Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of perianal fistulas in 20 patients with Crohn’s disease

Background: Positive effects of hyperbaric oxygen on perianal fistulas in Crohn's disease have been reported. Aim: To assess efficacy, safety and feasibility of hyperbaric oxygen in Crohn's disease patients with therapy-refractory perianal fistulas. Methods: Twenty consecutive patients were recruited at the out-patient fistula clinic of the Amsterdam UMC. Crohn's disease patients with high perianal fistula(s) failing conventional treatment for over 6 months were included. Exclusion criteria were presence of a stoma, rectovaginal fistula(s) and recent changes in treatment regimens. Patients received treatment with 40 hyperbaric oxygen sessions and outcome parameters were assessed at Week 16. Results: Seven women and 13 men were included (median age 34 years). At Week 16, median scores of perianal disease activity index and modified van Assche index (co-primary outcome parameters) decreased from 7.5 (95% CI 6-9) to 4 (95% CI 3-6, P < 0.001), and from 9.2 (95% CI 7.3-11.2) to 7.3 (95% CI 6.9-9.7, P = 0.004) respectively. Perianal disease activity index scores ≤4 (representing inactive perianal disease) were observed in 13/20 patients (65%). Twelve patients showed a clinical response (60%) and four (20%) clinical remission, assessed with fistula drainage assessment. Median C-reactive protein and faecal calprotectin levels decreased from 4.2 mg/mL (95% CI 1.6-8) to 2.2 (95% CI 0.9-4.3, P = 0.003) and from 399 µg/g (95% CI 52-922) to 31 (95% CI 16-245, P = 0.001), respectively. Conclusions: We found significant clinical, radiological and biochemical improvement in Crohn's disease patients with therapy-refractory perianal fistulas after treatment with hyperbaric oxygen. Clinical trial registration: www.trialregister.nl/trial/6489

Risk factors associated with short-term adverse events after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases

BACKGROUND: Studies have suggested incremental short-term adverse events (AE) after repeated vaccination. In this report, we assessed occurrence and risk factors for short-term AEs following repeated SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with various immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). METHODS: Self-reported daily questionnaires on AEs during the first 7 days after vaccination were obtained of 2259 individuals (2081 patients and 178 controls) participating in an ongoing prospective multicenter cohort study on SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with various IMIDs in the Netherlands (T2B-COVID). Relative risks were calculated for potential risk factors associated with clinically relevant AE (rAE), defined as AE lasting longer than 2 days or impacting daily life. RESULTS: In total, 5454 vaccinations were recorded (1737 first, 1992 second and 1478 third vaccinations). Multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis were the largest disease groups. rAEs were reported by 57.3% (95% CI 54.8–59.8) of patients after the first vaccination, 61.5% (95% CI 59.2–63.7) after the second vaccination and 58% (95% CI 55.3–60.6) after the third vaccination. At day 7 after the first, second and third vaccination, respectively, 7.6% (95% CI 6.3–9.1), 7.4% (95% CI 6.2–8.7) and 6.8% (95% CI 5.4–8.3) of patients still reported AEs impacting daily life. Hospital admissions and allergic reactions were uncommon (<0.7%). Female sex (aRR 1.43, 95% CI 1.32–1.56), age below 50 (aRR 1.14, 95% CI 1.06–1.23), a preceding SARS-CoV-2 infection (aRR 1.14, 95% CI 1.01–1.29) and having an IMID (aRR 1.16, 95% CI 1.01–1.34) were associated with increased risk of rAEs following a vaccination. Compared to the second vaccination, the first vaccination was associated with a lower risk of rAEs (aRR 0.92, 95% CI 0.84–0.99) while a third vaccination was not associated with increased risk on rAEs (aRR 0.93, 95% CI 0.84–1.02). BNT162b2 vaccines were associated with lower risk on rAEs compared to CX-024414 (aRR 0.86, 95% CI 0.80–0.93). CONCLUSIONS: A third SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was not associated with increased risk of rAEs in IMID patients compared to the second vaccination. Patients with an IMID have a modestly increased risk of rAEs after vaccination when compared to controls. Most AEs are resolved within 7 days; hospital admissions and allergic reactions were uncommon. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NL74974.018.20, Trial ID: NL8900. Registered on 9 September 2020. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12916-022-02310-7