Background/aims: It is estimated that up to 30% of CD patients develop abdominal abscesses; the management of active luminal CD in such patients represents a clinical challenge. The aim of this study is to assess the safety of biologics in patients with Crohn's disease and abdominal abscesses treated with percutaneous drainage and/or broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Methodology: We performed a retrospective review of the clinical charts of consecutive Crohn's disease patients with abdominal abscesses treated with anti-TNFα therapy attended in our institution.
Results: 12 patients were finally included in the study. All were treated with broad-spectrum antibiotic and biological therapy (anti-TNF); indication of anti-TNFα therapy was moderate to severe activity of CD in all of them. Percutaneous drainage of the abscess was performed in 7 of the 12 patients. No complications were observed during a mean follow-up of 37,8 (16-71) months, including abscess volume increase, enterocutaneous fistula, soft tissue infections, bacteraemia, or need for emergency surgery.
Conclusions: In addition to conventional treatment, the use of anti-TNFα therapy in Crohn's disease patients with abdominal abscesses seems to be safe. Usefulness of this approach has to be validated in larger cohorts.