The burden of recurrence acute pancreatitis and annual event rates are underestimated because of high rates of home self-management.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The event-rate of recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) in patient populations is critical for powering research studies. We hypothesize that some patients manage RAP attacks at home, reducing event rate estimations based on counting emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations only. The aim of this study was to determine the rates of home self-management of recurrent acute pancreatitis compared to ED visits and hospitalizations. METHODS: An anonymous 8-question survey was sent to 1825 individuals on an email list of individuals with a history of acute pancreatitis (AP) or chronic pancreatitis or interest in pancreatic diseases. Question were designed to identify subjects with RAP within the past 2 years and to subdivide patients based on having a chronic pain syndrome or not. RESULTS: After an initial email request and one reminder a total of 194 subjects responded with 98 RAP subjects suitable for analysis. Annual AP events included an average of 1.44 hospitalizations, 1.37 ED visits, 2.46 disrupted work/school/social engagements, and 3.95 pancreatitis-like pain attacks per year. Patients with RAP average 6.8 RAP events per year with 58.4 % managed at home. CONCLUSIONS: The burden of disease in patients with RAP is significantly underestimated, especially for patients with chronic pain. Future studies should include measures to capture RAP events managed at home and utilize methods of documenting RAP events.

Epithelioid Granulomas Associate With Increased Severity and Progression of Crohn's Disease, Based on 6-Year Follow-Up.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Epithelioid granulomas are characteristics of a subset of patients with Crohn's disease (CD), but their significance, with regard to disease progression and severity, is unclear. We investigated the relationship between granulomas and CD severity over a 6-year time period in a large cohort of patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of patients with CD seen at the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at the University of Pittsburgh; data were collected from 2009 through 2014 and patients were assigned to groups with and without histologic evidence of granuloma. Demographic, clinical (including disease activity, quality of life, medication use, and healthcare utilization), and laboratory data were used in association and survival analyses. Differences between groups were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U-test for continuous variables. RESULTS: Of 1466 patients with CD, granulomas were identified in 187 (12.8%). In the subset of patients who underwent surgery, 21.0% had granulomas. The presence of granuloma was associated with increased serum levels of c-reactive protein (odds ratio [OR], 2.9; 95% CI, 2.078-4.208; P < .0001), younger mean age at diagnosis (23.6 ± 11.3 years in patients with granulomas vs 27.9 ± 13.3 years in patients without; P = .0005), higher rates of stricturing or penetrating disease phenotype, higher rates of steroid and narcotic use, and higher healthcare utilization. Among patients that underwent surgery, the presence of granulomas was associated with need for repeat surgery during the 6-year observation period (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.54-4.02; P = .0002). Infliximab use was associated with detection of granuloma in a significantly lower proportion of surgical specimens compared to patients who had not been treated with a biologic agent (OR, 0.22; 95 CI, 0.05-0.97; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Epithelioid granulomas develop in less than 13% of patients with CD, and are associated with a more aggressive disease phenotype. Patients who have undergone surgery for CD and have granulomas are at increased risk for repeat surgery within 6 years.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is well tolerated and effective for ulcerative colitis patients hospitalized for moderate-severe flares: a phase 2A pilot multi-center, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) markedly increases tissue oxygen delivery. Case series suggest it may have a potential therapeutic benefit in ulcerative colitis (UC). We investigated the therapeutic potential of HBOT as an adjunct to steroids for UC flares requiring hospitalization. METHODS: The study was terminated early due to poor recruitment with 18 of the planned 70 patients enrolled. UC patients hospitalized for moderate-severe flares (Mayo score ≥6, endoscopic sub-score ≥2) were block randomized to steroids + daily HBOT (n = 10) or steroids + daily sham hyperbaric air (n = 8). Patients were blinded to study assignment, and assessments were performed by a blinded gastroenterologist. Primary outcome was the clinical remission rate at study day 5 (partial Mayo score ≤2 with no sub-score >1). Key secondary outcomes were: clinical response (reduction in partial Mayo score ≥2, rectal bleeding sub-score of 0-1) and progression to second-line therapy (colectomy or biologic therapy) during the hospitalization. RESULTS: A significantly higher proportion of HBOT-treated patients achieved clinical remission at study day 5 and 10 (50 vs. 0%, p = 0.04). HBOT-treated patients less often required progression to second-line therapy during the hospitalization (10 vs. 63%, p = 0.04). The proportion requiring in-hospital colectomy specifically as second-line therapy for medically refractory UC was lower in the HBOT group compared to sham (0 vs. 38%, p = 0.07). There were no serious adverse events. CONCLUSION: In this small, proof-of-concept, phase 2A trial, the use of HBOT as an adjunctive therapy to steroids for UC patients hospitalized for moderate-severe flares resulted in higher rates of clinical remission, and a reduction in rates of progression to second-line therapy during the hospitalization. Larger well-powered trials are needed, however, to provided definitive evidence of therapeutic benefit.

