The Impact of Timing and Duration of Thiopurine Treatment on First Intestinal Resection in Crohn's Disease: National UK Population-Based Study 1989–2010

Abstract

Over the past 20 years, TP use has doubled, whereas intestinal surgery has fallen by one-third among the UK population of Crohn's patients. Prolonged exposure is associated with a reduced likelihood of surgery whereby more than 12 months TP therapy reduces the risk of first intestinal surgery two-fold; however, early initiation of TP treatment offered no apparent additional benefit.