Table 1.
Demographic and clinical features at diagnosis of the two experimental groups: patients who experienced relapse and patients who did not experience relapse after biologic discontinuation.
| Crohn’s disease (N = 159) | Ulcerative colitis (N = 29) | P-value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Relapse (N = 124) | No relapse (N = 35) | Relapse (N = 17) | No relapse (N = 12) | CD | UC | |
| Age at diagnosis, years | 14.23 ± 2.74 | 14.51 ± 3.39 | 14.75 ± 2.53 | 14.13 ± 2.48 | 0.656 e | 0.521 e |
| Male/ female | 96 (77.4%) / 28 (22.6%) | 24 (68.6%)/ 11 (31.4%) | 7 (41.2%)/ 10 (58.8%) | 8 (66.7%)/ 4 (33.3%) | 0.320 f | 0.188 f |
| Total duration of follow-up, years | 13.02 ± 4.32 | 10.42 ± 2.95 | 7.31 ± 2.54 | 11.00 ± 3.41 | 0.062 e | 0.005 e |
| PCDAI a | 33.14 ± 14.27 | 38.00 ± 11.51 | – | - | 0.424 e | - |
| PUCAI b | – | – | 56.76 ± 17.22 | 37.92 ± 11.96 | - | 0.002 e |
| Hematocrit, g/dl | 36.17 ± 6.29 | 35.24 ± 4.48 | 32.03 ± 8.02 | 36.02 ± 5.05 | 0.331 e | 0.112 e |
| Albumin, g/dl | 3.79 ± 0.56 | 3.75 ± 0.56 | 3.96 ± 0.66 | 4.39 ± 0.33 | 0.725 e | 0.045 e |
| ESR, mm/h | 15.17 ± 17.22 | 9.63 ± 9.23 | 35.71 ± 28.72 | 16.33 ± 17.50 | 0.078 e | 0.033 e |
| CRP, mg/dl | 2.80 ± 2.89 | 3.34 ± 3.12 | 1.02 ± 1.84 | 0.14 ± 0.19 | 0.363 e | 0.112 e |
| Medication | ||||||
| 5-ASA | 115 (92.7%) | 34 (97.1%) | 17 (100%) | 12 (100%) | 0.237 f | – |
| Systemic steroids | 21 (16.9%) | 10 (28.6%) | 13 (76.5%) | 4 (33.3%) | 0.127 f | 0.024 f |
| Immunomodulators | 122 (98.4%) | 34 (97.1%) | 17 (100%) | 12 (100%) | 0.688 f | – |
| CD age | ||||||
| A1a (0-<10 years old) | 4 (3.2%) | 2 (5.7%) | - | 0.677 f | - | |
| A1b (10-<17 years old) | 103 (72.5%) | 26 (74.3%) | ||||
| A2 (17–40 years old) | 17 (13.7%) | 7 (20%) | ||||
| CD location | ||||||
| L1 (Ileal) | 16 (11.3%) | 8 (22.9%) | - | 0.020 f | - | |
| L2 (Colonic) | 9 (7.3%) | 7 (20.0%) | ||||
| L3 (Ileocolonic) | 99 (79.8%) | 20 (57.1%) | ||||
| L4a (Proximal upper involvement) | 49 (39.5%) | 14 (40.0%) | ||||
| L4b (Distal upper involvement) | 64 (51.6%) | 14 (40.0%) | ||||
| CD behavior | ||||||
| B1 (Inflammatory) | 93 (75.0%) | 24 (68.6%) | – | 0.654 f | – | |
| B2 (Stricturing) | 24 (19.4%) | 11 (3.4%) | ||||
| B3 (Penetrating) | 5 (4.0%) | 0 | ||||
| P (Perianal disease) | 85 (68.5%) | 24 (68.6%) | ||||
| CD Growth | ||||||
| G0 (No evidence of delay in growth) | 35 (28.2%) | 9 (25.7%) | 0.769 f | - | ||
| G1 (Delay in growth) | 89 (71.8%) | 26 (74.3%) | ||||
| SES-CD c score | 16.95 ± 8.89 | 16.97 ± 9.24 | 0.991 e | - | ||
| UC extent | ||||||
| E1 (Proctitis) | – | 0 | 4 (33.3%) | - | 0.036 f | |
| E2 (Left colitis) | 1 (5.9%) | 0 | ||||
| E3 (Extensive colitis) | 2 (11.8%) | 1 (8.3%) | ||||
| E4 (Pancolitis) | 14 (82.4%) | 7 (58.3%) | ||||
| UC MES d | ||||||
| 1 (Mild) | – | 0 | 1 (8.3%) | – | 0.007 f | |
| 2 (Moderate) | 8 (47.1%) | 10 (83.3%) | ||||
| 3 (Severe) | 9 (52.9%) | 1 (8.3%) | ||||
Values are n (percentage) or average ± standard deviation; N, number of patients.
Pediatric Crohn’s disease activity index (PCDAI) score can range from 0 to 100, with higher scores signifying more active disease. A score of <10 indicates consistent with inactive disease, 11–30 indicates mild disease, and >30 indicates moderate-to-severe disease.
Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (PUCAI) is a 6-item disease activity index intended for use in pediatric UC clinical trials with a score ranging from 0 to 85.
The simple endoscopic score for Crohn’s disease (SES-CD) assesses the size of mucosal ulcers, the ulcerated surface, the endoscopic extension, and the presence of stenosis.
Mayo endoscopy subscores were as follows: 0, normal or inactive disease; 1, mild disease; 2, moderate disease; and 3, severe disease.
Student’s t-test.
Mann-Whitney U test.
Bold values mean statistically significant values with p-value <0.05.