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Thiopurine Monotherapy Is Effective in Maintenance of Mild-Moderate Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Dig Dis Sci 2022; 67:1287-1294. [PMID: 33755823 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-021-06947-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are complex, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) with debilitating complications. While severe IBD typically requires biologic agents, the optimal therapy for mild-moderate IBD is less clear. AIMS To assess the efficacy of thiopurine monotherapy for maintenance of mild-moderate IBD and clinical variables associated with treatment outcome. METHODS This retrospective study included adults with mild-moderate IBD who were started on thiopurines without biologic therapy. The primary outcome was therapy failure, defined by disease progression based on clinical, endoscopic, and radiologic criteria. Clinical variables were extracted at time of thiopurine initiation. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the independent contribution of the clinical variables on treatment response. RESULTS From 230 CD patients, 64 (72%) were free of treatment failure with mean follow-up of 3.3 years. In our multivariable model, thiopurine failure was associated with concomitant systemic steroid administration (aHR 2.43, p = 0.001), whereas protective factors included concomitant oral 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) therapy (aHR 0.54, p = 0.02) and non-fistulizing, non-stricturing disease (aHR 0.57, p = 0.047). From 173 UC patients, 50 (71%) were free from treatment failure with mean follow-up of 3.3 years. On multivariable analysis, concomitant oral steroids were associated with thiopurine failure (aHR 2.71, p = 0.001). Only 13 (4%) discontinued thiopurines from adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS In mild-moderate uncomplicated IBD, thiopurine monotherapy was associated with longitudinal maintenance of remission and may represent a lower-cost, convenient, and effective alternative to biologics. Multiple clinical variables were predictive of treatment response.
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Kariyawasam VC, Mourad FH, Mitrev N, Paramsothy S, Selinger CP, Katelaris PH, Jones B, McDonald C, Barr G, Chapman G, Cowlishaw J, Andrews J, Leong RW. Early thiopurine maintenance is associated with reduced proximal disease progression and colectomy rate in ulcerative colitis. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 33:1524-1532. [PMID: 33731581 DOI: 10.1097/meg.0000000000002101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thiopurines effectively maintain remission in ulcerative colitis patients. Whether early initiation of thiopurines after ulcerative colitis diagnosis decreases proximal disease progression and colectomy rates is not known. METHODS We conducted a cohort study of ulcerative colitis subjects recruited from 1970 to 2009. Early thiopurine maintenance was defined as commencement of azathioprine or mercaptopurine within 5 years of diagnosis and maintenance for at least 6 months. Propensity score matching was conducted to correct for confounders influencing early thiopurine introduction. Outcomes of interest were colectomy rate and endoscopic proximal disease extension. RESULTS 982 consecutive ulcerative colitis subjects (12 879 patient-years) were recruited with 116 requiring colectomy. Thiopurines initiation and maintenance increased over time with median time to thiopurine commencement decreasing from 23 years in the first decade to 2 years in the last decade (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that early thiopurine maintenance significantly decreased the need for colectomy [hazard ratio, 0.13; 95% confidence interval (CI):0.03-0.55; P = 0.006]. The number of subjects needed to be treated to reduce one colectomy at 5 and 10 years was 18 (95% CI, 16- 36) and 12 (95% CI, 11-25). After propensity score matching, early thiopurine maintenance was significantly associated with decreased colectomy (hazard ratio, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.03-0.43; P = 0.002) and proximal progression of disease extent (hazard ratio, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.10-0.78; P = 0.015). CONCLUSION Early thiopurine maintenance for >6 months is significantly associated with reduced colectomy and proximal progression of disease extent in ulcerative colitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viraj C Kariyawasam
- Gastroenterology and Liver Services, Concord Repatriation General Hospital
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Fadi H Mourad
- Gastroenterology and Liver Services, Concord Repatriation General Hospital
| | - Nikola Mitrev
- Gastroenterology and Liver Services, Concord Repatriation General Hospital
| | | | - Christian P Selinger
- Gastroenterology and Liver Services, Concord Repatriation General Hospital
- Department of Gastroenterology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - Peter H Katelaris
- Gastroenterology and Liver Services, Concord Repatriation General Hospital
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Brian Jones
- Gastroenterology and Liver Services, Concord Repatriation General Hospital
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Charles McDonald
- Gastroenterology and Liver Services, Concord Repatriation General Hospital
| | - Gavin Barr
- Gastroenterology and Liver Services, Concord Repatriation General Hospital
| | - Grace Chapman
