Lichtenstein, Gary R.

Crohn's disease (CD) is an idiopathic inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology with genetic, immunologic, and environmental influences. The incidence of CD has steadily increased over the past several decades. The diagnosis and treatment of patients with CD has evolved since the last practice guideline was published. These guidelines represent the official practice recommendations of the American College of Gastroenterology and were developed under the auspices of the Practice Parameters Committee for the management of adult patients with CD. These guidelines are established for clinical practice with the intent of suggesting preferable approaches to medical problems as established by interpretation and collation of scientifically valid research, derived from extensive review of published literature. When exercising clinical judgment, health care providers should incorporate this guideline along with patient's needs, desires, and their values to care for patients fully and appropriately with CD. Shared decision-making with the patient is advocated. This guideline is intended to be flexible, not necessarily indicating the only acceptable approach, and should be distinguished from standards of care that are inflexible and rarely violated. To evaluate the level of evidence and strength of recommendations, we used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system. The Committee reviews guidelines in depth, with participation from experienced clinicians and others in related fields. The final recommendations are based on the data available at the time of the production of the document and may be updated with pertinent scientific developments later.

Abstract Background Patient age can impact the safety and efficacy of ulcerative colitis (UC) treatments. Etrasimod is an oral, once daily (QD), selective sphingosine 1-phosphate1,4,5 receptor modulator for the treatment of moderately to severely active UC. Here, we evaluate the impact of age on etrasimod safety and efficacy in patients with UC in the phase 3 ELEVATE UC clinical program. Methods Data were pooled from ELEVATE UC 52 and ELEVATE UC 12 in patients receiving etrasimod 2 mg QD or placebo. Proportions and incidence rates (IRs) per 100 patient-years of treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) were stratified by age (<40, 40-59, and ≥60 years). With the same age stratifications, efficacy was evaluated in patients with baseline Modified Mayo scores of 5-9 and 4-9 for the primary efficacy endpoint (clinical remission) and secondary efficacy endpoints. Results Overall, 787 patients were enrolled (<40 years, n = 420 [53.4%]; 40-59 years, n = 276 [35.1%]; and ≥60 years, n = 91 [11.6%]). Arthralgia, fatigue, and hypertension IRs were higher in older patients, irrespective of treatment. Serious AEs and AEs leading to treatment discontinuation were low and consistent across age groups. Significantly more patients receiving etrasimod 2 mg QD vs placebo achieved efficacy endpoints, regardless of age. Conclusions The safety profile of etrasimod 2 mg QD in the ELEVATE UC population was consistent across age groups, with no change in the incidence of AEs. Patients receiving etrasimod vs placebo showed significant clinical benefit, regardless of age. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03945188; NCT03996369.

Abstract Background Crohn’s disease (CD) treatment is associated with increased risks of infection and malignancies. Although the safety of certolizumab pegol (CZP) is well established, long-term data from community-based observational studies are lacking. Aim This study aimed to evaluate long-term safety outcomes of patients from the SECURE registry receiving CZP relative to other CD treatments, including corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and biologics. The primary outcome of this observational study was the evaluation of malignancies. Methods Adult patients with CD were prospectively monitored for up to 8 years. Pre-specified data were collected for all enrolled patients. Adverse events of interest (AEoIs) were reported per 100 patient-years (PY) of exposure. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were calculated for AEoIs using multivariate regression analysis accounting for exposure to multiple treatments. Malignancies reported after any exposure to CZP were attributed to CZP. Post-hoc analyses were conducted to evaluate non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), lymphoma, and pregnancy outcomes. Results A total of 3072 patients were enrolled in the study. The risk of AEoIs was similar between patients with only CZP exposure versus comparator exposure. Among patients with any CZP exposure, there was a higher frequency of serious infections (IRR: 2.56 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.00, 3.29]) and hypersensitivity or anaphylactic reactions (IRR: 4.11 [95% CI: 1.80, 9.38]) versus patients with comparator exposure. Malignancy rates were similar across groups; however, concomitant use of thiopurines was associated with higher odds of NMSC (odds ratio: 2.30 [95% CI: 1.09, 4.89]). Most cases of lymphoma (5/7) occurred in patients with exposure to thiopurines. Pregnancy outcomes were similar across groups. Conclusions No new safety signals were identified for CZP; the use of thiopurines was identified as a risk factor for NMSC. Trial registration NCT00844285.

