Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases Awareness and Management among Physicians Treating Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An IG-IBD Survey.

(1) Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is frequently associated to other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). This study aims at assessing physicians' awareness of the issue and the current status of IMID management. (2) Methods: A web-based survey was distributed to all 567 physicians affiliated to IG-IBD. (3) Results: A total of 249 (43.9%) physicians completed the survey. Over 90% of the responding physicians were gastroenterology specialists, primarily working in public hospitals. About 51.0% of the physicians had access to an integrated outpatient clinic, where gastroenterologists collaborated with rheumatologists and 28.5% with dermatologists. However, for 36.5% of physicians, integrated ambulatory care was not feasible. Designated appointment slots for rheumatologists and dermatologists were accessible to 72.2% and 58.2% of physicians, respectively, while 20.1% had no access to designated slots. About 5.2% of physicians report investigating signs or symptoms of IMIDs only during the initial patient assessment. However, 87.9% inquired about the presence of concomitant IMIDs at the initial assessment and actively investigated any signs or symptoms during subsequent clinical examination. (4) Conclusions: While Italian physicians recognize the importance of IMIDs associated with IBD, organizational challenges impede the attainment of optimal multidisciplinary collaboration. Efforts should be directed toward enhancing practical frameworks to improve the overall management of these complex conditions.

The management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease-associated spondyloarthritis: Italian Group for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IG-IBD) and Italian Society of Rheumatology (SIR) recommendations based on a pseudo-Delphi consensus.

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is the most frequent extraintestinal manifestation in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). When IBD and spondyloarthritis coexist, musculoskeletal and intestinal disease features should be considered when planning a therapeutic strategy. Treatment options for IBD and SpA have expanded enormously over the last few years, but randomized controlled trials with specific endpoints focused on SpA are not available in the IBD setting. To address this important clinical topic, the Italian Group for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IG-IBD) and the Italian Society of Rheumatology (SIR) jointly planned to draw updated therapeutic recommendations for IBD-associated SpA using a pseudo-Delphi method. This document presents the official recommendations of IG-IBD and SIR on the management of IBD-associated SpA in the form of 34 statements and 4 therapeutic algorithms. It is intended to be a reference guide for gastroenterologists and rheumatologists dealing with IBD-associated SpA.

The learning curve for using intestinal ultrasonography.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Intestinal ultrasonography (IUS) is challenging to learn. This prospective study examined how the accuracy of IUS increases with operator experience ("learning curve") and if prior abdominal ultrasound experience facilitates the learning process. METHODS: The study included two trainees with limited abdominal ultrasound experience (< 50 exams) and two with extensive experience (> 500 exams). Each trainee performed 99 examinations and reported four IUS findings. An expert sonographer repeated the exam, and concordance (k) between the expert and trainees was assessed in three consecutive testing periods of 33 exams each. RESULTS: A progressive improvement in concordance was observed for all IUS findings from Period 1 to Period 3, overall and for both groups of trainees, although those with experience in abdominal ultrasound had faster learning curves. The minimum number of examinations required to achieve concordance with the expert operator for detecting increased bowel wall thickness was 84 and detecting bowel dilatation was 79. However, a minimum of 97 examinations was necessary to achieve concordance for detecting intra-abdominal complications, considered an advanced IUS competence. CONCLUSION: Basic competence in IUS can be acquired with relatively few examinations, while advanced competence requires more extensive training, particularly for gastroenterologists without abdominal ultrasound experience.

Prevalence and Clinical Impact of Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Results from a Large Retrospective Observational Study.

(1) Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic inflammatory disorders involving innate and adaptive immune responses. Despite primarily affecting the gut, recent insights highlight systemic implications, expanding our understanding beyond intestinal boundaries. (2) Methods: This retrospective multicentric study explored the association of IBD and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) and the impact of concurrent IMIDs on the course of IBD. Clinical data were collected from consecutive medical records of patients with IBD. For assessing the impact of concurrent IMIDs, a control group of IBD patients without associated IMIDs was considered. (3) Results: Of 6589 IBD patients, 6.8% exhibited concomitant IMIDs. Notably, 79.8% of these patients had an aggressive disease course. Psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and type 1 diabetes mellitus prevalence were lower in the IBD population than in the general population. Conversely, multiple sclerosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and pyoderma gangrenosum were more prevalent in IBD patients. Among the patients with a concomitant IMID, 79.8% had an aggressive disease course vs. 8.1% in the control group (p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: This study underscores the frequency of IMIDs in IBD patients and their association with a more aggressive disease course. The recognition of concurrent IMIDs is crucial for comprehensive patient management, influencing therapeutic decisions and potentially improving outcomes.