Ileocecal Anastomosis Type Significantly Influences Long-Term Functional Status, Quality of Life, and Healthcare Utilization in Postoperative Crohn's Disease Patients Independent of Inflammation Recurrence.

OBJECTIVES: Anastomotic reconstruction following intestinal resection in Crohn's disease (CD) may employ side-to-side anastomosis (STSA; anti-peristaltic orientation) or end-to-end anastomosis (ETEA). Our aim was to determine the impact of these two anastomotic techniques on long-term clinical status in postoperative CD patients. METHODS: We performed a comparative effectiveness study of prospectively collected observational data from consented CD patients undergoing their first or second ileocolonic bowel resection and re-anastomosis between 2008 and 2012, in order to assess the association between anastomosis type and 2-year postoperative quality of life (QoL), healthcare utilization, disease clinical or endoscopic recurrence, use of medications, and need for repeat resection. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty eight postoperative CD patients (60 STSA and 68 ETEA) were evaluated. At 2 years postoperatively, STSA patients had higher rates of emergency department visits (33.3% vs. 14.7%; P=0.01), hospitalizations (30% vs. 11.8%; P=0.01), and abdominal computed tomography scans (50% vs. 13.2%; P<0.001) with lower QoL (mean short inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire 47.9 vs. 53.4; P=0.007). There was no difference among the two groups in the 30 day surgical complications and 2-year patterns of disease activity, CD medication requirement, endoscopic recurrence, and need for new surgical management (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: At 2 years postoperatively, CD patients with ETEA demonstrated better QoL and less healthcare utilization compared with STSA, despite having similar patterns of disease recurrence and CD treatment. These findings suggest that surgical reconstruction of the bowel as an intact tube (ETEA) contribute to improved functional and clinical status in patients with CD.

Telephone Encounters Predict Future High Financial Expenditures in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: A 3-Year Prospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Telephone activity is essential in management of complex chronic diseases including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Telephone encounters logged in the electronic medical record have recently been proposed as a surrogate marker of disease activity and impending health care utilization; however, the association between telephone calls and financial expenditures has not been evaluated. STUDY: We performed a 3-year prospective observational study of telephone encounters logged at a tertiary referral IBD center. We analyzed patient demographics, disease characteristics, comorbidities, clinical activity, and health care financial charges by telephone encounter frequency. RESULTS: Eight hundred one patients met inclusion criteria (52.3% female; mean age, 44.1 y), accounted for 12,669 telephone encounters, and accrued $70,513,449 in charges over 3 years. High telephone encounter frequency was associated with female gender (P=0.003), anxiety/depression (P<0.001), and prior IBD surgery (P<0.001). High telephone encounter categories had significantly more hospitalizations (P<0.001), IBD surgery (P<0.001), worse quality of life (P<0.001), more corticosteroid (P<0.001), biological (P<0.001), and opiate prescriptions (P<0.001). High telephone encounter frequency patients amassed higher total available charges in each year (P<0.001) and over the 3 years (P<0.001). Telephone encounters in 2009 (P=0.02) and 2010 (P<0.001) were significantly associated with financial charges the following year after controlling for demographic, utilization, and medication covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Increased telephone encounters are associated with significantly higher health care utilization and financial expenditures. Increased call frequency is predictive of future health care spending. Telephone encounters are a useful tool to identify patients at risk of clinical deterioration and large financial expense.

