# Influence of Familial Inflammatory Bowel Disease History on the Use of Immunosuppressants, Biological Agents and Surgery in Patients with Pediatric-Onset of the Disease in the Era of Biological Therapies. Results from the ENEIDA Registry

## TL;DR

This study finds that children with inflammatory bowel disease who have a family history of the condition need more perianal surgery but not more medication or intestinal surgery.

## Contribution

The study identifies a higher need for perianal surgery in familial pediatric-onset IBD patients despite similar use of medical therapies.

## Key findings

- Familial IBD patients did not show increased use of immunomodulators, biological agents, or intestinal surgery.
- Familial Crohn’s disease patients had a higher need for perianal surgery compared to sporadic cases.
- Perianal surgery occurred sooner in familial Crohn’s disease patients.

## Abstract

Background: Pediatric-onset familial inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may differ from sporadic pediatric-onset IBD in its genetic and environmental background and may have distinct clinical and therapeutic implications. Objective: To evaluate the influence of a positive family history of IBD on the use of medical therapies and surgical interventions in adult patients with pediatric-onset IBD. Methods: Retrospective case–control study using the Spanish ENEIDA registry, including adults diagnosed with pediatric-onset IBD since 2006. Familial forms (FFs) (defined by a first-degree relative with IBD) and sporadic forms (SF) (with no relatives of any grade with IBD) were matched 1:4 by type of IBD, sex, age at IBD diagnosis, disease location, disease pattern, development of perianal disease and smoking status at diagnosis. The study outcomes were the use of immunomodulators, biological therapies, intestinal surgery, and perianal surgery during follow-up. Results: Six-hundred and fifty-five Crohn’s disease (CD) (131 FF) and 440 ulcerative colitis (UC) (88 FF) patients were included. Immunomodulators, biological therapy, and intestinal surgery were used evenly among FF and SF patients for both UC and CD. However, a higher requirement for perianal surgery among FF-CD patients (18.3% vs. 10.5%, p = 0.014), together with a shorter time to perianal surgery (11 vs. 20 months, log-rank p = 0.004), was observed. Conclusions: Patients with FF of pediatric-onset IBD do not exhibit an increased use of immunomodulators, biological agents, or intestinal surgery, but do exhibit a higher need for perianal surgery, as compared to patients with SF pediatric-onset IBD.