Vajravelu RK, Copelovitch L, Osterman MT, et al. - Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study of data from The Health Improvement Network to estimate the relative hazard of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), adjusted for CKD risk factors, and to ascertain if IBD medications were correlated with change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Patients with IBD (n = 17,807) were matched to those without IBD (n = 63,466) for age, gender and practice. Using a longitudinal model, they also assessed the relationship of 5-aminosalicylates (5-ASAs), azathioprine, and methotrexate with the change in eGFR. Findings suggested an association of IBD with an increased risk of CKD in a retrospective study of more than 80,000 persons, and the hazard ratio was highest among younger patients. Exposure to 5-ASAs or methotrexate was not correlated with change in eGFR in the longitudinal analysis, while azathioprine was related to a slightly higher eGFR. No association was found between commonly used non-biologic therapeutic agents and lower eGFR.