A 5-Year Prospective Observational Study of the Outcomes of International Treatment Guidelines for Crohn's Disease

Background & Aims

Therapeutic strategies for patients with Crohn's disease are based on American and European guidelines. High rates of corticosteroid dependency and low remission rates are identified as weaknesses of this therapy and as justification for early introduction of biologic agents (top-down treatment) in moderate/severe Crohn's disease. We reviewed outcomes and corticosteroid-dependency rates of patients with moderate-to-severe disease who were treated according to the international guidelines.

Methods

Consecutive patients (102) newly diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2000–2002 were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Severity of disease was scored using the Harvey–Bradshaw Index (HBI). Disease was classified by Montreal classification. Five-year follow-up data were recorded.

Results

Seventy-two patients had moderate/severe disease at diagnosis (HBI >8). Fifty-four (75%) had nonstricturing, nonpenetrating disease (B1). Sixty-four (89%) received corticosteroids, and 44 (61%) received immunomodulators. Twenty-one patients (29%) received infliximab. Thirty-nine patients (54%) required resection surgery. At a median of 5 years, 66 of 72 (92%) patients with moderate/severe disease were in remission (median HBI, 1). Twenty-five patients (35%) required neither surgery nor biologic therapy.

Conclusions

When international treatment guidelines are strictly followed, Crohn's disease patients can achieve high rates of remission and low rates of morbidity at 5 years. Indiscriminate use of biologic agents therefore is not appropriate for all patients with moderate-to-severe disease.

Abbreviations used in this paper: ECCO, European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation, HBI, Harvey–Bradshaw Index