Follow-up of adult celiac patients: which noninvasive test reflects mucosal status most reliably?1

SPECIFIC AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS: Andreas Vécsei, MD, and Ulrike Graf wrote the manuscript. All authors contributed to study design, data collection and analysis, and approved the final draft for submission. The corresponding author declares that the manuscript is submitted on behalf of all authors.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

The best mode of follow-up in celiac disease has not yet been established. The intention of this study was to clarify which noninvasive follow-up investigation - serological tests or intestinal permeability test (IPT) - correlates best with histology and whether the interval between diagnosis and follow-up affects the accuracy of these tests.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data from adult patients with celiac disease (diagnosed between December 1989 and July 2006) followed up with biopsy, IPT, and serological tests [IgG anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA-IgG), AGA-IgA, and endomysial antibodies (EMA)] were retrieved from a computerized database. Results of noninvasive tests were compared with the persistence of villous atrophy on biopsy. Patients were divided into groups A, which comprised patients followed up within 2 years after diagnosis, and B, comprising patients followed up later than 2 years.

RESULTS

Forty-seven patients were evaluable. The lactulose/mannitol (L/M) ratio had a sensitivity of 85 % and a specificity of 46.2 % for mucosal atrophy, whereas saccharose excretion showed a sensitivity of 60 % and a specificity of 52.6 %. The sensitivities of AGA-IgA and AGA-IgG were 15 % and 20 %, respectively, while specificity was 100 % for both. Validity of AGA was limited due to low number of positive results. EMA assay was 50 % sensitive and 77.8 % specific. In group A (n = 23) L/M ratio performed best in terms of sensitivity (88.9 %), whereas EMA achieved a higher specificity (71.4 %). In group B, the sensitivity of the L/M ratio decreased to 85.7 %, while the specificity of EMA increased to 91.7 %.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, none of the noninvasive tests was an accurate substitute for follow-up biopsy in detecting severe mucosal damage.

[Organisation of acute pain therapy]

Orthopaedic and traumatized patients often suffer from severe pain after surgery or trauma. Their early recovery also depends on an efficient acute pain relief based on a combination of systemic medication, local drug application and physical therapy. In 2007, new guidelines for the treatment of perioperative and traumatic pain were published. Based on these guidelines standard operating procedures for each hospital should be developed and implemented. Courses on analgesic concepts should be offered regularly for the involved staff. It is helpful to establish an acute pain service for daily rounds and documentation. The individual patient should be informed about his specific acute pain therapy before the operation. Pain scores should be frequently documented by the patient.

Efficacy and safety of antiviral therapy in patients with Crohn's disease and chronic hepatitis C

BACKGROUND

Efficacy and safety of antiviral combination therapy in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is presently not established and consequently CHC is rarely treated in CD patients.

AIM

To analyse the efficacy and tolerability of antiviral interferon/ribavirin therapy in patients with CHC and CD.

METHODS

Eleven HCV-infected CD patients received either 3 x 1.5 microg/kg/week interferon-alpha-2b or 180 microg/week peginterferon-alpha-2a (PEGASYS; Roche, Basel, Switzerland) as monotherapy (n = 1) or in combination with 800-1200 mg/day ribavirin (COPEGUS; Roche) (n = 10) for 24-54 weeks according to HCV-genotype and initial response respectively. Eight patients were under CD-specific therapy.

RESULTS

Five (46%) patients (HCV-1: a = 3; HCV-2: n = 0; HCV-3: n = 1; unknown: n = 1) achieved a sustained virological response, three (27%) patients relapsed, three (27%) were nonresponders (all GT 1b). At baseline, the Harvey--Bradshaw Index was 0 (0-8) [median (range)], increased on antiviral therapy to 4 (1-15) (P = 0.005) and decreased to baseline level 0 (0-6) after 6-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

This preliminary experience demonstrates that treatment of CHC in patients with CD is comparable to the treatment of CHC in those without CD. However, gastrointestinal symptoms may be temporarily exacerbated and haemopoietic growth factors may be required.

The immune system in healthy adults and patients with atopic dermatitis seems to be affected differently by a probiotic intervention

BACKGROUND

Probiotic bacteria are proposed to alleviate atopic dermatitis (AD) in infants. There are few indications about the effect of probiotics on AD in adults.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the influence of a probiotic drink containing a combination of the probiotics Lactobacillus paracasei Lpc-37, Lactobacillus acidophilus 74-2 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis DGCC 420 (B. lactis 420) in healthy volunteers and in patients with AD on clinical and immunological parameters and their detection in feces.

METHODS

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized cross-over study was conducted in 15 healthy adults and 15 patients with AD. The probiotic product or placebo was given over 8 weeks. A 2-week washout period was interconnected before the intervention was crossed. At the end of each period, blood and stool samples were collected. In patients, the severity of AD was evaluated using the Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD).