Risk Factors for Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by recurrent nodules, abscesses, and sinus tracts that can be debilitating and significantly impair quality of life. Small studies and case reports have suggested a possible association between HS and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). AIMS: We performed a case-control study to further characterize IBD patients with HS in terms of smoking status, BMI, sites affected by HS, IBD type and features, and IBD medication history. METHODS: A total of 38 patients with HS and IBD were identified and matched on age, gender, and IBD type to 136 controls with IBD but not HS. Clinical characteristics of interest were obtained through extensive review of the electronic health record. RESULTS: Among patients with HS and IBD, the most common sites affected by HS were the inguinal, perianal, and axillary regions. Relative to patients with IBD alone, patients with HS and IBD were nearly six times more likely to be current smokers (p < 0.01) and nearly 11 times more likely to be obese (p < 0.01). Patients with HS and Crohn's were significantly more likely to have ileocolonic and perianal disease than patients with CD only (OR 8.31, 95% CI 2.90-23.80 and OR 2.85, 95% CI 1.19-6.81, respectively; p < 0.01 for both). CONCLUSIONS: Relative to patients with IBD who do not develop HS, patients with IBD and HS are more likely to be overweight or obese, to be former or current smokers, and to have ileocolonic and/or perianal disease.

Peripheral Eosinophilia in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Defines an Aggressive Disease Phenotype.

OBJECTIVES: Peripheral blood eosinophilia (PBE) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with ulcerative colitis (UC) and active disease. Little data exist on the long-term impact of PBE on disease course. We aimed to investigate the multi-year patterns of PBE and its impact on disease severity in a large IBD cohort. METHODS: We performed a registry analysis of a consented, prospective, natural history IBD cohort at a tertiary center from 2009 to 2014. Demographics, comorbidities, disease activity, healthcare utilization, and time to hospitalization or surgical resection of patients who displayed PBE were compared to patients without PBE. RESULTS: Of the 2,066 IBD patients, 19.2% developed PBE. PBE was significantly associated with UC (P<0.001), extensive colitis (P<0.001), and shorter disease duration (P=0.03). Over six years, PBE patients had more active disease (Harvey-Bradshaw Index P=0.001; ulcerative colitis activity index P<0.001), concurrent C-reactive protein elevation (P<0.001), healthcare utilization (hospitalization P<0.001, IBD surgery P<0.001), and more aggressive medical therapy (prednisone P<0.001, anti-TNF P<0.001). Patients with PBE had a significantly reduced time to hospitalization in both UC (P<0.001) and Crohn's disease (CD) (P<0.001) and reduced time to colectomy in UC (P=0.003). On multivariable modeling, PBE remained significantly associated with hospitalization and surgery in both CD and UC. New diagnosis of UC with PBE was associated with increased steroid (P=0.007) and anti-TNF (P=0.001) requirement. CONCLUSION: This multi-year study of a large IBD cohort suggests that peripheral blood eosinophilia represents a biomarker of a distinct IBD subgroup, with a unique inflammatory signature, and at risk for worse clinical outcomes.

Association of Vitamin D Level With Clinical Status in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A 5-Year Longitudinal Study.

