Prophylactic Versus Endoscopy-driven Treatment of Crohn’s Postoperative Recurrence: A Retrospective, Multicentric, European Study [PORCSE Study]
Jeroen Geldof, Marie Truyens, Michiel Hanssens, Emily Van Gucht, Tom Holvoet, Ainara Elorza, Vincent Bouillon, Sónia Barros, Viviana Martins, Konstantinos Argyriou, Spyridon Potamianos, Mircea Diculescu, Tudor Stroie, Peter Bossuyt, Annick Moens, Eirini Theodoraki, Ioannis E. Κoutroubakis, Juliana Pedro, Samuel Fernandes, Pinelopi Nikolaou, Konstantinos Κarmiris, Filip J. Baert, Rocío Ferreiro‐Iglesias, Harald Peeters, Sophie Claeys, María José Casanova, Piotr Eder, Ross J Porter, Ian Arnott, Tarkan Karakan, Francisco Mesonero, Joana Revés, Evi Van Dyck, Aranzazu Jauregui-Amezaga, Míriam Mañosa, Pauline Rivière, Lucia Marquez Mosquera, Francisco Portela, Raquel Pimentel, Triana Lobatón
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: No consensus exists on optimal strategy to prevent postoperative recurrence [POR] after ileocaecal resection [ICR] for Crohn's disease [CD]. We compared early medical prophylaxis versus expectant management with treatment driven by findings at elective endoscopy 6-12 months after ICR. METHODS: A retrospective, multicentric, observational study was performed. CD patients undergoing first ICR were assigned to Cohort 1 if a biologic or immunomodulator was [re]started prophylactically after ICR, or to Cohort 2 if no postoperative prophylaxis was given and treatment was started as reaction to elective endoscopic findings. Primary endpoint was rate of endoscopic POR [Rutgeerts >i1]. Secondary endpoints were severe endoscopic POR [Rutgeerts i3/i4], clinical POR, surgical POR, and treatment burden during follow-up. RESULTS: Of 346 included patients, 47.4% received prophylactic postoperative treatment [proactive/Cohort 1] and 52.6% did not [reactive/Cohort 2]. Endoscopic POR [Rutgeerts >i1] rate was significantly higher in Cohort 2 [41.5% vs 53.8%, OR 1.81, p = 0.039] at endoscopy 6-12 months after surgery. No significant difference in severe endoscopic POR was found [OR 1.29, p = 0.517]. Cohort 2 had significantly higher clinical POR rates [17.7% vs 35.7%, OR 3.05, p = 0.002] and numerically higher surgical recurrence rates [6.7% vs 13.2%, OR 2.59, p = 0.051]. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed no significant difference in time to surgical POR of proactive versus expectant/reactive approach [HR 2.50, p = 0.057]. Quasi-Poisson regression revealed a significantly lower treatment burden for immunomodulator use in Cohort 2 [mean ratio 0.53, p = 0.002], but no difference in burden of biologics or combination treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The PORCSE study showed lower rates of endoscopic POR with early postoperative medical treatment compared with expectant management after first ileocaecal resection for Crohn's disease.