RESULTS

L. paracasei and B. lactis were recovered in high numbers in feces after supplementation, whereas L. acidophilus marginally increased. In patients, the SCORAD tended to decrease by 15.5% (P=0.081). Major lymphocyte subsets were not affected by the probiotic intervention. However, CD57(+) increased significantly (P=0.034) in healthy subjects after probiotic intake and was not changed in patients, whereas CD4(+)CD54(+) decreased significantly (P=0.031) in patients with AD and remained uninfluenced in healthy subjects. The expression of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells was similar in healthy subjects and AD patients. The phagocytic activity of monocytes and granulocytes was significantly increased in healthy subjects after probiotic intervention (P=0.014).

CONCLUSION

L. paracasei Lpc-37 and B. lactis 420 are able to colonize the intestine transiently. This study reveals that the probiotics differently modulate peripheral immune parameters in healthy subjects and patients with AD.

Infliximab in der Therapie der Colitis ulcerosa

Infliximab, a chimeric monoclonal anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF) antibody has dramatically changed the management of various chronic inflammatory disorders such as Crohn's disease (CD), rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis or psoriasis. This drug is well established for the treatment of CD in case of steroid-refractoriness, failure to respond to an immunosuppressant agent or fistulizing disease. The immunological concept that ulcerative colitis (UC) reflects primarily a T-helper cell type-2 mediated disease prevented the earlier use of anti-TNF agents in this disease. Promising initial pilot studies in steroid-refractory UC patients led to two large placebo-controlled trials in patients with moderate to severe UC. These studies clearly showed a benefit for infliximab treatment in UC with mucosal healing and improved life quality. Infliximab therefore can be used in patients not responding adequately to steroids and/or immunosuppressants. Furthermore, one study showed evidence that infliximab might also be effective in severe, intravenous steroid-refractory UC. Therefore, infliximab might be used alternatively to cyclosporine A or tacrolimus in this patient group. Infliximab has now been established as an additional treatment option in patients with chronic-active UC not responding to an immunosuppressive agent and/or in case of severe acute UC. Experienced gastroenterologists should be involved in the decision making for such a therapy to balance thoroughly the benefit/risk ratio for our patients.

Lactobacillus acidophilus 74-2 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis DGCC 420 modulate unspecific cellular immune response in healthy adults

OBJECTIVE

It was determined whether a combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus) 74-2 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis DGCC 420 (B. lactis 420) affect the faecal microbiota as well as immunological parameters and blood lipids in healthy adults.

DESIGN

A placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized crossover trial was conducted.

SUBJECTS

Twenty-six healthy volunteers (mean age 25 years) were recruited by advertising in academical buildings. All of them completed the study.

METHODS

After 3-week run-in period, half of the volunteers consumed 300 g/day of yoghurt supplement containing probiotic strains L. acidophilus 74-2 and B. lactis 420, and the other half received the placebo product for a period of 5 weeks. The two groups were crossed during the following 5-week period. Blood and faecal samples were collected at the end of each period. The faecal content of probiotic bacteria, faecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), serum lipids and plasma immune system biomarkers were evaluated.

RESULTS

Faecal proportions of L. acidophilus and of B. lactis increased significantly from 0.02 to 0.19 and 0.4 to 1.4% (P<0.05), respectively. Percentages of granulocytes and monocytes showing phagocytic activity were significantly elevated from 92 to 95% during probiotic intervention, whereas their oxidative burst activity and specific immune parameters remained unaffected. Fecal SCFA and serum cholesterol levels were not influenced by the probiotics. However, serum concentrations of triacylglyceroles decreased significantly by 11.6% (P<0.05) in the probiotic supplementation period.

CONCLUSIONS

L. acidophilus and B. lactis were recovered in faeces in significantly elevated numbers after supplementation. They are able to modulate unspecific cellular immune response indicated by the increased phagocytic activity.

Characterization of sensations induced by capsaicin in the upper gastrointestinal tract

Intraluminal capsaicin induces perception in the jejunum, but chemosensitivity of proximal gastrointestinal regions is unclear. Our aim was to evaluate the quality of perception induced by intraluminal capsaicin in different regions of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Healthy volunteers received either an oral tube for distension and capsaicin perfusion of the mid-duodenum or jejunum or swallowed a capsule containing 0.75 mg capsaicin powder. Graded questionnaires evaluated quality and severity of sensations during distensions, capsaicin infusion and 30 min after ingestion of capsaicin capsules respectively. Duodenal capsaicin induced sensations at lower doses than jejunal capsaicin (P < 0.05). Most prominent sensations evoked by capsaicin infusion were pressure, cramps, pain and nausea; nausea and warmth were more intense during capsaicin infusion than distension (P < 0.05,for the duodenum and jejunum), pain was more intense during distension (P < 0.05, duodenum only). Gastric ingestion of capsaicin capsules mainly induced sensations of pressure, heartburn and warmth. Capsaicin application into the upper gastrointestinal tract reproducibly induced upper abdominal sensation. Qualitative features distinguished chemically from mechanically induced sensations, but both sensitivity for chemical and mechanical stimulation decreased along the intestine. Activation of chemical pathways could be a useful human pain model activating nociceptors apart from mechanical stimulation.

