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6 recent highlights in IBD: Antibiotics, SIBO, biologics
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Research has recently focused on the role antibiotics play in children with inflammatory bowel disease as well as sexual health in women with the disease.
The following reports include data on how SIBO incidence is significantly high in individuals with IBD and how a user-friendly tool helped physicians identify patients at higher risk for total proctocolectomy.
Antibiotics induce remission in children with IBD failing a biologic
Oral combination antibiotics appeared to be an effective rescue therapy in children with inflammatory bowel disease who were failing a biologic, according to research published in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
“Although the role of the gut microbiota in IBD has been increasingly recognized, our current therapeutic strategies continue to target the immune system rather than the dysbiosis,” Lindsey Albenberg, DO, of the division of pediatric gastroenterology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and colleagues wrote. “In recent years, interest in the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics as salvage therapy in refractory colitis has been growing, with a few clinical studies suggesting a potential, but still unclear, role in these evolving strategies.” READ MORE.
Anti-TNF, Entyvio equally effective in older patients with IBD
Anti-TNF alpha antagonists and Entyvio both appeared equally safe and effective among a population of older patients with inflammatory bowel disease, according to study results published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics.
“With the availability of therapies that differ in their mechanisms of action, studies of comparative effectiveness and safety are important to appropriately position them within the therapeutic algorithm,” Ashwin N. Ananthakrishnan, MD, MPH, of the division of gastroenterology at Massachusetts General Hospital, and colleagues wrote. “This is of great importance in older individuals with IBD, a growing patient subgroup, who are particularly vulnerable not only to the consequences of active disease but also to therapy-related adverse events, particularly infections from systemic immunosuppression.” READ MORE.
Small intestine bacterial overgrowth prevalence drastically higher in patients with IBD
There is a ninefold increase in the prevalence of small intestine bacterial overgrowth among patients with inflammatory bowel disease compared with other individuals, according to results of a meta-analysis.
“SIBO symptoms overlap with those of IBD, often making it unclear if it is the cause, consequence or an epiphenomenon in relation to the other disorder,” Gerald J. Holtmann, MD, PhD, MBA, of Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, Australia, and colleagues wrote. “Thus, a SIBO diagnosis in patients with IBD may be challenging but may have therapeutic implications.” READ MORE.
Humira safe, effective in Crohn’s through 6 years
Humira therapy helped improve both clinical and patient-reported Crohn’s disease outcomes for up to 6 years, according to study results published in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
Edward V. Loftus Jr., MD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and Chief Medical Editor of Healio Gastroenterology and Liver Disease, and colleagues analyzed data taken from the PYRAMID registry, an international, postmarketing registry that assessed long-term safety and effectiveness of Humira (adalimumab, AbbVie). READ MORE.
Sexual dysfunction prevalent among women with newly diagnosed IBD
Nearly all women with newly diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease experience some form of sexual dysfunction that does not improve even with disease remission, according to research published in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
“This is a very important topic because IBD is usually diagnosed in early adulthood when sexual function and sexual identities are just being formed,” Eugenia Shmidt, MD, of the IBD program at the University of Minnesota, said in a video abstract. “The impact of a new diagnosis of IBD on sexual function has not been previously characterized.” READ MORE.
User-friendly tool helps identify colectomy risk in patients with UC
A user-friendly tool, designed by researchers to help guide therapy choices for patients with ulcerative colitis, helped physicians identify patients at higher risk for total proctocolectomy, according to study results published in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
“Few data exist to guide therapy, and it remains a challenge to appropriately risk-stratify individuals in whom to escalate medical therapy to minimize future disease complications such as total proctocolectomy [TPC],” Gary Lichtenstein, MD, of the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, and colleagues wrote. “This is especially important, as unnecessary immunosuppressive therapy in lower-risk individuals is costly and has the potential to increase the risk for adverse effects.” READ MORE.