Vedolizumab’s Impact on Postoperative Crohn’s Disease Recurrence

G D’Haens et al. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2025; 10: 26-33. Vedolizumab to prevent postoperative recurrence of Crohn’s disease (REPREVIO): a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

In the REPREVIO study,  a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 80 adults received either vedolizumab (300 mg IV) (n=43) or placebo (n=37) at weeks 0, 8, 16 and 24 following ileocolonic resection and had one or more risk factors for recurrence.

Key findings:

  • At week 26, the probability of a lower modified Rutgeerts score with vedolizumab versus placebo was 77·8% (95% CI 66·4 to 86·3; p<0·0001).
  • Severe endoscopic recurrence was observed in ten (23·3%) of 43 patients in the vedolizumab group versus 23 (62·2%) of 37 patients in the placebo group (difference –38·9% [95% CI –56·0 to –17·3]; p=0·0004). 
  • Adverse effects were noted in three patients who received vedolizumab (bilateral tubo-ovarian abscesses, thrombosed hemorrhoids, and pancreatic adenocarcinoma) and two patients who received placebo (intestinal perforation related to Crohn’s disease and severe abdominal pain)

My take: This study shows that vedolizumab is another biologic capable of reducing postoperative recurrence following ileocolonic resection in Crohn’s disease. Infliximab has been shown to reduce recurrence as well (shown in the PREVENT study).

Related blog posts:

IBD Updates: Reducing Postoperative Crohn’s Disease, How Effective is IFX after Adalimumab, UST vs VDZ in Pediatric UC

C Hernandez-Rocha et al. J Crohns Colitis 2024: 18: 615–627. Clinical Predictors of Early and Late Endoscopic Recurrence Following Ileocolonic Resection in Crohn’s Disease

Prospective Study n=365 adult patients with post-operative Crohn’s disease. Findings: At first colonoscopy, 109 [29.9%] had recurrence. Male gender (odds ratio [OR] = 1.95), non-White ethnicity [OR = 2.48], and postoperative smoking [OR = 2.78] were associated with recurrence, while prophylactic anti-TNF reduced the risk [OR = 0.28]. Postoperative anti-TNF prophylaxis had a protective effect on anti-TNF experienced patients but not on anti-TNF naïve patients. Among patients without recurrence at first colonoscopy, Rutgeerts score i1 was associated with subsequent recurrence [OR = 4.43]

A Lecoutour et al JPGN 2024; 78:1116–1125. Efficacy of infliximab after loss of response of/intolerance to adalimumab in pediatric Crohn’s disease: A retrospective multicenter cohort study of the “GETAID pédiatrique”

Key findings: In this retrospective study, 27 of 32 patients (84.4%) were still on IFX at 12 months of the switch. Among them, 13 had discontinued ADA because of a LOR, 12 for insufficient response and 2 due to primary nonresponse. At 1 year, 22 patients were in corticosteroid free clinical remission (68.7%).

PV Patel et al. JPGN 2024; 78:1126–1134. Real‐world effectiveness of ustekinumab and vedolizumab in TNF‐exposed pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis

Using the ICN registry, this observational study had 262 anti-TNF refractory patients receiving VDZ and 74 patients receiving UST. Key finding: At 6 months, 28.3% of patients on VDZ and 25.8% of those on UST achieved CFCR (p= 0.76)

Orchid, Atlanta Botanical Gardens