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INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the impact of gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) on transgender and gender diverse adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The primary aim was to evaluate the incidence of IBD flare in the year before and after GAHT initiation. METHODS: A retrospective study across 5 IBD centers. Flare was defined as need for steroids, IBD-associated emergency department visit, or need for IBD medication change. Factors associated with IBD flare were assessed with univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression controlling for age and IBD type. RESULTS: A total of 85 transgender and gender diverse adults with IBD who initiated GAHT were included in this study. Forty-six (54.1%) received estrogen and 39 (45.9%) received testosterone. In the year before GAHT, 42 (49%) flared compared with 32 (38%) in the year after, P = 0.06. There was no statistically significant difference in incidence of flare by age, IBD type, or IBD therapy type. Individuals with active IBD at GAHT initiation were more likely to flare in univariate (58% vs 24%, P = 0.003) and multivariable analyses (adjusted odds ratio 5.1, 95% confidence interval 1.7–15.2). In both univariate and multivariable analyses, individuals who received testosterone were more likely to flare in the year after starting GAHT, testosterone: 51% vs estrogen: 26%, P = 0.02 with an adjusted odds ratio 3.1 (95% confidence interval 1.2–8.1). DISCUSSION: Although there was no overall increased risk of flare in the year after GAHT start, those with active IBD before hormone start and those who received testosterone were more likely to experience an IBD flare.

INTRODUCTION: Spondyloarthritis (SpA), the most common extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is reported in up to 39% of patients with IBD. Despite this high prevalence, risk factors of developing SpA in patients with IBD are not well described. In this study, we aimed to determine the factors associated with SpA symptoms and their prevalence in an IBD cohort. METHODS: Two validated screening questionnaires for the detection of SpA in IBD (DETAIL = DETection of Arthritis in Inflammatory boweL diseases, IBIS-Q = IBD Identification of Spondyloarthritis Questionnaire) were administered to patients with IBD without a prior diagnosis of SpA in 6 US academic medical centers. Demographic data, IBD characteristics, and medication history were recorded. RESULTS: Screening questionnaires were completed by 588 patients (220 ulcerative colitis, 349 Crohn's disease, and 19 IBD-unclassified), with a median age of 40 years (interquartile range 30–53) and median disease duration of 12 years (interquartile range 6–22). The number of positive screens was 130 (22%) for DETAIL, 196 (33%) for IBIS-Q, and 204 (35%) for either DETAIL or IBIS-Q. Age, female sex, history of smoking, prior bowel surgery, and history of any biologic or targeted small molecule exposure were associated with a positive screen on univariate analysis. After multivariate analysis, female sex (odds ratio [OR] 2.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.41–2.93), older age (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01–1.04), history of smoking (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.04–2.69), and history of any biologic or targeted small molecule exposure (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.34–3.84) were independently associated with positive screens. Higher number of biologic exposures was associated with higher risk of positive screens, with the highest risk seen with 3 or more exposures (OR 3.25, 95% CI 1.75–6.03). DISCUSSION: A substantial number of patients with IBD screen positive for SpA symptoms, indicating a potentially high burden of undiagnosed illness. Factors associated with SpA symptoms include older age, female sex, and more severe disease (based on increased number of advanced therapies or prior surgery), whereas IBD phenotype does not independently increase the risk of a positive SpA screen. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and better characterize SpA in IBD.

ObjectiveSpondyloarthritis (SpA) is the most common extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The application of screening tools to detect SpA in patients with IBD may lead to earlier recognition of SpA and affect treatment decisions.MethodsA combination of two previously described SpA screening questionnaires, the Detection of Arthritis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (DETAIL) and IBD Identification of Spondyloarthritis Questionnaire (IBIS‐Q), was administered to consecutive patients with IBD attending IBD specialty clinics in six US academic medical centers. Demographic data, IBD, and rheumatology history were extracted by chart review.ResultsA total of 669 patients were analyzed. The median age was 40 years (interquartile range [IQR] 30–54) with a median disease duration of 12 years (IQR 6–22) and moderate to severe IBD based on medication exposure and history of bowel surgery. A total of 81 patients (12%) carried a diagnosis of an inflammatory rheumatic disease, whereas 75 (11%) had consulted a rheumatologist during the previous year. Using published cutoffs, 180 out of 669 patients (27%) screened positive with DETAIL, 266 (40%) with IBIS‐Q, and 275 (41%) with either questionnaire. Axial symptoms were more frequently reported than peripheral musculoskeletal complaints. Notably, 189 out of 275 (69%) screen‐positive patients had neither a documented inflammatory rheumatic disease diagnosis nor a visit with a rheumatologist within the past year.ConclusionA substantial proportion of patients with IBD have symptoms suggestive of SpA, and many of these may have undiagnosed SpA. The IBIS‐Q questionnaire appears to identify more potential SpA cases than DETAIL. Strategies are needed to prioritize rheumatology consultations for those patients with IBD who are most likely to benefit.