Endoskopie bei CED

Ileocolonoscopy including biopsies is the first line investigation in suspected inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In up to 90 % of the cases ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are differentiated on endoscopic presentation. Standardised reporting of endoscopic results increases the validity and comparability of IBD findings. When there is a firm diagnosis of IBD, colonoscopy should only be performed for specific questions. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is only indicated in patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Push and capsule endoscopy should also be limited to specific questions and situations. IBD with extended colitis is associated with an increased risk for colorectal cancer. Endoscopic surveillance with accurate biopsy sampling is a valuable tool for the prevention of colorectal cancer.

6-Thioguanine treatment in inflammatory bowel disease: a critical appraisal by a European 6-TG working party

Recently, the suggestion to use 6-thioguanine (6-TG) as an alternative thiopurine in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been discarded due to reports about possible (hepato) toxicity. During meetings arranged in Vienna and Prague in 2004, European experts applying 6-TG further on in IBD patients presented data on safety and efficacy of 6-TG. After thorough evaluation of its risk-benefit ratio, the group consented that 6-TG may still be considered as a rescue drug in stringently defined indications in IBD, albeit restricted to a clinical research setting. As a potential indication for administering 6-TG, we delineated the requirement for maintenance therapy as well as intolerance and/or resistance to aminosalicylates, azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, methotrexate and infliximab. Furthermore, indications are preferred in which surgery is thought to be inappropriate. The standard 6-TG dosage should not exceed 25 mg daily. Routine laboratory controls are mandatory in short intervals. Liver biopsies should be performed after 6-12 months, three years and then three-yearly accompanied by gastroduodenoscopy, to monitor for potential hepatotoxicity, including nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) and veno-occlusive disease (VOD). Treatment with 6-TG must be discontinued in case of overt or histologically proven hepatotoxicity.

Aminosalicylate und Steroide in der Behandlung von chronisch entzündlichen Darmerkrankungen - Konsensuspapier der Arbeitsgruppe für chronisch entzündliche Darmerkrankungen der ÖGGH

5-aminosalicylates (5-ASA) and steroids constitute a cornerstone of medical therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Whereas the efficacy of 5-ASA in Crohn's disease (CD) is equivocal, ulcerative colitis (UC) is the main indication for this drug. In UC, 5-ASA is effective in the treatment of mild to moderate acute disease and in maintenance of remission. Furthermore, 5-ASA topical therapy is an important treatment option in patients with mild to moderate proctitis and/or left-sided UC and shows additive efficacy to oral therapy. From retrospective data a chemo-preventative activity of long-term 5-ASA therapy in UC is delineated. Steroids are treatment of first choice for moderate to severe cases of CD and UC. Budesonide, a modified steroid with less side effects, plays a major role in the treatment of ileocolonic CD +/- involvement of the right colon and is used as treatment of choice in mild-to-moderate cases. In case of acute, severe disease conventional steroids are superior compared to budesonide and therefore budesonide should only be used after considerable improvement of disease activity. The necessity to apply steroids in a given patient represents a negative prognostic indicator for the course of disease and should incite the early introduction of immunosuppressive therapy in this case. Steroids are only effective as short term therapy of IBD and are to be avoided for maintenance treatment. In all cases of steroid therapy an osteoporosis prophylaxis with calcium and vitamin D is recommended. Topical steroid treatment is less effective in left-sided UC compared to 5-ASA.

Safety and efficacy of endoscopic balloon dilation for treatment of Crohn's disease strictures

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Strictures are a substantial cause of morbidity in patients with Crohn's disease. Endoscopic balloon dilation is a therapeutic option in limited strictures to avoid intestinal surgery, although there have been few reports regarding the long-term outcome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Balloon dilation was scheduled for 46 patients (26 women, 20 men; median age 34) with Crohn's-associated symptomatic and radiographically confirmed intestinal stenosis. The study plan envisaged up to four consecutive treatments within the first 2 months until relief of symptoms, and thereafter dilations depending on clinical requirements.

RESULTS

Dilation was not possible in seven of the 46 patients (15 %), due to technical problems (n = 2), internal fistulas (n = 3), or absence of a stenosis (n = 2). Thirty-nine patients received at least one treatment. The site of obstruction was the ileocolonic anastomosis in 23 of the 39 patients (59 %) and surgically untreated areas in 16 patients (41 %). After the initial dilation series (median 1, interquartile range 1-2), strictures were traversed in 37 of the 39 patients (95 %). During a median follow-up period of 21 months (range 3-98 months), 24 of the 39 patients (62 %) underwent a repeat intervention, including 12 (31 %) with repeat dilation, 11 (28 %) with surgical resection, and one patient who received an intestinal stent. The cumulative percentages of patients without a repeat intervention or surgery at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months were 68 %, 48 %, 36 %, and 31 %, and 97 %, 91 %, 84 % and 75 %, respectively. Two perforations and one case of severe bleeding were seen in the 73 dilation procedures (4 %) performed.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic balloon dilation is a safe and effective method that allows surgery to be avoided in approximately 75 % of patients with Crohn's-associated short intestinal strictures. However, recurrent symptoms frequently make it necessary to repeat the procedure.

