Effectiveness of biologics for endoscopic healing in patients with isolated proximal small bowel Crohn's disease.

Background: Endoscopic healing (EH) is a key therapeutic target in Crohn's disease (CD). Proximal small bowel (SB) lesions in patients with CD are associated with a significant risk of strictures and bowel resection. Assessing SB in patients with CD is necessary because of its significant therapeutic implications.

Thiopurines are superior to mesalamine for preventing postoperative recurrence in patients with Crohn's disease and two or more risk factors.

Objective: To confirm the hypothesis that thiopurines are better than mesalamine for preventing postoperative recurrence of Crohn's disease (CD) in patients with more than two risk factors.

Methods: In total 87 consecutive CD patients who underwent curative ileocolonic resection and ileocolic anastomosis were retrospectively recruited, including 43 prescribed with thiopurines and 44 with mesalamine after surgery. Four risk factors were predefined for subgroup analyses: smoking, penetrating disease, perianal disease and previous resection.