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Background Gadolinium-enhanced sequences are not included in the simplified Magnetic Resonance Index of Activity [sMARIA], but in the derivation of this index readers had access to these sequences. The current study aimed to validate the sMARIA without gadolinium-enhanced sequences for assessing disease activity, severity, and response to treatment in patients with Crohn’s disease. Methods We prospectively included patients with active Crohn’s disease and at least one segment with severe inflammation [ulcers] at ileocolonoscopy, who required treatment with biologic drugs. Patients were evaluated by both magnetic resonance enterography [MRE] and ileocolonoscopy at baseline and 46 weeks after initiation of medical treatment. We compared the quantification of disease activity and response to treatment with sMARIA versus with ileocolonoscopy Crohn’s Disease Index of Severity [CDEIS], considered the gold standard. Results Data from both MRE and ileocolonoscopy 46 weeks after treatment initiation were available for 39 of the 50 patients. As in the derivation study, the optimal cutoffs were sMARIA ≥1 for predicting active disease (area under the curve [AUC] 0.92) and sMARIA ≥2 for predicting the presence of ulcers at ileocolonoscopy [AUC 0.93]. In evaluating the response to treatment, the sMARIA detected endoscopic ulcer healing at the segment level [sMARIA Conclusions The sMARIA is accurate and reliable in quantifying disease activity and response to treatment in luminal Crohn’s disease, without the need for gadolinium-enhanced sequences.

Background It has been suggested that biologic therapy may increase the risk of postoperative complications in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but the evidence is scarce. Our aim was to evaluate whether the treatment with anti-TNF agents, ustekinumab or vedolizumab increase the risk of complications after surgery. Methods IBD patients undergoing intra-abdominal surgery between 1st January 2009 and 31st December of 2019 were retrospectively selected. Data collection included clinical characteristic of IBD, biochemical parameters and surgical aspects. Postoperative complications (PC) were defined as those occurring within 30 days after surgery. Exposed cohort (EC): Patients who received the last dose of the biologic within 3 months before surgery. Non-exposed cohort (NEC): Patients who did not receive biologic treatment within 3 moths prior to surgery. Predictive factors for PC and for infections were identified by logistic regression analyses. A genetic matching score was performed to balance the clinical characteristics of both groups. Results A total of 1,535 surgeries performed in 37 centres were included: 81% in Crohn’s disease, 18% in ulcerative colitis and 1% in unclassified-IBD patients. A total of 711 surgeries (46.3%) had been exposed to biologics (583 under anti-TNF therapy, 58 under vedolizumab and 69 under ustekinumab) and 824 surgeries (53.7%) the NEC. PC were reported in 38% (n=267) of patients in the exposed cohort and in 34% (n=280) of patients in the non-exposed one (p=0.15), including dehiscence, infection, obstruction, ileus, bleeding, thrombosis, fistula and evisceration. The most frequent complications were infections (48% of all the cases). A 30-day hospital readmission was needed in 7% (n=110) of the patients, and 2% (n=29) required a new surgery with no differences (p>0.05). Multivariate analysis for PC and infections is presented in table 1. The frequencies of PC for each biologic in the univariate analysis are represented in figure 1. No specific treatment was associated to PC or infections in multivariate analysis. Conclusion Preoperative administration of biological therapy does not seem to be a risk factor for overall PC, although it may be for postoperative infections.