Radio-guided surgery for persistent differentiated papillary thyroid cancer: case presentations and review of the literature

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Persistent differentiated papillary thyroid cancer following radical locoregional surgery with metastases is an indication for limited reoperation or radioiodine therapy. Following injection of radioiodine, radio-guided surgery with application of an intraoperative gamma probe offers detection of metastases not seen by conventional imaging and control of completeness of resection.

PATIENTS/METHODS

We demonstrate four patients with locoregional metastases, two of them with additional distant metastases of papillary thyroid cancer following radical neck surgery. Postoperative radioiodine scans demonstrated persistent ipsilateral or contralateral cervical and mediastinal lymph node and isolated rib metastases.

RESULTS

Radio-guided surgery (RGS) leads to complete clearance of persistent lymph node metastases by limited recurrent neck surgery, resection of metastases not seen by conventional imaging and control of complete mediastinal lymph node dissection. Post-RGS scans allowed early diagnosis of occult diffuse or nodal pulmonary metastases in two patients. At last follow-up, 23 to 48 months following RGS and radioiodine therapy, there was no evidence of disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Radio-guided surgery is an additive surgical technique with low morbidity in selected patients with persistent thyroid cancer individualizing tumor therapy options in multimode oncological therapy.

Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer: clinical and molecular evidence for a new entity of hereditary colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is clinically defined by familial clustering of colorectal cancer and other associated tumours.

METHODS

By thorough molecular and clinical evaluation of 41 families, two different groups were characterised: group 1, 25 families with truncating mutations in MLH1 or MSH2 (12 novel mutations); and group 2, 16 Amsterdam positive families without mutations in these genes and without microsatellite instability in their corresponding tumours.

RESULTS

Significant clinical differences between these two groups were found. Firstly, earlier age of onset for all colorectal cancers (median 41 v 55 years; p < 0.001) and all tumours (median 43 v 56 years; p = 0.022) was observed, comparing groups 1 and 2. Secondly, 68% of the index colorectal cancers were localised proximally of the splenic flexure in group 1 compared with 14% in group 2 (p < 0.010). Thirdly, more synchronous and metachronous colorectal (p = 0.017) and extracolorectal tumours (p < 0.001) were found in group 1. Fourthly, a higher colorectal adenoma/carcinoma ratio (p = 0.030) and a tendency towards more synchronous or metachronous adenomas in group 2 (p = 0.084) was observed, indicating a slower progression of adenomas to carcinomas. As three mutation negative tumours revealed chromosomal instability after comparative genomic hybridisation, these tumours may be caused by one or more highly penetrant disease alleles from the chromosomal instability pathway.

CONCLUSION

These data show that HNPCC includes at least two entities with clinical and molecular differences. This will have implications for surveillance programmes and for cancer research.

[Prophylactic gastric surgery]

A premalignant condition with high risk of gastric cancer is the basis for prophylactic gastric surgery. The germline mutation carrier in the E-cadherin gene has a lifetime risk of 70-80% for diffuse-type gastric cancer, and high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia has a 60-70% gastric cancer risk. Other premalignant conditions such as HNPCC syndrome (5% gastric cancer) and low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (10% risk) are moderate risk factors for developing gastric cancer. They do not justify prophylactic surgery, but surveillance is required. In case high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia or early gastric cancer is detected, an option is extended radicality with total gastrectomy instead of subtotal gastric resection. Positive family history and early-onset of gastric cancer are risk factors to consider when discussing prophylactic gastrectomy or extended radicality.

The response of skin perfusion and of rheological and immunological variables to intravenous prostanoid administration in Raynaud’s phenomenon secondary to collagenosis

Background: Prostanoids are used in the treatment of Raynaud’s phenomenon and acral perfusion disorders secondary to collagenosis. In subjective terms, intravenous administration of these agents produces success in more than 50% of patients. The therapeutic outcome of clinical administration of alprostadil or iloprost may vary from individual to individual. Patients and methods: The following variables were analysed in a cross-over study in 27 patients with collagenosis and Raynaud’s phenomenon: plasma viscosity and erythrocyte aggregation (rheological variables), partial pressure of oxygen and laser Doppler flowmetry in the finger region, and lymphocyte phenotyping and interleukin (IL) determinations (immunological variables). Results: Laser Doppler flowmetry revealed significant differences between patients with secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon and a control group of 25 healthy subjects. Laser Doppler readings did not change significantly as a result of the treatments. Therapy with iloprost produced a reduction in IL-1beta, L-selectin (CD 62 L) and IL-6. Conclusion: The change in immunological variables due to iloprost may explain the long-term effects of prostaglandins in the treatment of Raynaud’s phenomenon. From our results it is not possible to infer any preference for iloprost or alprostadil.

