Histologic Activity From Neoterminal Ileal Biopsies in Patients With Crohn's Disease in Endoscopic Remission is Associated With Postoperative Recurrence

INTRODUCTION: Following ileocolic resection (ICR), the clinical importance and prognostic implications of histologic activity on biopsies in Crohn's disease (CD) patients with endoscopic remission are not well defined. The aim of this study was to determine if histologic activity in patients with endoscopic remission is associated with future risk of endoscopic and/or radiologic postoperative recurrence (POR). METHODS: In this multicenter retrospective cohort study, adult patients with CD who underwent ICR between 2009 and 2020 with endoscopic biopsies of ileal mucosa from Rutgeerts i0 on index colonoscopy were included. The composite rate of endoscopic (Rutgeerts score >= i2b) and radiologic (active inflammation on imaging) recurrence was compared in patients with and without histologic activity using a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. A multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression model including clinically relevant risk factors of POR, postoperative biologic prophylaxis, and histology activity was designed. RESULTS: A total of 113 patients with i0 disease on index colonoscopy after ICR were included. Of these, 42% had histologic activity. Time to POR was significantly earlier in the histologically active versus normal group (P = 0.04). After adjusting for clinical risk factors of POR, histologic activity (HR 2.37, 95% CI 1.17-4.79; P = 0.02) and active smoking (HR 2.54, 95% CI 1.02-6.33; P = 0.05) were independently associated with subsequent composite POR risk. DISCUSSION: In patients with postoperative CD, histologic activity despite complete endoscopic remission is associated with composite, endoscopic, and radiographic recurrence. Further understanding of the role of histologic activity in patients with Rutgeerts i0 disease may provide a novel target to reduce disease recurrence in this population.