The role of vedolizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

A review of the therapeutic management of Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory, relapsing-remitting, and progressive gastrointestinal disorder with an often-negative impact on the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. Over the past two decades, the medical compendium for the treatment of Crohn's disease has increased significantly, enabling treatment beyond symptoms. Indeed, early and timely use of effective medical therapy has been reflected by improved outcomes with reduction in surgery and ability to achieve clinical and endoscopic remission, reduce corticosteroid dependance, and prevent long-term complications in more patients. In this review, we discuss the key milestones in the medical management of Crohn's disease.

Individualized selection of biological agents in treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic non-specific inflammatory disease that can affect the ileum, colon, rectum, and even the entire digestive tract. In recent 10 years, with the in-depth understanding of its pathological mechanisms, the development of new drugs has been accelerated, and more and more biological agents have begun to be widely used in the treatment of IBD. The emergence of biological agents has significance for the treatment of IBD. This article will discuss how to individualize the selection of biologics from three aspects: The mechanism of action and clinical application of different biological agents, risk weighing, and rescue treatment for failure of anti-TNF therapy.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Preoperative Vedolizumab and Postoperative Complications in Patients with IBD

OBJECTIVES

The effect of vedolizumab on postoperative outcomes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains unclear. We aimed to determine the relation between preoperative vedolizumab and early postoperative complications in patients with IBD undergoing abdominal surgery.

METHODS

A search of databases and abstracts from gastroenterology conferences was performed. Primary outcomes included overall and infectious postoperative complication rates as well as surgical site infections. Studies that compared Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, or patients with IBD-undefined with preoperative vedolizumab treatment undergoing abdominal surgery with controls with preoperative antitumor necrosis factor-α (anti-TNF-α) treatment or no preoperative biologic treatment were included. A meta-analysis was completed using the Mantel-Haenszel and DerSimonian and Laird models.

RESULTS

Six studies totaling 1201 patients were included; 281 patients were treated preoperatively with vedolizumab, 327 patients were treated preoperatively with anti-TNF-α agents, and 593 patients were not treated preoperatively with any biologics. There was no significant difference in overall complications (odds ratio [OR] 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.48-2.24, P = 0.92, I² =77%) between the vedolizumab and no-biologic groups. There also was no significant difference in infectious complications (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.37-2.69, P = 1.00, I² = 78%), which persisted after sensitivity analysis (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.31-1.60, P = 0.41, I² = 46%). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in overall complications (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.24-2.46, P = 0.66, I² = 85%) and infectious complications (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.20-3.94, P = 0.87, I² = 86%) between the vedolizumab and anti-TNF-α groups. After sensitivity analysis, differences in overall and infectious complications remained insignificant (OR 0.54 and 0.50, 95% CI 0.24-1.17 and 0.22-1.15, P = 0.12 and 0.10, I² = 39% and 18%, respectively). Vedolizumab was also not associated with a significant increase in surgical site infections compared with the no-biologic (OR 1.45, 95% CI 0.33-6.32, P = 0.62, I² = 75%) and anti-TNF (OR 1.30, 95% CI 0.22-7.60, P = 0.77, I² = 81%) groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative treatment with vedolizumab in patients with IBD undergoing abdominal surgery is not associated with increases in overall or infectious postoperative complications compared with preoperative anti-TNF-α treatment and no preoperative biologic treatment. Large, prospective studies are needed to further assess the impact of preoperative vedolizumab treatment on postoperative complications, particularly with respect to IBD subtype.

Extraintestinal Manifestations in Vedolizumab and Anti-TNF-Treated Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND

Extra-intestinal manifestations (EIMs) can impact morbidity in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD; Crohn's disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC]). This study compared incidence rates of EIMs in patients with moderate to severe IBD receiving gut-selective vedolizumab (VDZ) vs those receiving systemic anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapies.

METHODS

Adult IBD patients receiving VDZ or anti-TNFs were identified from the MarketScan claims database from September 28, 2012, through September 30, 2016. Incidence rates of EIMs were compared between the 2 cohorts. Descriptive analyses were performed for all courses of treatment. Generalized linear models estimated the impact of treatment on the likelihood of developing EIMs.

RESULTS

Compared with patients receiving anti-TNF therapy, VDZ-treated CD patients were 28% more likely to develop "any EIMs" (adjusted incident rate ratio [IRR], 1.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.62). Specifically, CD patients treated with VDZ were more likely to develop erythema nodosum (IRR, 4.29; 95% CI, 1.73-10.64), aphthous stomatitis (IRR, 3.73; 95% CI, 1.51-9.23), episcleritis/scleritis (IRR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.02-6.14), arthropathy (IRR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.15-1.84), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) (IRR, 7.79; 95% CI, 3.32-18.27), and uveitis/iritis (IRR, 2.89; 95% CI, 1.35-6.18). UC patients receiving VDZ did not have a statistically significant increase in "any EIMs" vs patients receiving anti-TNFs, but were more likely to develop specific EIMs (aphthous stomatitis: IRR, 3.67; 95% CI, 1.30-10.34; pyoderma gangrenosum: IRR, 4.42; 95% CI, 1.00-19.45; and PSC: IRR, 3.44; 95% CI, 1.23-9.68).