Endocrine tumours of the hindgut

Neuroendocrine tumours of the colon and rectum are rare but distinct with regard to clinical symptoms, diagnostic and therapeutic management and prognosis compared to other neuroendocrine tumours of the gut as well as ordinary colorectal cancer. Therapeutic algorithms are proposed depending mainly on analogous TNM categories and grading considering conventional and experimental surgical and non-surgical therapy. Colonic neuroendocrine tumours are often misdiagnosed as undifferentiated adenocarcinoma and are therefore not properly treated with adjuvant and additive chemotherapy. As most rectal neuroendocrine tumours are benign because of submucosal extension only, the size and infiltration depth correlates with lymph-node and distant metastases and therefore with the prognosis. It is unknown whether endoscopic ultrasound can improve the diagnostic accuracy compared to size-related conclusions, and therefore whether it can change therapeutic strategies and improve survival by modern rectal surgery.

Colonic spread and serum pharmacokinetics of budesonide foam in patients with mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND

Local treatment with foams in patients suffering from ulcerative proctitis or proctosigmoiditis is considered a rational treatment option.

AIMS

To investigate colonic spread, safety, tolerability and acceptance of a newly developed budesonide foam formulation.

METHODS

Twelve patients (four females, eight males) with acute proctosigmoiditis or left-sided ulcerative colitis were rectally administered a single dose of [99Tcm]-labelled budesonide foam (Budenofalk; Dr Falk Pharma GmbH, Freiburg, Germany) containing 2 mg budesonide in 20 mL foam after diagnostic colonoscopy. Thereafter, the colonic spread was assessed by means of gamma-scintigraphy for 6 h. Serum samples were taken simultaneously.

RESULTS

Budesonide foam spread with a maximum between 11 and 40 cm, thus reaching the sigmoid colon in all patients. In some patients, the foam even extended into the distal third and the middle of the descending colon with maximum radioactivity at 4 h. Systemic budesonide absorption was rapid and pharmacokinetic data were comparable with published data on marketed budesonide enemas, with mean serum C(max) and AUC(0-8 h) values of 0.8 +/- 0.5 ng/mL and 3.7 +/- 1.9 ng h/mL, respectively. The new formulation was well accepted by all patients, who could retain the foam for at least 4 h.

CONCLUSIONS

In the majority of patients, budesonide foam effectively spread up to the left-sided colon and thus qualifies for the local treatment of proctosigmoiditis.

Wiederholungseingriffe beim Schilddr�senkarzinom

Reoperation for thyroid cancer needs to consider patient-, tumor- and therapy-related aspects as well as present diagnostic results. Reoperation because of thyroid remnants, persistence of the primary tumor and lymph node metastasis (completion surgery) has to be distinguished from reoperation due to locoregional recurrence (primary tumor, lymph nodes). The primary surgical strategy should avoid the need for reoperation. The extent of reoperation is related to the extent of primary surgery, stage, and distant metastasis. The timing and indication of reoperation for differentiated thyroid carcinoma in an interdisciplinary multimodal treatment setting depends on diagnostic radioiodine scans and radioiodine therapy. Long-term, recurrence-free survival is achieved by sufficiently radical surgery with acceptable morbidity, including all additive or adjuvant treatment options.

Immunsuppressiva in der Therapie chronisch entzündlicher Darmerkrankungen

Azathioprine (AZA) or 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) are the immunosuppressive drugs of choice in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disorders (IBD). Optimal dosage for AZA is around 2.5 mg/kg body weight and induction of remission by these drugs may take 6 - 7 months. Intramuscularly applied Methotrexate (MTX) is the second choice, while its efficacy starts earlier than that of AZA; studies assessing oral low-dose MTX treatment are lacking. Cyclosporin is the standard treatment in case of steroid-refractory severe ulcerative colitis. This drug may also be used in patients with severe extraintestinal manifestations of IBD. Regarding other immunosuppressive drugs such as mycophenolic acid or 6-thioguanine respective controlled clinical study data are not available. The risk of malignancy using immunosuppressive drugs such as AZA is low and furthermore, especially AZA and 6-MP can be used rather safely during pregnancy.

Factors influencing survival after resection of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Selection of patients for resection of lung metastases from colorectal cancer is problematic. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinically relevant prognostic factors and to define a subgroup of patients who would most benefit from such surgery.

PATIENTS

Seventy-five patients (median age 58 (range 33-82) years) with pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer underwent 104 R0 lung resections. Median follow-up was 33 (range 4-116) months. Patients who had no evidence of recurrent extrathoracic disease, no more than three metastases on either side, lobectomy as the maximal surgical procedure, and adequate cardiorespiratory function were eligible for surgery. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression, and classification and regression tree subgroup analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Overall median survival was 33 months, with 3- and 5-year survival rates of 47 and 27 per cent respectively. Size of metastases (relative risk (RR) 2.6) and extent of resection (RR 0.4) were identified as independent prognostic factors. Primary tumour stage was significant in univariate analysis. Subgroup analysis defined two statistically relevant prognostic groups: patients with a maximum metastasis size of 3.75 cm or less with a disease-free interval of more than 10 months and patients with larger metastases and a shorter disease-free interval. Median survival and 5-year survival were 45 months and 39 per cent in the former group, and 24 months and less than 11 per cent in the latter.

