Clinical phenotype is related to HLA genotype in the peripheral arthropathies of inflammatory bowel disease

Extraintestinal manifestations and complications in IBD

More than one-third of patients with IBD are affected by extraintestinal manifestations or extraintestinal complications beyond the intestinal manifestation of the disease. The most common manifestations include arthropathies, mucocutaneous and ophthalmological manifestations, as well as conditions affecting the hepatobiliary system, both in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. However, less frequent manifestations, such as pulmonary or neurological manifestations, should also be considered in patients with IBD. Several extraintestinal manifestations follow the course of the underlying intestinal activity, whereas others are independent from the intestinal inflammation. Extraintestinal complications such as iron-deficiency anaemia and osteoporosis are consequences of the intestinal disease or of disease-specific treatment. As extraintestinal manifestations and complications strongly influence quality of life, and to avoid severe complications, adequate treatment is mandatory in affected patients. We provide a comprehensive overview of different extraintestinal manifestations and complications, including their management, in patients with IBD.

How does genotype influence disease phenotype in inflammatory bowel disease?

Inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) are chronic immunologically mediated diseases of the gut. Advances in genetics have revolutionized our understanding of the pathogenesis of these conditions with 163 risk loci identified, encompassing a variety of immunologic functions. There is substantial heterogeneity in the natural history of these diseases with respect to disease onset, course, and progression to complications. There are also significant variations in response to therapies and susceptibility to therapy-related and disease-related complications. An important need in the field is to identify predictors of disease course, complications, and likelihood of response and adverse events to allow for targeted therapeutic decision making. The genotype of an individual in constant and non-modifiable, and thus could potentially fulfill the role of important predictors of these outcomes. In this review, we discuss the existing literature on the prediction of various disease phenotypes in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis using underlying genotype. We also identify gaps in the literature and suggest future directions for research. There is need for large, multi-institutional, and international collaborative consortia with efficient and detailed cohort accrual, phenotypic definition, genotyping, and dynamic assessments of external (e.g., diet) and internal (microbiome) environment to allow us to progress toward personalized and precision medicine in the management of these complex diseases.

Inflammatory bowel disease: one or two diseases?

This chapter addresses the longstanding question of whether inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is really one or two diseases. The straightforward answer is that ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) embody separate diseases more than a single syndrome. In reality, however, the question is more complex. This chapter makes the case that there are actually many more than just two diseases under the rubric of IBD.

Diagnosis and therapeutic management of extra-intestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease

Extra-intestinal manifestations (EIMs) are reported frequently in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and may be diagnosed before, concurrently or after the diagnosis of IBD. EIMs in IBD may be classified based on their association with IBD disease activity. The first group has a direct relationship with the activity of the bowel disease and includes pauciarticular arthritis, oral aphthous ulcers, erythema nodosum and episcleritis. The second group of EIMs appears to follow an independent course from the underlying bowel disease activity and include ankylosing spondylitis and uveitis. The third group includes EIMs that may or may not be related to intestinal inflammation, such as pyoderma gangrenosum and probably primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Genetic susceptibility, aberrant self-recognition and immunopathogenic autoantibodies against organ-specific cellular antigens shared by the colon and extra-colonic organs may contribute to the pathogenesis and development of these EIMs. The use of biological agents in the IBD armamentarium has expanded the treatment options for some of the disabling EIMs and these agents form the cornerstone in managing most of the disabling EIMs. PSC is one of the most common hepatobiliary manifestations associated with IBD in which no clear treatment options exist other than endoscopic therapy and liver transplantation. Future research targeting the pathogenesis, early diagnosis and treatment of these EIMs is required.

Diagnosis and therapeutic management of extra-intestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease

Extra-intestinal manifestations (EIMs) are reported frequently in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and may be diagnosed before, concurrently or after the diagnosis of IBD. EIMs in IBD may be classified based on their association with IBD disease activity. The first group has a direct relationship with the activity of the bowel disease and includes pauciarticular arthritis, oral aphthous ulcers, erythema nodosum and episcleritis. The second group of EIMs appears to follow an independent course from the underlying bowel disease activity and include ankylosing spondylitis and uveitis. The third group includes EIMs that may or may not be related to intestinal inflammation, such as pyoderma gangrenosum and probably primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Genetic susceptibility, aberrant self-recognition and immunopathogenic autoantibodies against organ-specific cellular antigens shared by the colon and extra-colonic organs may contribute to the pathogenesis and development of these EIMs. The use of biological agents in the IBD armamentarium has expanded the treatment options for some of the disabling EIMs and these agents form the cornerstone in managing most of the disabling EIMs. PSC is one of the most common hepatobiliary manifestations associated with IBD in which no clear treatment options exist other than endoscopic therapy and liver transplantation. Future research targeting the pathogenesis, early diagnosis and treatment of these EIMs is required.

Enteropathic spondyloarthritis: from diagnosis to treatment

Enteropathic arthritis (EA) is a spondyloarthritis (SpA) which occurs in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) and other gastrointestinal diseases. Diagnosis is generally established on the medical history and physical examination. It was, generally, made according to the European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group (ESSG) criteria. Rheumatic manifestations are the most frequent extraintestinal findings of IBD with a prevalence between 17% and 39%, and IBD is associated, less frequently, with other rheumatic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren syndrome, Takayasu arteritis, and fibromyalgia. Although the pathogenesis of EA has not been plainly clarified, the most popular theory supposes that joint inflammation occurs in genetically predisposed subjects with bacterial gut infections, provided an important evidence for a possible relationship between inflammation of the gut mucosa and arthritis. The management of patients with EA requires an active cooperation between the gastroenterologist and rheumatologist.

Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for Crohn's disease, integrated with formal consensus of experts in Japan

Crohn's disease is a disorder of unknown etiology and complicated pathogenesis. A substantial amount of evidence has accumulated recently and has been applied to clinical practice. The present guidelines were developed based on recent evidence and the formal consensus of experts relevant to this disease. Here we provide an overview of these guidelines, as follows. Target disease: Crohn's disease Users: Clinical practitioners in internal medicine, surgery, gastroenterology, and general practice Purpose: To provide appropriate clinical indicators to practitioners Scope of clinical indicators: Concept of Crohn's disease, epidemiology, classifications, diagnosis, treatment, follow up, and special situations Intervention: Diagnosis (interview, physical examination, clinical laboratory tests, imaging, and pathology) and treatment (lifestyle guidance, drug therapy, nutritional therapy, surgery, etc.) Outcome assessment: Attenuation of symptoms, induction and maintenance of remission, imaging findings, quality of life (QOL), prevention of complications and harm of therapy Methods for developing these guidelines: Described in the text Basis of recommendations: Integration of evidence level and consensus of experts Cost-benefit analysis: Not implemented Evaluation of effectiveness: Yet to be confirmed Status of guidelines: Updated version of the first Guidelines published in 2010 Publication sources: Printed publication available and electronic information in preparation Patient information: Not available Date of publication: October 2011 These guidelines were intended primarily to be used by practitioners in Japan, and the goal of these guidelines is to improve the outcomes of patients with Crohn's disease.

Increased risk of colorectal cancer and dysplasia in patients with Crohn's colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis

BACKGROUND

Almost 10% of all patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis receive a diagnosis of Crohn's disease. Clinical characteristics and the risk of colon cancer or dysplasia in Crohn's disease and primary sclerosing cholangitis are less well examined than in ulcerative colitis.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and risk of colorectal dysplasia and cancer in Crohn's disease in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

DESIGN

This is a cohort study of all patients diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis and colorectal Crohn's disease at Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, 1978 to 2006. Each patient was matched for age and the onset of Crohn's disease to 2 controls with colorectal Crohn's disease without liver disease.

SETTING

This study was conducted at a tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS

Twenty-eight patients (61% male) with primary sclerosing cholangitis and Crohn's disease and 46 patients (50% male) with Crohn's disease alone were studied. Clinical and endoscopic data were retrieved from medical records. Colonic biopsies from patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis were re-reviewed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome measured was the proportion of patients developing colorectal cancer.

RESULTS

Colorectal cancer or dysplasia developed in 9 patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis and in 3 controls. Patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis were more likely to develop colorectal dysplasia or cancer than controls (OR 6.78; 95% CI (1.65-27.9); P = .016). In patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis compared with controls, perianal fistulas occurred in 3% vs 33% (P = .003), bowel strictures occurred in 7% vs 30% (P = .03), and bowel surgery was performed in 18% vs 46% (P = .01). Histological granulomas were seen in 29% of the patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis compared with 43% in controls (P = not significant).

LIMITATIONS

This study was limited by its retrospective nature and the limited cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a risk factor for the development of colorectal cancer and dysplasia in Crohn's disease. Obstructing disease and perianal fistulas are rare in primary sclerosing cholangitis and less common than in colonic Crohn's disease without liver disease.

Seronegative spondyloarthritis

Seronegative spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of inflammatory rheumatic diseases with common clinical and aetiological features, including axial and peripheral inflammatory arthritis, enthesitis, extra-articular manifestations and a close link to the presence of the human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 epitope. Ankylosing spondylitis is the most common of the SpA diseases, with prevalence in the Caucasian population ranging between 0.15% and 1.8%, generally higher in populations with a higher background prevalence of HLA-B27 positivity. Incidence has been estimated between 0.49 (Japan) and 10 (Norway) per 100,000. The prevalence of psoriatic arthritis ranges from 0.02% to 0.2%, and the incidence in the normal population is 7.2 per 100,000 per year. In patients with existing psoriasis, the prevalence of psoriatic arthritis rises to 6-42%. The prevalence of reactive arthritis is dependent on the background incidence of gastrointestinal or genitourinary infections; incidence has been described as up to 30-40 per 100,000. SpA symptoms are present in up to 50% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

[Extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel diseases and their management]

Extraintestinal manifestations of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are symptoms of varied organ injuries due to systemic inflammatory process. Bowel disease seems to be primary but upon genetic disposition disturbed immune regulation may result in inflammation of other organs that may appear simultaneously, precede bowel disease or follow it in the quiescent phase. As far as possible extraintestinal manifestations have to be distinguished from the complications of the intestinal inflammation and also from side effects of drugs for its treatment. Involvement of bones and joints, skin, eyes, liver and biliary tract is more common but disease of blood coagulation system, lung, kidneys and nervous system may also appear. Treatment of extraintestinal manifestations is influenced by their association with the activity of the bowel disease. Beyond some specific interventions, to achieve improvement of manifestations independent from activity long lasting anti-inflammatory therapy or immunomodulation is almost always needed. Clinical evidence of different levels from reports support the favorable effect of biologic therapy in different extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel diseases as well. Care and follow-up of patients is a multidisciplinary task.

Prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity in patients with spondyloarthropathies

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prevalence of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis or Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) in a group of patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA).

METHODS

We evaluated serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone, free triiodothyronine, and free thyroxine, and titers of antithyroglobulin and antithyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies in 357 consecutive patients with SpA. We also recruited 318 healthy age-matched controls. Ultrasonography of the thyroid gland was performed in all subjects and rheumatic activity was evaluated.

RESULTS

Indices of thyroid autoimmunity were significantly more frequent in patients with SpA than in controls (24.09% vs 10.69%, respectively; p < 0.05). In the SpA group, a higher prevalence of HT was found in patients with an active disease than in those with low-moderate disease levels. Also in the SpA group, patients with a disease duration > 2 years had a higher prevalence of HT and anti-TPO antibodies positivity than patients with a disease duration ≤ 2 years. Ultrasonography detected a significantly higher frequency of thyroid nodules and hypoechoic pattern in patients with SpA than in controls. Among patients with SpA, HT and anti-TPO antibodies positivity were significantly more frequent in patients with peripheral involvement (68.6%) than in patients with axial involvement (31.4%; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our study shows a significantly higher prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity in patients with SpA as compared to controls. Thyroiditis occurs more frequently in patients with longer disease duration and active rheumatic disease. We suggest that thyroid function tests be part of the clinical evaluation in patients with SpA.

