Anti-TNFα Treatment After Surgical Resection for Crohn's Disease Is Effective Despite Previous Pharmacodynamic Failure

Anti-TNFα Treatment After Surgical Resection for Crohn's Disease Is Effective Despite Previous Pharmacodynamic Failure

Assa A1, Bronsky J, Kolho KL, Zarubova K, de Meij T, Ledder O, Sladek M, van Biervliet S, Strisciuglio C, Shamir R.

BACKGROUND:

The outcome of patients with Crohn's disease who failed anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFα) therapy despite adequate serum drug levels (pharmacodynamic failure) is unclear. We aimed to assess such pediatric patients who underwent intestinal resection and were re-treated with the same anti-TNFα agent postoperatively.

METHODS:

Pediatric patients with Crohn's disease who underwent intestinal resection and were treated with anti-TNFα agents postoperatively were assessed retrospectively. Patients were stratified to those with preoperative anti-TNFα pharmacodynamic failure and those with no preoperative anti-TNFα treatment.

RESULTS:

A total of 53 children were included, 18 with pharmacodynamic failure and 35 controls. Median age at intestinal resection was 14.8 years with 23 (43%) girls. The median time from intestinal resection to anti-TNFα initiation was 8 months (interquartile range 4-14 months). At the time of postoperative anti-TNFα initiation, there were no differences in clinical, laboratory, and anthropometric measures between groups. Similar proportions of patients from both groups were in clinical remission on anti-TNFα treatment after 12 months and at the end of follow-up (1.8 years, interquartile range, 1-2.9 years): 89% versus 88.5% and 83% versus 80% for pharmacodynamic failure patients and controls, respectively; P = 0.9. No significant differences were observed at 14 weeks and 12 months of postoperative anti-TNFα treatment including endoscopic remission rate and fecal calprotectin. Both groups significantly improved all measures during postoperative anti-TNFα treatment.

CONCLUSIONS:

Pediatric patients with Crohn's disease who failed anti-TNFα therapy despite adequate drug levels and underwent intestinal resection can be re-treated with the same agent for postoperative recurrence with a high success rate similar to that of anti-TNFα naive patients.