Follow-up evaluation and management of anemia in inflammatory bowel disease: A study by the Italian Group for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IG-IBD).

BACKGROUND: The RIDART I study found a 13.6% prevalence of anemia in Italian patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); most cases were due to iron-deficiency anemia (IDA). AIMS: To evaluate changes in hemoglobin concentration during a 24-week follow-up of anemic patients with IBD. METHODS: Follow-up laboratory and clinical data were obtained from RIDART I study patients with anemia. Factors affecting hemoglobin concentration, the impact of anemia on fatigue and quality of life (QoL), and its relationship with treatment, disease activity and disease complications were investigated. RESULTS: Hemoglobin was 108 g/L at baseline, increased to 121 g/L at follow-up week 12 (p < 0.001) and then stabilized until week 24, but most patients remained anemic, with IDA, throughout the study. Hemoglobin improvement was greater in patients receiving either oral or parenteral iron supplementation. Following hemoglobin normalization, anemia relapse rate during follow-up was 30%. Oral iron did not cause disease reactivation. Lower follow-up hemoglobin was associated with a higher probability of having active disease, clinical complications, increased fatigue and reduced QoL. CONCLUSIONS: In anemic patients with IBD, anemia represents a long-lasting problem, in most cases persisting for up to 24 weeks, with high relapse rate and a negative impact on fatigue and QoL.

Efficacy and Safety of Adalimumab Biosimilar GP2017 in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

(1) Background: GP2017 is one of the biosimilar drugs of adalimumab, one of the anti-TNF agents used for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). To date, there is little real-world data about the use of GP2017 in IBD patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this biosimilar in an IBD population. (2) Methods: This is an observational retrospective study including patients that were all treated with GP2017 as a first step or as a switch from the originator or other biosimilars. The clinical activity was evaluated at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of therapy. The therapy discontinuation and side effects were also evaluated. (3) Results: a total of 72 patients were included (65 with Crohn's disease and 7 with ulcerative colitis). Of the 29 patients starting GP2017 as a first adalimumab therapy, clinical remission was achieved in 58.6%. Of the patients starting GP2017 as a switch from the originator (33 patients) or other biosimilars (10 patients), clinical remission was maintained in 78.8% and in 70%, respectively. Regarding the safety, only 11 patients experienced non-serious side effects. During the follow-up, nine patients suspended treatment mainly due to side effects or secondary failure. (4) Conclusions: GP2017 is an effective and safe therapy for IBD patients.

Prevalence of Disease-Related Malnutrition and Micronutrients Deficit in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Multicentric Cross-Sectional Study by the GSMII (Inflammatory Bowel Disease Study Group).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients might experience disease-related malnutrition (DRM), but prevalence and risk factors are not well defined. The primary aim of the study was to define the prevalence of DRM and micronutrient deficiency in IBD patients; the secondary aim was to assess variables related to DRM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was performed including consecutive adult IBD patients during a period of 2 weeks. Nutritional status was assessed with the body mass index (BMI) and the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool. DRM was defined according to European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism guidelines. RESULTS: Among the 295 enrolled patients, the prevalence of DRM was 23%, with no statistical difference between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Compared with well-nourished patients, patients with DRM showed higher rate of hospitalization in the previous month, were more often receiving systemic steroids, and had lower hemoglobin, albumin, and prealbumin levels and higher median C-reactive protein levels. At univariate logistic regression, current hospitalization, hospitalization in the previous month, low serum albumin, low BMI, high C-reactive protein, high Crohn's Disease Activity Index, and female sex were variables related to DRM. At the multivariate logistic regression, low BMI, current hospitalization and hospitalization in the previous month were significantly associated with DRM. In 23% of IBD patients, a deficiency of at least 1 micronutrient was observed, with no difference between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. CONCLUSIONS: DRM and microelements malnutrition are frequent conditions in the IBD population. DRM seems to be associated with disease activity and hospitalization.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: comparison between the first and second pandemic waves.

