Bowel wall healing assessed using magnetic resonance imaging predicts sustained clinical remission and decreased risk of surgery in Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic mucosal healing is considered as the best therapeutic target in Crohn's disease (CD) as it is associated with better long-term outcomes. We investigated whether bowel wall healing (BWH) assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could predict favorable outcomes and could be a potential therapeutic target. METHODS: We performed a post hoc analysis from two prospective studies (n = 174 patients). All the patients with previous objective signs of bowel inflammation and assessed by MRI for therapeutic efficacy had a standardized and blinded evaluation, and underwent MRI. Complete BWH was defined as no segmental MaRIA > 7 or no segmental Clermont score > 8.4 and BWH as no segmental MaRIA > 11 or no segmental Clermont score > 12.5. Clinical corticosteroid-free remission (CFREM) was defined as no reappearance or worsening of clinical manifestation leading to therapeutic modification, hospitalization or CD-related surgery. Multivariate analyses were performed including all the relevant parameters. RESULTS: Overall, 63 patients with CD were included (mean follow-up = 4.8 ± 3.1 semesters). In multivariate analysis (n = 303 semesters), complete BWH or BWH was associated with sustained CFREM according to MaRIA [OR = 4.42 (2.29-26.54); p = 0.042 and OR = 3.43 (1.02-27.02); p = 0.047, respectively] or Clermont score [OR = 3.09 (1.01-12.91); p = 0.049 and OR = 3.88 (1.40-13.80); p = 0.036, respectively]. In multivariate analysis (n = 63 patients), complete BWH or BWH was associated with decreased risk of surgery using MaRIA [HR = 0.16 (0.043-0.63); p = 0.008 and HR = 0.24 (0.07-0.77); p = 0.017, respectively] or Clermont score [HR = 0.24 (0.07-0.78); p = 0.016 and HR = 0.23 (0.07-0.76); p = 0.016, respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: MRI endpoints are predictive of favorable outcomes after medical therapy and could be used as therapeutic target in daily practice and clinical trials.

Efficacy and Safety of Induction Therapy With Calcineurin Inhibitors in Combination With Vedolizumab in Patients With Refractory Ulcerative Colitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Vedolizumab is used to treat patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), although there is a delay before it is effective. Induction therapy with a calcineurin inhibitor (cyclosporine or tacrolimus) in combination with vedolizumab as maintenance therapy could be an option for patients with an active steroid-refractory UC. We assessed the efficacy and safety of this combination. METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational study, collecting data from 12 referral centers in France that were included in the Groupe d'Etude Thérapeutique des Affections Inflammatoires du tube Digestif. We collected information on 39 patients with an active steroid-refractory UC (31 with active severe UC and 36 failed by treatment with a tumor necrosis factor antagonist) who received a calcineurin inhibitor as induction therapy along with vedolizumab as maintenance therapy. Inclusion date was the first vedolizumab infusion. The outcomes were survival without colectomy, survival without vedolizumab discontinuation, and safety. RESULTS: After a median follow-up period of 11 months, 11 patients (28%) underwent colectomy. At 12 months, 68% of the patients survived without colectomy (95% CI, 53%-84%) and 44% survived without vedolizumab discontinuation (95% CI, 27%-61%). No deaths occurred and 4 severe adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: In a retrospective analysis of 39 patients with an active steroid-refractory UC (most refractory to a tumor necrosis factor antagonist), we found that initial treatment with a calcineurin inhibitor in combination with vedolizumab allowed more than two thirds of patients to avoid colectomy. Further studies are needed to assess the safety of this strategy.

Faecal calprotectin and magnetic resonance imaging in detecting Crohn's disease endoscopic postoperative recurrence.

