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Despite pharmacological advances, strictures in Crohn's Disease (CD) continues to be an important problem that leads in a high percentage of patients to undergo endoscopic and/or surgical treatments. There are currently no clinical scores or diagnostic tools that allow predicting which patients will develop this complication, and when a stricture is diagnosed, it is usually already well established and clinically relevant. The current role of pharmacological treatment is limited to treat inflammation and once there is significant fibrosis, the only therapeutic options are endoscopic and/or surgical. To establish a correct therapeutic algorithm and based on the current scientific evidence available, the Spanish Group Working on Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (GETECCU) has decided to conduct this position statement on the treatment of strictures in CD. This document embraces the three mentioned therapeutic approaches, medical, endoscopic and surgical. Recommendations and therapeutic algorithms are established to help us to choose the most appropriate option based on the characteristics of the stricture and the patient.

Colonic inflammatory bowel diseases have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer compared to the general population, which is why they require endoscopic screening techniques with specific follow-up intervals based on the different risk factors described on the literature. This position paper analyzes the current scientific evidence for the different endoscopic techniques available today, how their implementation should be carried out in endoscopic units and describes in detail how their implementation should be carried out, in which patients and with what interval, and finally, what should be the response to finding dysplasia, proposing a specific follow-up algorithm.

Resumen Los pacientes con enfermedades inflamatorias intestinales de localizacion colonica tienen mayor riesgo de desarrollar cancer colorrectal que la poblacion general, por lo que precisan de tecnicas endoscopicas de cribado con intervalos de seguimiento basados en los diferentes factores de riesgo descritos. En el presente documento de posicionamiento analizamos la evidencia cientifica vigente para las diferentes tecnicas endoscopicas disponibles en la actualidad, como debe realizarse su implementacion en las unidades de endoscopia, y se describe con detalle como debe ser tecnicamente su realizacion, a que pacientes y con que intervalo debe realizarse, y finalmente, cual debe ser nuestra actitud ante el hallazgo de displasia, proponiendo un algoritmo de seguimiento especifico.

Background Older age has been reported as a risk factor for severe SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19). The impact of immunosuppressants (IMS) on COVID-19 is still under debate. Aim To describe the incidence and severity of COVID-19 in elderly patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in relation to the use of IMS. Methods IBD patients over 65 years of age were selected and grouped in terms of IMS use. Confirmed COVID-19, adherence to IST, comorbidities and concomitant non-IBD-related treatments between 1st of March 2020 to 1st of March 2021 were recorded. Results Out of 418 patients included, 89 (21.3%) were on IMS. Thirty-two patients (7.7%) had COVID-19, 7 of whom were on IMS (7.6% not on IMS vs. 7.9% on IMS; P = 0.933) and 7 (22%) patients died. Conclusions Incidence of COVID-19 among elderly IBD patients was similar to that reported in the background population, regardless of the use of IMS.

Background The long-term outcome of patients after antitumour necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF) discontinuation is not well known. Aims To assess the risk of relapse in the long-term after anti-TNF discontinuation. Methods This was an extension of the evolution after anti-TNF discontinuation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (EVODIS) study (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis patients treated with anti-TNFs in whom these drugs were withdrawn after achieving clinical remission) based in the same cohort of patients whose outcome was updated. Clinical remission was defined as a Harvey-Bradshaw index ≤4 points in Crohn's disease, a partial Mayo score ≤2 in ulcerative colitis and the absence of fistula drainage despite gentle finger compression in perianal disease. Results This was an observational, retrospective, multicenter study. A total of 1055 patients were included. The median follow-up time was 34 months. The incidence rate of relapse was 12% per patient-year (95% confidence interval [CI] = 11-14). The cumulative incidence of relapse was 50% (95% CI = 47-53): 19% at one year, 31% at 2 years, 38% at 3 years, 44% at 4 years and 48% at 5 years of follow-up. Of the 60% patients retreated with the same anti-TNF after relapse, 73% regained remission. Of the 75 patients who did not respond, 48% achieved remission with other therapies. Of the 190 patients who started other therapies after relapse, 62% achieved remission with the new treatment. Conclusions A significant proportion of patients who discontinued the anti-TNF remained in remission. In case of relapse, retreatment with the same anti-TNF was usually effective. Approximately half of the patients who did not respond after retreatment achieved remission with other therapies.

