The factor V Leiden mutation increases the risk of venous thrombosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Cerebrovascular Events in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Review of Published Cases

Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) is a multisystem disorder characterized by intestinal and extraintestinal manifestations and complications. Cerebrovascular events (CVE) are rare extraintestinal complications in patients with PIBD. Statistics show that 3.3% patients with PIBD and 1.3-6.4% adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) experience CVE during the course of the disease. Therefore, this study aimed to review the records of children with IBD who developed CVE during the course of the disease. We retrospectively reviewed 62 cases of PIBD complicated by CVE. The mean patient age at the time of thrombotic events was 12.48±4.13 years. The incidence of ulcerative colitis was significantly higher than that of Crohn's disease (43 [70.5%] vs. 13 [21.3%] patients). Most patients (87.93%) were in the active phase of IBD at the time of CVE. The mean time interval between the onset of IBD and CVE was 20.84 weeks. Overall, 11 (26.83%) patients showed neurological symptoms of CVE at disease onset. The most frequent symptom on admission was persistent and severe headaches (67.85%). The most common site of cerebral venous thrombosis was the transverse sinuses (n=23, 53.48%). The right middle cerebral artery (n=3, 33.34%) was the predominant site of cerebral arterial infarction. Overall, 41 (69.49%) patients who were mostly administered unfractionated heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin (56.09%) recovered completely. Patients with IBD are at a risk of thromboembolism. CVE may be the most common type of thromboembolism. Based on these findings, the most common risk factor for CVE is IBD flares. In patients with CVE, anticoagulant therapy with heparin, followed by warfarin, is necessary.

Thromboembolic events in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease) is characterized by a chronic inflammatory condition, and is accompanied by abnormalities in coagulation and a hyper-coagulable state. This study was conducted to examine the risk factors for developing Thromboembolic Events in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in a population with prevalent consanguinity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with a definitive diagnosis of IBD who were seen in the gastroenterology clinic of King Khalid University Hospital (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) from 2010- to 2012, were asked to participate in this prospective cohort study, and were followed for one 1 year. Data was collected using specifically designed case report forms (CRF) by trained research personnel.

RESULTS

A total of 100 Saudi patients with IBD were studied. There were 51 (51%) women and the mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of the group was 31.24 ± 10.78 years. Those with Crohn's disease constituted 72% of the patients, and 28% had ulcerative colitis. Eight patients (8%) had at least one Thrombotic Event ([six deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and two pulmonary embolism (PE)]. Family history of deep venous thrombosis was present in 5%, and family history of pulmonary embolism (PE) in 4% of the patients. After adjusting for age and gender, a family history of Thrombotic event was identified as to be the only statistically significant predictor of thrombosis in IBD patients (RR = 9.22, 95% CI: 2.10--40.43).

CONCLUSION

In a population with high consanguinity, Thromboembolic events (DVT and PE) had a prevalence of 8% among IBD patients, positive family history of pulmonary embolism was a predictor of thrombosis. Further studies are needed to explore the role of genetic factors in this population.

Low incidence of venous thromboembolism in inflammatory bowel diseases: prevalence and predictors from a population-based inception cohort

OBJECTIVE

Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are considered to have an increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). The aim of the present study was to analyze the incidence and risk factors of VTE in a population-based inception cohort in the Veszprem province database between 1977 and 2012.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 1708 incepted IBD patients were included (male/female: 879/829; CD (Crohn's disease): 648, age at onset: 29, interquartile range (IQR): 22-39; UC (ulcerative colitis): 1060, age at onset: 36, IQR: 26-50 years). Both in- and outpatient records were collected and comprehensively reviewed and followed up for a total of 21,369 patient-years.

RESULTS

Twenty-two VTE events were identified in 19 patients (6 events in 5 CD and 16 in 14 UC patients). The incidence rate of VTE in IBD was 1.03 per 1000 patient-years. The risk of VTE in UC was associated with extensive location (odds ratio (OR): 3.25, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13-9.35), presence of fulminant episode during the disease course (OR: 4.15, 95% CI: 1.28-13.5), smoking (OR: 3.46, 95% CI: 1.14-10.5), and need for steroids (OR: 2.97, 95% CI: 0.99-8.92).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of VTE was lower than previously reported. The incidence was higher in males and in UC it was associated with extensive disease, fulminant episodes, corticosteroids-requiring disease and smoking, but not with age at onset.