- Gastroenterology and Liver Services, Concord Repatriation General Hospital
| | - James Cowlishaw
- Gastroenterology and Liver Services, Concord Repatriation General Hospital
| | - Jane Andrews
- IBD Services, Department of Gastroenterology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Rupert W Leong
- Gastroenterology and Liver Services, Concord Repatriation General Hospital
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Dal Buono A, Roda G, Argollo M, Paridaens K, Peyrin-Biroulet L, Danese S. 'Treat to Target' in Mild to Moderate Ulcerative Colitis: Evidence to Support this Strategy. Curr Drug Targets 2020; 22:117-125. [PMID: 32718289 DOI: 10.2174/1389450121666200727120305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The management of chronic conditions, above all rheumatic disease and diabetes, now incorporates a "treat to target" strategy where treatment aims to achieve objective outcomes. This is applicable in ulcerative colitis (UC) as well. Targets are demonstrated to prevent endorgan dysfunction, specifically bowel damage and its complications, and lastly colorectal cancer. Recently, the scientific community has tried to define further targets beyond those currently recommended, namely mucosal healing and clinical remission. Studies that prospectively investigated this approach in UC are scanty and a treat-to-target (T2T) algorithm is not routinely used in daily clinical practice. OBJECTIVE We aim to review current evidence on T2T in UC and discuss its adoption in routine clinical practice as well as in clinical trials. METHODS A PubMed search was conducted in February 2020 to identify published papers investigating targets' achievement rates in UC. RESULTS Different targets can be achieved through approved drugs for mild to moderate UC; histological remission is emerging as a robust target with respect to long-term outcomes. CONCLUSION Further studies to compare a T2T strategy with the traditional care are needed, particularly in the mild to moderate spectrum of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Dal Buono
- IBD Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center-IRCCS, Rozzano, 20089 Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Roda
- IBD Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center-IRCCS, Rozzano, 20089 Milan, Italy
| | - Marjorie Argollo
- IBD Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center-IRCCS, Rozzano, 20089 Milan, Italy
| | | | - Laurent Peyrin-Biroulet
- Department of Gastroenterology and Inserm NGERE U1256, University of Lorraine, 54500 Vandoeuvre-les- Nancy, France
| | - Silvio Danese
- IBD Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center-IRCCS, Rozzano, 20089 Milan, Italy
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Dal Buono A, Roda G, Argollo M, Peyrin-Biroulet L, Danese S. Histological healing: should it be considered as a new outcome for ulcerative colitis? Expert Opin Biol Ther 2020; 20:407-412. [PMID: 31847610 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2020.1701652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Currently, mucosal healing is considered as a composite treatment end-point in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) since it has been demonstrated to improve disease-related outcomes. The definition of mucosal healing has evolved and current evidence suggests that in addition to endoscopic healing the achievement of histological remission (HR) represents a potential novel target in the management of IBD in relation to better long-term disease outcomes.Areas covered: We aimed to review the current literature on HR in ulcerative colitis and discuss its limitations and advantages when adopting this potential new target as an ultimate treatment outcome in clinical trials and routine clinical practice.Expert opinion: HR is achievable in UC with different rates in conventional therapies, biological and novel drugs. Targeting HR in UC lowers the risk of hospitalizations, colectomy, and colorectal cancer. HR occurs later than endoscopic remission, longer treatment courses are associated with higher HR assessment. This might imply modifying monitoring time schedules and algorithms. Prospective data are needed to support histological healing as a new treatment target in UC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Dal Buono
- IBD Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Roda
- IBD Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Marjorie Argollo
- IBD Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy.,Gastroenterology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Laurent Peyrin-Biroulet
- Department of Gastroenterology and Inserm U954, University Hospital of Nancy, University of Lorraine, Nancy, France
| | - Silvio Danese
- IBD Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
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Damião AOMC, Azevedo MFCD, Carlos ADS, Wada MY, Silva TVM, Feitosa FDC. Conventional therapy for moderate to severe inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic literature review. World J Gastroenterol 2019; 25:1142-1157. [PMID: 30863001 PMCID: PMC6406187 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i9.1142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the advent of biological drugs, conventional therapy continues to be used in moderate to severe inflammatory bowel disease (MS-IBD). This study hypothesized that as a standard of treatment and the primary alternative to biologics, conventional therapy should present robust effectiveness results in IBD outcomes.