The number of older patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing due to both improvements in the life expectancy of patients with long-lasting IBD and later onset of the disease. In spite of a less aggressive IBD phenotype, disease management in older patients is hampered by comorbidities and polypharmacy (which increase the risk of drug-related adverse events and errors in medication intake) and also by an increased risk of the infections and malignancies associated with the immunosuppressive drugs that are frequently used to treat IBD. Thiopurines are the most frequently used immunosuppressive drugs in IBD, though they are often discontinued due to adverse events. However, when tolerated, thiopurines are efficient in the maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. In fact, thiopurines still have a role to play in the treatment algorithm of older patients with IBD because anti-tumor necrosis factor agents do not provide clear advantages for this population in terms of their safety profile, while data on the new biological drugs are still scarce. In this article, we review the optimal use of thiopurines in older patients with IBD.

Resumen La evidencia de que el seguimiento de las recomendaciones sobre el cribado y tratamiento de la infeccion tuberculosa no evita totalmente la aparicion de tuberculosis en pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal, y el uso reciente de nuevos farmacos biologicos y de nuevos inmunomoduladores, ha llevado al Grupo Espanol de Trabajo en Enfermedad de Crohn y en Colitis Ulcerosa a actualizar sus recomendaciones para la prevencion de la tuberculosis en los pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal. Se revisan los metodos de diagnostico de la infeccion tuberculosa latente, los distintos escenarios en los que se va a realizar el cribado, las estrategias para disminuir el riesgo de tuberculosis una vez iniciado el tratamiento biologico, las pautas de quimioprofilaxis de la infeccion tuberculosa latente y el manejo de la tuberculosis activa durante el tratamiento biologico. Finalmente, se resumen las recomendaciones en el texto y en un algoritmo.

BACKGROUND: Anti-TNF agents are the only effective biological agents for the prevention of postoperative recurrence (POR) in Crohn's disease (CD). However, they are contraindicated or have been shown to fail in some patients. Although ustekinumab and vedolizumab were licensed for CD some years ago, data in this setting are scarce.; METHODS: All CD patients in whom ustekinumab or vedolizumab was prescribed for the prevention of POR within three months of ileocolonic resection with anastomosis were identified from the ENEIDA registry. The development of endoscopic, clinical and surgical POR was registered.; RESULTS: Forty patients were treated for the prevention of POR with ustekinumab and 25 were treated with vedolizumab. Eighty per cent had at least one risk factor for POR (prior resections, active smoking, perianal disease or penetrating disease behaviour). All the patients had been exposed to anti-TNF therapy. After a median follow-up of 17 and 26 months, the cumulative probability of clinical POR at 12 months after surgery was 32% and 30% for ustekinumab and vedolizumab, respectively. Endoscopic assessment within the first 18 months after surgery was available for 80% of the patients on ustekinumab and 70% for those on vedolizumab. The rate of endoscopic POR was 42% for ustekinumab and 40% for vedolizumab. One patient treated with ustekinumab and two with vedolizumab underwent a new intestinal resection.; CONCLUSIONS: Ustekinumab and vedolizumab seem to be effective in the prevention of POR in patients at high risk. Our results warrant controlled trials comparing these drugs with conventional therapies. Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

COVID-19; Immunosuppression; Inflammatory bowel disease COVID-19; Immunosupressió; Malaltia inflamatòria intestinal COVID-19; Inmunosupresión; Enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (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.