AIM: To assess magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and faecal calprotectin to detect endoscopic postoperative recurrence in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS: From two tertiary centers, all patients with CD who underwent ileocolonic resection were consecutively and prospectively included. All the patients underwent MRI and endoscopy within the first year after surgery or after the restoration of intestinal continuity [median = 6 mo (5.0-9.3)]. The stools were collected the day before the colonoscopy to evaluate faecal calprotectin level. Endoscopic postoperative recurrence (POR) was defined as Rutgeerts' index ≥ i2b. The MRI was analyzed independently by two radiologists blinded from clinical data. RESULTS: Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was lower in patients with endoscopic POR compared to those with no recurrence (2.03 ± 0.32 vs 2.27 ± 0.38 × 10-3 mm²/s, P = 0.032). Clermont score (10.4 ± 5.8 vs 7.4 ± 4.5, P = 0.038) and relative contrast enhancement (RCE) (129.4% ± 62.8% vs 76.4% ± 32.6%, P = 0.007) were significantly associated with endoscopic POR contrary to the magnetic resonance index of activity (MaRIA) (7.3 ± 4.5 vs 4.8 ± 3.7; P = 0.15) and MR scoring system (P = 0.056). ADC < 2.35 × 10-3 mm²/s [sensitivity = 0.85, specificity = 0.65, positive predictive value (PPV) = 0.85, negative predictive value (NPV) = 0.65] and RCE > 100% (sensitivity = 0.75, specificity = 0.81, PPV = 0.75, NPV = 0.81) were the best cut-off values to identify endoscopic POR. Clermont score > 6.4 (sensitivity = 0.61, specificity = 0.82, PPV = 0.73, NPV = 0.74), MaRIA > 3.76 (sensitivity = 0.61, specificity = 0.82, PPV = 0.73, NPV = 0.74) and a MR scoring system ≥ MR1 (sensitivity = 0.54, specificity = 0.82, PPV = 0.70, and NPV = 0.70) demonstrated interesting performances to detect endoscopic POR. Faecal calprotectin values were significantly higher in patients with endoscopic POR (114 ± 54.5 µg/g vs 354.8 ± 432.5 µg/g; P = 0.0075). Faecal calprotectin > 100 µg/g demonstrated high performances to detect endoscopic POR (sensitivity = 0.67, specificity = 0.93, PPV = 0.89 and NPV = 0.77). CONCLUSION: Faecal calprotectin and MRI are two reliable tools to detect endoscopic POR in patients with CD.

Magnetic resonance index of activity (MaRIA) and Clermont score are highly and equally effective MRI indices in detecting mucosal healing in Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance index of activity (MaRIA) and Clermont score are currently the two main MRI indices that have been validated compared to endoscopy in Crohn's disease (CD). AIMS: To compare the accuracy of MaRIA and Clermont score in assessing CD mucosal healing. METHODS: Fourty-four CD patients underwent prospectively and consecutively MRI and colonoscopy. RESULTS: Considering 207 segments, MaRIA>7 and Clermont score>8.4 demonstrated substantial accuracy to detect endoscopic ulcerations (73.9% and 74.0%, respectively) and presented with high specificity (82.1% and 81.3%) and high negative predictive value (NPV) (82.1% and 82.4%) for MaRIA and Clermont score, respectively. The sensitivity for detecting deep ulcerations was 90.9% for both MaRIA>11 and Clermont score>12.5, with a specificity of 82.0% and 80.0%, respectively. Among 44 patients, deep MRI remission predicted mucosal healing with specificity=85.3% and NPV=85.3% according to Barcelona criteria (no segmental MaRIA>7), and specificity=88.2% and NPV=85.7% according to Clermont criteria (no segmental Clermont score>8.4). In addition, MRI remission predicted mucosal healing with specificity=76.5% and NPV=86.7% according to Barcelona criteria (no segmental MaRIA>11), and specificity=79.4% and NPV=84.4% according to Clermont criteria (no segmental Clermont score>12.5). CONCLUSION: MaRIA and Clermont score are equally effective in detecting CD endoscopic ulcerations supporting their use as therapeutic endpoints.

Long-term outcome of endoscopic ultrasound-guided pelvic abscess drainage: a two-center series.

Background and study aim Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided pelvic abscess drainage has been reported but long-term data remain limited. This two-center study evaluated long-term outcome of EUS-guided pelvic abscess drainage. Patients and methods Between May 2003 and December 2015, 37 consecutive patients were treated for perirectal or perisigmoid abscesses via EUS-guided drainage using plastic or lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS). Clinical success was defined as complete resolution of the abscess on follow-up computed tomography (CT) scan at 4 weeks with symptom relief. Long-term success was defined as abscess resolution without the need for surgery and without recurrence on long-term follow-up (> 12 months). Results Median abscess size was 60 mm (interquartile range 41 - 70). Causes were postsurgical (n = 31, 83.8 %) or secondary to medical conditions (n = 6, 16.2 %). EUS-guided drainage involved needle aspiration (n = 4), plastic stent placement (n = 29) or LAMS placement (n = 4 patients). Technical and clinical success was achieved in 37 patients (100 %; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 91 - 100) and 34 patients (91.9 %; 95 %CI 78 - 98), respectively (5 patients needed a second EUS-guided intervention within 14 days after drainage). One patient required surgery and one required best supportive care owing to persistent abscess. Early complications were perforation requiring surgery (n = 1), stent migration (n = 1), and rectal discomfort (n = 1). At a median follow-up of 64 months (IQR 19 - 81), two patients experienced abscess recurrence, at 3 and 12 months, respectively, and were treated surgically. Long-term success was achieved in 32 of 37 patients (86.5 %; 95 %CI 71 - 95). Conclusion EUS-guided drainage of pelvic abscess is safe, has good long-term outcome, and should be considered as an alternative to percutaneous and surgical drainage.