AbstractBackgroundRisk factors for intervention in terminal ileal (TI) stricturing Crohn's disease (CD) are poorly defined. Novel and rigorous definitions for TI strictures recently became available.ObjectiveWe aimed to describe the rates of symptoms or need for endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) or surgery as well as risk factors of progression in a well‐defined stricturing CD cohort.MethodsConsecutive adult patients with non‐penetrating stricturing TI CD, as defined by centrally‐read magnetic resonance enterography CONSTRICT criteria, were separated into a derivation and validation cohort. Clinical and imaging characteristics were collected following prespecified scoring conventions. Primary outcome was a composite endpoint of EBD or surgery (“intervention”). Multivariable analysis was performed.ResultsEighty‐six patients (48.8% female, median age 36 years) met selection criteria, 17.4% had prior EBD, 59.3% previously received biologics and 58.1% of strictures were anastomotic. Median follow‐up was 63.4 [95% CI: 57, 68.9] months. In the derivation cohort, at 12 and 48 months, 26% and 45% of patients had intervention, respectively. Multivariable analysis showed obstructive symptoms (Hazard ratio [HR] 1.444; 95% CI 1.126–1.852), stricture duration (HR 0.974; 95% CI, 0.954–0.995) and length (HR 1.039; 95% CI, 1.011–1.069) predicted intervention. The concordance index for split‐sample validation was 0.74 and 0.67, respectively. Biologics were not associated with intervention. An online risk calculator was constructed.ConclusionIn patients with TI stricturing CD, 26% and 45% required intervention at 1 and 4 years. Obstructive symptoms, stricture duration and length were independent and validated predictors of the need for intervention. These findings are important for clinical practice and aid in the design of future trials for CD strictures.

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated the real-world effectiveness and safety of ustekinumab (UST) in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS: This study used a retrospective, multicenter, multinational consortium of UST-treated CD patients. Data included patient demographics, disease phenotype, disease activity, treatment history, and concomitant medications. Cumulative rates of clinical, steroid-free, endoscopic, and radiographic remissions were assessed using time-to-event analysis, and clinical predictors were assessed by using multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses. Serious infections and adverse events were defined as those requiring hospitalization or treatment discontinuation. RESULTS: A total of 1,113 patients (51.8% female, 90% prior antitumor necrosis factor exposure) were included, with a median follow-up of 386 days. Cumulative rates of clinical, steroid-free, endoscopic, and radiographic remissions at 12 months were 40%, 32%, 39%, and 30%, respectively. Biologic-naive patients achieved significantly higher rates of clinical and endoscopic remissions at 63% and 55%, respectively. On multivariable analyses, prior antitumor necrosis factor (hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval, 0.49–0.99) and vedolizumab exposure (hazard ratio, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.48–0.88) were independently associated with lower likelihoods of achieving endoscopic remission. In patients who experienced loss of remission, 77 of 102 (75%) underwent dose optimization, and 44 of 77 (57%) achieved clinical response. An additional 152 of 681 patients (22.3%) were dose-optimized because of primary nonresponse incomplete response to UST, of whom 40.1% (61 of 152) responded. Serious infections occurred in 3.4% of patients while other noninfectious adverse events (lymphoma [n = 1], arthralgia [n = 6], rash [n = 6], headache [n = 3], hepatitis [n = 3], hair loss [n = 3], neuropathy [n = 1], and vasculitis [n = 1]) occurred in 2.4% of patients. DISCUSSION: UST represents a safe and effective treatment option for CD, with 40% of patients from a highly refractory cohort achieving clinical remission by 12 months. The greatest treatment effect of UST was seen in biologic-naive patients, and dose escalation may recapture clinical response.

AbstractIleocolic resection (ICR) is the most common surgical procedure in Crohn disease (CD). There are many surgical techniques for performing ICRs and subsequent anastomoses. Recurrence of CD after ICR is common, often clinically silent, and thus requires monitoring including periodic use of endoscopy to detect early active disease. There is emerging evidence that surgical approaches may influence CD recurrence. This review explores the various surgical considerations, the data behind each decision, and how these techniques influence subsequent endoscopic surveillance.