Effectiveness and persistence of Vedolizumab in patients with inflammatory bowel disease : results from the Belgian REal-LIfe study with VEdolizumab (Be-RELIVE).

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Vedolizumab (VDZ) is a gutselective integrin inhibitor used to treat Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). This retrospective study assessed effectiveness and treatment persistence of VDZ in a Belgian reallife cohort of CD and UC patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: CD and UC patients from 15 Belgian centers, who started VDZ between 01/09/2015 and 31/06/2016 and attended ≥1 visit after the first VDZ infusion, were included. Data were collected before first infusion, at week (W)10, W14 (CD patients only), month (M)6 and last follow-up. Treatment response and remission rates (changes in disease activity scores) and treatment persistence (Kaplan-Meier analysis) were assessed. RESULTS: Of the 348 patients receiving at least one dose of VDZ, 325 (202 CD, 45 biologic-naïve; and 123 UC, 42 biologic-naïve) patients were included in data analyses. At M6, 87.6% (176/201) of CD and 86.1% (105/122) of UC patients were still on VDZ treatment, 75.6% (34/45) and 83.9% (26/31) achieved clinical response, and 66.7% (44/66) and 42.9% (15/35) were in remission. At M6 remission rates was significantly higher while response rates tended to be higher among biologic-naïve versus biologic-failure CD patients. CONCLUSIONS: VDZ offers an effective treatment option in real-life settings and treatment effectiveness appears higher in biologic-naïve versus biologic-failure CD patients. (Acta gastroenterol. belg., 2020, 83, 15-23).

Serologic microbial associated markers can predict Crohn's disease behaviour years before disease diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with Crohn's disease (CD) have serologic responses to various microbial antigens. Serologic markers are associated with aggressive forms of disease and can be detected before onset of symptoms. Their utility in pre-clinical disease or prediction of complicated disease course before diagnosis is unclear. AIM: To evaluate the pattern of serologic anti-microbial antibodies long prior to diagnosis and the subsequent risk of complicated Crohn's disease at diagnosis. METHODS: Sera from 100 US military personnel with Crohn's disease were obtained from the Department of Defense Serum Repository. For each patient, four samples were obtained at different time points before and around diagnosis, and were tested for 6 microbiota-directed antibodies (ASCA-IgA, ASCA-IgG, anti-OmpC, anti-CBir1, anti-A4-Fla2 and anti-FlaX). Associations between the presence and accumulation of Crohn's disease anti-microbial antibodies before diagnosis and with the later development of complications were evaluated. RESULTS: Overall, 65 patients were positive for at least one Crohn's disease associated anti-microbial antibody in the earliest available sample, at a median of 6 years before Crohn's disease diagnosis (interquartile range, 5.6-8.2). The number of positive anti-microbial antibodies increased up to the time of Crohn's disease diagnosis. Complicated disease developed around the time of diagnosis in 24 patients. The proportion of positive antimicrobial antibodies before diagnosis was higher in patients with complicated vs. noncomplicated Crohn's disease. There was an inverse relationship between the time to first complication and the magnitude of serologic response before diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The presence and accumulation of circulating anti-microbial antibodies years before Crohn's disease diagnosis was associated with complicated Crohn's disease at or shortly after diagnosis.

Factors associated with pregnancy outcome in anti-TNF treated women with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: The safety of anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents during pregnancy is a major concern for child-bearing women and physicians. AIM: To assess the impact of anti-TNF therapy on adverse pregnancy and foetal outcomes in women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: Pregnancies occurring during anti-TNF treatment or less than 3 months after its cessation in IBD patients followed in GETAID centres were recorded from January 2009 to December 2010. Ninety-nine pregnancies in women without anti-TNF treatment were identified from the CESAME registry. We compared pregnancy and neonatal outcomes by a case-control study. RESULTS: In the 124 IBD patients followed, 133 pregnancies were reported. At the conception time, 23% of patients had active disease. Eighty-eight per cent (n = 117) of the 133 pregnancies followed until delivery resulted in 118 liveborns (one twin pregnancy). Complications were observed in 47 (35%) women and 24 (20%) newborns. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with pregnancy complications were: current smoking (P = 0.004), a B2 (stenotic) phenotype in CD women (P = 0.004), occurrence of a flare during pregnancy (P = 0.006) and a past history of complicated pregnancy (P = 0.007). Current smoking was the only factor associated with severe (i.e. potentially lethal) pregnancy complications (P = 0.02). Having IBD for more than 10 years prior to conception was associated with newborn complications (P = 0.007). No difference was found with the control group for any of the pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. CONCLUSION: In our series, the safety profile of anti-TNF therapy during pregnancy and the neonatal period appears similar to control group of IBD women not treated with anti-TNF therapy.

Macroscopic endoscopic lesions in microscopic collagenous colitis: double case report and review of the literature.

Collagenous colitis is a cause of chronic diarrhea of incompletely elucidated origin, defined by normal laboratory tests, a normal endoscopic appearance of colonic mucosa and specific microscopic inflammatory features on colonic biopsies. We report two cases of macroscopic endoscopic lesions observed in patients suffering from chronic diarrhea, whose biopsies confirmed a diagnosis of collagenous colitis and who were successfully treated in that setting, achieving clinical and endoscopic remissions. By means of a literature review, we summarize what is known about collagenous colitis. We particularly discuss macroscopic findings in that context, drawing attention on the so called "microscopic colitis" in the differential diagnosis of that type of lesions.

Pregnancy and inflammatory bowel diseases from conception to delivery.

BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases frequently affect young people and are of major concern to them when envisaging parenthood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a literature review, we attempt to provide up-to-date solutions concerning conception, pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding; we also underline potential risks associated with such diseases, their treatment and management. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Inflammatory bowel diseases are not incompatible with maternity or paternity, but foresight is recommended and future parenthood should be discussed with gastroenterologists so as to adapt treatment and follow-up to ensure successful pregnancy outcome.