Bismuth quadruple three-in-one single capsule three times a day increases effectiveness compared with the usual four times a day schedule: results from the European Registry on Helicobacter pylori Management (Hp-EuReg).

BACKGROUND: The recommended schedule for single capsule bismuth quadruple therapy (scBQT, Pylera) includes a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) two times a day and three scBQT capsules four times a day. Four times a day treatments are inconvenient and reduce adherence. In contrast, adherence improves with three times a day schedules. In clinical practice, many gastroenterologists use four capsule scBQT three times a day. However, the effectiveness and safety of this latter approach remain uncertain. AIM: To assess the effectiveness and safety of scBQT administered three times a day in the patients included in the European Registry on Helicobacter pylori Management (Hp-EuReg). METHODS: All Spanish adult patients registered in the Asociación Española de Gastroenterología Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) database from June 2013 to March 2021 receiving 10-day scBQT were analysed. Modified intention-to-treat effectiveness, adherence and the safety of scBQT given three times a day were calculated and compared with the four times a day schedule. A multivariate analysis was performed to determine independent factors predicting cure of the infection. RESULTS: Of the 3712 cases, 2516 (68%) were four times a day and 1196 (32%) three times a day. Mean age was 51 years, 63% were women and 15% had a peptic ulcer. The three times a day schedule showed significantly better overall cure rates than four times a day (1047/1112, 94%; 95% CI 92.7 to 95.6 vs 2207/2423, 91%; 95% CI 89.9 to 92.2, respectively, p=0.002). Adherence and safety data were similar for both regimens. In the multivariate analysis, three times a day dosage, first-line therapy, use of standard or high-dose PPIs and adherence over 90% were significantly associated with cure of the infection. CONCLUSIONS: ScBQT prescribed three times a day was more effective than the traditional four times a day schedule. No differences were observed in treatment adherence or safety.

The Risk of Developing Disabling Crohn's Disease: Validation of a Clinical Prediction Rule to Improve Treatment Decision Making.

BACKGROUND: Crohn's disease (CD) is characterized by the development of complications over the course of the disease. It is crucial to identify predictive factors of disabling disease, in order to target patients for early intervention. We evaluated risk factors of disabling CD and developed a prognostic model. METHODS: In total, 511 CD patients were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify demographic, clinical, and biological risk factors. A predictive nomogram model was developed in a subgroup of patients with noncomplicated CD (inflammatory pattern and no perianal disease). RESULTS: The rate of disabling CD within 5 years after diagnosis was 74.6%. Disabling disease was associated with gender, location of disease, requirement of steroids for the first flare, and perianal lesions. In the subgroup of patients (310) with noncomplicated CD, the rate of disabling CD was 80%. In the multivariate analysis age at onset <40 years (OR = 3.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.52-7.90), extensive disease (L3/L4) (OR = 2.67, 95% CI = 1.18-6.06), smoking habit (OR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.03-4.27), requirement of steroids at the first flare (OR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.09-4.45), and albumin (OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.36-0.96) were associated with development of disabling disease. The developed predictive nomogram based on these factors presented good discrimination, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.723 (95% CI: 0.670-0.830). CONCLUSION: We identified predictive factors of disabling CD and developed an easy-to-use prognostic model that may be used in clinical practice to help identify patients at high risk and address treatment effectively.