Background The modified Rutgeerts’ score [RS] differentiates i2a—lesions confined to the anastomosis—and i2b—more than five aphthous ulcers in the neoterminal ileum with normal intervening mucosa, with or without anastomotic lesions—categories. Its relevance for the therapeutic management of Crohn’s disease [CD] patients after ileocolic resection is still debated. Our objective was to compare the postoperative recurrence risk in patients with an i2a or i2b score, using an individual patient data meta-analysis. Methods We conducted a systematic literature search until July 2020, to identify all relevant studies reporting the i2a/i2b status in the year following ileocolic resection and clinical and/or surgical postoperative CD recurrence in their follow-up. Individual patient-level data were obtained from the corresponding authors. The association between the modified RS and time-to-event was evaluated using a mixed Cox model with the centre as the random effect. Results Seven studies published between 2008 and 2019 were included, corresponding to 400 patients: 189 [47%] i2a and 211 [53%] i2b. Median [interquartile range, IQR] time from ileocolic resection to ileocolonoscopy was 6.2 [5.5, 7.9] months and median [IQR] follow-up time after ileocolonoscopy was 4.5 [2.9, 7.3] years. The risk of clinical postoperative recurrence at 1 and 3 years was 11% [6–15%], and 25% [18–32%] in the i2a group versus 9% [5–13%] and 33% [26–41%] in the i2b group [p = 0.63 and p = 0.12, respectively]. No significant difference was observed in terms of time to clinical postoperative recurrence [p = 0.16] or surgical postoperative recurrence [p = 0.87]. Results did not change after excluding patients having initiated an immunosuppressant or a biologic in the 3 months after endoscopy [remaining cohort, n = 361]. Conclusions In this individual patient data meta-analysis, no difference was observed between i2a and i2b subcategories with regards to clinical or surgical postoperative recurrence. As we wait for prospective trials, the same treatment strategy could be applied to all patients classified as i2 on the Rutgeerts score.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There is a need to evaluate the benefit-risk ratio of current therapies in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients to provide the best quality of care. The primary objective of I-CARE (IBD Cancer and serious infections in Europe) was to assess prospectively safety concerns in IBD, with specific focus on the risk of cancer/lymphoma and serious infections in patients treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor and other biologic monotherapy as well as in combination with immunomodulators.METHODS: I-CARE was designed as a European prospective longitudinal observational multicenter cohort study to include patients with a diagnosis of Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or IBD unclassified established at least 3 months prior to enrollment.RESULTS: A total of 10,206 patients were enrolled between March 2016 and April 2019, including 6169 (60.4%) patients with Crohn's disease, 3853 (37.8%) with ulcerative colitis, and 184 (1.8%) with a diagnosis of IBD unclassified. Thirty-two percent of patients were receiving azathioprine/thiopurines, 4.6% 6-mercaptopurine, and 3.2% methotrexate at study entry. At inclusion, 47.3% of patients were treated with an anti-tumor necrosis factor agent, 8.8% with vedolizumab, and 3.4% with ustekinumab. Roughly one-quarter of patients (26.8%) underwent prior IBD-related surgery. Sixty-six percent of patients had been previously treated with systemic steroids. Three percent of patients had a medical history of cancer prior to inclusion and 1.1% had a history of colonic, esophageal, or uterine cervix high-grade dysplasia.CONCLUSIONS: I-CARE is an ongoing investigator-initiated observational European prospective cohort study that will provide unique information on the long-term benefits and risks of biological therapies in IBD patients. (EudraCT, Number: 2014-004728-23; ClinicalTrials.gov, Number: NCT02377258).

Background Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder affecting around 11% of the world population, which diagnostic is mainly based on clinical parameters. IBS shares many symptoms with other gastrointestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which makes positive diagnosis a difficult task. Aim This work presents the design of a new test, called RAID‐Dx, which is a mathematical algorithm based on the combination of nine faecal microbial markers capable of diagnosing IBS. Methods A cohort consisting of 165 subjects (52 IBS and 52 IBD patients, and 61 healthy controls) was recruited from the Gastroenterology Department of six hospitals. Each patient provided a stool sample from which DNA was extracted, and microbial markers composing RAID‐Dx were analysed by qPCR. The results obtained were used to define and validate the RAID‐Dx algorithm. Results The abundance of the biomarkers included in the algorithm differed according to the diagnosis. RAID‐Dx shows a high capacity to diagnose IBS with a sensitivity of 82.4% and a specificity of 85.7%. RAID‐Dx also reports higher sensitivity and specificity values than faecal calprotectin for IBS and IBD differentiation. Conclusions RAID‐Dx is a noninvasive tool aimed to diagnose IBS with high sensitivity and specificity. The use of this new tool for IBS diagnosis could significantly improve disease management, minimise its misdiagnosis and increase patients’ quality of life

