In children with Crohn’s Disease, early use of biologic therapies helped prevent disease progression. However, it did not delay or avoid the need for surgery.  Among 1,442 children with Crohn’s disease enrolled in the Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Collaborative Research Group registry from 2002 to 2014, the risk of disease progression from inflammation alone to stricturing or penetrating disease was lower for those receiving a biologic agent (medicines like Remicade, Humira, Stelara, or Entyvio). The differences were statistically significant (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.76-0.95, P=0.005). However, no effect on early surgery was seen with biologic use, the researchers reported online (see below).

See the Article in CGH here.