AIM To investigate the effectiveness of conventional therapy for MS-IBD.
METHODS A systematic review with no time limit was conducted in July 2017 through the Cochrane Collaboration, MEDLINE, and LILACS databases. The inclusion criteria encompassed meta-analyses, systematic reviews, randomized clinical trials, observational and case-control studies concerning conventional therapy in adult patients with MS-IBD, including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Corticosteroids (prednisone, hydrocortisone, budesonide, prednisolone, dexamethasone), 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) derivatives (mesalazine and sulfasalazine) and immunosuppressants [azathioprine (AZA), methotrexate (MTX), mycophenolate, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP)] were considered conventional therapy. The exclusion criteria were sample size below 50; narrative reviews; specific subpopulations (e.g., pregnant women, comorbidities); studies on postoperative IBD; and languages other than English, Spanish, French or Portuguese. The primary outcome measures were clinical remission (induction or maintenance), clinical response and mucosal healing. As secondary outcomes, fecal calprotectin, hospitalization, death, and surgeries were analyzed. The quality of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation criteria.
RESULTS The search strategy identified 1995 citations, of which 27 were considered eligible (7 meta-analyses, 20 individual studies). For induction of clinical remission, four meta-analyses were selected (AZA and 6-MP showed no advantage over placebo, MTX or 5-ASA in CD; MTX showed no statistically significant difference versus placebo, 6-MP, or 5-ASA in UC; tacrolimus was superior to placebo for UC in two meta-analyses). Only one meta-analysis evaluated clinical remission maintenance, showing no statistically significant difference between MTX and placebo, 5-ASA, or 6-MP in UC. AZA and 6-MP had no advantage over placebo in induction of clinical response in CD. Three meta-analyses showed the superiority of tacrolimus vs placebo for induction of clinical response in UC. The clinical response rates for cyclosporine were 41.7% in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 55.4% in non-RCTs for UC. For induction of mucosal healing, one meta-analysis showed a favorable rate with tacrolimus versus placebo for UC. For secondary outcomes, no meta-analyses specifically evaluated fecal calprotectin, hospitalization or death. Two meta-analyses were retrieved evaluating colectomy rates for tacrolimus and cyclosporine in UC. Most of the twenty individual studies retrieved contained a low or very low quality of evidence.
CONCLUSION High-quality evidence assessing conventional therapy in MS-IBD treatment is scarce, especially for remission maintenance, mucosal healing and fecal calprotectin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alexandre de Sousa Carlos
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Marcela Yumi Wada
- Department of Medical Affairs, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, São Paulo 04709-011, Brazil
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Actis GC, Pellicano R, Ribaldone DG. A Concise History of Thiopurines for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: From Anecdotal Reporting to Treat-to-Target Algorithms. Rev Recent Clin Trials 2019; 14:4-9. [PMID: 30198438 DOI: 10.2174/1574887113666180910120959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The need for immune suppressive strategies in the control of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases originated in the 1960s following the perception of a relative inefficacy of salazopyrin and its derivatives. In some 50 years upon an anecdotal claim, the indication for thiopurines in the management of inflammatory bowel diseases has come of age. OBJECTIVE The aim of this minireview is to give an overview, after the historical premises, of the current use of thiopurines in the context of inflammatory bowel diseases. METHOD Through MEDLINE searches, we reviewed the literature of the last two decades. RESULTS For Crohn's disease, the 1980 trial of 6-mercaptopurine for steroid sparing and fistula closure proved pivotal. The analysis of withdrawal experiments and of numerous open trials has established the efficacy of thiopurines for ulcerative colitis. In this indication, cutting-edge data are now showing that because targeting dysplasia, thiopurines can induce mucosal/histological healing, thus abolishing or delaying the need for pre-emptive (tumor prophylactic) colectomy. CONCLUSION In UC thiopurines may be recognized to effect a treat-to-target strategy, joining the modern algorithms of rheumatologic disorders.