The Genetic Basis of Spondyloarthritis: SPARTAN/IGAS 2009

A joint meeting was held in July 2009 in Houston, Texas, of members of the Spondyloarthritis Research and Therapy Network (SPARTAN), founded in 2003 to promote research, education, and treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and related forms of spondyloarthritis (SpA), and members of International Genetics of AS (IGAS), founded in 2003 to encourage and coordinate studies internationally in the genetics of AS. The general topic was the genetic basis of SpA, with presentations on the future of human genetic studies; microbes, SpA, and innate immunity; susceptibility of AS to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and non-MHC; and individual discussions of the genetics of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, uveitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and enteropathic arthritis. Summaries of those discussions are presented.

The genetics of NOD-like receptors in Crohn's disease

The first Crohn's disease (CD) susceptibility gene identified was CARD15, which is a member of the emerging NOD-like receptor (NLR) family. These function as intracellular cystosolic pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and play a central role in the innate immune response. We studied other members of the NLR family using a gene-wide haplotype tagging approach in a well-characterised collection of 547 CD patients and 465 controls. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in NLRP3 had P values < 0.05 and are in high linkage disequilibrium (LD) with each other (r(2) > 0.90 for all four SNPs). rs4925648 and rs10925019 were the most strongly associated with CD susceptibility (P = 0.001, odds ratio (OR) 1.62, 95% CI 1.2-2.18; and P = 6.5 x 10(-4), OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.23-2.19, respectively). rs1363758 located in NLRP11 was associated with CD susceptibility [P = 0.002 (1.64, 1.19-2.25)], which was weakly confirmed in an independent case-cohort collection on joint analysis [P = 0.05, (1.28, 1-1.64)]. On sub-phenotype analysis, an interesting association between NLRP1 and skin extra-intestinal manifestations and colonic, inflammatory CD was identified. None of these results was replicated in the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium study and therefore need replication in a further large cohort.

Extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease: epidemiology, diagnosis, and management

Abstract Extraintestinal manifestations occur rather frequently in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), e.g. ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). The present paper provides an overview of the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnostic process, and management of rheumatic, metabolic, dermatologic (mucocutaneous), ophthalmologic, hepatobiliary, hematologic, thromboembolic, urinary tract, pulmonary, and pancreatic extraintestinal manifestations related to IBD. Articles were identified through search of the PubMed and Embase databases, the Cochrane Library, and the web sites of the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (cut-off date October 2009). The search terms 'Crohn's disease', 'inflammatory bowel disease', or 'ulcerative colitis' were combined with the terms 'adalimumab', 'anemia', 'arthritis', 'bronchiectasis', 'bronchitis', 'cutaneous manifestations', 'erythema nodosum', 'extraintestinal manifestations', 'hyperhomocysteinemia', 'infliximab', 'iridocyclitis', 'lung disease', 'ocular manifestations', 'osteomalacia', 'pancreatitis', 'primary sclerosing cholangitis', 'renal stones', 'sulfasalazine', 'thromboembolism', and 'treatment'. The search was performed on English-language reviews, practical guidelines, letters, and editorials. Articles were selected based on their relevance, and additional papers were retrieved from their reference lists. Since some of the diseases discussed are uncommon, valid evidence of treatment was difficult to obtain, and epidemiologic data on the rarer forms of extraintestinal manifestations are scarce. However, updates on the pathophysiology and treatment regimens are given for each of these disorders. This paper offers a current review of original research papers and randomized clinical trials, if any, within the field and makes an attempt to point out practical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of various extraintestinal manifestations related to IBD.

Association of signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 genetic variants with extra-intestinal manifestations in inflammatory bowel disease

AIMS

The STAT4 gene encodes a transcription factor which plays an important role in the development of inflammation of many immune-mediated diseases. We investigated the relationship between STAT4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and susceptibility to ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) and disease phenotypes in the Korean population.

MAIN METHODS

We performed a case-control association study in individuals with UC (N=246), CD (N=182), and healthy controls (N=229).

KEY FINDINGS

We genotyped 8 STAT4 SNPs (rs11889341, rs7574865, rs8179673, rs6752770, rs925847, rs10168266, rs10181656, and rs11685878) in the STAT4 gene in patients and controls. SNP rs925847 in the STAT4 gene was significantly associated with susceptibility to UC (P=0.025; OR=0.63) in dominant genotype analysis, though none of these SNPs were associated with CD susceptibility. Moreover, a significant association was identified between SNP rs11889341 and joint involvement (P=0.040; OR=3.79), and between SNP rs925847 and eye involvement (P=0.030; OR=2.42) in UC patients. For CD, rs925847 genetic variant was associated with joint (P=0.029; OR=3.93) and perianal lesions (P=0.033; OR=2.27).

SIGNIFICANCE

Our data demonstrated that the STAT4 genetic variants could predispose an individual to IBD and its extra-intestinal ailments in Koreans, suggesting the common pathogenesis of IBD (especially, extra-intestinal manifestations) and other autoimmune diseases.

The future of molecular approaches to inflammatory bowel disease

Technological advances in genomics and transcriptomics have resulted in the introduction of molecular tests into the clinical arena. Despite established uses of such tests in the oncology field, their integration into the management of complex diseases has not been widely evaluated. Progress in the field of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) genetics has been rapid in recent years, and these advances have provided more urgent impetus to investigating the role of molecular tests in IBD. This article summarizes the current state of molecular testing available for IBD, and the potential utility of such tests as research in the area widens.

