The aim of this study was to assess whether the contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) can increase the value of the ultrasonography in the study of postoperative recurrence of Crohn's disease (CD). 60 patients with CD who had previously undergone ileocolic resection underwent prospectively both CEUS and colonoscopy within a 3-day period. The sonographic examination included evaluation of bowel wall thickness, transmural complications, colour Doppler grade and contrast-enhanced US. In addition a sonographic score was established. The capacity of CEUS to diagnose endoscopic recurrence, as well as its severity, was assessed by calculating the sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values, accuracy and odds ratio, with their respective 95% confidence intervals. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were also calculated. 49 out of 60 patients showed endoscopic postoperative recurrence. Severe endoscopic recurrence was present in 34 patients (57%). Classic ultrasound parameters (wall thickness >3mm and colour Doppler flow) revealed an accuracy of 88.3% for the diagnosis of recurrence. Sonographic score 2, including thickness >5mm or contrast enhancement >46%, improved the results with a sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 98%, 100% and 98.3%, respectively, in the diagnosis of endoscopic recurrence. The area under the ROC curve was 0.99, in remarkable agreement with endoscopy (k: 0.946). Sonographic score 3, including thickness >5mm, contrast enhancement >70% or fistula identified 32 out of 34 (94.1%) severe endoscopic recurrences. The area under the ROC curve was 0.836, in good agreement with endoscopy (k: 0.688). CEUS shows excellent sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of postoperative recurrence in CD and can also detect severe recurrences.

Background and Aims: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of fatigue in patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD], to identify the factors associated with fatigue and its severity, to assess the impact of fatigue on quality of life [QoL], and to evaluate the relationship between fatigue and sleep disorders. Methods: This was a prospective multicentre study conducted at 22 Spanish centres. Consecutive patients followed at IBD Units were included. Fatigue was evaluated with the Fatigue Severity Scale [FSS] and the Fatigue Impact Scale [FIS]. Quality of life and sleep quality were assessed using the IBD Questionnaire-Short Form [IBDQ-9] and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI], respectively. Results: A total of 544 consecutive adult IBD patients were included [50% women, mean age 44 years, 61% Crohn’s disease]. The prevalence of fatigue was 41% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 37–45%). The variables associated with an increased risk of fatigue were: anxiety [OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.6–3.7], depression [OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.4–3.8], presence of extraintestinal manifestations [EIMs] [OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.1–2.6], and treatment with systemic steroids [OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.4–5.7]. The presence of EIMs [regression coefficient, RC = 8.2, 95% CI = 2.3–14.2], anxiety [RC = 25.8, 95% CI = 20.0–31.5], depression [RC = 30.6, 95% CI = 24.3–37.0], and sleep disturbances [RC = 15.0, 95% CI = 9.3–20.8] were associated with severity of fatigue. Patients with fatigue had a significantly decreased IBDQ-9 score [p < 0.001]. Conclusions: The prevalence of fatigue in IBD patients is remarkably high and has a negative impact on QoL. Therapy with systemic steroids is associated with an increased risk of fatigue. The severity of fatigue is associated with anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and the presence of EIMs. Fatigue was not associated with anaemia, disease activity or anti-TNF therapy.

The aims of this study were to assess the risk of relapse after discontinuation of anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), to identify the factors associated with relapse, and to evaluate the overcome after retreatment with the same anti-TNF in those who relapsed. This was a retrospective, observational, multicenter study. IBD patients who had been treated with anti-TNFs and in whom these drugs were discontinued after clinical remission was achieved were included. A total of 1,055 patients were included. The incidence rate of relapse was 19% and 17% per patient-year in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis patients, respectively. In both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis patients in deep remission, the incidence rate of relapse was 19% per patient-year. The treatment with adalimumab vs. infliximab (hazard ratio (HR)=1.29; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.01–1.66), elective discontinuation of anti-TNFs (HR=1.90; 95% CI=1.07–3.37) or discontinuation because of adverse events (HR=2.33; 95% CI=1.27–2.02) vs. a top-down strategy, colonic localization (HR=1.51; 95% CI=1.13–2.02) vs. ileal, and stricturing behavior (HR=1.5; 95% CI=1.09–2.05) vs. inflammatory were associated with a higher risk of relapse in Crohn’s disease patients, whereas treatment with immunomodulators after discontinuation (HR=0.67; 95% CI=0.51–0.87) and age (HR=0.98; 95% CI=0.97–0.99) were protective factors. None of the factors were predictive in ulcerative colitis patients. Retreatment of relapse with the same anti-TNF was effective (80% responded) and safe. The incidence rate of inflammatory bowel disease relapse after anti-TNF discontinuation is relevant. Some predictive factors of relapse after anti-TNF withdrawal have been identified. Retreatment with the same anti-TNF drug was effective and safe.

Older age and cardiovascular comorbidities are well-known risk factors for all-cause mortality in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Hypertension and age are the 2 principal determinants of arterial stiffness (AS). This study aimed to estimate AS in patients with COVID-19 requiring hospitalization and analyze its association with all-cause in-hospital mortality. This observational, retrospective, multicenter cohort study analyzed 12 170 patients admitted to 150 Spanish centers included in the SEMI-COVID-19 Network. We compared AS, defined as pulse pressure ≥60 mm Hg, and clinical characteristics between survivors and nonsurvivors. Mean age was 67.5 (±16.1) years and 42.5% were women. Overall, 2606 (21.4%) subjects died. Admission systolic blood pressure (BP) <120 and ≥140 mm Hg was a predictor of higher all-cause mortality (23.5% and 22.8%, respectively, P <0.001), compared with systolic BP between 120 and 140 mm Hg (18.6%). The 4379 patients with AS (36.0%) were older and had higher systolic and lower diastolic BP. Multivariate analysis showed that AS and systolic BP <120 mm Hg significantly and independently predicted all-cause in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj]: 1.27, P =0.0001; ORadj: 1.48, P =0.0001, respectively) after adjusting for sex (males, ORadj: 1.6, P =0.0001), age tertiles (second and third tertiles, ORadj: 2.0 and 4.7, P =0.0001), Charlson Comorbidity Index (second and third tertiles, ORadj: 4.8 and 8.6, P =0.0001), heart failure, and previous and in-hospital antihypertensive treatment. Our data show that AS and admission systolic BP <120 mm Hg had independent prognostic value for all-cause mortality in patients with COVID-19 requiring hospitalization.

The safety of continued ustekinumab (UST) therapy during pregnancy remains unclear in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). There are no meta-analysis reports of exposure to UST during pregnancy. The objective was to describe a case of a pregnant patient with CD who was successfully treated with UST maintenance therapy throughout the pregnancy and delivered a baby boy without any congenital malformations, neurological abnormalities or birth defects. A 37-year-old patient with CD treated with UST became pregnant. She had been receiving UST for 8 months at the time. After discussion with the patient and the obstetric team, the UST therapy was continued. The result of treatment was an uneventful pregnancy with delivery, at term, of a healthy boy and the maintenance of clinical, biological and endoscopic remission of CD during and after pregnancy. To our knowledge, this is the first reported use of continued UST therapy for CD throughout a pregnancy. The result of treatment was an uncomplicated pregnancy with the mother giving birth to a healthy boy at term and the maintenance of clinical biological and endoscopic remission of CD during and after pregnancy.