A Prospective Analysis of Clinical Variables, Serologic Factors, and Outcome of Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis in Patients With Backwash Ileitis

Abstract

The outcome of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in patients with backwash ileitis is controversial. We prospectively compared the outcomes of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in colitis patients with backwash ileitis and colitis patients without backwash ileitis. Consecutive colitis patients undergoing ileal pouch-anal anastomosis were reviewed. All patients were classified after surgery as being either backwash ileitis-positive or backwash ileitis-negative. Serum drawn preoperatively was assayed, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, for anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae, anti-outer membrane of porin C, anti-CBir1, anti-I2, and perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody. Outcomes included acute pouchitis (antibiotic responsive), chronic pouchitis (antibiotic dependent or refractory), or de novo Crohn's disease (small inflammation above the pouch inlet or pouch fistula). Out of 334 patients, 39 (12%) were backwash ileitis-positive. Compared with backwash ileitis-negative patients, backwash ileitis-positive patients had a higher incidence of pancolitis (100% vs 74%; P = .0001), primary sclerosing cholangitis (15% vs 2%; P = .001) and high-level (>100 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay units/ml) perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody expression (29% vs 9%; P = .001). After a median follow-up of 26 months, 53 patients (16%) developed acute pouchitis, 37 (11%) developed chronic pouchitis, and 40 (12%) developed de novo Crohn's disease. There was no significant difference between the backwash ileitis-positive and backwash ileitis-negative patient groups in the incidence of acute pouchitis, chronic pouchitis, or de novo Crohn's disease. There was a significantly higher incidence of pancolitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and high-level perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody expression in backwash ileitis-positive patients than in backwash ileitis-negative patients. The incidence of acute pouchitis, chronic pouchitis, and de novo Crohn's disease after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis does not differ significantly between backwash ileitis-positive and backwash ileitis-negative patients.