Rheumatic manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease

This article reviews the literature concerning rheumatic manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including common immune-mediated pathways, frequency, clinical course and therapy. Musculoskeletal complications are frequent and well-recognized manifestations in IBD, and affect up to 33% of patients with IBD. The strong link between the bowel and the osteo-articular system is suggested by many clinical and experimental observations, notably in HLA-B27 transgenic rats. The autoimmune pathogenic mechanisms shared by IBD and spondyloarthropathies include genetic susceptibility to abnormal antigen presentation, aberrant recognition of self, the presence of autoantibodies against specific antigens shared by the colon and other extra-colonic tissues, and increased intestinal permeability. The response against microorganisms may have an important role through molecular mimicry and other mechanisms. Rheumatic manifestations of IBD have been divided into peripheral arthritis, and axial involvement, including sacroiliitis, with or without spondylitis, similar to idiopathic ankylosing spondylitis. Other periarticular features can occur, including enthesopathy, tendonitis, clubbing, periostitis, and granulomatous lesions of joints and bones. Osteoporosis and osteomalacia secondary to IBD and iatrogenic complications can also occur. The management of the rheumatic manifestations of IBD consists of physical therapy in combination with local injection of corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; caution is in order however, because of their possible harmful effects on intestinal integrity, permeability, and even on gut inflammation. Sulfasalazine, methotrexate, azathioprine, cyclosporine and leflunomide should be used for selected indications. In some cases, tumor necrosis factor-α blocking agents should be considered as first-line therapy.

FcRL3 gene promoter variant is associated with peripheral arthritis in Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

The mechanisms responsible for the pathogenesis of peripheral arthropathies (PA) in Crohn's disease (CD) are largely unknown, although many studies indicate that genetic and environmental factors are likely to contribute to risk.

METHODS

Because variants in the Fc receptor-like 3 (FcRL3) gene have recently been associated with rheumatoid arthritis and several other autoimmune diseases, we tested 2 FcRL3 promoter variants (-169 C>T and -110 G>A) for association with PA in Spanish CD patients that were recruited from a single center and followed for at least 4 years (mean follow-up time, 11 years).

RESULTS

Among the 342 CD patients evaluated, there were 88 cases of peripheral arthropathy; 31 were classified as arthritis and 57 were classified as arthralgia. We used contingency tables and logistic regression to test for association between PA or either subtype and FcRL3 and other factors that have previously been associated with extraintestinal manifestations in CD.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that female sex, colonic involvement, and the AA genotype at -110 G>A were associated with increased risk of both subtypes of PA, although the association appears to be stronger for arthritis than for arthralgia.

Articular manifestations in inflammatory bowel disease patients: a prospective study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Rheumatic manifestations are frequent in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and are associated with a wide range of clinical patterns.

METHODS

Articular symptoms and signs were investigated by questionnaire in a cohort of 651 pts, mean age 42+/-14 years, followed at two referral hospitals over a 12-month period.

RESULTS

142 ulcerative colitis (UC) and 120 Crohn's disease (CD) patients referred articular pain during their IBD history: in 46% this was associated with active IBD, in 56% symptoms were intermittent and in 19% symptoms preceded IBD diagnosis. 62 pts (28 UC, 34 CD) complaining of articular symptoms at the time of the interview, were investigated by the rheumatologist: arthropathy was axial in 52%, oligoarticular in 16% and polyarticular in 23%. Oligoarthritis commonly involved the lower limbs and was more commonly associated with UC. The mean number of small joints involved was significantly higher in CD than in UC pts (9.9+/-8.2 vs. 5.6+/-4.3; p<0.01). Bone scintigraphy was abnormal in 70% of pts.

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalence of self-reported articular symptoms in IBD patients exceeds 40% with 9.5% incidence during 1-year follow up. Symptoms predict entheropatic involvement of the locomotor system.

Clinical features and epidemiology of spondyloarthritides associated with inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammation of axial and/or peripheral joints is one of the most frequent extra-intestinal manifestations complicating the clinical course and therapeutic approach in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The frequency of these complications seems to be similar for both diseases, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Arthritis associated with IBD belongs to the category of spondyloarthropathies. Axial involvement ranges from isolated inflammatory back pain to ankylosing spondylitis, whereas peripheral arthritis is noted in pauciarticular and in polyarticular disease. Asymptomatic radiological involvement of the sacroiliac joints is reported to occur in up to 50% of patients. Other musculoskeletal manifestations such as buttock pain, dactylitis, calcaneal enthesitis, and thoracic pain are frequently underdiagnosed and, consequently, are not treated appropriately. Several diagnostic approaches and criteria have been proposed over the past 40 years in an attempt to correctly classify and diagnose such manifestations. The correct recognition of spondylarthropathies needs an integrated multidisciplinary approach in order to identify common therapeutic strategies, especially in the era of the new biologic therapies.

Familial cases of glomerulonephritis complicating Crohn's disease

A part from nephrolithiasis, renal involvement is rare in the course of Crohn's disease, particularly glomerulonephritis. On the other hand, while onset of Crohn's disease is strongly influenced by environmental and genetic factors, little is known regarding influence of these factors on extra intestinal manifestations. We report a familial case of glomerulonephritis that occurred in a 38-year old woman and her mother, 59 years old with a 7-year and a 37 year history of stenosing ileocolonic disease, respectively. Both of them developed peripheral oedema with nephrotic syndrome during the course of their Crohn's disease while they had no intestinal symptoms and were not receiving any maintenance therapy. Renal function was conserved in the former while the latter developed renal failure and had already small size kidneys on abdominal sonography. Thus, renal biopsy had been performed only in the former patient and had showed membranous glomerulonephritis. Investigations showed no other underlying disease than Crohn's disease. Through this report we emphasis possible genetic influence on extra intestinal manifestations, particularly glomerulonephritis, in Crohn's disease patients.

