Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a term used to describe disorders that involve chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, including Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Below are COVID news and research updates that specifically relate to IBD.
A Comment piece was recently published in The Lancet regarding a small study evaluating the immunogenicity of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in 17 axial spondyloarthritis patients on TNF or IL-17A inhibitors. “All patients were managed according to treatment guidelines; secukinumab (150 mg) was administered every four weeks, and adalimumab (40 mg) was administered either every 2 weeks or every three weeks.”
Read More »A study conducted out of Cedars-Sinai found that patients with IBD (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease) produced strong antibodies following COVID-19 vaccination. Patients taking medications for other chronic inflammatory disorders have been observed to produce less antibodies depending on the medication they are taking to treat their autoimmune disease.
Read More »SECURE-IBD is an international collaborative database monitoring COVID-19 outcomes in IBD patients. Previous reports have indicated that IBD patients on corticosteroids and mesalamine/ sulfasalazine have an increased risk of severe COVID-19, while those on TNF antagonists do not. Proceeding analysis indicated that patients on combination therapy with TNF antagonists and thiopurines also appeared to be at higher risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes; that being said, the analysis was based on a small number of reported cases.
Read More »Canadian researchers at the University of Calgary have published a study testing the antibody response after a COVID-19 infection in those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Many IBD patients take immunosuppressive therapies for their autoimmune disease, which may inhibit the development of antibodies after a COVID-19 infection or the vaccine.
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