Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42342332›Full record

ArticleBMJ open gastroenterology2026

Escalating anti-tumour necrosis factor exposure with reductions in surgical resection rates in paediatric inflammatory bowel disease: an 18-year real-world population-based cohort study.

Zachary Green, Myrna Nicholas, Stephanie Vuijk, Mike Stanton, Christopher Bakewell, Tracy Coelho, Akshay Batra, Nadeem A Afzal, Sarah Ennis, Robert Mark Beattie and 1 more

Abstract read
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Article in BMJ open gastroenterology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Zachary GreenDepartment of Human Genetics and Genomic Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK zachary.green@soton.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2907-5538
Myrna NicholasDepartment of Paediatric Gastroenterology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
Stephanie VuijkDepartment of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Erasmus MC Sophia, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Mike StantonDepartment of Paediatric Surgery, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
Christopher BakewellDepartment of Paediatric Gastroenterology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
Tracy CoelhoDepartment of Paediatric Gastroenterology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
Akshay BatraDepartment of Paediatric Gastroenterology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
Nadeem A AfzalDepartment of Paediatric Gastroenterology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
Sarah EnnisDepartment of Human Genetics and Genomic Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
Robert Mark BeattieDepartment of Paediatric Gastroenterology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
James AshtonDepartment of Human Genetics and Genomic Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0348-8198

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo evaluate the relationship between anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) use and surgical resection rates in a regional paediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) cohort.

methodsThis retrospective cohort study used prospectively maintained electronic data from a regional UK paediatric gastroenterology centre (2007-2024). Included were individuals with modified Porto IBD diagnosis, aged ≤17 years. Annual prevalent IBD population was estimated using incident diagnoses and transition to adult services. Abdominal surgery rates (strictureplasty, resection, primary stoma) and anti-TNF administration were collected and prevalence calculated. Three anti-TNF epochs, defined by the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation/European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition guidelines in 2014 and 2020, were compared: Epoch-1 (2007-2013; <20% anti-TNF), Epoch-2 (2014-2020; 20%-50%) and Epoch-3 (2021-2024; >50%). Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank testing compared surgery-free survival between early and later anti-TNF treatment groups.

resultsOne thousand five hundred and thirty-eight children were included (915 Crohn's disease (CD), 529 ulcerative colitis (UC) and 94 IBD-unclassified). Median age at diagnosis was 13.3 years, and the prevalent population increased (253-597 patients). Anti-TNF-treated prevalence rose across epochs (5.9%, 31.9%, 61.1%; p<0.001). Resection rates declined 3.93%, 1.57% and 1.09% (Epoch 1-3) (p=0.003). Rates did not significantly decrease from Epoch 2 to 3 (p=0.217). CD surgery significantly decreased (4.9%, 1.7%, 1.5%, p=0.006); trends in UC rates did not reach significance (1.89%, 1.55%, 0.56%, p=0.314). Time to anti-TNF from diagnosis decreased (1.2, 0.8 and 0.26 years, p=0.008). Early vs later anti-TNF initiation was not associated with surgery-free survival.

conclusionWe report a significant increase in anti-TNF prevalence, with earlier deployment. Surgical resection rates have declined and plateaued; reflecting reduced CD surgery. Future research should focus on optimised anti-TNF and second-line biologic deployment to move beyond current levels of surgery.

Indexed as

Colitis, UlcerativeCrohn DiseaseDigestive System Surgical ProceduresInflammatory Bowel DiseasesTumor Necrosis Factor-alphaTumor Necrosis Factor InhibitorsAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolCohort StudiesFemaleHumansKaplan-Meier EstimateMaleRetrospective StudiesUnited KingdomTumor Necrosis Factor-alphaTumor Necrosis Factor InhibitorsINFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASEPHARMACOTHERAPYSURGERY FOR IBD

Identifiers

PMID42342332
PMCPMC13295801

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.