Crohn's disease (CD) is a complex and multifactorial illness. There are still considerable gaps in our knowledge regarding its pathophysiology. A transcriptomic approach could shed some light on little-known biological alterations of the disease. We therefore aimed to explore the ileal transcriptome to gain knowledge about CD. We performed whole transcriptome gene expression analysis on ileocecal resections from CD patients and inflammatory bowel disease-free controls, as well as on a CD-independent cohort to replicate selected results. Normalized data were hierarchically clustered, and gene ontology and the molecular network were studied. Cell cultures and molecular methods were used for further evaluations. Genome-wide expression data analysis identified a robust transmembrane immunoglobulin domain-containing 1 (TMIGD1) gene underexpression in CD tissue, which was even more marked in inflamed ileum, and which was replicated in the validation cohort. Immunofluorescence showed TMIGD1 to be located in the apical microvilli of well-differentiated enterocytes but not in intestinal crypt. This apical TMIGD1 was lower in the noninflamed tissue and almost disappeared in the inflamed mucosa of surgical resections. In vitro studies showed hypoxic-dependent TMIGDI decreased its expression in enterocyte-like cells. The gene enrichment analysis linked TMIGD1 with cell recovery and tissue remodeling in CD settings. involving guanylate cyclase activities. Transcriptomics may be useful for finding new targets that facilitate studies of the CD pathology. This is how TMIGD1 was identified in CD patients, which was related to multiciliate ileal epithelial cell differentiation. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is a single-center translational research study that aimed to look for key targets involved in Crohn's disease and define molecular pathways through different functional analysis strategies. With this approach, we have identified and described a novel target, the almost unknown TMIGD1 gene, which may be key in the recovery of injured mucosa involving intestinal epithelial cell differentiation.

Background: There is limited information regarding the impact of patients' perception of injection pain on adherence to treatments, specifically in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Therefore, we aimed to determine the impact of the pain associated with the subcutaneous administration of adalimumab in patients with IBD treated with the old formulation and the new low-volume/citrate-free formulation. Methods: A specifically-designed questionnaire was completed by 76 patients with IBD, who started treatment with adatimumab before the availability of the low-volume/citrate-free formulation and were switched to this new formulation. Intensity of pain was measured by using visual analog scales (VAS). Results: A total of 62 patients (82%) experienced injection-related pain with the initial formulation. The perception of pain was associated with a decreased adherence to the treatment (37%), an increase in pre-administration anxiety (25%) or, as a consequence, the patient required someone else to carry out the injection (21%). Younger age was the only factor associated with pain perception. After switching to the new formulation, perception of pain persisted only in 2 patients (3%). Among those who felt pain with the initial formulation, pre-administration anxiety disappeared in 44%; 32% and 42% stated that the new formulation eased adherence and self-administration. Conclusions: The perception of pain related to the subcutaneous administration of therapy negatively impacts on treatment adherence in IBD patients. Improved formulations for subcutaneous administration of drugs can positively impact patients' convenience and adherence. (C) 2019 Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

[Objective] To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the combination of granulocyte–monocyte apheresis (GMA) after loss of response (LOR) to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents in ulcerative colitis (UC)., [Materials and methods] A retrospective, multicenter study was performed in 11 inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) Units. Clinical remission was defined as a partial Mayo score ≤2. The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated by the partial Mayo score and the rate of anti-TNF intensification, switch, swap or colectomy., [Results] Forty-seven patients with ulcerative colitis were included (mean age 35 years, mean disease duration 52 months, 66% male and 59% extensive colitis). Twenty-three subjects were receiving infliximab, eighteen adalimumab and six golimumab. GMA was combined after a primary non-response (49%) or secondary loss of response (51%) to anti-TNF therapy. We observed a significant decrease in partial Mayo score and fecal calprotectin after GMA. Fifteen patients (32%) responded to the combination therapy without anti-TNF intensification, switch, swap or colectomy. Eight patients (17%) underwent colectomy. Two patients (4%) presented adverse events related to the technique., [Conclusions] Combination of GMA and anti-tumor necrosis factor is a safe and effective treatment after the loss of response to these biologic agents, with a significant decrease of the clinical disease activity and biomarkers, in a population with limited therapeutic alternatives.

There is evidence that following the recommendations on screening and treatment of tuberculosis infection does not completely prevent the onset of tuberculosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. This fact, and the increasing use of new biologics and immunomodulators, has led the Spanish Group Working on Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis to update their recommendations for the prevention of tuberculosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Diagnostic methods for latent tuberculosis infection, different scenarios in which screening is to be performed, strategies to reduce the risk of tuberculosis once biological treatment is initiated and chemoprophylaxis guidelines for latent tuberculosis infection are reviewed, as well as the management of active tuberculosis during biological treatment. Finally, there is a summary of the current recommendations within the paper and in an algorithm. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U.