Clinical features and epidemiology of spondyloarthritides associated with inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammation of axial and/or peripheral joints is one of the most frequent extra-intestinal manifestations complicating the clinical course and therapeutic approach in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The frequency of these complications seems to be similar for both diseases, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Arthritis associated with IBD belongs to the category of spondyloarthropathies. Axial involvement ranges from isolated inflammatory back pain to ankylosing spondylitis, whereas peripheral arthritis is noted in pauciarticular and in polyarticular disease. Asymptomatic radiological involvement of the sacroiliac joints is reported to occur in up to 50% of patients. Other musculoskeletal manifestations such as buttock pain, dactylitis, calcaneal enthesitis, and thoracic pain are frequently underdiagnosed and, consequently, are not treated appropriately. Several diagnostic approaches and criteria have been proposed over the past 40 years in an attempt to correctly classify and diagnose such manifestations. The correct recognition of spondylarthropathies needs an integrated multidisciplinary approach in order to identify common therapeutic strategies, especially in the era of the new biologic therapies.

Enteropathic spondyloarthropathy: A common genetic background with inflammatory bowel disease?

The association between spondyloarthropathy and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is largely established, although prevalence is variable because of different population selection and diagnostic methodologies. Most studies indicate that as many as 10%-15% of cases of IBD are complicated by ankylosing spondylitis (AS) or other forms of spondylarthritis (SpA). Of note, ileal inflammation resembling IBD has been reported in up to two thirds of cases of SpA, and it has been suggested that the presence of ileitis is associated with the chronicity of articular complications. Although this observation is of interest to unravel the pathophysiology of the disease, systematic screening of patients with SpA by ileocolonoscopy is not indicated in the absence of gut symptoms, as only a small proportion of patients with subclinical gut inflammation will develop overt IBD over time. The existence of familial clustering of both IBD and AS, the coexistence of both conditions in a patient, the evidence of an increased risk ratio among first- and second-degree relatives of affected AS or IBD patients and finally, the increased cross-risk ratios between AS and IBD, strongly suggest a shared genetic background. So far, however, IL23R is the only identified susceptibility gene shared by both IBD and AS. Although functional studies are still needed to better understand its pathogenic role, great effort is being spent therapeutically targeting this pathway that may prove effective for both disorders.

Immunogenetics of drug-induced skin blistering disorders. Part II: Synthesis

The overall immunopathogenesis relevant to a large series of disorders caused by a drug or its associated hyperimmune condition is discussed based upon examining the genetics of severe drug-induced bullous skin problems (sporadic idiosyncratic adverse events including Stevens–Johnson syndrome and Toxic epidermal necrolysis). New results from an exemplar study on shared precipitating and perpetuating inner causes with other related disease phenotypes including aphtous stomatitis, Behçets, erythema multiforme, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, pemphigus, periodic fevers, Sweet’s syndrome and drug-induced multisystem hypersensitivity are presented. A call for a collaborative, wider demographic profiling and deeper immunotyping in suggested future work is made.

Extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease

The idiopathic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, may be complicated by extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) in up to 40% of patients. Reports suggest that almost every organ system may be affected. The EIMs are a significant cause of morbidity and may be particularly distressing for the patient. Recent attempts have been made to define the phenotype of IBD in patients of different ethnicities. These studies have highlighted potential racial variations in the prevalence of specific EIMs, findings that are perhaps not surprising given the influence of genetic factors in their pathogenesis. Certain EIMs are related to the activity of the bowel disease, and their management often involves careful monitoring while the IBD is brought under control. Other EIMs, however, typically run a course independent of the IBD activity, and specific, targeted treatments may be required, even including biologic agents such as infliximab.

HLA and autoimmune digestive disease: a clinically oriented review for gastroenterologists

OBJECTIVES

The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system includes genes involved in graft-vs-host rejection and in immune response. The discovery that HLAs are associated with several diseases led to appealing developments both in basic biomedical research and in clinical medicine, and offered the opportunity to improve the understanding of pathogenesis and classification of diseases, as well as to provide diagnostic and prognostic indicators. The aim of this article is to review the association between HLA alleles and autoimmune digestive disease and its current relationship with modern HLA nomenclature and clinical practice.

METHODS

Articles dealing with the association between HLAs and autoimmune digestive disease (including celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune hepatitis, sclerosing cholangitis and primary biliary cirrhosis) were searched for using Pubmed and SCOPUS databases from earliest records to January 2008.

RESULTS

The review has provided two sections. In the first, we explain the basic principles of HLA structure, function, and nomenclature, as an introduction to the second section, which describes current associations between HLA alleles and digestive diseases. The clinical implications of each HLA association are critically discussed. Actually, a clinical role for HLA typing is suggested for only a few conditions, e.g., celiac disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The knowledge of current HLA nomenclature and of its association with some digestive diseases such as celiac disease can be useful in clinical practice for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. This can avoid improper HLA typing as well as stressing the need for further studies on other possible clinical applications.

Clinical and molecular characteristics of isolated colonic Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

Clinical, serological, and molecular data support the existence of discrete subsets of Crohn's disease (CD) defined by location of disease. Little is known about the epidemiology and natural history of isolated CD of the colon (Montreal Classification L2) because most studies have not accurately distinguished it from ileocolonic disease. Our objectives were to describe the clinical features and natural history of isolated colonic CD in a rigorously characterized patient cohort and to investigate the association of polymorphisms in a number of genes with colonic location of disease and disease behavior.

METHODS

Patients with L2 disease were identified from a database of 675 CD patients. Only patients with a normal small bowel enema (70%), ileoscopy alone (30%), or both (20%) were included. Genotyping was performed using PCR-SSP or the iPLEX platform.

RESULTS

In all, 135 patients were classified with L2 disease. L2 disease was more common in women (74.0% versus 58.0%; P = 0.0004; odds ratio [OR] = 2.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.36-3.26) and in never smokers (48.9% versus 36.9%; P = 0.008; OR = 1.64, 95% CI 1.09-2.45); 20.7% underwent colonic resection for severe disease. We confirmed that carriage of the HLA-DRB1*0103 allele is strongly associated with isolated colonic CD (14.9% versus 4.0%; P = 0.000016; OR 4.6, 95% CI 2.25-9.47) and report the novel association of this allele with time to first surgical event (log rank P = 0.001). There was no association with any of the known CD susceptibility loci (NOD2, IBD5, NOD1, IL23R, ATG16L1) and isolated colonic CD. A nonsynonymous polymorphism in MEKK1 (rs832582) was associated with CD susceptibility overall (15% versus 19%; P = 0.0083; OR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.07-1.54). The association was strongest in those patients not carrying a NOD2 mutation and had no effect on disease location.

