Lung Function Parameters during Anti-TNFα Therapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Gastroenterology
• Immunology

Background:

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients can develop extraintestinal pulmonary manifestations.
• Anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNFα) therapy is a key treatment for IBD.
• The role of anti-TNFα therapy in pulmonary diseases is complex, despite TNFα's pro-inflammatory function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of pulmonary manifestations in IBD patients.
• To evaluate the effect of anti-TNFα therapy on lung function in IBD patients.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 32 IBD patients for pulmonary function tests.
• Conducted tests before and after initiating anti-TNFα therapy (≥6 weeks post-initiation).
• Utilized standardized body plethysmography, including measurement of lung diffusion capacity (DLCO SB).

Main Results:

• Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and vital capacity (VC) remained normal.
• Mean residual volume (RV) was moderately increased pre-therapy and decreased post-therapy (p<0.05).
• Diffusing capacity for the lungs for carbon monoxide standardized by lung volume (DLCO SB) slightly decreased during anti-TNFα therapy.

Conclusions:

• IBD cohort lung function tests were largely normal, suggesting potential extraintestinal involvement.
• Anti-TNFα therapy showed a slight improvement in RV but a further slight decrease in DLCO SB.
• Anti-TNFα therapy did not significantly alter lung function parameters in this IBD cohort, particularly in mild cases.