Background: : Despite the efficacy of biological agents, surgery is still required for a large percentage of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Aims: To assess the postoperative mortality rates and associated risk factors in IBD patients in a population-based setting in the era of biological agents. Methods: This is a population-based longitudinal study including all patients diagnosed with IBD in Catalonia who underwent intestinal resection or colectomy between 2007 and 2016, identified from the Catalan Health Surveillance System database. Logistic regression was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio for postoperative in-hospital and 30-day mortality. Data for Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) were analysed separately. Results: A total of 1,660 interventions for CD (69%) and 738 for UC (31%) were performed at 55 centres. In-hospital and 30-day postoperative mortality rates were 2.1% and 2.5% for CD, and 5.4% and 6.4% for UC, respectively. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, comorbidity was associated with in-hospital and 30-day postoperative mortality in CD and UC, whereas age was only associated with mortality in CD and a non-laparoscopic surgical approach with UC. Conclusions: In the era of biologicals, the postoperative mortality rate for IBD depends mostly on comorbidities and age. (C) 2020 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND: The frequency of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increased after marriage to an individual with the disease. Importantly, the offspring of these couples have a significant risk for developing the disease. Herein, we aimed to better characterize conjugal IBD. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted with predetermined search criteria. Relevant manuscripts reporting on couples with IBD and their offspring were selected. Concomitantly, a cross-sectional survey was conducted of couples where both members were affected with IBD, as well as their offspring, and electronically distributed by patients' associations. RESULTS: We identified 20 reports of IBD in couples, for a total of 68 couples. Of these, 66% were concordant regarding IBD type and 66% were diagnosed after cohabitation. The overall prevalence of IBD in the offspring of these couples was 29%. Our survey identified 58 couples with IBD, with 62% being concordant regarding IBD type; 42.9% were diagnosed prior to cohabitation, in 12.5% one spouse was diagnosed before and the other after cohabitation, and in 44.6% the onset of disease occurred after cohabitation for both. The prevalence of IBD in children born from these couples was 10%. The probability of developing disease in the progeny was 2% at 10 years, 12% at 15 years, and 16% at 20 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: IBD in couples occurs mostly after marriage to an individual with disease or after many years of cohabitation. In a modern cohort, the risk for the progeny was around 16% by the age of 20, lower than previously reported. ispartof: ANNALS OF GASTROENTEROLOGY vol:34 issue:3 pages:361-369 ispartof: location:Greece status: published

Background: The outbreak of COVID19 evolved rapidly into a global pandemic, forcing hospitals, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) referral units, to change their practices to ensure quality of care. Aims: To describe the clinical outcomes and the fulfilment of the treatment schedule of patients with IBD treated with biological agents in a single-center of a red-zone of the pandemic, and to report the patients' perceptions about COVID-19 and the measures adopted at our center. Methods Therapeutic adherence and clinical outcomes were collected for all patients undergoing treatment with intravenous biologicals and subcutaneous biologicals at our center. A telephone survey was also performed to assess these patients' perceptions of the COVID pandemic and the related measures adopted at their IBD unit. Results: A total of 234 patients were included (117 on intravenous and 117 on subcutaneous biologicals). Only 10% of patients postponed intravenous infusions intentionally and 5% postponed the collection of subcutaneous biologicals at the hospital pharmacy. Only five confirmed COVID-19 cases were registered (2.1%), all of them of mild severity. One hundred and fifty-five patients participated in the survey (77 on intravenous and 78 on subcutaneous drugs). Fear of going to the hospital was the most common reason for postponing biological administrations. Among those on combination therapy, only 7% admitted to have withdrawn immunosuppressants. Conclusions: Adherence to intravenous and subcutaneous biological therapies during the pandemic was high in a single-center cohort of IBD patients even though the cumulative incidence of confirmed COVID-19 was low.

