Rates and Predictors of Endoscopic and Clinical Recurrence After Primary Ileocolic Resection for Crohn's Disease

Background And Aims: The utility of postoperative medical prophylaxis (POMP) and the treatment of mild endoscopic recurrence remain controversial.

Methods: This study is a retrospective review of patients undergoing a primary ileocolic resection for CD at a single academic center. Endoscopic recurrence (ER) was defined using the Rutgeerts score (RS), and clinical recurrence (CR) was defined as symptoms of CD with endoscopic or radiologic evidence of neo-terminal ileal disease.

Results: There were 171 patients who met inclusion criteria. The cumulative probability of ER (RS ≥ i-1) at 1, 2, and 5 years was 29, 51, and 77 %, respectively. The only independent predictors of ER were the absence of POMP (HR 1.50; P = 0.03) and penetrating disease behavior (HR 1.50; P = 0.05). The cumulative probability of CR at 1, 2, and 5 years was 8, 13, and 27 %, respectively. There was a higher rate of clinical recurrence in patients with RS-2 compared to RS-1 on the initial postoperative endoscopy (HR 2.50; P = 0.02). In 11 patients not exposed to POMP with i-1 on initial endoscopy, only 2 patients (18 %) progressed endoscopically during the study period while 5 patients (45 %) regressed to i-0 on subsequent endoscopy without treatment.

Conclusions: Postoperative medical prophylaxis decreased the likelihood of ER while certain phenotypes of CD appear to increase the risk of developing ER and CR. There may be a role for watchful waiting in patients with mild endoscopic recurrence on the initial postoperative endoscopy.