Characteristics of inflammatory bowel disease in patients of Roma/Gypsy ethnicity. A case-control study.
Dig Liver Dis 2019;
51:669-674. [PMID:
30606697 DOI:
10.1016/j.dld.2018.12.004]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 12/08/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Peculiarities of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have been explored in ethnic groups, such as Asians, Hispanics, and Afro-Americans, but not in other ethnic minorities, such as Roma/Gypsies.
METHODS
In a retrospective, hospital-based study, all adult Roma/Gypsy patients included in the IBD databases of seven Spanish centres were identified as cases. For each Roma/Gypsy patient, a Caucasian patient, matched for several demographic features, was searched as a control. Data on phenotypic features, therapeutic requirements, and familial aggregation were recorded.
RESULTS
Sixty-eight Roma/Gypsy patients were identified, 29 of them being women. The mean age at diagnosis of IBD was 24.9±9.5years, and the mean time elapsed since diagnosis was 96.6±72.2months. Roma/Gypsy IBD patients showed a significantly higher rate of familial aggregation (43%) than their Caucasian controls (9%) (p=0.00001). CD in Roma/Gypsies had more often a complicated pattern (mainly penetrating) while UC patients showed a marked trend to more often developing extraintestinal manifestations. In addition, Roma/Gypsy IBD patients had a somewhat greater need for immunosuppressants, biological agents or surgery.
CONCLUSIONS
These are the first data on IBD in Roma/Gypsy patients. Familial aggregation is the most prominent feature in these patients, suggesting a predominant role of genetics in its pathogenesis.
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