Background Previous studies comparing inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) features between migrant and native patients have shown clinical phenotype differences. To date, no study has focused on IBD immigrants(MP) in Spain. The aim of this study was to explore the features of MP in Spain and to compare age of disease onset, IBD phenotype and therapeutic requirements with native-born IBD patients(NP). Methods This was an observational, multicentric and case-control study of the nationwide ENEIDA registry. We selected all IBD patients who were born outside of Spain and compared with a control cohort of NP. All included patients were diagnosed with IBD before 2015. Results A total of 13,524 patients were included(1864 MP and 11660 NP).The most prevalent ethnic migrant group was Caucasian(771, 41%), followed by Latin American(572, 31%) and Arabian(341,18%), whereas Asian represented only 6%. Table 1 summarizes the demographic and phenotypic features. 71% of MP were diagnosed with IBD in Spain. There was not a gender predisposition to IBD in the overall migrant group, however more female UC MP were detected compared to UC NP(52 % vs 45%, p Conclusion In the largest cohort of migrant IBD patients in Spain, immigrants were younger, had a shorter disease duration and required a higher use of biologics than natives, pointing phenotypic differences in this population and a universal access to the healthcare system all over the country.

Background Older age has been confirmed as a risk factor for severe clinical presentation of SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19). The prevalence of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in Catalonia among people over 60 years is 6.6%. Biological agents have not been associated with a higher incidence nor a worse prognosis of COVID-19. However, the role of immunosuppressants (IMS) on this issue is still to be elucidated. Moreover, there are scarce data related about COVID-19 in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients under IMS, and none focusing in elderly IBD. Our aim was to describe and to compare the incidence and severity of COVID-19 in patients over 65 years of age with IBD, particularly in relation to the use of IMS. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study including IBD patients over 65 years since January 2020, from two referral centres in the Barcelona metropolitan area (Catalonia, Spain). Patients were grouped in two cohorts regarding the use or not of IMS (thiopurines or methotrexate). Patients on biological treatment were excluded. We identified those cases with confirmed infection with SARS-CoV-2 (positive PCR) during the period from 1st of March 2020 (the beginning of the pandemic in Catalonia) to 1st March 2021 (the beginning of vaccination in the elderly). Demographic data, IBD comorbidities, concomitant non-IBD related treatments, and SARS-CoV-2 infection outcomes were recorded. Results Four-hundred and eighteen elderly IBD patients were included. The median age was 74 years (IQR 69–78), 52% were male; 70% had ulcerative colitis, 28% Crohn’s disease and 2% IBD unclassified, 62% had arterial hypertension, 22% diabetes mellitus, 22% cardiovascular disease, 15% chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 10% chronic renal disease, 5% were active smokers. There were no differences regarding comorbidities and non-IBD treatments between the two study groups. From the whole cohort, 89 (21.3%) patients were on IMS (86 with thiopurines, 3 with methotrexate). The median time on IMS was 121 months (IQR 60–162). During the study period, 32 patients (7.7%) had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (7 of whom were on IST; 7.6% not on IMS vs. 7.9% on IMS, P=0.933). Seventeen (53%) patients required hospital admittance (4% not IMS vs. 4.5% on IMS; P=0.818); 4 of them developed COVID-19 related complications (3 patients not on IMS vs. 1 on IMS), and 7 (22%) patients died (6 not on IMS vs. 1 patient on IMS). Conclusion The rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection among elderly IBD patients is quite similar to that reported in the elderly background population. In elderly IBD patients, SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a high admission rate and mortality, regardless of the use of IMS.

Background The information regarding IBD patients with COVID-19 suggests that the factors related to bad outcome are older age and comorbidity whereas immunosuppressants do not have a significant impact worsening the disease evolution. To date, there is no information to assess if there are differences in epidemiological, demographical, and clinical characteristics between infected and non-infected IBD patients. Methods Case-control study in IBD patients with COVID-19 (cases) compared to IBD without COVID-19 (controls) in the period March-July/2020 within the ENEIDA registry (promoted by GETECCU and with more than 60.000 IBD patients included). Cases were matched 1:2 by age (±5y), type of disease (CD/UC), gender, and centre. All controls were selected from only one investigator blind to other clinical characteristics of the patients to avoid selection bias. Results 496 cases and 964 controls from 63 Spanish centres were included. No differences were found within the basal characteristics including CD location, CD behaviour, extraintestinal manifestations, family history of IBD or smoking habits. Cases had ≥ 1 comorbidities (cases:43%vs. controls:36%, p=0.01) and occupational risk (cases:27% vs. controls:10.6%, p Conclusion Comorbidities and epidemiological risk factors are the most relevant aspects for the risk of COVID-19 in IBD patients. This risk of COVID-19 seems to be increased by aminosalicylates but not by immunosuppressants or biologics. The attitude regarding treating IBD patients with aminosalicylates during the COVID-19 pandemic deserves a deeper analysis. Funded by the Carlos III Health Institute COV20/00227.