OBJECTIVES: Emerging data suggest that vitamin D has a significant role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Prospective data evaluating the association of vitamin D serum status and disease course are lacking. We sought to determine the relationship between vitamin D status and clinical course of IBD over a multiyear time period. METHODS: IBD patients with up to 5-year follow-up from a longitudinal IBD natural history registry were included. Patients were categorized according to their mean serum 25-OH vitamin D level. IBD clinical status was approximated with patterns of medication use, health-care utilization, biochemical markers of inflammation (C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)), pain and clinical disease activity scores, and health-related quality of life. RESULTS: A total of 965 IBD patients (61.9% Crohn's disease, 38.1% ulcerative colitis) formed the study population (mean age 44 years, 52.3% female). Among them, 29.9% had low mean vitamin D levels. Over the 5-year study period, subjects with low mean vitamin D required significantly more steroids, biologics, narcotics, computed tomography scans, emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and surgery compared with subjects with normal mean vitamin D levels (P<0.05). Moreover, subjects with low vitamin D levels had worse pain, disease activity scores, and quality of life (P<0.05). Finally, subjects who received vitamin D supplements had a significant reduction in their health-care utilization. CONCLUSIONS: Low vitamin D levels are common in IBD patients and are associated with higher morbidity and disease severity, signifying the potential importance of vitamin D monitoring and treatment.

Delineation of Crohn's Disease Trajectories Using Change in Lémann Index: A Natural History Study.

BACKGROUND: Crohn's disease (CD) causes lifelong, progressive bowel damage, which may be quantified using the Lémann Index (LI). We aimed to analyze patterns of LI and its association with 5-year clinical course, in an independent cohort of CD patients. METHODS: CD patients with 5-year follow-up from a registry maintained at a tertiary center were included. LI was calculated using a computerized metric from the first (LI1) and last (LI2) clinical encounters during the 5 years. Groups were created based on change in score (LI2-LI1) or the delta Lémann Index (DLI) as showing improvement, no change, or deterioration and used for association analysis with patterns of health care utilization, disease activity, and quality-of-life scores. RESULTS: A total of 363 CD patients with 5-year follow-up formed the study population [median age 43 y (interquartile range (IQR), 33.3 to 55 y); 57% female; median disease duration 12 y (IQR, 3 to 19 y), overall surgical exposure 69.7%]. Median (IQR) LI1, LI2, and DLI were 8 (0 to 54), 9 (0 to 75), and 0 (-22 to -47), respectively. Patients were stratified based on DLI into 3 groups: A: DLI<0; B: DLI=0; and C: DLI>0; which comprised 16.5%, 35.3%, and 48.2% of the cohort, respectively. Patients in group C had significantly higher CD-related surgical exposure, health care utilization, and annual use of steroids and biological agents. DLI showed independent significant positive correlation with perianal disease (P=0.044), steroid use (P=0.007), clinical visits (P<0.001), and new surgeries (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Change in LI over time could function as a marker of disease trajectory for risk substratification and prognostication in CD.

Five-Year Period Prevalence and Characteristics of Anemia in a Large US Inflammatory Bowel Disease Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Anemia is a common manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but its prevalence in the United States is not well defined. Aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of anemia in IBD patients who were followed in a US referral center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment data from a prospective, consented longitudinal IBD registry between the years 2009 and 2013 were analyzed. Disease activity was evaluated using Harvey-Bradshaw index in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) activity index in UC as well as C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Anemia was defined based on the World Health Organization criteria. RESULTS: A total of 1821 IBD patients (1077 with CD, 744 with UC, median age 43.8 y, 51.9% female) were included. The 5-year period prevalence of anemia in IBD patients was 50.1%, (CD: 53.3% vs. UC: 44.7%, P=0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, anemia was associated with surgery for IBD [odds ratio (OR)=2.77; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.21-3.48; P<0.0001], female gender (OR=1.29; 95% CI, 1.04-1.61; P=0.02), C-reactive protein (OR=1.26; 95% CI, 1.16-1.37; P<0.0001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (OR=1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.03; P=0.0002), and use of biologics (OR=2.00; 95% CI, 1.58-2.52; P=0.0001) or immunomodulators (OR=1.51; 95% CI, 1.21-1.87; P=0.0003). Iron replacement therapy was administered to 46.8% of the anemic patients. CONCLUSION: Anemia has a high period prevalence in IBD patients followed at a tertiary center. Anemia is more common in CD than in UC, is associated with disease activity, and in current practice is undertreated.

