Inflammation and disease duration have a cumulative effect on the risk of dysplasia and carcinoma in IBD: A case-control observational study based on registry data

Patients with long-standing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an increased risk for colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Earlier studies suggest that the severity of inflammation is an independent risk factor for CRC in ulcerative colitis (UC). We investigated the role of histological inflammation as a risk factor for colorectal dysplasia or CRC to better target dysplasia surveillance in IBD. By combining our hospital patient registry and pathology database between 1996 and 2008, we identified 183 IBD patients with dysplasia or CRC. The control group was collected from our registry of IBD patients. Histological severe inflammation was present in 41.4% of patients with dysplasia and in 24.1% of patients with CRC, but in only 4.3% of controls. Severe inflammation had an odds ratio (OR) of 31.8 [95% confidence interval (CI): 15.6-64.9] for dysplasia or carcinoma compared to patients with no inflammation. Among patients with mild to moderate inflammation, the OR was 2.6 (95% CI: 1.6-4.1). Disease duration increased the annual risk for dysplasia or CRC by 4.5%. Coexisting primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) did not elevate the risk, whereas use of thiopurines (OR=0.09, 95% CI: 0.02-0.33) and also 5-aminosalicylic acid (OR 0.17, 95% CI: 0.017-1.01) protected against CRC. As conclusion, degree of inflammation and duration of disease cumulatively increase the risk for dysplasia and CRC. PSC was not identified as a risk factor. We demonstrated that use of thiopurines strongly protects against CRC. These results can be applied to better target dysplasia surveillance in IBD patients. What's new? Chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease increases risk of colorectal carcinoma (CRC), though the reasons for this are not fully known. Here, analysis of IBD patient data at Helsinki University Central Hospital suggests that patients with severe colon inflammation are at significantly higher risk for dysplasia or CRC compared with patients with mild to moderate or no inflammation. Along with degree of inflammation, duration of IBD also influenced risk. Use of thiopurines and aminosalicylic acid, on the other hand, was linked to a reduction in risk for dysplasia or carcinoma.