Empirical rescue treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in third and subsequent lines: 8-year experience in 2144 patients from the European Registry on H. pylori management (Hp-EuReg).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use, effectiveness and safety of Helicobacter pylori empirical rescue therapy in third and subsequent treatment lines in Europe. DESIGN: International, prospective, non-interventional registry of the clinical practice of European gastroenterologists. Data were collected and quality reviewed until October 2021 at Asociación Española de Gastroenterología-Research Electronic Data Capture. All cases with three or more empirical eradication attempts were assessed for effectiveness by modified intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 2144 treatments were included: 1519, 439, 145 and 41 cases from third, fourth, fifth and sixth treatment lines, respectively. Sixty different therapies were used; the 15 most frequently prescribed encompassed >90% of cases. Overall effectiveness remained <90% in all therapies. Optimised treatments achieved a higher eradication rate than non-optimised (78% vs 67%, p<0.0001). From 2017 to 2021, only 44% of treatments other than 10-day single-capsule therapy used high proton-pump inhibitor doses and lasted ≥14 days. Quadruple therapy containing metronidazole, tetracycline and bismuth achieved optimal eradication rates only when prescribed as third-line treatment, either as 10-day single-capsule therapy (87%) or as 14-day traditional therapy with tetracycline hydrochloride (95%). Triple amoxicillin-levofloxacin therapy achieved 90% effectiveness in Eastern Europe only or when optimised. The overall incidence of adverse events was 31%. CONCLUSION: Empirical rescue treatment in third and subsequent lines achieved suboptimal effectiveness in most European regions. Only quadruple bismuth-metronidazole-tetracycline (10-day single-capsule or 14-day traditional scheme) and triple amoxicillin-levofloxacin therapies reached acceptable outcomes in some settings. Compliance with empirical therapy optimisation principles is still poor 5 years after clinical practice guidelines update. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02328131.

Rapidity of clinical response to adalimumab and improvement of quality of life in luminal Crohn's disease: RAPIDA study.

OBJECTIVE: No studies evaluating the rapidity of response to biological therapies are available for Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this study was to evaluate rapidity of onset of clinical response and impact on quality of life (QoL) of adalimumab therapy in adult anti-TNF-naïve patients with moderately-to-severely active CD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: RAPIDA was an open-label, single-arm, prospective, multicenter clinical trial. Adult patients with moderately-to-severely active luminal CD, anti-TNF-naïve, and unresponsive to conventional therapy were treated with adalimumab. Clinical disease activity, QoL and inflammatory biomarkers were measured at day 4, and weeks 1, 2, 4, and 12 after treatment initiation. RESULTS: Eighty-six patients were included in the intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses. Clinical disease activity was reduced from a median of 9.0 points to 6.0 points at day 4. Clinical response (≥ 3-point reduction in the Harvey-Bradshaw Index, HBI) was achieved by 61.6% (d4) and 75.6% (w1) of patients in the ITT population (median 2.5 days) and with non-responder imputation (NRI), by 55.8% and 53.4%, respectively. The proportion of patients in clinical remission (HBI<5) at weeks 2 and 4 in the ITT population was 54.7% and 62.8%, respectively (median 7.0 days), and 38.4% and 45.3% in the NRI population. All QoL scores significantly improved and inflammatory biomarkers significantly decreased from day 4 onwards (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Rapid clinical response and remission, improvement in QoL and fatigue, and a reduction of inflammatory biomarkers were achieved with adalimumab as early as day 4 in adult anti-TNF-naïve patients with moderately-to-severely active CD.

Helicobacter pylori first-line and rescue treatments in patients allergic to penicillin: Experience from the European Registry on H pylori management (Hp-EuReg).

BACKGROUND: Experience in Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment of patients allergic to penicillin is very scarce. A triple combination with a PPI, clarithromycin (C), and metronidazole (M) is often prescribed as the first option, although more recently the use of a quadruple therapy with PPI, bismuth (B), tetracycline (T), and M has been recommended. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of first-line and rescue treatments in patients allergic to penicillin in the "European Registry of H pylori management" (Hp-EuReg). METHODS: A systematic prospective registry of the clinical practice of European gastroenterologists (27 countries, 300 investigators) on the management of H pylori infection. An e-CRF was created on AEG-REDCap. Patients with penicillin allergy were analyzed until June 2019. RESULTS: One-thousand eighty-four patients allergic to penicillin were analyzed. The most frequently prescribed first-line treatments were as follows: PPI + C + M (n = 285) and PPI + B + T + M (classic or Pylera® ; n = 250). In first line, the efficacy of PPI + C + M was 69%, while PPI + B + T + M reached 91% (P < .001). In second line, after the failure of PPI + C + M, two rescue options showed similar efficacy: PPI + B + T + M (78%) and PPI + C + levofloxacin (L) (71%) (P > .05). In third line, after the failure of PPI + C + M and PPI + C + L, PPI + B + T + M was successful in 75% of cases. CONCLUSION: In patients allergic to penicillin, a triple combination with PPI + C + M should not be generally recommended as a first-line treatment, while a quadruple regimen with PPI + B + T + M seems to be a better option. As a rescue treatment, this quadruple regimen (if not previously prescribed) or a triple regimen with PPI + C + L could be used but achieved suboptimal (<80%) results.