BACKGROUND: In Italy, the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection peaked in April and November 2020, defining two pandemic waves of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study compared the characteristics and outcomes of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and SARS-CoV-2 infections between pandemic waves. METHODS: Observational longitudinal study of IBD patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients with established diagnoses of IBD and of SARS-CoV-2 infection were consecutively enrolled in two periods: (i) first wave, from 1 March 2020 to 31 May 2020; and (ii) second wave, from 15 September to 15 December 2020. RESULTS: We enrolled 937 IBD patients (219 in the first wave, 718 in the second wave). Patients of the first wave were older (mean ± SD: 46.3 ± 16.2 vs. 44.1 ± 15.4 years, p = 0.06), more likely to have ulcerative colitis (58.0% vs. 44.4%, p < 0.001) and comorbidities (48.9% vs. 38.9%; p < 0.01), and more frequently residing in Northern Italy (73.1% vs. 46.0%, p < 0.001) than patients of the second wave. There were no significant differences between pandemic waves in sex (male: 54.3% vs. 53.3%, p = 0.82) or frequency of active IBD (44.3% vs. 39.0%, p = 0.18). The rates of negative outcomes were significantly higher in the first than second wave: pneumonia (27.8% vs. 11.7%, p < 0.001), hospital admission (27.4% vs. 9.7%, p < 0.001), ventilatory support (11.9% vs. 5.4%, p < 0.003) and death (5.5% vs. 1.8%, p < 0.007). CONCLUSION: Between the first and second SARS-CoV-2 pandemic waves, demographic, clinical and geographical features of IBD patients were different as were the symptoms and outcomes of infection. These differences are likely due to the different epidemiological situations and diagnostic possibilities between the two waves.

Nutritional care at centres managing patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A nationwide survey in Italy.

BACKGROUND: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at risk of malnutrition, but little is known about how IBD centres provide nutritional care. AIM: To assess how nutritional care is delivered at IBD centres across Italy. METHODS: 120 IBD centres were invited to answer a web-based questionnaire. RESULTS: 76 questionnaires (63.3%) were completed. An IBD-dedicated nutritionist is present in 27 centres (35.5%). Fifty-two centres (68.4%) have an IBD multidisciplinary team, and 22 of these include a nutritionist. In the outpatient setting, malnutrition risk is evaluated at each visit in 23 centres (30.3%), while nutritional status is assessed at each visit in 21 centres (27.6%). These assessments are performed by a gastroenterologist in almost all centres (93.4% and 88.2%, respectively) and more rarely by a nutritionist (32.9% and 36.9%), dietician (7.9% and 2.6%) or nurse (3.9% and 9.2%). The decision to offer oral nutritional support is made by a gastroenterologist alone (35.5%), a nutritionist alone (23.7%), or a team of the two (38.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Nutritional care for IBD patients appears quite far from satisfactory in the Italian reality. Educational and structural interventions are urgently needed to improve assessment and treatment of malnutrition in everyday clinical practice.

Cancer Risk in Patients Treated with the JAK Inhibitor Tofacitinib: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Tofacitinib is approved for several immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, but safety concerns have recently been raised. We searched PubMed (accessed on 27 February 2023) for original articles regarding tofacitinib's cancer risk when used for rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Of the 2047 initial records, 22 articles describing 26 controlled studies (including 22 randomized controlled trials) were selected. In the comparison between tofacitinib and any control treatment, the relative risk (RR) for any cancer was 1.06 (95% CI, 0.86-1.31; p = 0.95). In separate comparisons between tofacitinib and either a placebo or biological therapy, no difference was found in the overall cancer risk (vs. placebo, RR = 1.04; 95% CI, 0.44-2.48; p = 0.95; vs. biological drugs, RR = 1.06; 95% CI, 0.86-1.31; p = 0.58). When tofacitinib was compared to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, the overall cancer RR was 1.40 (95% CI, 1.06-2.08; p = 0.02). Similarly, significant results were obtained for all cancers, except for non-melanoma skin cancer (RR = 1.47; 95% CI, 1.05-2.06; p = 0.03), and for this skin cancer alone (RR = 1.30; 95% CI, 0.22-5.83; p = 0.88). In conclusion, no difference in the overall cancer risk was found between tofacitinib and either a placebo or biological drugs, while a slightly higher risk was found in patients treated with tofacitinib than anti-TNF agents. Further studies are needed to better define the cancer risk of tofacitinib therapy.

Comparison of two strategies for the management of postoperative recurrence in Crohn's disease patients with one clinical risk factor: A multicentre IG-IBD study.