Association Between Long-Term Lipid Profiles and Disease Severity in a Large Cohort of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been linked to an increased risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. Dyslipidemia is a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term lipid profiles in a large cohort of IBD patients. METHODS: Data of patients from an IBD registry who had more than one measurement of total cholesterol and triglyceride levels during the follow-up period were analyzed. The lipid profiles of IBD patients were compared to those of the general population according to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009-2012). Quartiles of cholesterol or triglyceride levels in relation to surrogate markers of disease severity were analyzed. RESULTS: Seven hundred and one IBD patients [54% Crohn's disease (CD), 46% ulcerative colitis (UC)] were included. IBD patients had less frequent high total cholesterol and high LDL cholesterol (6 vs. 13 and 5 vs. 10%) and more frequent low HDL and high triglycerides (24 vs. 17 and 33 vs. 25%) compared to the general population (all p < 0.001). Median total cholesterol levels were lower and median triglycerides higher in CD compared to UC (171 vs. 184; 123 vs. 100 mg/dL; both p < 0.001). In the multiple regression analysis, lipid profile was independently associated with hospitalizations (low cholesterol) and IBD surgeries (low cholesterol and high triglycerides). CONCLUSIONS: Low total cholesterol and high triglyceride levels are more frequent in IBD patients (in particular CD) compared to healthy controls and are independently associated with more severe disease.

Development of an Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research Registry Derived from Observational Electronic Health Record Data for Comprehensive Clinical Phenotyping.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a heterogeneous collection of chronic inflammatory disorders of the digestive tract. Clinical, genetic, and pathological heterogeneity makes it increasingly difficult to translate efficacy studies into real-world practice. Our objective was to develop a comprehensive natural history registry derived from multi-year observational data to facilitate effectiveness and clinical phenotypic research in IBD. METHODS: A longitudinal, consented registry with prospectively collected data was developed at UPMC. All adult IBD patients receiving care at the tertiary care center of UPMC are eligible for enrollment. Detailed data in the electronic health record are accessible for registry research purposes. Data are exported directly from the electronic health record and temporally organized for research. RESULTS: To date, there are over 2565 patients participating in the IBD research registry. All patients have demographic data, clinical disease characteristics, and disease course data including healthcare utilization, laboratory values, health-related questionnaires quantifying disease activity and quality of life, and analytical information on treatment, temporally organized for 6 years (2009-2015). The data have resulted in a detailed definition of clinical phenotypes suitable for association studies with parameters of disease outcomes and treatment response. We have established the infrastructure required to examine the effectiveness of treatment and disease course in the real-world setting of IBD. CONCLUSIONS: The IBD research registry offers a unique opportunity to investigate clinical research questions regarding the natural course of the disease, phenotype association studies, effectiveness of treatment, and quality of care research.

Persistent or Recurrent Anemia Is Associated With Severe and Disabling Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Anemia is a common manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can greatly affect patients' quality of life. We performed a prospective study of a large cohort of patients with IBD to determine if patterns of anemia over time are associated with aggressive or disabling disease. METHODS: We performed a longitudinal analysis of demographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment data from a registry of patients with IBD at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center from 2009 through 2013. Patients with a complete follow-up evaluation (at least 1 annual visit with laboratory results) were included. Anemia was defined by World Health Organization criteria. Disease activity scores (the Harvey-Bradshaw Index or the ulcerative colitis activity index) and quality-of-life scores (based on the short IBD questionnaire) were determined at each visit; laboratory data, including levels of C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rates, as well as patterns of IBD-related health care use, were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 410 IBD patients (245 with Crohn's disease, 165 with ulcerative colitis; 50.5% female) were included. The prevalence of anemia in patients with IBD was 37.1% in 2009 and 33.2% in 2013. Patients with IBD and anemia required significantly more health care and had higher indices of disease activity, as well as a lower average quality of life, than patients without anemia (P < .0001). Anemia (persistent or recurrent) for 3 or more years was correlated independently with hospitalizations (P < .01), visits to gastroenterology clinics (P < .001), telephone calls (P < .004), surgeries for IBD (P = .01), higher levels of C-reactive protein (in patients with ulcerative colitis, P = .001), and a higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P < .0001). Anemia was correlated negatively with quality-of-life scores (P < .03). CONCLUSIONS: Based on a longitudinal analysis of 410 patients, persistent or recurrent anemia correlates with more aggressive or disabling disease in patients with IBD.

Postoperative therapy with infliximab prevents long-term Crohn's disease recurrence.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: A previous randomized, placebo-controlled study showed that infliximab maintenance therapy prevented recurrence of Crohn's disease 1 year after an ileocolonic resection. We evaluated recurrence of Crohn's disease, on the basis of endoscopic examination and/or the need for additional surgical resection, beyond the first postoperative year. METHODS: In a prospective, open-label, long-term follow-up study, 24 patients previously randomly assigned to receive infliximab for 1 year after an ileocolonic resection were given the option to continue, stop, or start infliximab therapy. The primary end point was the time to recurrence of Crohn's disease, on the basis of endoscopic evidence (endoscopic recurrence), from the initial assignment to postoperative infliximab or placebo. Secondary end points were rate of endoscopic recurrence, time to reoperation, and rate of surgical recurrence in relation to the total time on infliximab. RESULTS: All patients were followed for at least 5 years after surgery. Patients assigned to the infliximab group in the first year after surgery had a longer mean time to first endoscopic recurrence (1231 ± 747 days) than patients originally assigned to the placebo group (460 ± 121 days, P = .003). Colonoscopies identified Crohn's disease recurrence in 22.2% of patients who received long-term infliximab and in 93.9% of those not on infliximab (P < .0001). Compared with no infliximab, the adjusted rate ratio for being in endoscopic remission while on infliximab was 13.47 (95% confidence interval, 3.52-61.53; P = .0001). Patients originally assigned to the infliximab group had a mean longer time to surgery (1798 ± 359 days) than patients originally assigned to the placebo group (1058 ± 529 days, P = .04). The rate of surgical recurrence (required additional surgical resection) was significantly lower among patients who received infliximab for most of the follow-up period than patients who received it for shorter periods (20.0% vs 64.3%, P = .047). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative infliximab maintenance beyond 1 year prevents recurrence of Crohn's disease.

Association between telephone activity and features of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Telephone communication is common between healthcare providers and patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We analyzed telephone activity at an IBD care center to identify disease and patient characteristics associated with high levels of telephone activity and determine if call volume could identify individuals at risk for future visits to the emergency department (ED) or hospitalization. METHODS: We performed a prospective observational study in which we categorized telephone calls received by nursing staff over 2 years at a tertiary care IBD clinic (2475 patients in 2009 and 3118 in 2010). We analyzed data on 21,979 ingoing and outgoing calls in 2009 and 32,667 calls in 2010 and assessed associations between clinical factors and logged telephone encounters, and between patterns of telephone encounters and future visits to the ED or hospitalization. RESULTS: Telephone encounters occurred twice as frequently as office visits; 15% of the patients generated >10 telephone encounters per year and were responsible for half of all telephone encounters. A higher percentage of these high telephone encounter (HTE) patients were female, had Crohn's disease, received steroid treatment, had increased levels of C-reactive protein and rates of erythrocyte sedimentation, had psychiatric comorbidities, and had chronic abdominal pain than patients with lower telephone encounters. The HTE patients were also more frequently seen in the ED or hospitalized over the same time period and in subsequent years. Forty-two percent of patients with >8 telephone encounters within 30 days were seen in the ED or hospitalized within the subsequent 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Based on an analysis of telephone records at an IBD clinic, 15% of patients account for half of all calls. These HTE patients are a heterogeneous group with refractory disease who are likely to visit the ED or be hospitalized.

