How long is long enough? Timing of pre-conceptional remission predicts relapse risk during pregnancy in IBD

1

Pre-conceptional flares within 6 months significantly increase the risk of relapse during pregnancy in women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
2

The study included 386 women with IBD, revealing that flares <3 months and 3-6 months before conception were associated with higher relapse odds.
3

No significant interaction was found between pregnancy and pre-conceptional disease activity in relation to relapse risk.
4

The research highlights the importance of achieving disease remission prior to conception to minimize relapse risks during pregnancy.
5

This study is the first to assess pre-conceptional disease course and various risk factors in a real-world cohort of pregnant women with IBD.

Journal Of Crohn's And Colitis

by Dianne G Bouwknegt, Birgit Hoekstra, Hylke C Donker, Bram van Es, Henk Groen, Gerard Dijkstra, Willemijn A van Dop, Tjebbe Tauber, C Janneke van der Woude, Marijn C Visschedijk, Dutch Initiative on Crohn and Colitis (ICC), Alexander Bodelier, Lauranne Derikx, Willemijn van Dop, Marjolijn Duijvestein, Noortje Festen, Herma Fidder, Rogier Goetgebuer, Carmen Horjus, Jeroen Jansen, Bindia Jharap, Vincent de Jonge, Mark Löwenberg, Nofel Mahmmod, Sander van der Marel, Wout Mares, Peter Mensink, Andrea van der Meulen, Zlatan Mujagic, Loes Nissen, Liekele Oostenburg, Marieke Pierik, Tessa Römkens, Fiona van Schaik, Xavier Smeets, Marijn Visschedijk, Michael van der Voorn, Philip Voorneveld, Annemarie de Vries, Rachel West, Egbert-Jan van der Wouden
October 13, 2025

1