Disease recurrence in patients with Crohn’s disease after biologic therapy or surgery: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Relapse is a problem in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) after medical therapy (including biologics) and after surgery to treat acute inflammation. It is unclear whether the recurrence rate over time is higher after surgical therapy than after continuous drug treatment. AIM: We sought to compare clinical relapse rates and the need for re-interventions (resection or therapeutic endoscopic intervention) in patients with CD. METHODS: A meta-analysis was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: The need for re-intervention with medication or surgery due to surgical or clinical recurrence increased over time. The recurrence rates in patients after ileocecal resection were lower than the rates under biologic therapy. The odds ratio for clinical recurrence under biologics versus after surgical treatment was 2.50 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.53–4.08, p-value < 0.001). The odds ratio for surgical recurrence under biologics versus after surgery was 3.60 (95% CI 1.06–12.3, p-value 0.041). CONCLUSION: These findings support surgical resection as a treatment option in patients with CD with limited disease. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00384-022-04254-z.