The Importance of Monitoring the Postpartum Period in Moderate to Severe Crohn's Disease.

Background: Prior research demonstrates Crohn's disease patients often do well in pregnancy; however, less is known about the risk of flare in the postpartum period.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted at a tertiary care inflammatory bowel disease center. All pregnant women with Crohn's disease who were followed in the postpartum period, defined as 6 months after delivery, were included.

A Single Center Experience With Long-Term Ustekinumab Use and Reinduction in Patients With Refractory Crohn Disease.

Background: Ustekinumab was approved for moderate and severe Crohn's disease (CD) in 2016, but little is known about long-term outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective study evaluated all patients with CD treated with ustekinumab, including patients with reinduction. C-reactive protein (CRP), Harvey-Bradshaw Index (HBI), Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease (SIBDQ), and endoscopy outcomes were collected prospectively.

Risk Factors for Medication Nonadherence to Self-Injectable Biologic Therapy in Adult Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), nonadherence to biologic therapy increases risk of disease flare. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for nonadherence.

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study evaluating patients with IBD treated at a tertiary care center and prescribed self-injectable biologic therapy using the center's specialty pharmacy.

Depressive Symptoms Predict Anti-tumor Necrosis Factor Therapy Noncompliance in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: Noncompliance in use of anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be a factor in medication failure. Few studies have evaluated the contribution of depressive symptoms to medication noncompliance in anti-TNF therapies.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed in a single-center tertiary care IBD center for patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis starting anti-TNF therapy over a 2-year period.

Patients with Refractory Crohn's Disease Successfully Treated with Ustekinumab.

Background: Ustekinumab is a new biologic therapy targeting interleukin-12 and interleukin -23. It is currently approved for the treatment of psoriasis, but clinical trials have shown that it can induce and maintain remission in Crohn's disease (CD). We aim to evaluate effectiveness of ustekinumab in the treatment of CD.

Use of Intravenous Immunoglobulin for Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease with Contraindications or Who Are Unresponsive to Conventional Treatments.

Background: Managing patients with IBD who are refractory or have contraindications to standard therapies is challenging. Many will lose response, become intolerant to treatment, or develop infections with contraindication for immunosuppression. Therefore, alternative therapies, such as the use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), could be used to manage patients in these difficult cases.

Use of Endoscopic Ultrasound to Guide Adalimumab Treatment in Perianal Crohn's Disease Results in Faster Fistula Healing.

Background: Perianal disease is a manifestation of Crohn's disease (CD) that has poor long-term treatment outcomes. The aim was to determine if rectal endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided therapy with adalimumab (ADA) can improve outcomes for patients with perianal fistulizing CD.

Methods: This is a randomized prospective study comparing serial EUS guidance of fistula treatment versus standard of care in fistulizing perianal CD.

Treatment with immunosuppressive therapy may improve depressive symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Introduction: Recent research suggests a relationship of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and depression. Our objective was to evaluate for improvement of depressive symptoms with treatment of IBD using immunosuppressive medications.

Methods: A retrospective study of consecutive patients with IBD started on immunosuppressive agents [anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) or immunomodulator therapy] was conducted.