Bismuth quadruple regimen with tetracycline or doxycycline versus three-in-one single capsule as third-line rescue therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection: Spanish data of the European Helicobacter pylori Registry (Hp-EuReg).

BACKGROUND: Different bismuth quadruple therapies containing proton-pump inhibitors, bismuth salts, metronidazole, and a tetracycline have been recommended as third-line Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment after failure with clarithromycin and levofloxacin. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of third-line treatments with bismuth, metronidazole, and either tetracycline or doxycycline. METHODS: Sub-study with Spanish data of the "European Registry on H pylori Management" (Hp-EuReg), international multicenter prospective non-interventional Registry of the routine clinical practice of gastroenterologists. After previous failure with clarithromycin- and levofloxacin-containing therapies, patients receiving a third-line regimen with 10/14-day bismuth salts, metronidazole, and either tetracycline (BQT-Tet) or doxycycline (BQT-Dox), or single capsule (BQT-three-in-one) were included. Data were registered at AEG-REDCap database. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: Four-hundred and fifty-four patients have been treated so far: 85 with BQT-Tet, 94 with BQT-Dox, and 275 with BQT-three-in-one. Average age was 53 years, 68% were women. Overall modified intention-to-treat and per-protocol eradication rates were 81% (BQT-Dox: 65%, BQT-Tet: 76%, BQT-three-in-one: 88%) and 82% (BQT-Dox: 66%, BQT-Tet: 77%, BQT-three-in-one: 88%), respectively. By logistic regression, higher eradication rates were associated with compliance (OR = 2.96; 95% CI = 1.01-8.84) and no prior metronidazole use (OR = 1.96; 95% CI = 1.15-3.33); BQT-three-in-one was superior to BQT-Dox (OR = 4.46; 95% CI = 2.51-8.27), and BQT-Tet was marginally superior to BQT-Dox (OR = 1.67; 95% CI = 0.85-3.29). CONCLUSION: Third-line H pylori eradication with bismuth quadruple treatment (after failure with clarithromycin and levofloxacin) offers acceptable efficacy and safety. Highest efficacy was found in compliant patients and those taking 10-day BQT-three-in-one or 14-day BQT-Tet. Doxycycline seems to be less effective and therefore should not be recommended.

Endoscopic progression of ulcerative proctitis to proximal disease. Can we identify predictors of progression?

INTRODUCTION: Ulcerative proctitis is a type of ulcerative colitis circumscribed to the rectum. Proximal progression rates of the disease have been reported as between 27% and 54%. Several predictive factors have been identified for its progression; however, none has been established as definitive. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of patients diagnosed with ulcerative proctitis with at least 12 months of follow-up. Patients diagnosed between January 1992 and March 2017. Variables were collected at the time of diagnosis and during the first year of follow-up. The extent of the progression was evaluated endoscopically during follow-up. The endoscopic progression rate was determined and possible risk factors related to this progression were evaluated. RESULTS: The analysis involved 137 patients. In 77 of the patients, we performed a second colonoscopy during follow-up to evaluate endoscopic progression. The average time before the second colonoscopy performed was 5 years (SD 3.9). Of the 77 patients, 32 (41.6%) presented proximal progression to the rectosigmoid junction. Logistic regression analysis showed a statistically significant association for progression in patients who had suffered one or more flares in the first year following diagnosis. Significant progression was also observed in those with the longest time of progression at the final colonoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Ulcerative proctitis is not a stable disease over time. In addition, during the first year of the disease progression, it is possible to predict in which patients the disease will progress to more extensive forms.

Effectiveness and safety of a third-line rescue treatment for acute severe ulcerative colitis refractory to infliximab or ciclosporin (REASUC study).