Postoperative infliximab is not associated with an increase in adverse events in Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Infliximab is effective treatment for Crohn's disease and has been associated with rare, but serious infectious complications. Emerging data suggest a benefit of infliximab in preventing postoperative Crohn's disease recurrence. It is not known whether administration of infliximab shortly after resective surgery for Crohn's disease increases postoperative complications. AIMS: To evaluate the risk of developing postoperative complications among Crohn's disease patients receiving infliximab within 4 weeks of intestinal resection. METHODS: As part of a randomized placebo-controlled infliximab postoperative prevention study, adverse events were prospectively monitored. Crohn's disease patients undergoing intestinal resection were randomized to placebo or infliximab 2-4 weeks after surgery. Study infusions were administered at 0, 2, and 6 weeks then every 8 weeks for 1 year. To evaluate whether infliximab increased postoperative complications, we analyzed all adverse events for 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients were randomized to infliximab or placebo after intestinal resection for Crohn's disease. Mean time to first postoperative infusion was 20 days (range 14-25 days). Over the course of 1 year, there were 22 total adverse events, but no difference between infliximab and placebo patients (12 versus 10, respectively, P = 1.0). In the immediate postoperative period, within 8 weeks of surgery, the number of adverse events was also similar between the two groups (3 infliximab and 5 placebo patients, P = 0.68). There were no serious adverse events and no complications related to wound healing or infection. CONCLUSIONS: Initiation of infliximab within 4 weeks of intestinal resection was not associated with postoperative complications.

Preventive therapy in postoperative Crohn's disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Recurrence of Crohn's disease following surgical resection is common, but the optimal strategy to assess, prevent, and treat postoperative recurrence remains unclear. Recent developments in the prevention and management of postoperative recurrence have provided additional information. RECENT FINDINGS: Predictors of Crohn's disease recurrence after surgery include cigarette smoking, disease behavior, number of prior resections, family history, anastomotic type, and time to first surgery. Only penetrating disease behavior and continued cigarette smoking after surgery remain clear predictors of postoperative Crohn's disease recurrence. Ileocolonoscopy is the only modality to detect mucosal recurrence after surgery; however, surrogate markers of inflammation, specifically stool lactoferrin and calprotectin as well as small intestine contrast ultrasound, are promising. Due to the high rate of surgery for the treatment of complications of Crohn's disease, prevention of postoperative disease has received considerable attention. Recent studies of azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine, nitroimidazole antibiotics, and infliximab have broadened the spectrum of medication options postoperatively. SUMMARY: Smoking cessation and ileocolonoscopy for early detection of Crohn's disease recurrence should be part of any postoperative management strategy. The selection of medication and optimal time to initiate treatment after surgery is less certain. Postoperative immunomodulators and antitumor necrosis factor agents may prevent Crohn's disease in those at high risk for recurrence. Treatment of patients by predictors of recurrence and personalization of management based on genotypes/phenotypes will be the focus of future study.

Supportive therapy in IBD: what additional diagnoses and conditions must be treated?

Despite advances in our understanding of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis and increased ability to treat patients with severe and refractory disease, patients continue to suffer from disease complications, and increasing numbers of both Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients are admitted annually in the USA. The rapid evolution in IBD medications and treatment paradigms has contributed to a disparity in clinical care which may vary between expert centers routinely treating large numbers of IBD patients and hospitals with low annual IBD admissions. High-volume centers handling in excess of 150 IBD annual admissions have improved operative and inpatient outcomes compared with hospitals caring for IBD patients less frequently. Although the precise reason for this disparity in clinical outcomes is not known, we hypothesize that expert centers provide superior IBD supportive therapy. This supportive care includes additional diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to help patients achieve optimal outcomes. We review information regarding disparities in the quality of IBD clinical care then focus on supportive therapy for IBD patients, including diagnostic approaches to identify confounding factors contributing to poor IBD outcome, supportive therapeutic approaches to optimize the outcome in hospitalized IBD patients, and future directions exploring brain-body interaction in the treatment of pain, stress and sleep deprivation in patients suffering from IBD.