CONCLUSIONS

This study describes the clinical features of isolated colonic CD and demonstrates the importance of the HLA region in determining the molecular basis of colonic inflammation.

Indications and challenges of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics in the management of arthralgias and spondyloarthropathies in inflammatory bowel disease

Arthralgia and spondyloarthropathy of the peripheral and the axial joints are common in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. Evidence for this association has been provided by clinical, epidemiologic, and immunologic studies confirming the presence of shared inflammatory pathways in gut and joint. Bacterial gut infections such as Salmonella typhimurium, Yersinia enterocolitica, Shigella, Campylobacter jejuni may induce reactive peripheral arthritis and 20% of these patients may develop chronic spondyloarthropathy. It is not certain that arthralgias in inflammatory bowel diseases are more frequent than in the general population but clinical articular manifestations compatible with spondyloarthropathy are present in 10% to 40% of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. These enteropathic peripheral arthropathies without axial involvement are subdivided into a pauciarticular of large joints and a bilateral symmetrical polyarthropathy. The rationale and the challenges of using prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics in the management of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases with arthralgias and spondyloarthropathy are briefly reviewed. The rationale is based on the modulation of the ubiquitous intestinal flora by bacteria and their products that have been proven to be safe. The challenge is to find the "window of opportunity" to treat the evolutionary stage of joint inflammation. It seems to us that the major aim is not to treat patients who have a self-limited inflammatory joint disorder, but those patients with persistent arthralgias in an early phase of the disease. Seronegative and seropositive patients with early arthritis, before damage may occur, could be managed by this approach to improve the quality of life and to positively influence the natural course of the disease.

HLA-DRB1 alleles influence clinical phenotypes in Japanese patients with ulcerative colitis

The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region has been implicated in the disease susceptibility of inflammatory bowel disease by several linkage and association studies. In Caucasians, HLA-DRB1 has been reported to determine the clinical phenotypes of ulcerative colitis (UC). Others and we previously reported that HLA-DRB1*1502 was strongly associated with UC in the Japanese population. However, the contribution of HLA-DRB1 to the clinical phenotypes in Japanese UC has not been elucidated yet. The aim of this study was to determine whether HLA-DRB1 alleles were associated with the clinical phenotypes in Japanese patients with UC. A total of 353 patients with UC were recruited. Patients were classified into subgroups by sex, age at diagnosis, disease extent, need for steroid therapy or need for surgical treatment. The allele frequency of HLA-DRB1*08 was significantly higher in patients whose disease extended beyond the rectum (left-sided and extensive UC) than in those with proctitis [odds ratio (OR)=2.20, Pc=0.043). The allele frequency of HLA-DRB1*09 was significantly higher in patients with UC diagnosed at the age of 40 years or older than in those with UC diagnosed before the age of 40 years (OR=2.31, Pc=0.022). Besides these positive associations, no significant differences were found in the allele frequencies between the other subgroups. We conclude that HLA-DRB1*09 is associated with the age at diagnosis and HLA-DRB1*08 is associated with the disease extent of UC in Japanese. These results indicate that HLA-DRB1 is not only associated with the overall UC susceptibility but also associated with the clinical phenotypes in Japanese.

1007fs, G908R, R702W mutations and P268S, IVS8+158 polymorphisms of the CARD15 gene in Turkish inflammatory bowel disease patients and their relationship with disease-related surgery

INTRODUCTION

CARD15 gene mutations may present different frequencies in populations and sometimes surgical interventions may become a necessary therapy for inflammatory bowel disease patients. Mutations of 1007fs, G908R, R702W and polymorphisms of P268S, IVS8+158 of the CARD15 gene and their relation with disease-related surgery were investigated in Turkish inflammatory bowel disease patients in this study.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

1007fs, G908R, R702W mutations and P268S, IVS8+158 polymorphisms of CARD15 gene were analyzed in 130 inflammatory bowel disease patients (67 Crohn's disease, 63 ulcerative colitis) and 87 healthy controls. After obtaining DNA samples, genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. Results were evaluated by statistical analysis and accepted as significant if P < 0.05.

RESULTS

R702W gene mutation was significantly lower in the inflammatory bowel disease group (1.5%) than the controls (4.8%) (P < 0.05). The overall allele frequency of mutations in the inflammatory bowel disease group (2.7%) was lower than in controls (6.6%) (P < 0.05). Disease-related surgery history was present in 20 Crohn's and 25 ulcerative colitis patients; familial history was present in four Crohn's and five ulcerative colitis patients. Statistically, no relationship was detected between disease-related surgeries and the investigated genetic tests.

CONCLUSION

In Turkish patients, no important relationship was detected between the investigated allele frequencies of the CARD15 gene and inflammatory bowel disease nor between disease-related surgeries and inflammatory bowel disease.

Clinical manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease: East and West differences

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is very common in developed countries, while it is relatively uncommon in Asian countries. However, the incidence of IBD has been increasing in some Asian countries in recent years. Most cases of ulcerative colitis (UC) in Asia are of the chronic relapsing type, run a milder course, and the fulminant type is rarely seen. There is no difference in clinical manifestations between Asian and developed countries. The incidence of Crohn's Disease (CD) is mainly in males in Asia, while it is mainly in females in developed countries. The clinical manifestations of CD are similar between both sets of countries. In China there are less fistulae and perianal diseases, and extraintestinal manifestations of CD are uncommon. In China, 5.6% of patients with UC have a family history, which is lower than 10-20% in developed countries. NOD2/CARD15 variants in the locus of 16q112 (IBD1) are significantly associated with the susceptibility of CD in developed countries, but NOD2/CARD15 variants have not been found in Asian CD patients.

The ocular manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to present the literature on the ocular complications of inflammatory bowel disease, their pathogenesis, manifestation and treatment options. In particular, the literature pertaining to recently available treatments will be reviewed.

RECENT FINDINGS

Although the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease remains incompletely understood, treatment options for ocular and systemic disease have expanded with the introduction of newer steroid-sparing agents such as mycophenolate mofetil and a new class of immunomodulatory agents targeting cytokines, in particular infliximab, a monoclonal antibody directed against tumour necrosis factor-alpha.

SUMMARY

That inflammatory bowel disease can have ocular manifestations has been known for over 80 years. Knowing of their occurrence and treatment options enables the treating clinician to recognize their cause and treat them appropriately.

Molecular pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease: genotypes, phenotypes and personalized medicine

Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), also known as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), are characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. IBD is among the few complex diseases for which several genomic regions and specific genes have been identified and confirmed in multiple replication studies. We will review the different loci implicated in disease risk in the context of three proposed mechanisms leading to chronic inflammation of the gut mucosa: 1) deregulation of the innate immune response to enteric microflora or pathogens; 2) increased permeability across the epithelial barrier; and 3) defective regulation of the adaptive immune system. As our knowledge of genetic variation, analytical approaches and technology improves, additional genetic risk factors are expected to be identified. With the identification of novel risk variants, additional pathophysiological mechanisms are likely to emerge. The resulting discoveries will further our molecular understanding of IBD, potentially leading to improved disease classification and rational drug design. Moreover, these approaches and tools can be applied in the context of variable drug response with the goal of providing more personalized clinical management of patients with IBD.

Concepts and epidemiology of spondyloarthritis

The term 'spondyloarthritides' (SpA) comprises ankylosing spondylitis (AS), reactive arthritis, arthritis/spondylitis with inflammatory bowel disease, and arthritis/spondylitis with psoriasis. The main links between these diseases are an association with HLA-B27 and a similar clinical picture. Patients normally present with chronic low back pain or asymmetrical arthritis, predominantly of the lower limbs, and an overlap of these symptoms often occurs. AS is regarded as the most severe subtype. Recent attention has focused on earlier diagnosis of AS among patients with chronic low back, and this is becoming more important as effective therapies for early treatment have become available. AS is a disease of young people, normally starting in the third decade of life. The incidence and prevalence rates of AS, and of SpA as a whole, are strongly dependent and are directly correlated to the prevalence of HLA-B27 in a given population. Incidence rates of 0.5-8.2/100 000 population and prevalence rates of 0.2-1.2% have been described for AS, and about double these figures have been reported for SpA.

Review article: genetic susceptibility and application of genetic testing in clinical management of inflammatory bowel disease

The volume of research undertaken on the genetic susceptibility of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been tremendous, and over 10 chromosomal regions have been identified by genome-wide scanning. Fine-mapping approaches and candidate gene studies have already led to the identification of several susceptibility genes, including CARD15 (NOD2), DLG5, novel organic cation transporter (OCTN) 1 and 2, and CARD4 (NOD1). The CARD15 gene is the most understood at present and explains around 20% of the genetic predisposition to Crohn's disease. Although the clinical implications of genetic testing are limited at present, genetic research has advanced our understanding of the clinical heterogeneity and the complex interactions between genetic and environmental risk factors in IBD. Genes also interfere with the metabolism of drugs and may influence the clinical response and drug-related toxicity. Ultimately, researchers and clinicians aim to personalize medicine based on a patient's genotype, although azathioprine (thiopurine methyltransferase polymorphisms) is the only drug to date where pharmacogenetics has shown clinical relevance in IBD. In the future, it is anticipated that genetic markers will be implemented in an integrated molecular diagnostic and prognostic approach to managing our patients.

Extraintestinal manifestations and complications in inflammatory bowel diseases

Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) that often involve organs other than those of the gastrointestinal tract. These nonintestinal affections are termed extraintestinal symptoms. Differentiating the true extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel diseases from secondary extraintestinal complications, caused by malnutrition, chronic inflammation or side effects of therapy, may be difficult. This review concentrates on frequency, clinical presentation and therapeutic implications of extraintestinal symptoms in inflammatory bowel diseases. If possible, extraintestinal manifestations are differentiated from extraintestinal complications. Special attention is given to the more recently described sites of involvement; i.e. thromboembolic events, osteoporosis, pulmonary involvement and affection of the central nervous system.

Contribution of genetics to a new vision in the understanding of inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are chronic inflammatory autoimmune conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. Other organs, such as the eyes, skin and articulations, are often affected and IBD may be accompanied by other diseases of autoimmune origin. There is no single etiological factor responsible for the onset of IBD. Recent advances in genetics and in the molecular mechanisms of the proteins coded by these genes have given rise to a new vision in understanding these complex diseases. Activation of specific genes that affect antigen presentation and the handling of cells by innate immunity may lead to autoimmunity with the consequent activation of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and multiple cytokines involved in the regulation of acquired immunity. In this review IBD is described as a constellation of diseases that can best be classified as barrier diseases. This vision, developed by Kiel in Germany, includes the idea that changes in our environment due to the westernization of civilization have not been met with adaptation of the innate immune system, and this has given rise to autoimmune diseases. These diseases affect 1-5 of 1000 individuals and represent a major burden on the national health systems of many countries on different continents. On a world scale, a major challenge is to generate interventions to prevent the development of these diseases in Asia, Latin America and Africa.

Extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel diseases

Inflammatory bowel diseases are associated with extraintestinal manifestations involving almost every organ system in the body. They occur in approximately 20% to 40% of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. Immune-related and genetic mechanisms play an important role in the pathogenesis of these complications. Peripheral arthritis, erythema nodosum, and episcleritis respond to the treatment of the underlying intestinal inflammation, whereas axial arthropathy, pyoderma gangrenosum, and uveitis do not. Immunomodulator therapy, particularly with biologic agents has been shown to be effective in treating some of the extraintestinal manifestations. Early recognition and treatment are crucial in preventing major morbidity.

