This retrospective cohort study aims to compare the efficacy of different biologics in preventing postoperative endoscopic recurrence in Crohn's disease (CD). It plans to include 198 adult patients who underwent bowel resection and initiated prophylactic biologic therapy between January 1, 2015, and April 1, 2025. Patients will be divided into anti-TNF (e.g., infliximab, adalimumab) and non-anti-TNF (e.g., vedolizumab, ustekinumab) groups based on the biologic started within 6 weeks post-surgery. The primary outcome is endoscopic recurrence (Rutgeerts score ≥ i2) at 6-12 months postoperatively. Secondary outcomes include severe endoscopic recurrence, clinical recurrence, recurrence at different anastomotic sites, CD-related rehospitalization, reoperation, drug persistence, the POCER postoperative endoscopic index, and histopathological changes in the bowel and mesenteric fat. Subgroup analyses will explore treatment effects by recurrence risk stratification and resection extent. Using retrospective data collection, the study will apply multivariate regression and survival analysis to provide real-world evidence for optimizing postoperative biologic selection.
Age ≥18 years.
Diagnosis of Crohn's disease according to the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) guideline criteria, based on clinical, laboratory, endoscopic, radiologic, and histopathologic findings.
Underwent Crohn's disease-related intestinal resection, including ileocolonic resection, segmental small bowel resection, or segmental colonic resection.
Initiated postoperative prophylactic biologic therapy within 6 weeks after surgery.
Diagnosis of other intestinal diseases, including intestinal Behçet's disease, ulcerative colitis, intestinal tuberculosis, or intestinal malignancy.
Intestinal surgery mainly performed for non-IBD conditions, such as intestinal malignancy.
No postoperative endoscopic evaluation within 6 to 12 months after surgery, or endoscopic quality insufficient for Rutgeerts score assessment, and lack of adequate clinical, radiologic, ultrasonographic, or laboratory data for recurrence assessment.
Irregular use of postoperative prophylactic therapy due to severe comorbidities, serious infection, or other reasons, making treatment efficacy difficult to evaluate.
This retrospective cohort study will include adult patients with Crohn's disease who underwent CD-related intestinal resection at Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital between January 1, 2015 and April 1, 2025. Eligible patients initiated postoperative prophylactic biologic therapy within 6 weeks after surgery and had available postoperative follow-up data, including endoscopic assessment within 6 to 12 months after surgery or other clinical data for recurrence evaluation. Patients will be grouped according to the type of postoperative prophylactic biologic therapy, including anti-TNF biologics and non-anti-TNF biologics.
Cohort
Retrospective
Infliximab
Biological/VaccineInfliximab was used as postoperative prophylactic biologic therapy for Crohn's disease according to routine clinical practice. The recommended regimen was 5 mg/kg intravenously at weeks 0, 2, and 6, followed by maintenance treatment every 8 weeks.
Adalimumab
Biological/VaccineAdalimumab was used as postoperative prophylactic biologic therapy for Crohn's disease according to routine clinical practice. The recommended regimen was 160 mg subcutaneously at week 0, 80 mg at week 2, and 40 mg every 2 weeks from week 4 onward.
Vedolizumab
Biological/VaccineVedolizumab was used as postoperative prophylactic biologic therapy for Crohn's disease according to routine clinical practice. The recommended regimen was 300 mg intravenously at weeks 0, 2, and 6, followed by maintenance treatment every 8 weeks.
Ustekinumab (UST)
Biological/VaccineUstekinumab was used as postoperative prophylactic biologic therapy for Crohn's disease according to routine clinical practice. The recommended regimen included a weight-based intravenous induction dose, followed by 90 mg subcutaneously every 8 weeks.
Endoscopic recurrence rate
The proportion of patients with endoscopic recurrence, defined as a Rutgeerts score ≥ i2 on ileocolonoscopy performed 6 to 12 months after CD-related intestinal resection.
Severe endoscopic recurrence rate
The proportion of patients with severe endoscopic recurrence, defined as a Rutgeerts score ≥ i3 on postoperative ileocolonoscopy.
Clinical recurrence rate
The proportion of patients with clinical recurrence, defined as worsening Crohn's disease-related symptoms supported by endoscopic, radiologic, ultrasonographic, laboratory, or medical record evidence, or requiring treatment escalation, hospitalization, or reoperation due to Crohn's disease activity.
Long-term endoscopic recurrence rate
The proportion of patients with endoscopic recurrence during long-term follow-up, defined as a Rutgeerts score ≥ i2 on follow-up endoscopy.
Crohn's disease-related rehospitalization rate
The proportion of patients requiring rehospitalization due to Crohn's disease activity, complications, or treatment-related problems during follow-up.
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