The lack of clear definition and classification for “moderate ulcerative colitis (UC)” creates ambiguity regarding the suitability of step-up versus top-down treatment approaches. In this paper, experts address crucial gaps in assessing and managing moderate UC. The Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa Inflammatory Bowel Disease Coalition comprised 24 experts who convened to share, discuss and vote electronically on management recommendations for moderate UC. Experts emphasized that the goal of treating UC is to attain clinical, biomarker, and endoscopic remission using cost-effective strategies such as 5-aminosalicylates (5-ASAs), well-tolerated therapy that can be optimized to improve outcomes. Experts agreed that 5-ASA therapy could be optimized by maximizing dosage (4 g/day for induction of remission), combining oral and topical administration, extending treatment duration beyond 8 weeks, and enhancing patient adherence through personalized counselling and reduced pill burden. Treatment escalation should ideally be reserved for patients with predictors of aggressive disease or those who do not respond to 5-ASA optimization. Premature treatment escalation to advanced therapies (including biologics and oral small molecules) may have long-term health and financial consequences. This paper provides consensus-based expert recommendations and a treatment algorithm, based on current evidence and practices, to assist decision-making in real-world settings.

The lack of clear definition and classification for “moderate ulcerative colitis (UC)” creates ambiguity regarding the suitability of step-up versus top-down treatment approaches. In this paper, experts address crucial gaps in assessing and managing moderate UC. The Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa Inflammatory Bowel Disease Coalition comprised 24 experts who convened to share, discuss and vote electronically on management recommendations for moderate UC. Experts emphasized that the goal of treating UC is to attain clinical, biomarker, and endoscopic remission using cost-effective strategies such as 5-aminosalicylates (5-ASAs), well-tolerated therapy that can be optimized to improve outcomes. Experts agreed that 5-ASA therapy could be optimized by maximizing dosage (4 g/day for induction of remission), combining oral and topical administration, extending treatment duration beyond 8 weeks, and enhancing patient adherence through personalized counselling and reduced pill burden. Treatment escalation should ideally be reserved for patients with predictors of aggressive disease or those who do not respond to 5-ASA optimization. Premature treatment escalation to advanced therapies (including biologics and oral small molecules) may have long-term health and financial consequences. This paper provides consensus-based expert recommendations and a treatment algorithm, based on current evidence and practices, to assist decision-making in real-world settings.

Objective:To investigate the awareness of Chinese gastroenterologists regarding the treatment targets of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as defined by the STRIDE-Ⅱ consensus and to identify challenges encountered in clinical practice.Methods:A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted via an online questionnaire distributed to gastroenterologists between February 16 and March 31, 2024. The survey encompassed demographic data, recognition and adherence to the STRIDE-Ⅱ consensus, perceived importance of IBD treatment targets, and clinical challenges.Results:A total of 203 valid questionnaires were collected from 28 provinces (autonomous regions/municipalities). The majority of participants (177/203, 87.2%) reported routinely referencing the STRIDE-Ⅱ consensus in IBD management. Over 90% of physicians identified endoscopic mucosal healing as the core treatment target. Additionally, approximately 80% emphasized the importance of clinical remission, endoscopic remission, quality-of-life improvement, disability prevention, and normalization of growth in pediatric patients. The challenges reported by more than half of physicians in acheiving the goals of the treatment process included lack of a standardized definition for mucosal healing (69.5%), management of psychological comorbidities (89.2%), drug failure (74.4%), penetrating Crohn's disease (72.4%), perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease (65.0%), and IBD management during pregnancy (61.1%).Conclusions:Chinese gastroenterologists demonstrate high awareness and adherence to the STRIDE-Ⅱ consensus, prioritizing mucosal healing as the cornerstone of IBD management. However, numerous challenges remain in clinical practice, particularly regarding operational definitions of therapeutic endpoints and complex disease phenotypes.

