Gut Liver.  2022 May;16(3):414-422. 10.5009/gnl210062.

Continued Postoperative Use of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Inhibitors for the Prevention of Crohn’s Disease Recurrence

• Yu J
• Hyun HK
• Park J
• Kang EA
• Park SJ
• Park JJ
• Kim TI
• Kim WH
• Cheon JH

• KMID: 2529849
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5009/gnl210062

Abstract

Background/Aims
Many patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) undergo intestinal resection during the disease course. Despite surgery, postoperative recurrence (POR) commonly occurs. Although postoperative use of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) inhibitors is known to be effective in preventing POR, few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of continuing the same TNF-α inhibitors postoperatively in patients who received TNF-ɑ inhibitors before surgery.
Methods
This retrospective observational study was performed in a single tertiary medical center. We retrospectively reviewed patients who had undergone the first intestinal resection due to CD and divided them into two groups: TNF-α inhibitor users in both the preoperative and postoperative periods, and TNF-α inhibitor users in only the preoperative period. We compared the clinical outcomes between these two groups.
Results
In total, 45 patients who used TNF-α inhibitors preoperatively were recruited. Among them, TNF-α inhibitors were used postoperatively in 20 patients (44.4%). The baseline characteristics except age at diagnosis were similar in both groups. The rates of surgical and endoscopic recurrence were not different between the two groups, but the cumulative clinical recurrence rate was significantly lower in the postoperative TNF-α inhibitors group (log-rank p=0.003). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, postoperative TNF-α inhibitors use was significantly associated with a decreased risk of clinical recurrence (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.204; 95% confidence interval, 0.060 to 0.691; p=0.011).
Conclusions
Continuing TNF-α inhibitors postoperatively in patients who were receiving TNF-α inhibitors before surgery significantly reduced the rate of clinical recurrence. For patients with CD who received TNF-α inhibitors preoperatively, continuing their use after surgery could be recommended.

Keyword

Crohn disease; Postoperative recurrence; Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitor