Endoscopic balloon dilation of ileal pouch strictures

BACKGROUND

Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is the surgical treatment of choice in patients with ulcerative colitis. Strictures can occur at the inlet and outlet of the pouch. Endoscopic balloon dilation has been successfully used in patients with Crohn's strictures at the small intestine and colon. There are no published trials on endoscopic balloon therapy of ileal pouch strictures.

AIM

To evaluate outpatient endoscopic balloon dilation of strictures in ileal pouches.

METHODS

Patients underwent nonfluoroscopy-guided, nonsedated, outpatient endoscopic dilations with an 8.6-mm upper endoscope and through-the-scope balloons (size: 11-18 mm). Pre- and posttreatment Pouchitis Disease Activity Index symptom scores (range: 0-6), endoscopic stricture scores based on resistance in passing the endoscope (range: 0-4), and Cleveland Global Quality of Life were compared.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients with pouch strictures who had concurrent Crohn's disease of the pouch (n = 11), cuffitis (n = 5), and pouchitis (n = 3), including 14 inlet and 14 outlet strictures, were enrolled. The mean number of strictures for each patient was 1.61 +/- 0.78. All strictures were successfully dilated with the through-the-scope balloon, with a mean of 1.74 +/- 1.19 (range: 1-5) sessions for each patient. Nine patients had a second endoscopy at 8 wk and five patients had a third pouch endoscopy at 16 wk after the initial endoscopic dilation. Endoscopic stricture scores immediately (0.30 +/- 0.47), 8 wk (0.40 +/- 0.51), and 16 wk (0.44 +/- 0.76) after the dilation were significantly improved compared to the predilation stricture scores (2.67 +/- 0.78). The symptom scores and quality-of-life (QOL) scores improved at week 8 and 16 following dilation, with a mean follow-up of 6.10 +/- 5.83 months (2-25 months). No complications were experienced with the procedure. One patient with CD who failed endoscopic and medical therapy underwent pouch resection.

CONCLUSION

In conjunction with medical therapy, outpatient endoscopic balloon dilation appears safe and effective in treating pouch inlet and outlet strictures, by relieving symptoms, restoring pouch patency, and improving QOL in the majority of patients.

Ex vivo histology-correlated optical coherence tomography in the detection of transmural inflammation in Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Distinguishing Crohn's disease (CD) from ulcerative colitis (UC) can be difficult. Transmural inflammation, a key feature of CD, cannot be assessed by conventional colonoscopy with biopsy. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides high-resolution, cross-sectional images of the gut wall and might become a new diagnostic tool. The aims of this study were to perform histology-correlated OCT on surgical specimens of CD and UC and to determine its diagnostic accuracy.

METHODS

Colectomy specimens from patients with a preoperative diagnosis of CD (N = 24) or UC (N = 24) were studied with OCT in the operating room. OCT and histopathology were assessed blindly, and diagnostic accuracy of OCT was assessed.

RESULTS

Eight preoperatively identified UC patients (33%) with transmural inflammation on postoperative histology were diagnosed with CD, and all 8 had a disrupted layered structure on OCT, a characteristic feature of transmural disease. Sixteen UC patients (67%) had superficial inflammation on histology; of them, 13 (81%) had an intact layered structure on OCT. All 24 preoperative CD patients had transmural inflammation on histology, and 23 (96%) had a disrupted layered structure on OCT. Of 585 histology-OCT image sets from the 48 patients, 152 sets (26%) had transmural inflammation on histology. The sensitivity and specificity for OCT to detect transmural disease were 86% and 91%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Transmural inflammation, as characterized by disruption of the layered structure of colon wall on OCT, is an accurate marker for the diagnosis of CD. Ex vivo OCT predicted transmural inflammation on postoperative histopathology.

Treatment of rectal cuff inflammation (cuffitis) in patients with ulcerative colitis following restorative proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis

BACKGROUND

Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is the treatment of choice in the majority of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) who require surgery. To ease the construction of the IPAA and improve functional outcome by minimizing sphincter related stretch injury, a stapling technique is being commonly used in the pouch-anal anastomosis. Despite its advantages, the procedure normally leaves a 1-2 cm of anal transitional zone or rectal cuff, which is susceptible to recurrence of residual UC or cuffitis. Cuffitis can cause symptoms mimicking pouchitis.

AIM

To conduct an open-labeled trial of topical mesalamine in patients with cuffitis.

METHODS

We treated 14 consecutive patients with cuffitis by giving mesalamine suppositories 500 mg b.i.d. (mean 3.2 months, range 1-9 months). The Cuffitis Activity Index (adapted from the Pouchitis Disease Activity Index) scores and improvement in symptoms of bloody bowel movements and arthralgias were measured as primary and secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

All patients had surgery for medically refractory UC. There were significant reductions in the total Cuffitis Activity Index scores after the therapy (11.93 +/- 3.17 vs 6.21 +/- 3.19, p < 0.001). Symptom (3.24 +/- 1.28 vs 1.79 +/- 1.31), endoscopy (3.14 +/- 1.29 vs 1.00 +/- 1.52), and histology (4.93 +/- 1.77 vs 3.57 +/- 1.39) scores each were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). Ninety-two percent of patients with bloody bowel movements and 70% of patients with arthralgias improved after the therapy. No systemic or topical adverse effects were reported.

CONCLUSION

Topical mesalamine appears well tolerated and effective in treating patients with cuffitis, with improvement in symptom as well as endoscopic and histologic inflammation.

Left-sided ulcerative colitis

Left-sided ulcerative colitis is not a distinct entity, but a less extensive form of pancolitis. The epidemiologic and genetic characteristics are thought to be analogous. The rate of colorectal cancer, however, seems to be proportional to the extent of disease. Primary treatment for left-sided disease is topical 5-aminosalicyclic acid (5ASA) agents. In patients who do not respond to topical therapy, oral 5ASA agents of differing delivery methods to the distal bowel can be used. There is much debate pertaining to the clinical superiority of the oral 5ASA agents.

Afferent limb ulcers predict Crohn's disease in patients with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Some patients who undergo ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) surgery for ulcerative colitis (UC) or indeterminate colitis are subsequently diagnosed with Crohn's disease (CD). Making the diagnosis of CD in patients with IPAA can be difficult, but it is important for prognostic and therapeutic purposes. The aim of this study was to identify diagnostic features of CD in patients with IPAA.

METHODS

We evaluated 87 patients who had undergone IPAA for inflammatory bowel disease. Patients were classified as having UC (n = 28), CD (n = 27), or indeterminate colitis (n = 32) based on review of the original colectomy pathology and the postoperative clinical course. Each patient underwent a pouch endoscopy with biopsies of the pouch and afferent limb. Both the endoscopist and pathologist were blinded to the patient's diagnosis.

RESULTS

Afferent limb ulcers (ALUs) were seen on endoscopy in 12 of 27 patients with CD (45%) and 4 of 28 patients with UC (14%) (P = 0.019). After excluding patients who had taken nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) within the past month, ALUs were found in 7 of 18 patients with CD (39%) and 0 of 17 patients with UC (P = 0.010). Controlling for NSAID use and smoking, the odds ratio for ALUs indicating CD was 4.67 (P = 0.03). In the UC population, ALUs were seen in 4 of 11 patients (36%) who had taken NSAIDs in the past month and 0 of 17 patients who had not taken NSAIDs (P = 0.016).

CONCLUSIONS

ALUs seen on endoscopy are suggestive of CD in patients with inflammatory bowel disease who are not taking NSAIDs.

Fecal lactoferrin for diagnosis of symptomatic patients with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Increased stool frequency, urgency, and abdominal pain in patients with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) may be due to inflammatory conditions, including pouchitis, cuffitis, or Crohn's disease or noninflammatory conditions such as irritable pouch syndrome. Distinction among these entities requires pouch endoscopy and biopsy. Noninvasive means of diagnosis are preferable.

METHODS

Sixty consecutive subjects with IPAA for inflammatory bowel disease had measurements of fecal lactoferrin and alpha1-antitrypsin and underwent pouch endoscopy with biopsy, with calculation of the pouchitis disease activity index in a prospective cross-sectional study.

RESULTS

Symptomatic patients with an inflammatory condition had significantly higher fecal lactoferrin concentrations (median, 176.0 microg/mL, interquartile range [IQR] 79.0-450.8) compared with those with a noninflammatory condition (median, 4.8 microg/mL; IQR, 1.2-11.0) or those who were asymptomatic (median, 7.8 microg/mL; IQR, 1.4-12.9), P < 0.001. At a cutoff level of 7 microg/mL, fecal lactoferrin could distinguish patients with irritable pouch syndrome from those with pouchitis, cuffitis, or Crohn's disease with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 85%. Fecal alpha1-antitrypsin was not able to distinguish symptomatic patients with and without an inflammatory condition.

CONCLUSIONS

Fecal lactoferrin can serve as a sensitive and noninvasive initial screening test in an algorithm for evaluation of symptomatic patients with IPAA. If fecal lactoferrin levels are low (<7 microg/mL), IPS can be diagnosed. If fecal lactoferrin levels are high, pouch endoscopy with biopsy is warranted to distinguish among different causes of inflammation. Longitudinal studies are needed to define better the role of this test in the management of patients with IPAA.

Type of fistula determines response to infliximab in patients with fistulous Crohn's disease

OBJECTIVES

Infliximab has been shown to be efficacious for treating perianal fistulae in patients with Crohn's disease. There is limited information regarding response to infliximab in patients with other types of fistulae.

METHODS

Sixty consecutive patients with fistulous Crohn's disease and at least three months of follow-up after three infliximab infusions were evaluated. Patients with enteroenteric fistulae were excluded. Complete response was defined as complete closure of the fistulae or complete cessation of fistula drainage.

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients had external fistulae, 16 had internal fistulae, and 9 had mixed (both external and internal) fistulae. Complete response rates were significantly higher in patients with external fistulae (69%) compared to those with internal fistulae (13%); p= 0.001, or those with mixed fistulae (11%); p= 0.01. In the external fistula group, patients with perianal fistulae had a higher rate of complete response (78%) compared to those with abdominal wall fistulae (38%); p= 0.04. The rate of complete response to infliximab was significantly lower among 14 patients with rectovaginal fistulae (14%) compared to those with perianal fistulae (78%); p= 0.0007. In the mixed fistula group only 11% of the patients achieved complete response. This is significantly lower than the rate observed for patients with perianal fistulae (78%); p= 0.004. The Cox proportional hazards model showed that the hazard of relapse for smokers who achieved complete response was nearly twice that of nonsmokers; however, this difference did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

There is an association between type of fistulae and complete response to infliximab in patients with fistulous Crohn's disease. External fistulae in general and perianal fistulae in particular have a higher rate of closure in response to infliximab compared to other types of fistulae.

Infliximab maintenance therapy for fistulizing Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

Infliximab, a monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor, is an effective maintenance therapy for patients with Crohn's disease without fistulas. It is not known whether infliximab is an effective maintenance therapy for patients with fistulas.

METHODS

We performed a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of infliximab maintenance therapy in 306 adult patients with Crohn's disease and one or more draining abdominal or perianal fistulas of at least three months' duration. Patients received 5 mg of infliximab per kilogram of body weight intravenously on weeks 0, 2, and 6. A total of 195 patients who had a response at weeks 10 and 14 and 87 patients who had no response were then randomly assigned to receive placebo or 5 mg of infliximab per kilogram every eight weeks and to be followed to week 54. The primary analysis was the time to the loss of response among patients who had a response at week 14 and underwent randomization.

RESULTS

The time to loss of response was significantly longer for patients who received infliximab maintenance therapy than for those who received placebo maintenance (more than 40 weeks vs. 14 weeks, P<0.001). At week 54, 19 percent of patients in the placebo maintenance group had a complete absence of draining fistulas, as compared with 36 percent of patients in the infliximab maintenance group (P=0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with fistulizing Crohn's disease who have a response to induction therapy with infliximab have an increased likelihood of a sustained response over a 54-week period if infliximab treatment is continued every 8 weeks.

A cost-effectiveness analysis of diagnostic strategies for symptomatic patients with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis

OBJECTIVE

Pouchitis is often diagnosed based on symptoms and empirically treated with antibiotics (treat-first strategy). However, symptom assessment alone is not reliable for diagnosis, and an initial evaluation with pouch endoscopy (test-first strategy) has been shown to be more accurate. Cost-effectiveness of these strategies has not been compared. The aim of this study was to compare cost-effectiveness of different clinical approaches for patients with symptoms suggestive of pouchitis.

METHODS

Pouchitis was defined as pouchitis disease activity index scores > or =7. The frequency of pouchitis in symptomatic patients with ileal pouch was estimated to be 51%; the efficacy for initial therapy with metronidazole (MTZ) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) was 75% and 85%, respectively. Cost estimates were obtained from Medicare reimbursement data.

RESULTS

Six competing strategies (MTZ trial, CIP trial, MTZ-then-CIP trial, CIP-then-MTZ trial, pouch endoscopy with biopsy, and pouch endoscopy without biopsy) were modeled in a decision tree. Costs per correct diagnosis with appropriate treatment were $194 for MTZ trial, $279 for CIP trial, $208 for MTZ-then-CIP trial, $261 for CIP-then-MTZ trial, $352 for pouch endoscopy with biopsy, and $243 for pouch endoscopy without biopsy. Of the two strategies with the lowest cost, the pouch endoscopy without biopsy strategy costs $50 more per patient than the MTZ trial strategy but results in an additional 15 days for early diagnosis and thus initiation of appropriate treatment (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio $3 per additional day gained). The results of base-case analysis were robust in sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the MTZ-trial strategy had the lowest cost, the pouch endoscopy without biopsy strategy was most cost-effective. Therefore, based on its relatively low cost and the avoidance of both diagnostic delay and adverse effects associated with unnecessary antibiotics, pouch endoscopy without biopsy is the recommended strategy among those tested for the diagnosis of pouchitis.

Modified pouchitis disease activity index: a simplified approach to the diagnosis of pouchitis

PURPOSE

Pouchitis is the most common complication of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis. Our previous study suggested that symptoms alone are not reliable for the diagnosis of pouchitis. The most commonly used diagnostic instrument is the 18-point pouchitis disease activity index consisting of three principal component scores: symptom, endoscopy, and histology. Despite its popularity, the pouchitis disease activity index has mainly been a research tool because of costs of endoscopy (especially with histology), complexity in calculation, and time delay in determining histology scores. It is not known whether pouch endoscopy without biopsy can reliably diagnose pouchitis in symptomatic patients. The aim of the present study was to determine whether omitting histologic evaluation from the pouchitis disease activity index significantly affects the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic criteria for pouchitis.

METHODS

Ulcerative colitis patients with an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis and symptoms suggestive of pouchitis were evaluated. Patients with chronic refractory pouchitis and Crohn's disease were excluded. Patients with pouchitis disease activity index scores of seven or more were diagnosed as having pouchitis. Different diagnostic criteria were compared on the basis of the pouchitis disease activity index component scores. Nonparametric receiver-operating-characteristic curves were used to measure proposed pouchitis scores' diagnostic accuracy compared with diagnosis from the pouchitis disease activity index. The receiver-operating-characteristic area under the curve measured how much these diagnostic strategies differed from each other.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight consecutive symptomatic patients were enrolled; 32 (55 percent) patients were diagnosed with pouchitis. With the use of the pouchitis disease activity index as a criterion standard, the use of only symptom and endoscopy scores (modified pouchitis disease activity index) produced an area under the curve of 0.995. Establishing a cut-point of five or more for diseased patients resulted in a sensitivity equal to 97 percent and specificity equal to 100 percent.

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnosis based on the modified pouchitis disease activity index offers similar sensitivity and specificity when compared with the pouchitis disease activity index for patients with acute or acute relapsing pouchitis. Omission of endoscopic biopsy and histology from the standard pouchitis disease activity index would simplify pouchitis diagnostic criteria, reduce the cost of diagnosis, and avoid delay associated with determining histology score, while providing equivalent sensitivity and specificity.

Abnormal p53 immunohistochemistry is associated with an increased colorectal cancer-related mortality in patients with ulcerative colitis

OBJECTIVE

Immunohistochemical evaluation of p53 staining patterns has been considered as a complementary test for dysplasia in ulcerative colitis-related colorectal cancer surveillance, but usefulness would be particularly important if it were a marker associated with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether abnormal p53 staining of the tumor correlated with cancer-related mortality in ulcerative colitis patients.

METHODS

An historical cohort study was designed to examine all ulcerative colitis patients who developed colorectal cancer between 1978 and 1997 and who had tumor tissue blocks available for staining. Tissue was recut and stained for abnormal p53 immunohistochemistry using the DO-7 antibody. Tumors were considered to be p53 positive if at least 5% of nuclei in a high power field were positive for staining.

RESULTS

Among 75 patients entered in the study, 38 (50.7%) had p53 positive tumors. Fourteen patients (36.8%) with p53 positive tumors died from colorectal cancer, compared to five (13.5%) with p53 negative tumors (p < 0.04, log-rank test). The adjusted relative risk of cancer-related death among patients with p53 positive tumors was 3.03 (95% CI = 1.05-8.73).

CONCLUSIONS

Abnormal p53 immunohistochemistry of tumors is associated with a poor prognosis among ulcerative colitis patients who develop colorectal cancer. As such, p53 immunohistochemical staining could be a useful histological marker to complement routine histology in cancer surveillance programs in ulcerative colitis patients.

Motion - colonoscopic surveillance is more cost effective than colectomy in patients with ulcerative colitis: Arguments for the motion

Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) are at increased risk for colorectal cancer (CRC), especially those with longstanding disease, pancolitis or primary sclerosing cholangitis. The incidence of colitis- associated cancer is increasing, and the mortality rates from CRC are higher in UC patients than in the general population. Case control studies have demonstrated that surveillance colonoscopy reduces the risk of dying from CRC. A well conducted decision analysis found that surveillance colonoscopy decreases cancer-related mortality and increases life expectancy. The results with surveillance programs were almost as good as with prophylactic colectomy. A subsequent cost effectiveness analysis using the same model found that, compared with a policy of no surveillance, colonoscopic surveillance was more effective at preventing death from CRC and was less costly. The best strategy appears to be to perform colonoscopies every three years. The analysis also showed that colectomy should be recommended in patients with low-grade dysplasia. Patients at very high risk for CRC should undergo yearly colonoscopy, and patients who are concerned about the limitations of this technique should be offered prophylactic colectomy.

Predictors of response to infliximab in patients with Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Identifying predictors of response to infliximab in Crohn's disease may lead to better selection of patients for this therapy.

METHODS

One hundred patients with either inflammatory or fistulous Crohn's disease and at least 3 months of follow-up after infliximab infusion were evaluated. Clinical response and duration of response were the primary outcome measures.

RESULTS

For inflammatory disease, 73% of nonsmokers, compared with 22% of smokers, responded to infliximab (P < 0.001). Among patients taking concurrent immunosuppressives, 74% responded to infliximab compared with 39% not taking any immunosuppressives (P = 0.007). Prolonged response (duration >2 months) was achieved in 59% of nonsmokers compared with 6% of smokers (P < 0.001) and in 65% of patients on immunosuppressives compared with 18% not on immunosuppressives (P < 0.001). For fistulous disease, overall response rates were not different between nonsmokers and smokers, but nonsmokers had a longer duration of response (P = 0.046). Concurrent use of immunosuppressive medications had no effect on rate or duration of response. Multivariable logistic regression analysis confirmed the harmful effect of smoking and the beneficial effect of immunosuppressive use on response in patients with inflammatory disease. The same analysis for fistulous disease did not show an association between smoking or concurrent immunosuppressive use and response to infliximab.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with inflammatory disease, nonsmoking and concurrent immunosuppressive use are associated with higher rates of response and longer duration of response to infliximab. In patients with fistulous Crohn's disease, nonsmoking is associated with longer duration of response to infliximab.

Inflammatory bowel disease: sorting out the treatment options

An increasing array of treatments such as immunosuppressive drugs and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors can offer patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease improved relief from symptoms with fewer adverse effects. Several additional drugs have shown promise, including nicotine, antimicrobials, and heparin.

Irritable pouch syndrome: a new category of diagnosis for symptomatic patients with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis

OBJECTIVE

Pouchitis often is diagnosed based on symptoms alone. However, increased stool frequency, urgency, and abdominal pain could be due to a condition resembling irritable bowel syndrome. This study was designed to assess the etiology of bowel symptoms using the Pouchitis Disease Activity Index (PDAI).

METHODS

Symptoms, endoscopy, and histology were assessed in 61 consecutive symptomatic patients with ulcerative colitis after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. Pouchitis was defined as a PDAI score of > or = 7, cuffitis was defined as endoscopic and histological inflammation of the rectal cuff and no inflammation of the pouch, and irritable pouch syndrome (IPS) was defined as symptoms with a PDAI of <7 and the absence of cuffitis.

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients (50.8%) had pouchitis, four (6.5%) had cuffitis, and 26 (42.6%) had IPS. Demographics were similar in the three groups. Increased stool frequency, urgency, and abdominal cramps were the most common symptoms in the three groups. Rectal bleeding was seen only in cuffitis (p < 0.001). No patient in the three groups had fever. Twenty-seven patients (87.1%) with pouchitis responded to a 2-wk course of ciprofloxacin or metronidazole with a reduction in PDAI scores of > or = 3. All four patients with cuffitis responded to topical hydrocortisone or mesalamine with a reduction in the PDAI symptom component score of > or = 1. Twelve patients with IPS (46.2%) responded to antidiarrheal, anticholinergic, and/or antidepressant therapies with a reduction in the PDAI symptom component score of > or = 1, whereas the remaining patients had persistent symptoms despite therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

A substantial number of symptomatic patients after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis do not meet the diagnostic criteria for either pouchitis or cuffitis and have been classified as having IPS. There is an overlap of symptoms among patients with pouchitis, cuffitis, and IPS, and endoscopic evaluation can differentiate among these groups. Distinction between these three groups has therapeutic implications.

Colorectal cancer surveillance for patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Although the cumulative prevalence of colorectal cancer among patients with ulcerative colitis is similar to that among patients with sporadic colorectal cancer, the younger age of ulcerative colitis patients with cancer accounts for the age-specific relative risk. Approximately half of ulcerative colitis patients with colorectal cancer die from metastatic disease. Pancolitis of long duration and coexistent primary sclerosing cholangitis are strong risk factors for cancer that should prompt entry into cancer surveillance programs. When done appropriately, cancer surveillance in patients with inflammatory bowel disease can be very effective, and at a reasonable cost.

A randomized clinical trial of ciprofloxacin and metronidazole to treat acute pouchitis

Metronidazole is effective for the treatment of acute pouchitis after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, but it has not been directly compared with other antibiotics. This randomized clinical trial was designed to compare the effectiveness and side effects of ciprofloxacin and metronidazole for treating acute pouchitis. Acute pouchitis was defined as a score of 7 or higher on the 18-point Pouchitis Disease Activity Index (PDAI) and symptom duration of 4 weeks or less. Sixteen patients were randomized to a 2-week course of ciprofloxacin 1,000 mg/d (n = 7) or metronidazole 20 mg/kg/d (n = 9). Clinical symptoms, endoscopic findings, and histologic features were assessed before and after therapy. Both ciprofloxacin and metronidazole produced a significant reduction in the total PDAI score as well as in the symptom, endoscopy, and histology subscores. Ciprofloxacin lowered the PDAI score from 10.1+/-2.3 to 3.3+/-1.7 (p = 0.0001), whereas metronidazole reduced the PDAI score from 9.7+/-2.3 to 5.8+/-1.7 (p = 0.0002). There was a significantly greater reduction in the ciprofloxacin group than in the metronidazole group in terms of the total PDAI (6.9+/-1.2 versus 3.8+/-1.7; p = 0.002), symptom score (2.4+/-0.9 versus 1.3+/-0.9; p = 0.03), and endoscopic score (3.6+/-1.3 versus 1.9+/-1.5; p = 0.03). None of patients in the ciprofloxacin group experienced adverse effects, whereas three patients in the metronidazole group (33%) developed vomiting, dysgeusia, or transient peripheral neuropathy. Both ciprofloxacin and metronidazole are effective in treating acute pouchitis with significant reduction of the PDAI scores. Ciprofloxacin produces a greater reduction in the PDAI and a greater improvement in symptom and endoscopy scores, and is better tolerated than metronidazole. Ciprofloxacin should be considered as one of the first-line therapies for acute pouchitis.

Endoscopic and histologic evaluation together with symptom assessment are required to diagnose pouchitis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Pouchitis often is diagnosed based on symptoms alone. In this study, we evaluate whether symptoms correlate with endoscopic and histologic findings in patients with ulcerative colitis and an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.

METHODS

Symptoms, endoscopy, and histology were assessed in 46 patients using Pouchitis Disease Activity Index (PDAI). Patients were classified as either having pouchitis (PDAI score > or =7; N = 22) or as not having pouchitis (PDAI score <7; N = 24).

RESULTS

Patients with pouchitis had significantly higher mean total PDAI scores, symptom scores, endoscopy scores, and histology scores. There was a similar magnitude of contribution of each component score to the total PDAI for the pouchitis group. Of note, 25% of patients with symptoms suggestive of pouchitis did not meet the PDAI diagnostic criteria for pouchitis. In both groups, the correlation coefficients between symptom, endoscopy, and histology scores were near zero (range, -0.26 to 0.20; P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The symptom, endoscopy, and histology scores each contribute to the PDAI and appear to be independent of each other. Symptoms alone do not reliably diagnose pouchitis.

Safety and efficacy of recombinant human interleukin 10 in chronic active Crohn's disease. Crohn's Disease IL-10 Cooperative Study Group

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Interleukin (IL)-10 is a cytokine with potent anti-inflammatory properties. We investigated the safety and efficacy of different doses of human recombinant (rhu)IL-10 in patients with Crohn's disease (CD).

METHODS

A prospective, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 329 therapy-refractory patients with CD. Clinical improvement was defined by a reduction of the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) by 100 points or more and clinical remission by a decrease of the CDAI to <150 points. At selected centers, patients underwent ileocolonoscopies and activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) system was assessed in biopsy specimens.

RESULTS

Subcutaneous treatment with rhuIL-10 over 28 days induced a fully reversible, dose-dependent decrease in hemoglobin and thrombocyte counts but no clinically significant side effects. No differences in the induction of remission were observed between rhuIL-10 groups (1 microg, 18% [9.6-29.2]; 4 microg, 20% [11.3-32.2]; 8 microg, 20% [11.1-31.8]; 20 microg, 28% [18-40.7]; and placebo, 18% [9.6-29.6]). Clinical improvement was observed in 46% (33.7-59) in the 8-microg/kg rhuIL-10 group in comparison with 27% (17-39.6) in patients taking placebo. Responders to rhuIL-10 showed inhibition of NF-kappaB p65 activation in contrast to nonresponders.

CONCLUSIONS

Up to 8 microg/kg of rhuIL-10 was well tolerated. A tendency toward clinical improvement but not remission was observed in the 8-microg/kg dose group. Further studies should delineate which subgroups of patients with CD benefit from rhuIL-10 therapy.

Can colectomy cure immune thrombocytopenic purpura in a patient with ulcerative colitis?

The association between ulcerative colitis (UC) and immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) has been suggested by sporadic case reports. Prior reports have focused on the role of medical therapy and/or splenectomy for control of concurrent ITP and UC. We report a case of a patient with UC and ITP who was poorly controlled on maximal medical therapy for these two disorders and underwent a colectomy that cured both diseases.

Mesalamine for prophylaxis of small bowel Crohn's disease recurrence

Mesalamine has been studied extensively as a therapeutic option in patients with Crohn's disease. Endoscopic follow-up of patients resected for ileal Crohn's disease has shown that, in the absence of treatment, postoperative recurrence occurs in approximately 70% to 90% of patients within 1 year of the operation. Recurrence requires further surgical intervention in approximately half of patients within 10 years. Therapeutic strategies aimed at preventing recurrence are essential to the management of patients with Crohn's disease. This article offers a critical evaluation of results from clinical studies of mesalamine for prevention of recurrence in small bowel Crohn's disease.