Efficacy and safety of biological treatment for inflammatory bowel disease in elderly patients: Results from a GETECCU cohort.

INTRODUCTION: Biological therapies used for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have shown to be effective and safe, although these results were obtained from studies involving mostly a young population, who are generally included in clinical trials. The aim of our study was to determine the efficacy and safety of the different biological treatments in the elderly population. METHODS: Multicenter study was carried out in the GETECCU group. Patients diagnosed with IBD and aged over 65 years at the time of initiating biological therapy (infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab, ustekinumab or vedolizumab) were retrospectively included. Among the patients included, clinical response was assessed after drug induction (12 weeks of treatment) and at 52 weeks. Patients' colonoscopy data in week 52 were assessment, where available. Regarding complications, development of oncological events during follow-up and infectious processes occurring during biological treatment were collected (excluding bowel infection by cytomegalovirus). RESULTS: A total of 1090 patients were included. After induction, at approximately 12-14 weeks of treatment, 419 patients (39.6%) were in clinical remission, 502 patients (47.4%) had responded without remission and 137 patients (12.9%) had no response. At 52 weeks of treatment 442 patients (57.1%) had achieved clinical remission, 249 patients had responded without remission (32.2%) and 53 patients had no response to the treatment (6.8%). Before 52 weeks, 129 patients (14.8%) had discontinued treatment due to inefficacy, this being significantly higher (p<0.0001) for Golimumab - 9 patients (37.5%) - compared to the other biological treatments analyzed. With respect to tumor development, an oncological event was observed in 74 patients (6.9%): 30 patients (8%) on infliximab, 23 (7.14%) on adalimumab, 3 (11.1%) on golimumab, 10 (6.4%) on ustekinumab, and 8 (3.8%) on vedolizumab. The incidence was significantly lower (p=0.04) for the vedolizumab group compared to other treatments. As regards infections, these occurred in 160 patients during treatment (14.9%), with no differences between the different biologicals used (p=0.61): 61 patients (19.4%) on infliximab, 39 (12.5%) on adalimumab, 5 (17.8%) on golimumab, 22 (14.1%) on ustekinumab, and 34 (16.5%) on vedolizumab. CONCLUSIONS: Biological drug therapies have response rates in elderly patients similar to those described in the general population, Golimumab was the drug that was discontinued most frequently due to inefficacy. In our experience, tumor development was more frequent in patients who used anti-TNF therapies compared to other targets, although its incidence was generally low and that this is in line with younger patients based on previous literature.

Successful gallstone ileus treatment by endoscopy.

We present the case of a 73-year-old woman who was admitted to hospital with a 6-day history of complete constipation, abdominal pain and vomiting. An abdominal CT scan is performed that shows a large colonic dilatation. In the sigmoid colon identifying a 43x20mm gallstone impaction and a solution of continuity between the gallbladder and the hepatic flexure with pneumobilia associated. Because the obstruction is located at the sigmoid colon, it was decided to perform an urgent colonoscopy. During the endoscopy, the gallstone was observed, which was successfully extracted using a Roth Net. The surrounding mucosa showed signs of mucosal damage and an extensive decubitus ulcer. After endoscopy, the patient presented resolution of the obstructive condition. During her admission, surgery was performed to resection the cholecystocolic fistula, cholecystectomy, and primary closure of the colon. However, the patient presented a torpid evolution with ascending colon perforation and necrotizing fasciitis in the surgical wound, finally dying of abdominal septic shock.

Massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to an esophago-arterial fistula (arteria lusoria).

A 50-year-old patient with a history of hypopharyngeal cancer, laryngectomy, adjuvant chemoradiotherapy and incompetent tracheoesophageal fistula was admitted for elective pharingostomal surgery. During the surgery, he presented esophageal bleeding with hemodynamic instability. After stabilization, a gastroscopy was performed through the stoma, showing arterial bleeding 4-5 cm distal to the stoma, which was controlled with three hemostatic clips. After four hours, the patient presented a new episode of bleeding with hemodynamic instability and a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube was placed that stopped the bleeding. Computed tomography angiography (CT angiography) was performed, which showed an aberrant right subclavian artery with a retroesophageal pathway, in close contact with the area where the clips were placed. An endovascular stent was placed in the right subclavian artery with control of the bleeding after removal of the Sengstaken-Blakemore tube. The patient was discharged seven days later.

[Experience with the radiosurgical treatment of brain metastases]. / Experiencia en el manejo de metástasis cerebrales tratadas con radiocirugía estereotáctica.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the survival rate of a cohort of patients with intracranial metastases treated with radiosurgery, and to determine the factors that influence the results. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Retrospective analysis performed on a cohort of 126 patients undergoing radiosurgery for brain metastases. Patients treated with surgery before or after radiosurgery were excluded. Survival is analysed based on clinical (age, sex, primary tumour), radiological (number, location and volume of lesions), and radiotherapy factors (treatment dose, holocraneal radiation). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine significant prognostic factors. RESULTS: A total of 225 brain metastases in 126 patients, with a mean age of 59.8±11.6years, were treated between February 2008 and April 2015. The mean survival was 8.2 months. The overall survival rates at 6months, 1year, and 2years were 60.3%, 31.5%, and 12.8%, respectively. Lung (59.5%) and breast (14.3) were the most common primary tumours, and the most common site for metastases was the cerebral hemisphere (77%) and the average volume was 10.35 cc (0.2-43.5). Significant survival factors were: age under 60 (P=.046), female (P<.001), breast cancer (P<.001), KPS >80 (P=.001), SIR6 >5 (P=.031), and GPA ≥2.5 (P=.003). CONCLUSIONS: Radiosurgery is an appropriate technique for the treatment of brain metastases, and the main prognostic factors include being age under 65, female, breast cancer, and good scores on Karnofsky, SIR, and GPA scales.