Fecal marker levels as predictors of need for endoscopic balloon dilation in Crohn’s disease patients with anastomotic strictures

Table 1 Patient characteristics, n = 48

Characterization	n (%)
Women,	22 (45.8)
Median time between diagnosis and surgery, mo (IQR)	36.0 (14.0-120.0)
Median time between surgery and endoscopic evaluation, mo (IQR)	114.5 (60.8-199.0)
Median age at endoscopic evaluation, yr (IQR)	46.5 (39.3-53.4)
Montreal classification
Age at diagnosis
A1, ≤ 16 yr	6 (12.5)
A2, 17-40 yr	33 (68.8)
A3, > 40 yr	9 (18.8)
Location
L1: ileal	30 (62.5)
L3: ileocolonic	17 (35.4)
L4: upper gastrointestinal tract	1 (2.1)
Behavior
B1: non-stricturing, non-penetrating	1 (2.1)
B2: stricturing	27 (56.2)
B3: penetrating	20 (41.7)
Perianal disease	14 (29.2)
Smoking
Never	26 (54.2)
Current	12 (25.0)
Past	10 (20.8)
Concomitant treatment
Corticosteroids	9 (18.8)
Immunomodulators (Azathioprine/6MP/ Methotrexate)	26 (54.2)
Biologics (Infliximab, adalimumab)	20 (41.7)
5-ASA	17 (35.4)
Median fecal calprotectin, μg/g (IQR)	134.0 (35.3-321.0)
Median, fecal lactoferrin, μg/g (IQR)	6.2 (2.0-22.4)
Modified Rutgeerts score
i0, i1, i2a	26 (54.2)
i2b, i3, i4	22 (45.8)
Subocclusive symptoms	8 (16.7)
Harvey-Bradshaw index
Remission (HBI < 5)	40 (83.3)
Mild disease (HBI 5-7)	8 (16.7)
Need of redilation	14 (29.2)
Surgery after dilation	2 (1.4)
Median follow up, mo (IQR)	34.0 (27.5-52.5)

HBI: Harvey-Bradshaw index; IQR: Interquartile range.

Table 2 Characterization of the dilation procedure

Characterization	n (%)
Patients with stricture	58 (32.6)
Stricture type
Anastomotic	58 (100)
Dilated patients	52 (29.2)
Causes for non-dilation
Length of stenosis	2 (33.3)
Ulceration of mucosa	3 (50.0)
Technical inability	1 (16.7)
Successful dilated patients
Balloon size, n = 52	48 (92.3)
15 mm	13 (25.0)
16.5 mm	3 (5.8)
18 mm	36 (69.2)
Complications	0 (0.0)

Table 3 Comparison between patients with and without endoscopic recurrence

	Endoscopic recurrence,n = 22	No endoscopic recurrence,n = 26	P value
Sex, M:F	11:11	15:11	0.404
Median age, yr (IQR)	47.0 (35.5-53.3)	46.5 (39.8-54.8)	0.472
Median hemoglobin, g/dL (IQR)	13.8 (12.5-15.1)	13.9 (13.1-15.0)	0.715
Median albumin, g/L (IQR)	42.4 (36.1-45.9)	42.1 (39.8-44.6)	0.886
Median C-reactive protein, mg/L (IQR)	5.6 (1.6-8.2)	2.4 (0.9-9.9)	0.457
Median fecal calprotectin, μg/g (IQR)	257.0 (161.0-565.0)	53.9 (23.9-146.0)	< 0.001
Median fecal lactoferrin, μg/g (IQR)	9.1 (5.5-27.8)	3.9 (1.5-21.9)	0.042
Smoking, yes/no/past	3/13/6	9/13/4	0.196
Subocclusive symptoms, yes/no	2/20	6/20	0.183
HBI, remission/mild	17/5	24/2	0.145
Concomitant treatment
Anti-TNF- α agents, yes/no	12/10	14/12	0.596
Immunomodulators, yes/no	9/13	11/15	0.578
Steroids, yes/no	4/18	5/21	0.611

HBI: Harvey-Bradshaw index; IQR: Interquartile range.