Background Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that normally requires bowel surgical resection due to intra-abdominal inflammatory complications such as fistulae and stenosis. However, 90% of patients that underwent surgery and did not receive prophylaxis, suffer from postsurgical endoscopic recurrence within one year. Methods The objective of this study is to understand the de novo postsurgical lesion formation in order to stablish a potential mechanism of action and its derived predictive signals to devise preventive strategies. To achieve it, transcriptome analyses of the inflamed and macroscopically unaffected zone of the ileocecal resection from 20 patients from a hospital cohort and 10 controls were performed. Patients were classified for early postsurgical recurrence by means of Rutgeerts index (i0 Results The transcriptome results showed there were no differences neither between i0, i1 and i2a (anastomotic lesions) nor when comparing i2b (non-anastomotic lesions) vs ≥i3. However, when comparing i0+i1+i2a vs. i2b+i3+i4 there were differently expressed genes highlighting ADIPOQ in the inflamed zone and the FXR/FGF19 axis in the unaffected zone. When replicating the results in the corroborative cohort, we identified FXR and other xenobiotic nuclear receptors as the genes differentially expressed in i2a vs i2b, i3 and/or i4, mainly in the macroscopically unaffected zone. Specifically, the differentially expressed genes were: MOGAT2, PXR, FXR and AHR (i2a vs i4), PPARα and FXR (i2a vs i3), TMIGD1, PPARα, FXR and AHR (i2a vs i3+i4) and FXR (i2a vs i2b+i3+i4). Conclusion Nuclear receptor FXR is activated in the ileum by bile acids action and it is key in the lipid metabolism regulation and in the bile acids production by means of FGF19. Moreover, ileal FXR, as well as other xenobiotic nuclear receptors, actively participates in the enhancement of the intestinal barrier function and in the innate immunity regulation. In conclusion, the results obtained in this study suggest a link between bowel xenobiotic metabolism and the de novo lesion formation in previously unaffected areas in the postsurgical recurrence in CD.

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Changes in the requirement for early surgery in inflammatory bowel disease in the era of biological agents. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (2020): 29 April, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/jgh.15084. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions, Biological therapies may be changing the natural history of inflammatory bowel diseases, reducing the need for surgical intervention. We aimed to assess whether the availability of anti‐TNF agents impacts the need for early surgery in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods Retrospective, cohort study of patients diagnosed within a 6‐year period before and after the licensing of anti‐TNFs (1990‐1995 and 2007‐2012 for CD; 1995‐2000 and 2007‐2012 for UC) were identified in the ENEIDA Registry. Surgery‐free survival curves were compared between cohorts. Results A total of 7,370 CD patients (2,022 in Cohort 1 and 5,348 in Cohort 2) and 8,069 UC patients (2,938 in Cohort 1 and 5,131 in Cohort 2) were included. Immunosuppressants were used significantly earlier and more frequently in both CD and UC post‐biological cohorts. The cumulative probability of surgery was lower in CD following anti‐TNF approval (16% and 11%, 22% and 16%, and 29% and 19%, at 1, 3 and 5 years, respectively p

Background and Aims Although commonly used in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD], thiopurines frequently cause intolerance, and switching to a second thiopurine has only been reported in some small series. Ours aims in this study were to evaluate the safety of switching to a second thiopurine in a large cohort, and to assess the impact of age on tolerance. Methods Adult IBD patients from the ENEIDA registry, who were switched to a second thiopurine due to adverse events [excluding malignancies and infections], were identified. At the beginning of thiopurine treatment, patients were divided by age into two groups: 18–50 and over 60 years of age. The rate and concordance of adverse events between the first and second thiopurines, treatment intolerance, and persistence with the second thiopurine were evaluated. Results A total of 1278 patients [13% over 60 years of age] were switched to a second thiopurine. At 12 months, the cumulative probability of switch intolerance was 43%, and persistence with treatment was 49%. Independent risk factors of switch intolerance were age over 60 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07–2.07; p = 0.017) , previous gastrointestinal toxicity [OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.11–1.78; p = 0.005], previous acute pancreatitis [OR 6.78; 95% CI 2.55–18.05; p Conclusions In a large series in clinical practice, switching to a second thiopurine proved to be a valid strategy. Tight monitoring of elderly IBD patients switching to a second thiopurine because of adverse events is recommended.