BACKGROUND: The advent of new therapeutic agents and the improvement of supporting care might change the management of acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) and avoid colectomy. AIMS: To evaluate the colectomy-free survival and safety of a third-line treatment in patients with ASUC refractory to intravenous steroids and who failed either infliximab or ciclosporin. METHODS: Multicentre retrospective cohort study of patients with ASUC refractory to intravenous steroids who had failed infliximab or ciclosporin and received a third-line treatment during the same hospitalisation. Patients who stopped second-line treatment due to disease activity or adverse events (AEs) were eligible. We assessed short-term colectomy-free survival by logistic regression analysis. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models were used for long-term assessment. RESULTS: Among 78 patients, 32 received infliximab and 46 ciclosporin as second-line rescue treatment. Third-line treatment was infliximab in 45 (58%), ciclosporin in 17 (22%), tofacitinib in 13 (17%) and ustekinumab in 3 (3.8%). Colectomy was performed in 29 patients (37%) during follow-up (median 21 weeks). Of the 78 patients, 32 and 18 were in clinical remission at, respectively, 12 and 52 weeks. At the last visit, 25 patients were still on third-line rescue treatment, while 12 had stopped it due to clinical remission. AEs were reported in 26 (33%) patients. Two patients died (2.6%), including one following colectomy. CONCLUSION: Third-line rescue treatment avoided colectomy in over half of the patients with ASUC and may be considered a therapeutic strategy.

Subcutaneous infliximab cut-off points in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Data from the ENEIDA registry.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Switching from the intravenous to the subcutaneous biosimilar infliximab (SC-IFX) has been shown to safely maintain clinical remission and increase drug levels in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term outcomes after switching from intravenous IFX (IV-IFX) to SC-IFX, the drug concentration thresholds for maintaining remission and other predictors for loss of response after the switch. METHODS: Multicenter observational study involving CD and UC patients who were in clinical remission for at least 24 weeks and scheduled to switch from IV-IFX to SC-IFX. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty patients were included [74 UC (34%) and 146 (66%) CD]. IV-IFX was administered for 52.5 months [range 25-89]. Pre-switch, 106 (49%) patients were receiving intensified IV-IFX. While SC-IFX levels significantly increased following the switch from IV to SC-IFX, clinical parameters, C-reactive protein and faecal calprotectin remained unchanged during follow-up. SC-IFX levels were significantly higher between patients receiving the standard IV-IFX dose than those with the intensified dose. Immunomodulator therapy at baseline and perianal disease had no effect on IFX trough levels, whereas higher body mass index was associated with increased levels. The suggested optimal SC-IFX cut-off concentration for clinical and biochemical remission based on ROC analysis was 12.2 µg/mL (AUC: 0.62) at week 12 and 13.2 µg/mL (AUC: 0.57) at week 52. Drug persistence was 92% at week 52, with a good safety profile. CONCLUSION: Switching from IV-IFX to SC-IFX safely maintains long-term remission in patients with CD and UC. In maintenance, the optimal cut-off point associated with remission was 12-13 µg/mL.

Effectiveness and safety of azathioprine for inflammatory pouch disorders: results from the RESERVO study of GETECCU.

Background: The usefulness of thiopurines has been poorly explored in pouchitis and other pouch disorders. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of azathioprine as maintenance therapy in inflammatory pouch disorders. Design: This was a retrospective and multicentre study. Methods: We included patients diagnosed with inflammatory pouch disorders treated with azathioprine in monotherapy. Effectiveness was evaluated at 1 year and in the long term based on normalization of stool frequency, absence of pain, faecal urgency or fistula discharge (clinical remission), or any improvement in these symptoms (clinical response). Endoscopic response was evaluated using the Pouchitis Disease Activity Index (PDAI). Results: In all, 63 patients were included [54% males; median age, 49 (28-77) years]. The therapy was used to treat pouchitis (n = 37) or Crohn's disease of the pouch (n = 26). The rate of clinical response, remission and non-response at 12 months were 52%, 30% and 18%, respectively. After a median follow-up of 23 months (interquartile range 11-55), 19 patients (30%) were in clinical remission, and 45 (66%) stopped therapy. Endoscopic changes were evaluated in 19 cases. PDAI score decreased from 3 (range 2-4) to 1 (range 0-3). In all, 21 patients (33%) presented adverse events and 16 (25%) needed to stop therapy. Conclusion: Azathioprine may be effective in the long term for the treatment of inflammatory pouch disorders and could be included as a therapeutic option.