Genetics of inflammatory bowel disease: The role of the HLA complex

The human leucocyte antigen (HLA) complex on chromosome 6p21.3 is the most extensively studied genetic region in Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Consistent evidence of linkage to IBD3 (6p21.1-23), an area which encompasses the HLA complex, has been demonstrated for both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and a number of replicated associations with disease susceptibility and phenotype have recently emerged. However, despite these efforts the HLA susceptibility gene (s) for IBD remain elusive, a consequence of strong linkage disequilibrium, extensive polymorphism and high gene density across this region. This article reviews current knowledge of the role of HLA complex genes in IBD susceptibility and phenotype, and discusses the factors currently limiting the translation of this knowledge to clinical practice.

New genes in inflammatory bowel disease: lessons for complex diseases?

The chronic inflammatory bowel diseases Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are common causes of gastrointestinal disease in northern Europe, affecting as many as one in 250 people. Although mortality is low, morbidity associated with these diseases is substantial. We review the recent advances in the genetics of inflammatory bowel disease, with particular emphasis on the data that have been generated since the discovery of the CARD15 (NOD2) gene in 2001.

Genetic markers linked to rheumatoid arthritis are also strongly associated with articular manifestations in ulcerative colitis patients

Ulcerative colitis is often accompanied by the development of extraintestinal, mainly articular, manifestations. Genetic differences could be underlying that clinical heterogeneity. We performed a case-control study to determine whether TNFab microsatellites or HLA-DR alleles were associated with the development of articular manifestations in patients with ulcerative colitis. With that aim, a total of 84 ulcerative colitis patients with articular manifestations and 172 without them were genotyped for TNFab microsatellites and HLA-DR. A healthy control sample (n = 595) was also included for comparative purposes. Haplotypes were inferred with the Arlequin software. The influence of HLA-DRB1*0103 and HLA-B27, factors previously known to be associated with extraintestinal manifestations, was specifically addressed. We observed that TNFa6b5 minihaplotype increases the susceptibility to developing articular manifestations in ulcerative colitis patients (p = 0.003, OR = 2.39). The locus HLA-DR does not appear to be involved in these extraintestinal manifestations by itself; however, the frequency of subjects carrying TNFa6b5 in combination with DR1, DR7, or DR11 is very significantly increased in patients with articular manifestations (p = 3.9 x 10(-8)). The associations found were independent of DRB1*0103 and HLA-B27. Thus, it seems that the development of articular manifestations in ulcerative colitis patients appears to be influenced by some genetic factor(s) present in some major histocompatibility complex haplotypes.

Current concept on the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease-crosstalk between genetic and microbial factors: Pathogenic bacteria and altered bacterial sensing or changes in mucosal integrity take “toll”

The pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is only partially understood. Various environmental and host (e.g. genetic-, epithelial-, immune and non-immune) factors are involved. It is a multifactorial polygenic disease with probable genetic heterogeneity. Some genes are associated with IBD itself, while others increase the risk of ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn’s disease (CD) or are associated with disease location and/or behaviour. This review addresses recent advances in the genetics of IBD. The article discusses the current information on the crosstalk between microbial and genetic factors (e.g. NOD2/CARD15, SLC22A46A5 and DLG5). The genetic data acquired in recent years help in understanding the pathogenesis of IBD and can identify a number of potential targets for therapeutic intervention. In the future, genetics may help more accurately diagnose and predict disease course in IBD.

Current status of genetics research in inflammatory bowel disease

The research on genetic susceptibility of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) has been tremendous and over 10 chromosomal regions have been identified by genome-wide scanning. Further fine mapping as well as candidate gene studies have already led to the identification of a number of susceptibility genes including CARD15, DLG5, OCTN1 and 2, NOD1, HLA, and TLR4. The CARD15 gene is undoubtedly replicated most widely and most understood at present. CARD15 is involved in the recognition of bacterial peptidoglycan-derived muramyl dipeptide (MDP) and will stimulate secretion of antimicrobial peptides including alpha-defensins (also called cryptdins) to protect the host from invasion. Genetic research in IBD has advanced our understanding of the clinical heterogeneity of the disease and has started to tackle the complex interactions between genetic risk factors and environmental risk factors in IBD. Genes also interfere with the metabolization of drugs and may influence the clinical response and the drug-related toxicity. Interesting pharmacogenetic data with respect to steroids, azathioprine, and infliximab have been generated in IBD. Overall, it is anticipated that genetic markers in the future will be implemented in an integrated molecular diagnostic and prognostic approach of our patients.

Infliximab in the treatment of extra-intestinal manifestations of Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

Crohn's disease (CD) is frequently associated with extra-intestinal manifestations (EIMs) and infliximab has been recently proposed for the treatment of CD with EIMs. Our aim was to evaluate the short-term efficacy of infliximab in this treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty CD patients were treated with infliximab. Fifteen patients (50%) showed EIMs before starting therapy. Ten patients presented an arthritis (five sacroiliitis, five spondylitis), with six also reporting peripheral arthralgias. Four patients presented cutaneous EIMs while three patients had an ocular EIM.

RESULTS

At week 10, all patients reported an improvement in EIMs. Regarding arthritis, ASAS20 and ASAS40 improvement was observed in 80% and 60% of patients, respectively. In the four patients with cutaneous EIMs and in the three with ocular EIMs, complete healing was observed. Recurrence was observed in 10 out of 15 patients (66%) and a second course of treatment with infliximab was required. This proved to be effective in all cases except for one patient who stopped treatment because of a severe adverse reaction.

CONCLUSIONS

Infliximab is an effective drug in the short-term treatment of EIMs complicating CD. Although relapse of EIMs occurs frequently, retreatment ensures effective control of the symptoms.