The lack of clear definition and classification for “moderate ulcerative colitis (UC)” creates ambiguity regarding the suitability of step-up versus top-down treatment approaches. In this paper, experts address crucial gaps in assessing and managing moderate UC. The Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa Inflammatory Bowel Disease Coalition comprised 24 experts who convened to share, discuss and vote electronically on management recommendations for moderate UC. Experts emphasized that the goal of treating UC is to attain clinical, biomarker, and endoscopic remission using cost-effective strategies such as 5-aminosalicylates (5-ASAs), well-tolerated therapy that can be optimized to improve outcomes. Experts agreed that 5-ASA therapy could be optimized by maximizing dosage (4 g/day for induction of remission), combining oral and topical administration, extending treatment duration beyond 8 weeks, and enhancing patient adherence through personalized counselling and reduced pill burden. Treatment escalation should ideally be reserved for patients with predictors of aggressive disease or those who do not respond to 5-ASA optimization. Premature treatment escalation to advanced therapies (including biologics and oral small molecules) may have long-term health and financial consequences. This paper provides consensus-based expert recommendations and a treatment algorithm, based on current evidence and practices, to assist decision-making in real-world settings.

Objective:To investigate the awareness of Chinese gastroenterologists regarding the treatment targets of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as defined by the STRIDE-Ⅱ consensus and to identify challenges encountered in clinical practice.Methods:A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted via an online questionnaire distributed to gastroenterologists between February 16 and March 31, 2024. The survey encompassed demographic data, recognition and adherence to the STRIDE-Ⅱ consensus, perceived importance of IBD treatment targets, and clinical challenges.Results:A total of 203 valid questionnaires were collected from 28 provinces (autonomous regions/municipalities). The majority of participants (177/203, 87.2%) reported routinely referencing the STRIDE-Ⅱ consensus in IBD management. Over 90% of physicians identified endoscopic mucosal healing as the core treatment target. Additionally, approximately 80% emphasized the importance of clinical remission, endoscopic remission, quality-of-life improvement, disability prevention, and normalization of growth in pediatric patients. The challenges reported by more than half of physicians in acheiving the goals of the treatment process included lack of a standardized definition for mucosal healing (69.5%), management of psychological comorbidities (89.2%), drug failure (74.4%), penetrating Crohn's disease (72.4%), perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease (65.0%), and IBD management during pregnancy (61.1%).Conclusions:Chinese gastroenterologists demonstrate high awareness and adherence to the STRIDE-Ⅱ consensus, prioritizing mucosal healing as the cornerstone of IBD management. However, numerous challenges remain in clinical practice, particularly regarding operational definitions of therapeutic endpoints and complex disease phenotypes.

This review aims to summarize the current evidence on the risk and impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and to discuss optimal management of IBD during this outbreak. IBD patients did not have a higher incidence of COVID-19 or more severe disease progression. Multiple factors are associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 infection, increased hospitalization rate, and increased risk of severe COVID-19. Treatment of IBD is not associated with more severe COVID-19, and the association of 5-aminosalicylic acid and thiopurine with increased risk of COVID-19 is controversial. Treatment regiments for IBD patients with different categories and levels of disease need to be adjusted during the epidemic. COVID-19 vaccine is effective and safe for patients with IBD.

