title: A network meta-analysis on the efficacy of 5-aminosalicylates, immunomodulators and biologics for the prevention of postoperative recurrence in Crohn's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A number of agents have been evaluated in clinical trials to reduce the risk of postoperative recurrence in Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of 5-aminosalicylates, immunomodulators and biologics for postoperative prophylaxis of CD recurrence by using a network meta-analytical approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched (update to November 2013) to identify randomized placebo-controlled, or head-to-head trials among the three drug classes for prevention of postoperative CD relapse. The primary endpoint for efficacy was endoscopic recurrence, and the secondary outcomes were clinical recurrence and adverse events. We conducted a Bayesian network meta-analysis with a mixed treatment comparisons to combine both direct and indirect evidences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen trials involving 1507 patients were included in this analysis. Biological agents were associated with a large and significant reduction of both endoscopic and clinical recurrence compared with placebo, 5-aminosalicylates, or immunomodulators. Immunomodulators showed greater efficacy in terms of endoscopic and clinical recurrence prophylaxis compared with 5-aminosalicylates or placebo, but with higher incidence of adverse events. 5-aminosalicylates were superior to placebo for prevention of clinical recurrence, without increasing the rate of side effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  5-aminosalicylates, immunomodulators, and biologics are more efficacious than placebo for postoperative CD prevention. Biologics are found to be the most effective medications to prevent CD recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 127 West Changle Road, Xi'an 710032, China.
authors.forename: Zhiping
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Statistics, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Xiaofei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 127 West Changle Road, Xi'an 710032, China.
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 127 West Changle Road, Xi'an 710032, China.
authors.forename: Kaichun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, 127 West Changle Road, Xi'an 710032, China. Electronic address: daimingfan@fmmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Daiming
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D019804:Mesalamine
keywords: 5-Aminosalicylates; Biologics; Crohn's disease; Immunomodulators; Network meta-analysis