7 Recent reports on IBD
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Healio Gastroenterology presents the following account of our latest inflammatory bowel disease coverage.
These stories include topics regarding COVID-19 and IBD, therapeutic research, a preview of the ACG Annual Scientific Meeting and more.
Corticosteroids decrease COVID-19 vaccine efficacy in IBD
Though there is no significant difference in COVID-19 infection rates among patients with inflammatory bowel disease compared with the general public, some IBD therapies correlated with increased infection severity.
“The therapies for IBD are predominantly immune-based, immune modifying and sometimes immune suppressive,” David T. Rubin, MD, FACG, University of Chicago, said at the ACG Virtual Grand Rounds 2021. “There's been increased concern and fear that the therapies for IBD are increasing the risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes or might affect the response to vaccinations. In addition, CDC and FDA information is not specific to IBD and, therefore, has been confusing.” READ MORE.
VIDEO: Increased visceral adipose tissue links to decreased IBD remission
Higher visceral adipose tissue correlated with lower rates of inflammatory bowel disease remission among patients dosed with infliximab, vedolizumab or ustekinumab, according to Andres Yarur, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin.
“A significant amount of patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis experience partial or non-response to biologic therapy. This is explained by several things, some of them we know, some of them we do not,” Yarur said. “Identifying the variables that are associated with partial and non-response is important to improve the prognosis of our patients.” READ MORE.
Cholesterol levels increase after corticosteroid, tofacitinib use in IBD
Corticosteroid and tofacitinib use in patients with inflammatory bowel disease correlated with increased total cholesterol levels, according to research published in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
“Patients with an active chronic inflammatory disease have lower levels of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol (HDL-c) and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c) compared with patients who are in disease remission and the general population. This so-called “lipid paradox” has been mirrored in other inflammatory states,” Jasmijn A.M. Sleutjes, MD, Erasmus Medical Center, and colleagues wrote. “The severity of the underlying inflammation is associated with the magnitude of these lipid changes. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies in patients with IBD demonstrated increases in lipid levels after therapy initiation. ... It is unknown if lipid levels are affected similarly by all classes of IBD therapy.” READ MORE.
VIDEO: ACG looks forward to reconnecting with attendees at annual meeting
In this exclusive video, David A. Greenwald, MD, FACG, from Mount Sinai Hospital and President of the American College of Gastroenterology, discusses the upcoming hybrid ACG Annual Scientific Meeting.
This year the meeting will be held both in-person and virtually, allowing the attendees to decide their preference. Greenwald, director of clinical gastroenterology and endoscopy, said a big focus for the meeting this year is renewing connections and creating new ones. READ MORE.
Adalimumab biosimilar is safe, effective in patients with Crohn’s
Adalimumab biosimilar BI 695501 demonstrated similar safety and efficacy compared with adalimumab reference product among patients with Crohn’s disease, according to research published in the Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
“Biologics that target TNF, such as the monoclonal antibodies infliximab and adalimumab, have had a major impact on the management of CD, greatly improving treatment outcomes,” Stephen Hanauer, MD, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, and colleagues wrote. “However, anti-TNF monoclonal antibodies are complex molecules and, for reasons such as high development and marketing costs, patients’ access to them can be limited. Biosimilars have the potential to increase the number of patients able to benefit from biologics, primarily by decreasing treatment costs.” READ MORE.
Macrolides, fluoroquinolones reduce risk for anti-drug antibodies in IBD treatment
Avoidance of cephalosporins and penicillin with beta-lactamase inhibitors during anti-TNF therapy reduced the risk for anti-drug antibodies among patients with inflammatory bowel disease, according to research published in Gut.
“Primary non-response to anti-TNF therapy is seen in 40% of patients with even higher rates of failure to achieve complete remission. Additionally, the rate of secondary loss of response after 12 months of therapy ranges between 23% and 46%,” Yuri Gorelik, Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa, Israel, and colleagues wrote. “Immunogenicity, which refers to the development of anti-drug antibodies (ADA) is considered as the main factor driving secondary loss of response and is likely involved in primary non-response as well.” READ MORE.
New GI symptoms do not link to increased risk for death in IBD, COVID-19
New gastrointestinal symptoms among patients with inflammatory bowel disease and COVID-19 did not correlate with an increased risk for death.
“A prior meta-analysis suggested that up to 17.6% of COVID-19 patients have GI symptoms. Data are conflicting on the association of GI symptoms with COVID-19 outcomes, with some reports suggesting worse prognosis among those with GI symptoms while others finding improved outcomes,” Ryan C. Ungaro, MD, MS, Icahn School of Medicine, and colleagues wrote in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. “There are limited data on COVID-19 and GI symptoms among IBD patients.” READ MORE.
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