Management of Anal Fistula with Crohn's Disease

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Crohn's disease (CD) causes gastrointestinal symptoms (i.e., diarrhea and abdominal pain), systemic symptoms (i.e., fatigue, anemia, weight loss, and fever), and perianal fistulas that produce anal pain. Because of the frequent occurrence of diarrhea and ulcers in the rectum, CD is often exacerbated by perianal abscesses and/or fistulas. Perianal fistulizing CD (PFCD) has an unknown etiology and recurring symptoms such as pain and discharge, which seriously affects the patient's quality of life (QOL). In the past, radical surgery was performed for PFCD, but due to the risk of anal sphincter impairment, conservative therapy using antibiotics and immunosuppressive medications is currently the first treatment option. PFCD management has greatly improved with the use of biologics such as the antitumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) antibodies infliximab and adalimumab. In this review, the results of the administration of anti-TNF-α (certolizumab pegol), anti-interleukin-12/23 (ustekinumab), and anti-α 4 β 7 integrin antibodies (vedolizumab) were evaluated. Our investigation showed that these medications may be effective for maintenance therapy to prevent the recurrence of anal fistulas. In addition to biologics, molecular target drugs and even regenerative medicine using mesenchymal stem cells have been introduced to further expand the treatment options for consideration by medical

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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