BACKGROUND: The management of postoperative recurrence (POR) in Crohn's disease (CD) after ileo-colonic resection is a highly debated topic. Prophylactic immunosuppression after surgery is currently recommended in the presence of at least one clinical risk factor. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine whether early immunosuppression can be avoided and guided by endoscopy in CD patients with only one risk factor. METHODS: CD patients with only one risk factor for POR, including previous intestinal resection, extensive small intestine resection (>50 cm), fistulising phenotype, history of perianal disease, and active smoking, were retrospectively included. Two groups were formed based on whether immunosuppression was started immediately after surgery ("prophylaxis group") or guided by endoscopy ("endoscopy-driven group"). Primary endpoints were rates of any endoscopic recurrence (Rutgeerts ≥ i2a) and severe endoscopic recurrence (i4) within 12 months after surgery. Secondary outcomes were clinical recurrence rates at 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery. RESULTS: A total of 195 patients were enroled, of whom 61 (31.3%) received immunoprophylaxis. No differences between immunoprophylaxis and the endoscopy-driven approach were found regarding any endoscopic recurrence (36.1% vs. 45.5%, respectively, p = 0.10) and severe endoscopic recurrence (9.8% vs. 15.7%, respectively, p = 0.15) at the first endoscopic evaluation. Clinical recurrence rates were also not statistically different (p = 0.43, p = 0.09, and p = 0.63 at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In operated CD patients with only one risk factor for POR, immediate immunoprophylaxis does not decrease the rate of early clinical and endoscopic recurrence. Prospective studies are needed to confirm our results.

Noninvasive Assessment of Postoperative Disease Recurrence in Crohn's Disease: A Multicenter, Prospective Cohort Study on Behalf of the Italian Group for Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Colonoscopy (CS) is the gold standard to assess postoperative recurrence (POR) in Crohn's disease (CD). However, CS is invasive and may be poorly tolerated by patients. The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the diagnostic accuracy of a noninvasive approach in detecting POR, using the endoscopic Rutgeerts' score (RS) as the reference standard. METHODS: Consecutive patients with CD who underwent ileo-cecal resection were prospectively enrolled in 3 referral Italian centers. Patients underwent CS and bowel ultrasound within 1 year of surgery. Uni- and multivariable analyses were used to assess the correlation between noninvasive parameters and endoscopic recurrence, defined by a RS ≥2. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients were enrolled. Sixty patients (66%) experienced endoscopic POR. The multivariable analysis identified bowel wall thickness (BWT) per 1-mm increase (odds ratio [OR], 2.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21-4.89; P = .012), the presence of mesenteric lymph nodes (OR, 15.63; 95% CI, 1.48-164.54; P = .022), and fecal calprotectin (FC) values ≥50 mcg/g (OR, 8.58; 95% CI, 2.45-29.99; P < .001) as independent predictors for endoscopic recurrence. The presence of lymph nodes or the combination of BWT ≥3 mm and FC values ≥50 mcg/g correctly classified 56% and 75% of patients, with less than 5% of patients falsely classified as having endoscopic recurrence. Conversely, the combination of BWT <3 mm and FC <50 mcg/g correctly classified 74% of patients with only 4.5% of patients falsely classified as not having endoscopic recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: A noninvasive approach combining bowel ultrasound and FC can be used with confidence for detecting POR in patients with CD without the requirement for CS.

Prevalence, Pathogenesis and Management of Anemia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An IG-IBD Multicenter, Prospective, and Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Anemia is a common extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with a 6% to 74% prevalence and a negative impact on patient survival and quality of life, although the prevalence is apparently declining due to improved disease treatment. We aimed to investigate the prevalence, pathogenesis, and clinical correlates of anemia in Italian patients with IBD. METHODS: A multicenter, prospective, observational study, involving 28 Italian gastroenterology centers, was conducted to investigate the epidemiology and consequences of IBD-associated anemia. Clinical and laboratory data of anemic patients were obtained at study enrolment. RESULTS: Anemia was diagnosed in 737 of 5416 adult IBD outpatients (prevalence 13.6%); females were more commonly affected than males (odds ratio, 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-1.7) and had more severe anemia. In the majority of cases, anemia was due to iron deficiency (62.5% of cases; 95% CI, 58.3%-66.6%), either isolated or in association with inflammation and/or vitamin deficiencies; anemia of inflammation accounted for only 8.3% of cases. More severe anemia was associated with increasing fatigue and worse quality of life. Only 68.9% of anemic patients with iron deficiency (95% CI, 63.4%-73.8%) and 34.6% of those with vitamin deficiencies (95% CI, 26.2%-44.2%) were properly treated with supplementation therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In Italy, the prevalence of IBD-associated anemia is lower than previously reported. Anemia of IBD is most commonly due to iron deficiency and contributes to fatigue and poor quality of life, but remains untreated in a large proportion of patients with iron and/or vitamin deficiencies. This study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02872376.

The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease­associated anemia is 13.6%. The prevalence is higher among females younger than 50. Anemia is usually due to iron deficiency and adversely affects fatigue and quality of life. Many patients with iron or vitamin deficiency (31% and 65%, respectively) remain untreated.

IBD Flare in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Therapy Discontinuation Is to Blame.