ABSTRACT Background Obesity has been linked to a more severe phenotype in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Aim To evaluate the impact of obesity on outcomes of advanced therapies in UC. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study utilising the TriNetX database comparing the composite score of corticosteroid use, change in advanced therapy or colectomy within two years between two cohorts of patients with UC—those with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) and those without (BMI 18.5–24.9). The risk assessment was stratified to specific advanced therapies, including tumour necrosis factor α inhibitors (TNFi), vedolizumab, ustekinumab and Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi). We performed 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) for demographics, co‐morbid conditions, laboratory values and IBD medications including corticosteroids. Results There were 3904, 2025, 1150 and 477 patients on TNFi, vedolizumab, ustekinumab and JAKi, respectively, in the UC obesity cohort. After PSM, the UC obesity cohort was at an increased risk of the composite outcome of corticosteroid use, change in therapy and colectomy compared to the UC control cohort in patients on TNFi (aHR 1.37, 95% CI 1.29–1.49), vedolizumab (aHR 1.29, 95% CI 1.16–1.43), ustekinumab (aHR 1.1.26, 95% CI 1.10–1.44) and JAKi (aHR 1.38, 95% CI 1.13–1.69). Sub‐group analysis based on the specific TNFi also showed an increased risk of composite outcome for infliximab (aHR 1.36, 95% CI 1.22–1.52) and adalimumab (aHR 1.26, 95% CI 1.11–1.42) within 2 years. Conclusions Obesity is associated with lower efficacy of several advanced therapies in patients with UC.

Abstract Background A meta-analysis by our group has shown an elevated risk of lymphoma with thiopurine therapy for IBD (Kandiel 2005 Gut). It summed referral data and population (pop) data, but the risk of lymphoma in referral centers may be skewed higher due to referral bias (Ang 2006 PMID 16531538). Since a previous meta-analysis presented in 2012 (Kotlyar 2012, DDW), there have been two large population based studies published (Pasternak 2013 Am J of Epidemiol, Abbas 2013 Gastroenterology). The latter study reported on a nationwide database of patients from the Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospitals from the United States. Aims Calculate the standard incidence rate of lymphoma in pts exposed to AZA/6-MP in population cohort studies and contrast these results to referral center studies. Methods We searched MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database for: “lymphoproliferative and thiopurines”; and “azathioprine and lymphoma”. Included citations were IBD cohort studies, evaluated cancer as an outcome, and pts. received AZA and/or 6-MP. Additionally a comprehensive search of the literature and abstracts from international meetings (2005-2013) was done. In our study additional data were extracted from the Spanish collaborative registry ENEIDA. Pooled standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. CIs assumed a Poisson distribution. To examine for heterogeneity, the deviance statistic from Poisson regression models was examined. Results There were 507 citations, and fifteen citations were included. Two studies (Korelitz and Kinlen) were obtained from Kandiel 2005, and Lewis 2001 was replaced by Armstrong 2010 as data were of the GPRD database. In referral studies (n=7), the SIR = 6.47 (95% CI: 3.77-10.36). In pop studies (n=8), the SIR = 2.27 (95% CI: 1.76-2.88). Overall the SIR was = 2.61 (95% CI: 2.08-3.23). Data from referral centers did not show significant heterogeneity (p=0.052), while pop studies did show significant heterogeneity (p=0.003). Results between referral and pop centers showed a significant difference (p<0.01). Conclusion Pts with IBD who are treated with thiopurines have approximately a 3-fold increased risk of lymphoma as compared to the general pop. The SIR of referral studies were seen to be significantly higher than those of population based studies, consistent with possible referral bias. Also, the addition of two population based studies have added 58,349 person-years of follow-up to our analysis.With a total of 84 lymphomas observed, and with total pt-years being 184,085, this study shows 2,191 pt-yrs per lymphoma in the exposed group. Meta-analysis of Standardized Incidence Ratios (SIR) Disclosures: Lewis: Pfizer: Consultancy; Centocor: Consultancy; Allos: Research Funding; Shire: Consultancy; Takeda: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Millenium: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy; Dark Canyon Labs: Consultancy; Roche Pharma AG: Consultancy. Beaugerie:Ferring : Speakers Bureau; Schering-Plough: Speakers Bureau; Merck : Speakers Bureau. Loftus:Pfizer: Consultancy; Genentech: Research Funding; Braintree: Research Funding; Abbott: Consultancy, Research Funding; UCB: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding; Shire: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Centocor: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding. Lichtenstein:Abbott: Research Funding; BristolMyers: Consultancy; Centocor: Consultancy, Research Funding; Elan: Research Funding; Ferring: Consultancy; MilleniumResearch: Consultancy; Procter and Gamble: Consultancy, Research Funding; Prometheus: Consultancy, Research Funding; Salix: Consultancy, Research Funding; Warner-Chilcotte: Consultancy, Research Funding; Schering-Plough: Consultancy; Shire: Consultancy, Research Funding; Wyeth: Consultancy; UCB: Consultancy.