Persistence, effectiveness and safety of ustekinumab and vedolizumab therapy for complex perianal fistula in Crohn's disease: The HEAL study from GETECCU.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of ustekinumab and vedolizumab for treating complex perianal fistula in Crohn's disease has been barely studied. We aimed to assess treatment persistence, clinical remission, and safety of these drugs in this context. METHODS: Crohn's disease patients who had received ustekinumab or vedolizumab for the indication of active complex perianal fistula, were included. Clinical remission was defined according to Fistula Drainage Assessment Index (no drainage through the fistula upon gentle pressure) based on physicians' assessment. RESULTS: Of 155 patients, 136 received ustekinumab, and 35 vedolizumab (16 received both). Median follow-up for ustekinumab was 27 months. Among those on ustekinumab, 54 % achieved remission, and within this group, 27 % relapsed during follow-up. The incidence rate of relapse was 11 % per patient-year. Multivariate analysis found no variables associated with treatment discontinuation or relapse. Median follow-up time for patients receiving vedolizumab was 19 months. Remission was achieved in 46 % of the patients receiving vedolizumab, and among them, 20 % relapsed during follow-up. The incidence rate of relapse was 7 % per patient-year. Adverse events were mild in 6 % on ustekinumab and 8 % on vedolizumab. CONCLUSION: Ustekinumab and vedolizumab appear effective, achieving remission in around half of complex perianal fistula patients, with favorable safety profiles.

Splanchnic Vein Thrombosis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Observational Study from the ENEIDA Registry and Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Thromboembolic events are frequent among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, there is little information on the prevalence, features and outcomes of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) in patients with IBD. AIMS: To describe the clinical features and outcomes of SVT in patients with IBD and to perform a systematic review of these data with published cases and series. METHODS: A retrospective observational study from the Spanish nationwide ENEIDA registry was performed. A systematic search of the literature was performed to identify studies with at least one case of SVT in IBD patients. RESULTS: A new cohort of 49 episodes of SVT from the Eneida registry and 318 IBD patients with IBD identified from the literature review (sixty studies: two multicentre, six single-centre and fifty-two case reports or case series) were analysed. There was a mild predominance of Crohn's disease and the most frequent clinical presentation was abdominal pain with or without fever followed by the incidental finding in cross-sectional imaging techniques. The most frequent SVT location was the main portal trunk in two-thirds of the cases, followed by the superior mesenteric vein. Anticoagulation therapy was prescribed in almost 90% of the cases, with a high rate of radiologic resolution of SVT. Thrombophilic conditions other than IBD itself were found in at least one-fifth of patients. CONCLUSIONS: SVT seems to be a rare (or underdiagnosed) complication in IBD patients. SVT is mostly associated with disease activity and evolves suitably when anticoagulation therapy is started.

Real-world outcomes of switching from adalimumab originator to adalimumab biosimilar in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: The ADA-SWITCH study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Data on the outcomes after switching from adalimumab (ADA) originator to ADA biosimilar are limited. The aim was to compare the treatment persistence, clinical efficacy, and safety outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease patients who maintained ADA originator vs. those who switched to ADA biosimilar. METHODS: Patients receiving ADA originator who were in clinical remission at standard dose of ADA originator were included. Patients who maintained ADA originator formed the non-switch cohort (NSC), and those who switched to different ADA biosimilars constituted the switch cohort (SC). Clinical remission was defined as a Harvey-Bradshaw index ≤4 in Crohn's disease and a partial Mayo score ≤2 in ulcerative colitis. To control possible confounding effects on treatment discontinuation, an inverse probability treatment weighted proportional hazard Cox regression was performed. RESULTS: Five hundred and twenty-four patients were included: 211 in the SC and 313 in the NSC. The median follow-up was 13 months in the SC and 24 months in the NSC (p < 0.001). The incidence rate of ADA discontinuation was 8% and 7% per patient-year in the SC and in the NSC, respectively (p > 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, switching from ADA originator to ADA biosimilar was not associated with therapy discontinuation. The incidence rate of relapse was 8% per patient-year in the SC and 6% per patient-year in the NSC (p > 0.05). Six percent of the patients had adverse events in the SC vs. 5% in the NSC (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Switching to ADA biosimilar did not impair patients' outcomes in comparison with maintaining on the originator.