This review aims to summarize the current evidence on the risk and impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and to discuss optimal management of IBD during this outbreak. IBD patients did not have a higher incidence of COVID-19 or more severe disease progression. Multiple factors are associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 infection, increased hospitalization rate, and increased risk of severe COVID-19. Treatment of IBD is not associated with more severe COVID-19, and the association of 5-aminosalicylic acid and thiopurine with increased risk of COVID-19 is controversial. Treatment regiments for IBD patients with different categories and levels of disease need to be adjusted during the epidemic. COVID-19 vaccine is effective and safe for patients with IBD.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab (UST) for Crohn′s disease (CD) .Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to collect clinical data of CD patients with active lesions in colonoscopy before the treatment of UST in Renji Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from May 2020 to September 2021. Primary endpoint was the endoscopic response and remission rates at the 24th/32th week after the treatment of UST.Results:A total of 36 CD patients who were endoscopically active at baseline [25 men, 11 women; mean age, 29.8±8.7 years; disease duration, 38.0 (15.5, 66.1) months] were included. According to Montreal classification, 4 patients (11.1%) were L1 type (terminal ileum) , 4 (11.1%) were L2 type (colon) , 28 (77.8%) belonged to L3 type (ileocolon) , and upper digestive tract involvement occurred in 4 (11.1%) . As for disease behavior, 28 patients (77.8%) had non-structuring and non-penetrating lesions; 5 (13.9%) had structuring lesions and 3 (8.3%) had penetrating lesions. (1) Endoscopic activity: At the 24th/32th week, the endoscopic remission rate and response rate were 33.3% (12/36) and 63.9% (23/36) , respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in endoscopic remission rate and response rate between first-line and second-line usages of UST (all P>0.05) . (2) Clinical activity: Among the 36 patients, 16 were in the clinical active phase, and 20 patients were in the clinical remission phase at baseline. The clinical remission rate and clinical response rate of 16 clinical active patients at the 24th/32th week were 81.2% and 93.8% respectively. (3) Radiological activity: Twenty-seven patients completed the radiological evaluation at the 24th/32th week. In 3 patients with L1 lesions, 2 achieved response or partial response and no response in 1. In 24 patients with L3 lesions, radiological response occurred in 5 patients (20.8%) , partial response in 19 (79.2%) , and no response in 5 (20.8%) . In 19 patients with active perianal fistula at baseline, 6 achieved healing fistule at the 24th/32th week, 2 had partial response, 6 remained stable, while progress were seen in the other 5. (4) Serological and nutritive index: Compared with baseline values, the body mass index, hemoglobin and serum albumin levels of patients were significantly improved at the 24th/32th week (all P<0.05) , but the level of C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate at the 24th/32th week showed no significant difference (all P>0.05) . (5) Safety: No serious adverse events and infusion reactions were observed, and adverse events occurred in 2 patients. Conclusion:UST can effectively improve the endoscopic manifestations, clinical symptoms, imaging and nutritive index of CD patients with good safety.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic non-specific intestinal inflammatory disease. Biological agents have good clinical efficacy, but some patients may stop treatment due to adverse reactions. New oral small molecule drugs have the characteristics of small molecular weight, easier passage through cell membrane and short half-life, and have good curative effect on IBD. This article reviews the research progress of small molecule drugs for the treatment of IBD, in order to guide clinical application.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab (UST) for Crohn′s disease (CD) .Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to collect clinical data of CD patients with active lesions in colonoscopy before the treatment of UST in Renji Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from May 2020 to September 2021. Primary endpoint was the endoscopic response and remission rates at the 24th/32th week after the treatment of UST.Results:A total of 36 CD patients who were endoscopically active at baseline [25 men, 11 women; mean age, 29.8±8.7 years; disease duration, 38.0 (15.5, 66.1) months] were included. According to Montreal classification, 4 patients (11.1%) were L1 type (terminal ileum) , 4 (11.1%) were L2 type (colon) , 28 (77.8%) belonged to L3 type (ileocolon) , and upper digestive tract involvement occurred in 4 (11.1%) . As for disease behavior, 28 patients (77.8%) had non-structuring and non-penetrating lesions; 5 (13.9%) had structuring lesions and 3 (8.3%) had penetrating lesions. (1) Endoscopic activity: At the 24th/32th week, the endoscopic remission rate and response rate were 33.3% (12/36) and 63.9% (23/36) , respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in endoscopic remission rate and response rate between first-line and second-line usages of UST (all P>0.05) . (2) Clinical activity: Among the 36 patients, 16 were in the clinical active phase, and 20 patients were in the clinical remission phase at baseline. The clinical remission rate and clinical response rate of 16 clinical active patients at the 24th/32th week were 81.2% and 93.8% respectively. (3) Radiological activity: Twenty-seven patients completed the radiological evaluation at the 24th/32th week. In 3 patients with L1 lesions, 2 achieved response or partial response and no response in 1. In 24 patients with L3 lesions, radiological response occurred in 5 patients (20.8%) , partial response in 19 (79.2%) , and no response in 5 (20.8%) . In 19 patients with active perianal fistula at baseline, 6 achieved healing fistule at the 24th/32th week, 2 had partial response, 6 remained stable, while progress were seen in the other 5. (4) Serological and nutritive index: Compared with baseline values, the body mass index, hemoglobin and serum albumin levels of patients were significantly improved at the 24th/32th week (all P<0.05) , but the level of C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate at the 24th/32th week showed no significant difference (all P>0.05) . (5) Safety: No serious adverse events and infusion reactions were observed, and adverse events occurred in 2 patients. Conclusion:UST can effectively improve the endoscopic manifestations, clinical symptoms, imaging and nutritive index of CD patients with good safety.