Clinical Phenotypes and Long-term Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in a Specialized Private Unit: A 12-year Retrospective Cohort Study
Fenotipos clínicos y manejo a largo plazo de la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal en una unidad privada especializada: estudio de cohortes retrospectivo de 12 años
John K. Triantafillidis, George Malgarinos, Stavros Karakatsanis, Costas Vagianos, Charalambos Spyropoulos
Abstract
Introduction: Real-world data from specialized private Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) units are essential for a comprehensive understanding of disease patterns. This study describes the clinical characteristics and therapeutic management of a cohort followed in a specialized private IBD unit over 12 years, with a focus on disease severity and the use of advanced therapies.
Material and methods: We retrospectively analyzed 244 adult patients, 129 Ulcerative Colitis (UC), 99 Crohn’s Disease (CD), and 16 Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Unclassified (IBD-U) followed at a private IBD unit in Athens, Greece, between 2014 and 2025. Clinical phenotypes were classified according to the Montreal criteria. Primary outcomes included the rates of biological and small molecule therapy, and the necessity for surgery.
Results: Complicated disease phenotypes were prevalent, with 52.5% of CD patients presenting with stricturing or penetrating behavior (Montreal B2/B3) and 58.9% of UC patients having extensive colitis (E3). Cumulative exposure to advanced therapies (biologics and small molecules) was 41.0%. IBD-related surgery rates were 32.3% for CD and 8.5% for UC.
Conclusions: These findings underline the clinical complexity and therapeutic patterns observed in this single private cohort. However, they should be interpreted within the limitations of a retrospective, single-center design without a public comparator.
Keywords
Resumen
Introducción: Los datos de práctica clínica real procedentes de unidades privadas especializadas en Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal (EII) son esenciales para una comprensión integral de los patrones de la enfermedad. Este estudio describe las características clínicas y el manejo terapéutico de una cohorte seguida en una unidad privada especializada en EII durante 12 años, con un enfoque en la gravedad de la enfermedad y el uso de terapias avanzadas.
Material y métodos: Analizamos retrospectivamente a 244 pacientes adultos, 129 con Colitis Ulcerosa (CU), 99 con Enfermedad de Crohn (EC) y 16 con Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal No Clasificada (EII-U), seguidos en una unidad privada de EII en Atenas, Grecia, entre 2014 y 2025. Los fenotipos clínicos se clasificaron según los criterios de Montreal. Los resultados primarios incluyeron las tasas de terapia biológica y con moléculas pequeñas, y la necesidad de cirugía.
Resultados: Los fenotipos de enfermedad complicada fueron prevalentes, con un 52,5% de los pacientes con EC que presentaban comportamiento estenosante o penetrante (Montreal B2/B3) y un 58,9% de los pacientes con CU que presentaban colitis extensa (E3). La exposición acumulada a terapias avanzadas (biológicos y moléculas pequeñas) fue del 41,0%. Las tasas de cirugía relacionada con la EII fueron del 32,3% para la EC y del 8,5% para la CU.
Conclusiones: Estos hallazgos subrayan la complejidad clínica y los patrones terapéuticos observados en esta cohorte privada única. Sin embargo, deben interpretarse dentro de las limitaciones de un diseño retrospectivo y unicéntrico sin un comparador público.
Palabras clave
References
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Submitted date:
06/07/2026
Reviewed date:
08/09/2026
Accepted date:
10/07/2026
Publication date:
10/07/2026
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