Benefits of Paediatric to Adult Transition Programme in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: The BUTTERFLY Study of GETECCU and SEGHNP.

(1) Background: Transition is a planned movement of paediatric patients to adult healthcare systems, and its implementation is not yet established in all inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) units. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of transition on IBD outcomes. (2) Methods: Multicentre, retrospective and observational study of IBD paediatric patients transferred to an adult IBD unit between 2017-2020. Two groups were compared: transition (≥1 joint visit involving the gastroenterologist, the paediatrician, a programme coordinator, the parents and the patient) and no-transition. Outcomes within one year after transfer were analysed. The main variable was poor clinical outcome (IBD flare, hospitalisation, surgery or any change in the treatment because of a flare). Predictive factors of poor clinical outcome were identified with multivariable analysis. (3) Results: A total of 278 patients from 34 Spanish hospitals were included. One hundred eighty-five patients (67%) from twenty-two hospitals (65%) performed a structured transition. Eighty-nine patients had poor clinical outcome at one year after transfer: 27% in the transition and 43% in the no-transition group (p = 0.005). One year after transfer, no-transition patients were more likely to have a flare (36% vs. 22%; p = 0.018) and reported more hospitalisations (10% vs. 3%; p = 0.025). The lack of transition, as well as parameters at transfer, including IBD activity, body mass index < 18.5 and corticosteroid treatment, were associated with poor clinical outcome. One patient in the transition group (0.4%) was lost to follow-up. (4) Conclusion: Transition care programmes improve patients' outcomes after the transfer from paediatric to adult IBD units. Active IBD at transfer impairs outcomes.

Colorectal cancer screening and surveillance in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in 2021.

The detection of dysplasia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) continues to be important given the increased risk of colorectal cancer in this population. Therefore, in 2017, we performed a review and update of the recommendations for the management and follow-up of patients with IBD based on the clinical practice guidelines of various scientific societies. The present manuscript focuses on new aspects of the detection, follow-up, and management of dysplasia according to the latest studies and recommendations. While chromoendoscopy with targeted biopsy continues to be the technique of choice for the screening and detection of dysplasia in IBD, the associated difficulties mean that it is now being compared with other techniques (virtual chromoendoscopy), which yield similar results with less technical difficulties. Furthermore, the emergence of new endoscopy techniques that are still being researched but seem promising (e.g., confocal laser endomicroscopy and full-spectrum endoscopy), together with the development of devices that improve endoscopic visualization (e.g., Endocuff Vision), lead us to believe that these approaches can revolutionize the screening and follow-up of dysplasia in patients with IBD. Nevertheless, further studies are warranted to define the optimal follow-up strategy in this patient population.

Ferric Carboxymaltose Improves the Quality of Life of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Iron Deficiency without Anaemia.

Background: Iron deficiency (ID) without anaemia is a common comorbidity associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that has a negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: This multicentre, prospective, observational study examined the response to, safety of and impact on HRQoL of a single 500 mg dose of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) in patients with IBD and ID without anaemia. The diagnostic criteria for ID were low serum ferritin (<30 µg/L in the absence of inflammatory activity or <100 µg/L with inflammation) and transferrin saturation index (TSAT) < 16%. The effect on iron levels and HRQoL, according to the health status questionnaires SF-12v2 and EQ-5D, was evaluated 1 month after FCM infusion in an outpatient setting. Results: Of the 105 patients who received FCM, 98 patients completed the study. After 1 month, a single dose of FCM significantly increased serum ferritin, serum iron and TSAT. Importantly, patients reported fewer ID symptoms and problems on all EQ-5D dimensions. They also had higher EQ-5D visual analogue scale and SF-12v2 scores after treatment. FCM had similar clinical effects on men and women and on patients with Crohn's disease (n = 66) and ulcerative colitis (n = 32). Conclusion: A single dose of FCM rapidly restored iron parameters and significantly improved patients' symptoms and HRQoL at 1 month after treatment.

Nationwide COVID-19-EII Study: Incidence, Environmental Risk Factors and Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and COVID-19 of the ENEIDA Registry.