CONCLUSION

Subgroup analysis provided criteria for the selection of patients for R0 resection of lung metastases from colorectal cancer and differentiated between those at high or low risk of early tumour progression; the latter patients would benefit most from surgery.

Is inflammatory bowel disease an independent and disease specific risk factor for thromboembolism?

BACKGROUND

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are thought to be at increased risk of venous thromboembolism (TE). However, the extent of this risk is not known. Furthermore, it is not known if this risk is specific for IBD or if it is shared by other chronic inflammatory diseases or other chronic bowel diseases.

AIMS

To compare the risk of TE in patients with IBD, rheumatoid arthritis, and coeliac disease with matched control subjects.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Study subjects answered a questionnaire assessing the history of TE, any cases of which had to be confirmed radiologically. A total of 618 patients with IBD, 243 with rheumatoid arthritis, 207 with coeliac disease, and 707 control subjects were consecutively included. All three patient groups were compared with control subjects matched to the respective group by age and sex.

RESULTS

Thirty eight IBD patients (6.2%) had suffered TE. This was significantly higher compared with the matched control population with only 10 cases reported (1.6%) (p<0.001; odds ratio (OR) 3.6 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7-7.8)). Five patients with rheumatoid arthritis (2.1%) had suffered TE compared with six subjects (2.5%) in the control population matched to patients with rheumatoid arthritis (NS; OR 0.7 (95% CI 0.2-2.9)). TE had occurred in two patients with coeliac disease (1%) compared with four subjects (1.9%) in the control population matched to the coeliac disease group (NS; OR 0.4 (95% CI 0.1-2.5)). In 60% of TE cases in the IBD group, at least one IBD specific factor (active disease, stenosis, fistula, abscess) was present at the time TE occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

IBD is a risk factor for TE. It seems that TE is a specific feature of IBD as neither rheumatoid arthritis, another chronic inflammatory disease, nor coeliac disease, another chronic bowel disease, had an increased risk of TE.

Analysis of the therapeutic efficacy of different doses of budesonide in patients with active Crohn's ileocolitis depending on disease activity and localization

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The nonsystemic steroid budesonide has been used to treat active ileocecal and ileocolonic Crohn's disease (CD). This study investigated the optimal budesonide dose using a pH-dependent release formulation. The goal of treatment was the remission of CD (CDAI <150) within 6 weeks of treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study was of randomized, double-blind, dose-finding design. Patients with active CD ileocolitis without steroid pretreatment were treated with 3x2 mg ( n=39), 3x3 mg ( n=33), or 3x6 mg ( n=32) oral pH-modified released budesonide daily.

RESULTS

The remission rates after 6 weeks were 36% with 3x2 mg, 55% with 3x3 mg, and 66% with 3x6 mg. Significantly more patients were in remission while treated with 3x6 mg than with 3x2 mg budesonide/day. Subgroup analyses revealed that patients with high disease activity (CDAI >/= 300) or ileocolonic disease with disease manifestation distal to the transverse colon responded better to the highest budesonide dose.

CONCLUSION

Oral pH-modified released budesonide shows a dose-dependent effectiveness in patients with active ileocolonic CD. In the majority of patients 9 mg budesonide per day is sufficient. However, in patients with highly active disease or ileal disease with distal colonic manifestation higher doses of budesonide could increase the therapeutic response

A randomised placebo controlled trial of pegylated interferon alpha in active ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND

Pilot studies of interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) suggest a high remission rate in the treatment of active ulcerative colitis. We evaluated the safety of pegylated interferon alpha (PegIFN) and its role in induction of remission in patients with active ulcerative colitis, in a multicentre placebo controlled trial.

METHODS

Sixty patients with a clinical activity score (CAI) of >6 were randomised to receive placebo (n=20), PegIFN 0.5 microg/kg (n=19), or PegIFN 1.0 microg/kg body weight (n=21) once weekly (PegIntron; Schering-Plough, USA) over 12 weeks. Patients receiving 5-aminosalicylates, steroids, and/or azathioprine in stable dosages were included.

RESULTS

Serious adverse events were seen in none of the placebo patients, in 3/19 patients in the PegIFN 0.5 microg/kg group (hospitalisation due to disease flare up n=3), and in 3/21 in the PegIFN 1.0 microg/kg group (hospitalisation due to disease flare up n=1; thrombosis n=1; grand mal seizure n=1). Otherwise, we observed only minor IFN-alpha side effects. Clinical remission rates at week 12 (CAI < or =4) were 7/20 (35%) in the placebo, 9/19 (47%) in the PegIFN 0.5 microg/kg group, and 7/21 (33%) in the PegIFN 1.0 microg/kg group (NS). Early withdrawal from the study was observed in 11/20 placebo patients, in 6/19 in the PegIFN 0.5 microg/kg group, and in 10/21 in the PegIFN 1.0 microg/kg group, mainly due to lack of efficacy. The higher PegIFN dose was associated with a significant decrease in levels of C reactive protein (p=0.003, day 0 v 85).