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Pugliese D, Aratari A, Festa S, Ferraro PM, Monterubbianesi R, Guidi L, Scribano ML, Papi C, Armuzzi A. Sustained Clinical Efficacy and Mucosal Healing of Thiopurine Maintenance Treatment in Ulcerative Colitis: A Real-Life Study. Gastroenterol Res Pract 2018; 2018:4195968. [PMID: 30402090 PMCID: PMC6192086 DOI: 10.1155/2018/4195968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Thiopurines are commonly used for treating ulcerative colitis (UC), despite the fact that controlled evidence supporting their efficacy is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of thiopurines as maintenance therapy in a large cohort of UC patients. METHODS All UC patients receiving thiopurine monotherapy at three tertiary IBD centers from 1995 to 2015 were identified. The primary endpoint was steroid-free clinical remission. Secondary endpoints were mucosal healing (MH), defined as Mayo endoscopic subscore 0, long-term safety, and predictors of sustained clinical remission. RESULTS We identified 192 patients, contributing a total of 747 person-years of follow-up (median follow-up 36 months, range 1-210 months). Steroid dependency was the most common indication for thiopurine treatment (58%). Steroid-free remission occurred in 45.3% of patients; 36.3% stopped thiopurines because of treatment failure and 18.2% for adverse events or intolerance. The cumulative probability of maintaining steroid-free remission while on thiopurine treatment was 87%, 76%, 67.6%, and 53.4% at 12, 24, 36, and 60 months, respectively. MH occurred in 57.9% of patients after a median of 18 months (range 5-96). No independent predictors of sustained clinical remission could be identified. CONCLUSIONS Thiopurines represent an effective and safe long-term maintenance therapy for UC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Pugliese
- IBD Unit, Presidio Columbus Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS Università Cattolica, Rome 00168, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Festa
- IBD Unit, S. Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome 00135, Italy
| | - Pietro Manuel Ferraro
- Nephrology, Presidio Columbus Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS Università Cattolica, Rome 00168, Italy
| | | | - Luisa Guidi
- IBD Unit, Presidio Columbus Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS Università Cattolica, Rome 00168, Italy
| | | | - Claudio Papi
- IBD Unit, S. Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome 00135, Italy
| | - Alessandro Armuzzi
- IBD Unit, Presidio Columbus Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS Università Cattolica, Rome 00168, Italy
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Can we move directly from 5-ASA to a biologic agent in ulcerative colitis? Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 2018; 32-33:9-15. [PMID: 30060944 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpg.2018.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
European consensus guidelines and reimbursement policies position biologic drugs for ulcerative colitis (UC) as a third-line treatment, after failure of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) and corticosteroids/thiopurines. While 5-ASA have a very favorable safety profile, (prolonged) use of corticosteroids and thiopurines is associated with potentially serious adverse events. The therapeutic landscape of UC is rapidly evolving and selective biologic drugs with improved safety are being introduced. The first biosimilars have entered the market, leading to improved cost-effectiveness of older biologic drugs. In addition, new insights have been gained in the importance of stringent therapeutic targets such as mucosal and histological healing to improve the long-term outcome of UC patients, and in the role of therapeutic drug monitoring and treatment optimization in this regard. In this manuscript we tackle the question of whether we should move directly from 5-ASA treatment to biologic drugs to offer better and/or safer care to UC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burton I Korelitz
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY, 10075, USA.
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