Cumulative exposure to immunomodulators increases risk of cervical neoplasia in women with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer (CIN2+). AIM: To assess the association between cumulative exposure to immunomodulators (IM) and biologic agents (BIO) for IBD and CIN2+ METHODS: Adult women diagnosed with IBD before December 31st 2016 in the Dutch IBD biobank with available cervical records in the nationwide cytopathology database were identified. CIN2+ incidence rates in IM- (i.e., thiopurines, methotrexate, tacrolimus and cyclosporine) and BIO- (anti-tumour necrosis factor, vedolizumab and ustekinumab) exposed patients were compared to unexposed patients and risk factors were assessed. Cumulative exposure to immunosuppressive drugs was evaluated in extended time-dependent Cox-regression models. RESULTS: The study cohort comprised 1981 women with IBD: 99 (5%) developed CIN2+ during median follow-up of 17.2 years [IQR 14.6]. In total, 1305 (66%) women were exposed to immunosuppressive drugs (IM 58%, BIO 40%, IM and BIO 33%). CIN2+ risk increased per year of exposure to IM (HR 1.16, 95% CI 1.08-1.25). No association was observed between cumulative exposure to BIO or both BIO and IM and CIN2+. In multivariate analysis, smoking (HR 2.73, 95%CI 1.77-4.37) and 5-yearly screening frequency (HR 1.74, 95% CI 1.33-2.27) were also risk factors for CIN2+ detection. CONCLUSION: Cumulative exposure to IM is associated with increased risk of CIN2+ in women with IBD. In addition to active counselling of women with IBD to participate in cervical screening programs, further assessment of the benefit of intensified screening of women with IBD on long-term IM exposure is warranted.

The effect of appendectomy on the course of ulcerative colitis: a systematic review.

AIM: Previous studies have shown significantly lower appendectomy rates in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients compared with healthy controls. Evidence indicating that the appendix has an immunomodulatory role in UC has been accumulating. To examine the latest evidence on the effect of appendectomy on the disease course of UC. METHOD: PubMed, The Cochrane Library and EMBASE were searched. Primary end-points were number of relapses, use of steroids, number of hospital admissions and number of colectomies. RESULTS: The search resulted in six observational studies (five case-control studies and one cohort study) totalling 2532 patients. Owing to clinical heterogeneity, no meta-analysis could be conducted. One study found lower relapse rates in patients appendectomized before the onset of UC [absolute risk reduction (ARR)=21.5%; 95% CI: 1.71-45.92%]. Another two studies found a reduced requirement for immunosuppression in appendectomized patients (ARR=20.2%; 95% CI: 9.67-30.46% in the first study and ARR=21.4%; 95% CI: 10.32-32.97% in the second study). In addition, one study found lower colectomy rates in nonappendectomized patients (ARR=8.7%; 95% CI: 1.29-18.66%) and two studies found lower colectomy rates in appendectomized patients (ARR=21.4%; 95% CI: 13.17-28.79% in the first study and ARR=18.7%; 95% CI: 7.50-29.97% in the second study). CONCLUSION: There are limited and conflicting data available regarding the effect of appendectomy on the disease course of UC. Most studies suggest a beneficial effect and the minority find no, or a negative, effect.

Increased Risk of High-grade Cervical Neoplasia in Women with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Case-controlled Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Women with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] may be at higher risk for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia [CIN]. However, data are conflicting. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of high-grade dysplasia and cancer [CIN2+] in IBD women and identify risk factors. METHODS: Clinical data from adult IBD women in a multicentre Dutch IBD prospective cohort [PSI] from 2007 onwards were linked to cervical cytology and histology records from the Dutch nationwide cytology and pathology database [PALGA], from 2000 to 2016. Patients were frequency-matched 1:4 to a general population cohort. Standardised detection rates [SDR] were calculated for CIN2+. Longitudinal data were assessed to calculate CIN2+ risk during follow-up using incidence rate ratios [IRR] and risk factors were identified in multivariable analysis. RESULTS: Cervical records were available from 2098 IBD women [77%] and 8379 in the matched cohort; median follow-up was 13 years. CIN2+ detection rate was higher in the IBD cohort than in the matched cohort (SDR 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.52). Women with IBD had an increased risk of CIN2+ [IRR 1.66, 95% CI 1.21-2.25] and persistent or recurrent CIN during follow-up (odds ratio [OR] 1.89, 95% CI 1.06-3.38). Risk factors for CIN2+ in IBD women were smoking and disease location (ileocolonic [L3] or upper gastrointestinal [GI] [L4]). CIN2+ risk was not associated with exposure to immunosuppressants. CONCLUSIONS: Women with IBD are at increased risk for CIN2+ lesions. These results underline the importance of human papillomavirus [HPV] vaccination and adherence to cervical cancer screening guidelines in IBD women, regardless of exposure to immunosuppressants.

How the concept of biochemical response influenced the management of primary biliary cholangitis over time.

BACKGROUND: Criteria assessing biochemical response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) are established risk stratification tools in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). We aimed to evaluate to what extent liver tests influenced patient management during a three decade period, and whether this changed over time. METHODS: 851 Dutch PBC patients diagnosed between 1988 and 2012 were reviewed to assess patient management in relation to liver test results during UDCA treatment. To do so, biochemical response at one year was analysed retrospectively according to Paris-1 criteria. RESULTS: Response was assessable for 687/851 (81%) patients; 157/687 non-responders. During a follow-up of 8.8 years (IQR 4.8-13.9), 141 died and 30 underwent liver transplantation. Transplant-free survival of non-responders (60%) was significantly worse compared with responders (87%) (p < 0.0001). Management was modified in 46/157 (29%) non-responders. The most frequent change observed, noted in 26/46 patients, was an increase in UDCA dosage. Subsequently, 9/26 (35%) non-responders became responders within the next two years. Steroid treatment was started in one patient; 19 patients were referred to a tertiary centre. No trend towards more frequent changes in management over time was observed (p = 0.10). CONCLUSION: Changes in medical management occurred in a minority of non-responders. This can largely be explained by the lack of accepted response criteria and of established second-line treatments for PBC. Nevertheless, the observation that response-guided management did not increase over time suggests that awareness of the concept of biochemical response requires further attention,particularly since new treatment options for PBC will soon become available.