CONCLUSIONS

PegIFN is safe but not effective, at the dosages used, in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Antibiotics and azathioprine for the treatment of perianal fistulas in Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

Antibiotics and thiopurines have been employed in the management of fistulizing Crohn's disease, although evidence of their efficacy is rare.

AIM

To evaluate, in a prospective, open-label study, the influence of antibiotics and azathioprine on the clinical outcome of perianal fistulas in patients with Crohn's disease.

METHODS

Fifty-two patients entered the study, starting with an 8-week regimen of ciprofloxacin (500-1000 mg/day) and/or metronidazole (1000-1500 mg/day). Seventeen patients had already received daily azathioprine (2-2.5 mg/kg) at enrollment, whereas in 14 patients azathioprine was initiated after 8 weeks of antibiotic treatment. Outcome was evaluated by Fistula Drainage Assessment and the Perianal Disease Activity Index at weeks 8 and 20.

RESULTS

Overall, 26 patients (50%) responded to antibiotic treatment, with complete healing in 25% of patients at week 8. The Perianal Disease Activity Index decreased significantly from 8.4 +/- 2.9 to 6.0 +/- 4.0 (P < 0.0001). At week 20, the outcome was assessed in 49 patients (94%), 29 of whom (59%) had received azathioprine. Response was noted in 17 of the 49 patients (35%), with complete healing in nine patients (18%). Patients who received azathioprine were more likely to achieve a response (48%) than those without immunosuppression (15%) (P = 0.03). The Perianal Disease Activity Index was closely associated with treatment response and perianal disease activity.

CONCLUSION

Antibiotics are useful to induce a short-term response in perianal Crohn's disease, and may provide a bridging strategy to azathioprine, which seems to be essential for the maintenance of fistula improvement.

Early and late gastrointestinal complications after myeloablative and nonmyeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms are major and serious complications after stem cell transplantation. Their main causes are gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), infections, toxicity, or preexisting gastrointestinal diseases. The clinical presentation of each disease is nonspecific. The diagnostic procedure for this study included physical exam, stool cultures, endoscopy with biopsies, and abdominal computed tomography (CT). The study was designed prospectively with consecutive patients and performed at our institution in a clinical stem cell transplantation setting. Between January 1996 and September 2001, we analyzed 42 consecutive patients who had been admitted at our institution for gastrointestinal complaints after allogeneic stem cell transplantation for hematologic diseases. Diagnostic procedures revealed in decreasing order: GVHD (62%), gastritis/esophagitis (19%), cytomegalovirus (CMV) enteritis (11%), bacterial enteritis (6%), and toxic mucosal damage (2%). CT showed unspecific findings. Gastrointestinal GVHD and infectious colitis accounted for the majority of gastrointestinal complications after allogeneic stem cell transplantation in our patient population. The diagnosis was mainly based on endoscopically obtained biopsies.

An open-label trial of the selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor, rofecoxib, in inflammatory bowel disease-associated peripheral arthritis and arthralgia

BACKGROUND

Conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been associated with an increased risk of exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease.

AIM

To evaluate, in a prospective, open-label study, the safety and efficacy of a 20-day regimen of the selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor, rofecoxib, 12.5-25 mg/day, in inflammatory bowel disease patients with associated peripheral arthropathy and/or arthritis.

METHODS

Patients with clinically inactive to mild inflammatory bowel disease and a joint pain score of at least two points on a scale ranging from zero (none) to four (very poor) were eligible. Response was defined by a decrease of at least two points in the arthralgia score.

RESULTS

Of the 32 patients included, 26 (81%) were treated with rofecoxib, 25 mg/day, and six (19%) with rofecoxib, 12.5 mg/day. In three patients (9%), rofecoxib had to be withdrawn after a few days due to gastrointestinal complaints which ceased immediately after drug discontinuation. No flare of inflammatory bowel disease occurred. Thirteen of the 32 patients (41%) were responders and, overall, the arthralgia score decreased from two to one (P = 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first prospective study on the use of a selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor in inflammatory bowel disease patients with peripheral arthropathy and/or arthralgia. The promising safety and efficacy profile warrants further evaluation in controlled trials.