This prospective case-control study investigated the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection on inflammatory bowel disease course and looked for risk factors associated with flares. In the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic era, inflammatory bowel disease course is not influenced by infection, while therapy discontinuation is a risk factor for disease flare.

Reduced humoral response to two doses of COVID-19 vaccine in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: Data from ESCAPE-IBD, an IG-IBD study.

BACKGROUND: Patients on immunosuppressive drugs have been excluded from COVID-19 vaccines trials, creating concerns regarding their efficacy. AIMS: To explore the humoral response to COVID-19 vaccines in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) METHODS: Effectiveness and Safety of COVID-19 Vaccine in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Treated with Immunomodulatory or Biological Drugs (ESCAPE-IBD) is a prospective, multicentre study promoted by the Italian Group for the study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. We present data on serological response eight weeks after the second dose of COVID-19 vaccination in IBD patients and healthy controls (HCs). RESULTS: 1076 patients with IBD and 1126 HCs were analyzed. Seropositivity for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG was reported for most IBD patients, even if with a lesser rate compared with HCs (92.1% vs. 97.9%; p<0.001). HCs had higher antibody concentrations (median OD 8.72 [IQR 5.2-14-2]) compared to the whole cohort of IBD patients (median OD 1.54 [IQR 0.8-3.6]; p<0.001) and the subgroup of IBD patients (n=280) without any treatment or on aminosalicylates only (median OD 1.72 [IQR 1.0-4.1]; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although most IBD patients showed seropositivity after COVID-19 vaccines, the magnitude of the humoral response was significantly lower than in HCs. Differently from other studies, these findings seem to be mostly unrelated to the use of immune-modifying treatments (ClinicalTrials.govID:NCT04769258).

Continuous clinical remission with biologics in ulcerative colitis: the 'AURORA' comparison study.

OBJECTIVES: Comparative trials among biological drugs for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) provided conflicting results. After patent expire of infliximab originator, adalimumab, infliximab biosimilar, golimumab and vedolizumab have been approved in Italy.We compared the efficacy of these four biologics in UC according to the concept of continuous clinical remission (CCR). METHODS: In a retrospective, multicentre study, all UC patients treated with adalimumab, infliximab biosimilar, golimumab or vedolizumab between 2014 and 2019 were included. All drugs were compared to each other according to the 1-year CCR rate, defined as Mayo partial score ≤2, with bleeding subscore = 0, without any relapse or optimization with dose escalation, topical treatments or steroid use after first clinical remission. RESULTS: Four-hundred sixteen patients (adalimumab = 90, infliximab biosimilar = 105, golimumab = 79, vedolizumab = 142) were included. CCR was achieved in similar percentages among the groups (33%, 37%, 28%, 37%, respectively). All drugs were equivalent in biologic-naive patients, while vedolizumab was better than a second anti-TNFα in prior anti-TNFα agent failures. No differences were found according to type of adverse events or severe adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Based on a strict definition of clinical remission, all biologics appear equally effective at 1 year. Changing to vedolizumab is more effective than switching to another anti-TNFα in TNFα failures.

The impact of biologic therapies on extra-intestinal manifestations in inflammatory bowel disease: A multicenter study.

Introduction: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a high risk of developing extra-intestinal manifestations (EIMs). We aimed to assess the cumulative incidence and clinical course of EIMs in patients treated with Vedolizumab (VDZ) and non-gut selective biologic drugs. Materials and methods: In this multicenter observational study, we enrolled 1,182 patients with IBD under biologic treatment in tertiary care centers, collecting the rate of new-onset EIMs and the clinical course of new and pre-existing EIMs since the introduction of the ongoing biologic drug (259 VDZ vs. 923 non-gut selective agents, median time 3 vs. 4 years). Results: Among 1,182 patients with IBD (median age of 46 years; 55% men) on biologics, the overall cumulative incidence of new onset EIMs was 4.1% (49/1,182), in particular 6.6% (17/259) on VDZ vs. 3.5% (32/923) on non-gut selective biologics (p = 0.02). Among 224 patients reporting new or pre-existing EIMs, those on VDZ showed a higher rate of clinical worsening compared with non-gut selective therapies (15.5 vs. 7.3%, p = 0.08). However, both showed a similar rate of modification of the therapeutic regimen. Female gender [hazard ratio (HR) 2.18], a longer course of ongoing biologic therapy (HR 1.18), ulcerative colitis (UC) (HR 1.83), and VDZ therapy (HR 1.85) were significant risk factors for developing new EIMs. Discussion: Our study suggests that the type of biologic treatment might affect the risk of developing EIMs, with a slightly higher risk in patients on gut-selective therapies. However, a similar clinical course is observed in the two groups.