M Lowenberg et al. Gastroenterol 2019; 157: 997-1006. This LOVE-CD study, a prospective study with 110 patients with active Crohn’s disease, found that treatment with vedolizumab resulted in 29% and 31% corticosteroid-free clinical remission at weeks 26 and 52 respectively (CDAI <150).  Endoscopic remission, based on intent-to-treat analysis, was 33% and 36% at weeks 26 and 52.  Serum vedolizumab levels above 10 mg/L at week 22 were associated with endoscopic remission at week 26.

S Danese et al. Gastroenterol 2019; 157: 1007-18.  This VERSIFY trial, a phase 3b, open-label, single-group study of 101 patients with Crohn’s disease, found that treatment with vedolizumab resulted in 11.9% and 17.9%  endoscopic remission at week 26 and 52 respectively. Remission by MRE was 21.9% and 38.1% at those respective time points. No notable safety issues were reported.

N Khan et al. Clin Gastroenterol 2019; 17: 2262-8. Using a retrospective cohort of 54,919 patients with IBD followed by the VA System (2000-2018), the authors identified 467 patients with incident squamous cell cancer (SCC); median age ~70 years.  11 patients with SCC died from related-complications.  In this group, 8 had been exposed to thiopurines.   Thus, exposure to thiopurines increased mortality related to SCC compared to those exposed to mesalamine therapy, though the absolute risk among the entire cohort was less than 1 in 5000.  My take: Long-term use of thiopurines should be paired with dermatology evaluation and good skin care.

Pics from Mechandise Mart Light Show, Chicago