Enteroclysis in adult celiac disease: diagnostic value of specific radiographic features

The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of various radiographic findings at enteroclysis in adult patients with untreated celiac disease. Twenty-seven adult patients underwent enteroclysis because of unspecific intestinal symptoms before definitive biopsy proof of celiac disease. Enteroclysis of 123 subjects with similar clinical presentation, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, occult intestinal bleeding, and weight loss, who had a definitive diagnosis other than celiac disease, served as controls. The radiographic features previously described in the literature as indicative of adult celiac disease (i.e., fold thickening, decrease of jejunal folds, increase of ileal folds, small bowel dilatation, flocculation) were evaluated in blinded fashion in all studies and the subjective likelihood of diagnosis of celiac disease was assessed. Assessing every finding separately, each feature proved to have a high specificity (78-100%) but low sensitivity (19-59%) for celiac disease. Reversal of jejunoileal fold pattern was the single best feature (specificity 100%, 95% CI 97-100%; sensitivity 59%, 95% CI 40-78%); however, combination of criteria enables establishment of the diagnosis of celiac disease quite accurately (specificity 100%, 95% CI 98-100%; sensitivity 78%, 95% CI 58-91%). Reversal of jejunoileal fold pattern as a single finding as well as combination at least three of the following features, i.e., fold thickening, decrease of jejunal folds ("colonization"), increase of ileal folds ("jejunization"), dilatation, and flocculation, make enteroclysis an accurate tool for diagnosis of celiac disease in adult patients with suspected intestinal disease.

Exocrine pancreatic dysfunction in sepsis

BACKGROUND

Sepsis in critical illness is associated with the progressive failure of multiple organs. This study aims to establish a correlation between the severity of sepsis and exocrine pancreatic dysfunction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a prospective cohort study pancreatic exocrine function was tested by means of a secretin-cholecystokinin test in 21 critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients with sepsis according to criteria of the American College of Chest Physicians/Society of Critical Care Medicine Consensus Conference Committee (ACCP/SCCM): 11 patients with shock and 10 patients without shock. Data were compared with seven healthy controls.

RESULTS

The volume of duodenal fluid was not statistically different in the three groups. Sepsis patients without shock had significantly reduced content of amylase and chymotrypsin in duodenal juice compared with healthy controls (P < 0.01). Secretion of amylase, chymotrypsin, trypsin (P < 0.01 each) and bicarbonate in duodenal fluid (P < 0.05) was impaired in the septic shock patients when compared with the healthy controls. The content of trypsin was different between sepsis patients and septic shock patients (P < 0.05). Spearman correlation analysis was significant between the amylase secretion and the APACHE III and SOFA scores (P < 0.01). The SOFA score was also related to secretion of trypsin (P < 0.05). In patients on pressor therapy, use of norepinephrine was associated with a significant decrease in bicarbonate secretion (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Sepsis is associated with secretory pancreatic dysfunction that is worse in septic shock than in sepsis without shock. Impaired exocrine function was significantly correlated to the APACHE III and SOFA scores.

18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) for assessment of enteropathy-type T cell lymphoma

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Enteropathy-type T cell lymphoma (ETCL) represents a relatively rare disease, accounting for less than 1% of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. ETCL is an aggressive lymphoma which may either present de novo or arise in the context of longstanding or untreated coeliac disease (CD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of 18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) for imaging of ETCL. Furthermore, we wished to evaluate whether the presence of CD might provide a potential diagnostic obstacle to imaging of lymphoma due to unspecific 18F-FDG uptake and whether accumulation of 18F-FDG within the gut correlates with activity of CD.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analysed patients with ETCL and individuals suffering from CD undergoing 18F-FDG-imaging at our PET unit. Material for histological reassessment by a reference pathologist had to be available for inclusion of patients in the analysis. Whole body 18F-FDG-PET scans were performed 40 minutes following injection of 300-380 MBq of 18F-FDG. Images were reconstructed iteratively. In areas with focally elevated FDG uptake and in case of diffusely elevated intestinal 18F-FDG accumulation, standard uptake values (SUVs) were calculated.

RESULTS

During a period of two years, five patients (one male, four female) with a mean age of 56.4 years (range 44-62) with a diagnosis of ETCL underwent 18F-FDG-PET. Four of these patients were imaged before application of cytotoxic treatment while one patient had regular PET scans for follow up. All four patients undergoing pre-therapeutic imaging showed markedly elevated intestinal 18F-FDG uptake, with a maximal SUV of 6.4-8.0 (mean 7.15 (SD 0.82)). The patient imaged following surgery and cytotoxic therapy had no pathologic 18F-FDG uptake which was found to correlate with normal duodenal mucosa, as evidenced by repeated biopsies and conventional imaging methods. During the same time span, 12 patients (five male, seven female) with a mean age of 63.8 years (range 42-82) suffering from CD were imaged. Four of these patients showed no elevated intestinal 18F-FDG uptake while five had minor diffuse intestinal 18F-FDG accumulation with SUVs ranging between 2.2 and 4.6 (mean 3.4 (SD 0.89)). In the remaining three patients with diffuse intestinal 18F-FDG uptake, no SUV could be calculated. SUVs in patients with ETCL were remarkably higher than in patients suffering from CD (p=0.011), irrespective of the activity of CD at the time of imaging.

CONCLUSION

In spite of the relatively small number of patients, our results clearly indicate the potential value of 18F-FDG-PET for diagnosing and imaging ETCL. In addition, the data also suggest that 18F-FDG-PET may lead to early diagnosis in individuals developing ETCL in the context of longstanding CD. This is due to the fact that 18F-FDG does not appear to significantly accumulate in the gut of patients with CD, irrespective of disease activity.