P361 No increased postoperative risk of venous thromboembolism in patients with Ulcerative Colitis undergoing colectomy after tofacitinib exposure
De Greef, I.(1);Verstockt, B.(1);Bislenghi, G.(2);Terrasson, I.(2);Sabino, J.(1);Ferrante, M.(1);D’Hoore, A.(2);Vermeire, S.(1);
(1)KU Leuven, Gastro-enterology, Leuven, Belgium;(2)KU Leuven, Abdominal surgery, Leuven, Belgium
Background
Colectomy for ulcerative colitis (UC) has been associated with postoperative morbidity and mortality, including venous thromboembolism (VTE). Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have a 2 to 4-fold increased risk for developing VTE, as compared to non-IBD patients. Due to recent concerns on increased VTE associated with tofacitinib exposure, we aimed to evaluate the 180-day postoperative VTE risk in UC patients undergoing colectomy after tofacitinib use in comparison to patients failing biologicals and undergoing the same surgery.
Methods
This retrospective cohort study included all UC patients who underwent colectomy between 2014 and 2020 in our tertiary IBD center. All medical charts were reviewed, and clinically relevant information extracted, including indication for colectomy, development of postoperative VTE (deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary or extra-pulmonary embolisms) within 180 days of surgery, low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) prophylaxis and perioperative therapy exposure (steroids within 1 month prior to surgery, biologicals or tofacitinib within 3 months prior to surgery).
Results
One-hundred seven UC patients (49.5% women, median [IQR] age 38.0 [27.0 – 53.0] years) underwent colectomy due to refractory disease (n=93), dysplasia or carcinoma (n=12) or polyposis (n=2) (Table 1). Thirty-six (33.6%) patients were operated urgently. At the time of surgery, 44 (41.1%) were on steroids, 38 (35.5%) on anti-TNF agents, 27 (25.2%) on vedolizumab/etrolizumab, 6 (5.6%) on anti-IL12/23 agents and 12 (11.2%) on tofacitinib. All patients received antithrombotic prophylactic LMWH postoperatively. During the 180-day postoperative period, 3 (2.8%) patients developed an intra-abdominal thrombosis, none of them had a history of VTE. Two thromboses were found by coincidence on CT scans which were performed in light of postoperative fever and inflammatory blood tests, the other patient was symptomatic. All 3 patients had been exposed to vedolizumab: one had an underlying malignancy (colon adenocarcinoma), the 2 others also had been exposed to corticosteroids prior to colectomy. No VTE was seen in the patients who underwent colectomy while on tofacitinib.
Conclusion
The overall risk for UC patients to develop VTE after colectomy is low with adequate antithrombotic prophylactic therapy. In particular, we did not observe any VTE in our colectomy patients who were exposed to tofacitinib prior to surgery. The three patients who developed VTE despite LMWH had additional risk factors (concomitant steroid use, active cancer).