Cited 14 times since 2023 (5.7 per year) source: EuropePMC Journal of Crohn's & colitis, Volume 17, Issue 2, 1 1 2023, Pages 221-230 Prophylactic Medication for the Prevention of Endoscopic Recurrence in Crohn's Disease: a Prospective Study Based on Clinical Risk Stratification. Arkenbosch JHC, Beelen EMJ, Dijkstra G, Romberg-Camps M, Duijvestein M, Hoentjen F, van der Marel S, Maljaars PWJ, Jansen S, de Boer NKH, West RL, Horjus CS, Stassen LPS, van Schaik FDM, van Ruler O, Jharap BJH, Visschedijk M, Janssen A, Erler NS, Doukas M, Ooms AHAG, Kats-Ugurlu G, van der Woude CJ, de Vries AC
Background
To prevent recurrence after ileocolonic resection [ICR] in Crohn's disease [CD], postoperative prophylaxis based on risk stratification is recommended in international guidelines. This study aimed to evaluate postoperative CD recurrence after implementation of a clinical management algorithm and to determine the predictive value of clinical and histological risk factors [RFs].
Methods
In this multicentre, prospective cohort study, CD patients [≥16 years] scheduled for ICR were included. The algorithm advised no postoperative medication for low-risk patients, and treatment with prophylaxis [immunosuppressant/biological] for high-risk patients [≥1 RF: active smoking, penetrating disease, prior ICR]. Clinical and histological RFs [active inflammation, granulomas, plexitis in resection margins] for endoscopic recurrence [Rutgeerts' score ≥i2b at 6 months] were assessed using logistic regression and ROC curves based on predicted probabilities.
Results
In total, 213 CD patients after ICR were included [age 34.5 years; 65% women] (93 [44%] low-risk; 120 [56%] high-risk: 45 [38%] smoking; 51 [43%] penetrating disease; 51 [43%] prior ICR). Adherence to the algorithm was 82% in low-risk [no prophylaxis] and 51% in high-risk patients [prophylaxis]. Endoscopic recurrence was higher in patients treated without prophylaxis than with prophylaxis in both low [45% vs 16%, p = 0.012] and high-risk patients [49% vs 26%, p = 0.019]. Clinical risk stratification including the prescription of prophylaxis corresponded to an area under the curve [AUC] of 0.70 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.61-0.79). Clinical RFs combined with histological RFs increased the AUC to 0.73 [95% CI 0.64-0.81].
Conclusion
Adherence to this management algorithm is 65%. Prophylactic medication after ICR prevents endoscopic recurrence in low- and high-risk patients. Clinical risk stratification has an acceptable predictive value, but further refinement is needed.
