Have Anti–Tumor Necrosis Factor Agents Reduced Reoperation Need in Crohn Disease?

Reoperation rates in Crohn disease historically have been high given the incurable nature of the disease and use of therapies that did not result in mucosal healing. The long-term effect of postoperative anti–tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agent use on reoperation rates in a stable population of patients has not been examined to date.

Investigators in Japan retrospectively evaluated the effects of postoperative anti-TNF use on reoperation risk in 1871 patients with Crohn disease from 10 tertiary-care institutions. Overall cumulative 5- and 10-year reoperation rates were 23% and 48%, respectively. Those who underwent their initial resection after May 2002, when infliximab became a standard treatment option in Japan, had a 28% lower risk for reop…