with resolved HBV infection. Antiviral prophylaxis was independently associated with an 84% reduction in liver dysfunction risk in patients with chronic HBV infection (odds ratio, 0.16; 95% confidence interval, 0.04 to 0.66; p=0.01). The clinical course of IBD was not associated with liver dysfunction or the administration of antiviral prophylaxis.ConclusionsLiver dysfunction due to HBV reactivation can occur in HBV-infected IBD patients treated with anti-TNF-α agents. Careful monitoring is needed in these patients, and antivirals should be administered, especially to those with chronic HBV infection.     

英夫利昔单抗治疗炎症性肠病的研究进展

肿瘤坏死因子－α（TNF－α）是一种促炎细胞因子,在炎症性肠病（IBD）的发病过程中起重要作用。英夫利昔,单抗（infliximab）是一种人-鼠嵌合型TNF-αIgGl单克隆抗体,与体内多种形式的TNF-α有较强结合能力。美国食品药品管理局（FDA）于1998年批准该制剂用于治疗传统药物治疗无效的中重度或合并瘘管的克罗恩病（CD）,试验显示其对难治性活动性溃疡性结肠炎（UC）亦有一定疗效。英夫利昔单抗的使用已积累了10年的经验,本文对其作用机制、疗效、安全性方面的研究进展作一综述。     

炎症性肠病的药物治疗

近年来,炎症性肠病(IBD)的药物治疗进展较快,并强调在治疗开始前就制订一个长期顺序治疗方案(途径),治疗过程中进行阶段性疗效评估,必要时调整方案。本文通过复习国内外最新IBD诊治共识和指南以及近期发表的相关综述、随机对照试验和高质量荟萃分析,对IBD的药物治疗途径和治疗要点作一概述,以期促进和改善IBD患者的长期治疗结局。     

De-escalation of Therapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Purpose of Review

Currently, inflammatory bowel disease treatment is based on immunomodulators (IM) and/or biologic as this strategy may prevent the development of irreversible damage. Nevertheless, long-term treatment may be associated with non-negligible side effects and with high costs, and therefore the question on whether therapy can be de-escalated is often posed in clinical practice.

Recent Findings

Recent studies have shown a predictable rate of relapse after stop biologic or IM therapy withdrawal. Overall, around 40–50% of patients will eventually relapse over the following year after drug withdrawal, and the rates will increase over time. Stratification of patients and therapeutic drug monitoring could be promising alternatives to guide therapeutic management.

Summary

We reviewed the current evidence on de-escalation strategy and summarised the recent results on discontinuation and dose reduction. Nowadays, de-escalation strategy is still a case-by-case decision in highly selected patients.

     

Vitamin Status in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The status of water- and fat-soluble vitamins was prospectively evaluated in 23 patients (13 men, 10 women, mean age 33 +/- 3 yr) admitted to the hospital with acute or subacute attacks of inflammatory bowel disease. Protein-energy status was also assessed by means of simultaneous measurement of triceps skinfold thickness, mid-arm muscle circumference, and serum albumin. Fifteen patients (group A) had extensive acute colitis (ulcerative or Crohn's colitis), and eight cases (group B) had small bowel or ileocecal Crohn's disease. Eighty-nine healthy subjects (36 men, 53 women, mean age 34 +/- 2 yr) acted as controls. In both groups of patients, the levels of biotin, folate, beta-carotene, and vitamins A, C, and B1 were significantly lower than in controls (p less than 0.01). Plasma levels of vitamin B12 were decreased only in group B (p less than 0.01), whereas riboflavin was lower in group A (p less than 0.01). The percentage of patients at risk of developing hypovitaminosis was 40% or higher for vitamin A, beta-carotene, folate, biotin, vitamin C, and thiamin in both groups of patients. Although some subjects had extremely low vitamin values, in no case were clinical symptoms of vitamin deficiency observed. Only a weak correlation was found between protein-energy nutritional parameters and vitamin values, probably due to the small size of the sample studied. The pathophysiological and clinical implications of the suboptimal vitamin status observed in acute inflammatory bowel disease are unknown. Further studies on long-term vitamin status and clinical outcome in these patients are necessary.     

Pancreatic Disorders in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Digestive Diseases and Sciences - Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can involve multiple organ systems, and pancreatic manifestations of IBD are not uncommon. The incidence of several pancreatic...     

Hyperhomocysteinemia in Greek Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

In recent years hyperhomocysteinemia has been established as a new risk factor for arterial and venous thrombosis. Since patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) frequently suffer from thromboembolic events, we studied the prevalence and clinical significance of hyperhomocysteinemia in Greek patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). In 108 consecutive fasting IBD patients (53 UC and 55 CD) and 74 healthy controls (HC), a standard record of various clinical thrombotic risk factors was completed by interview, and fasting serum concentrations of total homocysteine (tHcy), folate, cobalamin, creatinine, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides were measured. The concentration (mean ± sd) of serum tHcy was significantly higher in UC (15.9 ± 10.3 mol/liter) and CD patients (13.6 ± 6.5) than in controls (9.6 ± 3.4, P < 0.05). Both UC and CD patients had lower levels of folate than HC (P < 0.05). Covariance analysis of age, gender, and all clinical variables indicated that the differences in homocysteine levels between IBD patients and HC remain significant even after adjustment for these covariates. In conclusion, mild hyperhomocysteinemia is common in Greek IBD patients and may account for the increased thrombotic risk of these patients.