CONCLUSIONS

IBD patients receiving VDZ may be more likely to develop EIMs vs patients receiving anti-TNF therapies. The gut-selective inflammatory control of VDZ may potentially limit its clinical effect on EIM prevention.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Preoperative Vedolizumab Treatment and Postoperative Complications in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The impact of vedolizumab, a gut-selective monoclonal antibody, on postoperative outcomes is unclear. This study aimed to assess the impact of preoperative vedolizumab treatment on the rate of postoperative complications in patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] undergoing abdominal surgery.

METHODS

A systematic search of multiple electronic databases from inception until May 2017 identified studies reporting rates of postoperative complications in vedolizumab-treated IBD patients compared to no biologic exposure or anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) treated IBD patients. Outcomes of interest included postoperative infectious complications and overall postoperative complications. Pooled risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using the random-effects model.

RESULTS

Five studies comprising 307 vedolizumab-treated IBD patients, 490 anti-TNF-treated IBD patients and 535 IBD patients not exposed to preoperative biologic therapy were included. The risk of postoperative infectious complications (risk ratio [RR] 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.37-2.65) and overall postoperative complications [RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.46-2.15] were not significantly different between vedolizumab-treated patients and those who received no preoperative biologic therapy. In addition, the risk of postoperative infectious complications [RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.34-2.90] and overall postoperative complications [RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.44-1.92] were not significantly different between vedolizumab-treated vs anti-TNF-treated patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative vedolizumab treatment in IBD patients does not appear to be associated with an increased risk of postoperative infectious or overall postoperative complications compared to either preoperative anti-TNF therapy or no biologic therapy. Future prospective studies which include perioperative drug level monitoring are needed to confirm these findings.

[Imaging study of "shell" phenomenon of thoracolumbar fractures after posterior reduction]

Objective

To analyze the imaging characteristics of vertebral "shell" phenomenon of thoracolumbar fractures after posterior reduction and to explore the relationship between vertebral "shell" and fracture healing.

Methods

Between January 2013 and December 2015, the clinical data of 116 patients with thoracolumbar fractures treated with posterior pedicle screw-rod system reduction and internal fixation were analyzed retrospectively. There were 72 males and 44 females, aged 22-66 years (mean, 43 years). Injury causes were traffic accident in 24 cases, falling from height in 54 cases, bruise in 38 cases. Fracture segment located at T 11 in 5 cases, T 12 in 38 cases, L 1 in 52 cases, L 2 in 21 cases. There were 51 cases of compressive fracture and 65 cases of burst fracture. The sagittal Cobb angle ranged from 8 to 27°, with an average of 15°. Degree of preoperative spinal compression ranged from 20% to 75%, with an average of 44%. Bone density measurement showed that normal bone mass in 30 cases, bone loss in 40 cases, osteoporosis in 41 cases, and severe osteoporosis in 5 cases. The number, pathological characteristics, and imaging regularity of the vertebral "shell" phenomenon were observed and analyzed by logistic regression.

Results

All patients were followed up 11-18 months with an average of 13 months. A total of 72 cases of vertebral "shell" phenomenon mainly located in the vertebral anterior column and the end plate near the weak area (54/72, 75.0%). Most of them were in the irregular shape (50/72, 69.5%). The vertebral fracture line was related to the shape of the vertebral body and the displacement of the vertebral body after reduction. The outcome of the "shell" can be divided into disappeared type, reduced type, and collapse type, the volume of vertebral "shell" and its outcome were the risk factors for vertebral fracture healing.

Conclusion

The incidence of vertebral "shell" and nonuion of thoracolumbar fractures after posterior reduction are high. The main influencing factors are vertebral "shell" outcome and size.

Safety of treatments for inflammatory bowel disease: Clinical practice guidelines of the Italian Group for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IG-IBD)

Inflammatory bowel diseases are chronic conditions of unknown etiology, showing a growing incidence and prevalence in several countries, including Italy. Although the etiology of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis is unknown, due to the current knowledge regarding their pathogenesis, effective treatment strategies have been developed. Several guidelines are available regarding the efficacy and safety of available drug treatments for inflammatory bowel diseases. Nevertheless, national guidelines provide additional information adapted to local feasibility, costs and legal issues related to the use of the same drugs. These observations prompted the Italian Group for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IG-IBD) to establish Italian guidelines on the safety of currently available treatments for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. These guidelines discuss the use of aminosalicylates, systemic and low bioavailability corticosteroids, antibiotics (metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, rifaximin), thiopurines, methotrexate, cyclosporine A, TNFα antagonists, vedolizumab, and combination therapies. These guidelines are based on current knowledge derived from evidence-based medicine coupled with clinical experience of a national working group.

Modern management of phagocyte defects

Phagocytic neutrophil granulocytes are among the first immune cells active at sites of infection, forming an important first-line defense against invading microorganisms. Congenital immune defects concerning these phagocytes may be due to reduced neutrophil numbers or function. Management of affected patients depends on the type and severity of disease. Here, we provide an overview of causes and treatment of diseases associated with congenital neutropenia, as well as defects of the phagocytic respiratory burst.

Cardiac Tamponade as a Presenting Manifestation of Infliximab-Induced Lupus in Patient Treated for Crohn's Disease

Crohn's disease is characterized by inflammation of the mucosal lining of the gastrointestinal tract. Infliximab is a tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor that has been associated with increased remission and decreased disease flare-ups. Biological agents such as infliximab have been associated with adverse events. We present a rare case of cardiac tamponade caused by infliximab treatment for Crohn's disease in a 30-year-old female. She was treated with emergent pericardial window and drainage of pericardial fluid. Infliximab was discontinued, and serositis was treated with steroids. The patient was later successfully rechallenged with vedolizumab.