Steroid use increases risk of VTE significantly in IBD patients, study says

Corticosteroid use is associated with a nearly five-fold increase of venous thromboembolism in inflammatory bowel disease patients as compared to treatment with only a biologic agent, according to a new study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Researchers performed a retrospective analysis of 15,100 adults with inflammatory bowel disease.

According to the study, 325 VTEs occurred — in 2.25% of patients receiving only corticosteroids; in 0.44% of patients receiving biologics; and in 2.49% of patients receiving combination therapy.

Compared with patients receiving only corticosteroids, the odds ratio for VTE in patients receiving only biologics was 0.21 in the multivariate model, and the odds ratio for VTE in patients on combination therapy was 1.01.

"While the association between active IBD flares and venous thromboembolism has been well established, these results show for the first time a strong independent association between corticosteroid use and venous thromboembolism. A better understanding of the effects of corticosteroids on this complication of IBD may suggest a change in our therapeutic approach to severe inflammation in IBD," notes an American Gastroenterological Association article on the study.

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