We aim to describe the incidence and source of contagion of COVID-19 in patients with IBD, as well as the risk factors for a severe course and long-term sequelae. This is a prospective observational study of IBD and COVID-19 included in the ENEIDA registry (53,682 from 73 centres) between March-July 2020 followed-up for 12 months. Results were compared with data of the general population (National Centre of Epidemiology and Catalonia). A total of 482 patients with COVID-19 were identified. Twenty-eight percent were infected in the work environment, and 48% were infected by intrafamilial transmission, despite having good adherence to lockdown. Thirty-five percent required hospitalization, 7.9% had severe COVID-19 and 3.7% died. Similar data were reported in the general population (hospitalisation 19.5%, ICU 2.1% and mortality 4.6%). Factors related to death and severe COVID-19 were being aged ≥ 60 years (OR 7.1, 95% CI: 1.8-27 and 4.5, 95% CI: 1.3-15.9), while having ≥2 comorbidities increased mortality (OR 3.9, 95% CI: 1.3-11.6). None of the drugs for IBD were related to severe COVID-19. Immunosuppression was definitively stopped in 1% of patients at 12 months. The prognosis of COVID-19 in IBD, even in immunosuppressed patients, is similar to that in the general population. Thus, there is no need for more strict protection measures in IBD.

Risk Factors for COVID-19 in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A National, ENEIDA-Based Case-Control Study (COVID-19-EII).

(1) Scant information is available concerning the characteristics that may favour the acquisition of COVID-19 in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess these differences between infected and noninfected patients with IBD. (2) This nationwide case−control study evaluated patients with inflammatory bowel disease with COVID-19 (cases) and without COVID-19 (controls) during the period March−July 2020 included in the ENEIDA of GETECCU. (3) A total of 496 cases and 964 controls from 73 Spanish centres were included. No differences were found in the basal characteristics between cases and controls. Cases had higher comorbidity Charlson scores (24% vs. 19%; p = 0.02) and occupational risk (28% vs. 10.5%; p < 0.0001) more frequently than did controls. Lockdown was the only protective measure against COVID-19 (50% vs. 70%; p < 0.0001). No differences were found in the use of systemic steroids, immunosuppressants or biologics between cases and controls. Cases were more often treated with 5-aminosalicylates (42% vs. 34%; p = 0.003). Having a moderate Charlson score (OR: 2.7; 95%CI: 1.3−5.9), occupational risk (OR: 2.9; 95%CI: 1.8−4.4) and the use of 5-aminosalicylates (OR: 1.7; 95%CI: 1.2−2.5) were factors for COVID-19. The strict lockdown was the only protective factor (OR: 0.1; 95%CI: 0.09−0.2). (4) Comorbidities and occupational exposure are the most relevant factors for COVID-19 in patients with IBD. The risk of COVID-19 seems not to be increased by immunosuppressants or biologics, with a potential effect of 5-aminosalicylates, which should be investigated further and interpreted with caution.

Correction: Chaparro et al. Incidence, Clinical Characteristics and Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Spain: Large-Scale Epidemiological Study. J. Clin. Med. 2021, 10, 2885.

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...].

Using Interpretable Machine Learning to Identify Baseline Predictive Factors of Remission and Drug Durability in Crohn's Disease Patients on Ustekinumab.

Ustekinumab has shown efficacy in Crohn's Disease (CD) patients. To identify patient profiles of those who benefit the most from this treatment would help to position this drug in the therapeutic paradigm of CD and generate hypotheses for future trials. The objective of this analysis was to determine whether baseline patient characteristics are predictive of remission and the drug durability of ustekinumab, and whether its positioning with respect to prior use of biologics has a significant effect after correcting for disease severity and phenotype at baseline using interpretable machine learning. Patients' data from SUSTAIN, a retrospective multicenter single-arm cohort study, were used. Disease phenotype, baseline laboratory data, and prior treatment characteristics were documented. Clinical remission was defined as the Harvey Bradshaw Index ≤ 4 and was tracked longitudinally. Drug durability was defined as the time until a patient discontinued treatment. A total of 439 participants from 60 centers were included and a total of 20 baseline covariates considered. Less exposure to previous biologics had a positive effect on remission, even after controlling for baseline disease severity using a non-linear, additive, multivariable model. Additionally, age, body mass index, and fecal calprotectin at baseline were found to be statistically significant as independent negative risk factors for both remission and drug survival, with further risk factors identified for remission.