Children with Localized Crohn's Disease Benefit from Early Ileocecal Resection and Perioperative Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Therapy

Introduction In pediatric Crohn's disease ileocecal resection is performed reluctantly as postoperative recurrence is frequent. Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy reduces postoperative recurrence rates but increases the risk for infections. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed pediatric Crohn's disease patients who underwent ileocecal resection in our center. We compared disease activity and z-scores for height, weight, and body mass index of patients, who continuously received perioperative anti-TNF therapy (TNF + ), with those who did not (TNF–). Results Of 29 patients (48% females), 13 and 16 were grouped to TNF+ and TNF–, respectively. Patients' characteristics did not differ between groups, except a longer follow-up time in TNF–. We saw significant postoperative improvement but no normalization in z-scores for weight (1.78 vs. 0.77, p