SAFETY PROFILE OF ANTI-TNF THERAPY IN CROHN’S DISEASE MANAGEMENT: A BRAZILIAN SINGLE-CENTER DIRECT RETROSPECTIVE COMPARISON BETWEEN INFLIXIMAB AND ADALIMUMAB

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Infliximab and adalimumab are considered effective drugs in the management of Crohn’s disease. However, due to significant immunossupression, they can cause important adverse events, mostly infections. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to quantify and describe adverse events derived from adalimumab and infliximab use in Crohn’s disease patients, and to compare the safety profile between these two agents. METHODS: This was an observational, single-center, longitudinal, retrospective study with Crohn’s disease patients under infliximab or adalimumab therapy. Variables analyzed: demographic characteristics (including the Montreal classification), type of agent used, concomitant immunomodulators, presence and types of adverse events observed. Patients were allocated in two groups (infliximab and adalimumab) and had their adverse events accessed and subsequently compared. RESULTS: A total of 130 patients were included (68 in infliximab and 62 in adalimumab groups, respectively). The groups were fully homogeneous in all baseline characteristics, with a median follow-up of 47.21±36.52 months in the infliximab group and 47.79±35.09 in the adalimumab group (P=0.512). Adverse events were found in 43/68 (63.2%) and 40/62 (64.5%) in each group, respectively (P=0.879). There were no differences between the groups regarding infections (P=0.094) or treatment interruption (P=0.091). There were higher rates of infusion reactions in the infliximab group (P=0.016). Cephalea and injection site reactions were more prevalent in adalimumab patients. CONCLUSION: Adverse events were found in approximately two thirds of Crohn’s disease patients under anti-TNF therapy, and there were no significant differences between infliximab or adalimumab

Postoperative complication rates between Crohn's disease and Colorectal cancer patients after ileocolic resections: a comparative study

Introduction: Ileocolic resection (ICR) is the most common surgical procedure performed for Crohn's disease (CD). Similarly, right-sided Colorectal cancer (CRC) is treated by the same operation. The primary aim of this study was to analyze and compare the frequency and profile of early postoperative complications of ICR between patients with CD and CRC. Methods: Retrospective and observational study with patients submitted to ICR from two Brazilian tertiary referral units in colorectal surgery. We included patients with diagnosis of CD or CRC, treated with ICR, at any stage of follow-up. Variables analyzed: age at surgery, gender, diagnosis, surgical approach (open or laparoscopy), type of anastomosis (hand-sewn/stapled; end-to-end/side-to-side), presence and type of early postoperative complications (30 days) and mortality, among others. Results: 109 patients were included, 73 with CD (67%) and 36 with CRC (33%). CD patients were younger (42.44 ± 12.73 years vs. 66.14 ± 11.02 years in the CRC groups, p < 0.0001) and had more previous resections (20 ± 27.4 in CD and 0 in CCR, p = 0.001). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of overall early postoperative complications [17/73 (23.3%) in the CD and 5/36 (13.9%) in the CRC groups (p = 0.250)]. There was no significant difference between the groups in relation to anastomotic leakage (p = 0.185), surgical site infections (p = 0.883), other complications (0.829) and deaths (p = 0.069). Conclusions: There was no significant difference in early postoperative complications in patients with CD or CRC submitted to ICR. Resumo: Introdução: A ileocolectomia direita (ICD) é a operação mais realizada no manejo cirúrgico da doença de Crohn (DC). Da mesma forma, é o procedimento de escolha no tratamento do câncer colorretal (CCR) quando localizado à direita. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar e comparar as complicações cirúrgicas em pacientes submetidos a ICD por DC e CCR em uma coorte de pacientes. Método: Estudo longitudinal, retrospectivo e observacional, de uma coorte de pacientes submetidos a ICD provenientes de 2 centros de referência em coloproctologia. Os critérios de inclusão foram pacientes com DC ou CCR, submetidos a ICD, em qualquer estágio de acompanhamento. As variáveis analisadas foram: idade à cirurgia, gênero, diagnóstico, abordagem (aberta ou laparoscópica), tipo de anastomose, presença e tipo de complicações pós-operatórias precoces (até 30 dias) e óbito. Resultados: Foram incluidos 109 pacientes, 73 com DC (67%) e 36 com CCR (33%). Os grupos foram homogêneos em todas as variáveis, à exceção da idade (42,44 ± 12,73 na DC e 66,14 ± 11,02 no CCR, p < 0,0001). Não houve diferença entre os grupos em relação às complicações precoces, com 17/67 (23,3%) na DC e 5/36 (13,9%) no CCR, p = 0,250. Da mesma forma, não houve diferença entre os grupos em relação a deiscência de anastomose (p = 0,185), infecções do sítio cirúrgico (p = 0,883), outras complicações (0,829) e óbitos (p = 0,069). Conclusões: Não houve diferença nas complicações pós-operatórias em pacientes submetidos a ICD entre portadores de DC e CCR. Keywords: Crohn's disease, Colorectal cancer, Complication, Postoperative, Palavras-chave: Doença de Crohn, Câncer colorretal, Complicações, Pós-operatóri