A distinct pattern of disease-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms in IBD risk genes in a family with Crohn's disease

Recent studies have identified more than 160 inflammatory bowel disease susceptibility loci and provided evidence for genetic heritability in disease pathogenesis. Here we describe a case of a 47-year-old White woman suffering from Crohn's disease (CD), who had four children, two with CD and two with a factor V Leiden variation. We analysed the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms in several CD susceptibility genes. SNP analysis was carried out using commercially available assays. The female CD patient had a positive inflammatory bowel disease family history. All of the patients had a mild disease course, without fistulae or symptomatic stenosis. The patient was heterozygous for risk variants of the genes encoding nucleotide oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2) and Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) and a homozygous carrier of both of the identified protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor type 2 (PTPN2) risk alleles. The CD-affected daughter carried heterozygous risk alleles of the genes encoding TLR5, NOD2 and PTPN2. The son, with the earliest onset of disease in the family at the age of 12 years, was heterozygous for risk alleles of autophagy 16 like 1 (ATG16L1), TLR5, NOD2 and PTPN2. This study reports an interesting pattern of CD-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms in a family with CD. This report clearly supports the observation that genetic variations, especially in genes associated with the innate immune system, contribute to disease onset.

Cerebral sinus venous thrombosis in inflammatory bowel diseases

BACKGROUND

It has been estimated that 1.3-6.4% of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are complicated by cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) at some point of time during the course of their disease.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed and subsequently analyzed data from 65 case reports of IBD patients with CVT. Our sources included MEDLINE and EMBASE, and the references of retrieved articles were also screened.

RESULTS

Patients with CVT and IBD were significantly younger than CVT patients without IBD. Female patients were complicated more frequently but at an older age when compared with males. The incidence of ulcerative colitis was almost double compared with Crohn's disease. Active disease was detected in 78.4% of the cases and the proportions of patients with active ulcerative colitis or active Crohn's disease were almost equal. The predominant neurological symptom in these patients was persistent headache (80%) and the most common site of CVT was the superior sagittal sinus (50.7%). Severe iron deficiency anemia was highlighted as a significant risk factor for thrombosis in nearly half of the patients. Transient coagulation abnormalities and hereditary thrombogenic mutations were identified in 23 and 20% of the case reports, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The overall outcome was very good, especially in those patients who were treated acutely with heparin or low molecular weight heparin, suggesting that heparin administration is related with improved neurological outcome and decreased mortality rates even in IBD patients complicated with CVT.

Inflammatory bowel disease and thrombosis

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a group of chronic and relapsing inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinalsystem. In these cases, findings are detected in extraintestinal systems also. There is a tendency for thrombotic eventsin IBD, as in the other inflammatory processes. The pathogenesis of this thrombotic tendency is multidimensional,including lack of natural anticoagulants, prothrombotic media induced via the inflammatory process, long-termsedentary life style, steroid use, surgery, and catheter placement. The aim of this review was to highlight the positiverelationship between IBD and thrombotic events, and the proper treatment of at-risk patients.

Factor V Leiden and inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Recent studies proved that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients had a higher risk of thromboembolism and a Factor V Leiden mutation that prevents the efficient inactivation of factor V, which leads to thromboembolism and thus contributes to a high potential risk of IBD. However, the relationship between Factor V Leiden mutation and IBD remains controversial.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis of studies assessing the association of Factor V Leiden mutation with the risk of IBD in humans. We extracted the number of IBD and control subjects with or without Factor V Leiden mutation from each study and conducted this analysis using a fixed-effects model.

RESULTS

Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. No significant heterogeneity was found in results across the 19 studies (I (2) = 18.8%, P = 0.23), which showed a slight but not significant increase in the risk of IBD with Factor V Leiden mutation in the general population (summary odds ratio [OR] 1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87-1.46). Taking into account ethnic differences, further study exhibited a slight but not significant increase in risk of IBD with Factor V Leiden mutation in Europeans (summary OR 1.20, 95% CI 0.88-1.64). However, Factor V Leiden mutation was significantly associated with a higher risk of thromboembolism in IBD patients (summary OR 5.30, 95% CI 2.25-12.48). No publication bias was found in this study.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis indicated that although Factor V Leiden mutation was not significantly associated with the risk of IBD, it was significantly associated with a higher risk of thromboembolism in IBD patients.

Factor V Leiden and thrombosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Testing for genetic risks of Factor V Leiden ( FVL ) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients with thromboembolism (TE) is common, but the safety and utility of such testing need review.

AIM

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the FVL polymorphisms would be one inherited prothrombotic risk factor that could significantly increase the risk of thrombosis in patients with IBD.

METHODS

We performed an electronic databases search to identify published studies correlating the FVL mutations with four populations including one IBD group with TE complications, one control IBD group without TE complications, one control non-IBD group with TE complications and another healthy control (HC) group. Statistical analysis was performed with Review Manager (RevMan) 5.0. Sub-analysis/sensitivity analysis was also performed.

RESULTS

We identified 112 titles and included 22 studies in this meta-analysis. The odds ratio (OR) of TE in IBD patients with FVL was higher as compared with IBD patients (OR: 4.00; 95%CI: 2.04, 7.87) and HC (OR: 3.19; 95%CI: 1.38, 7.36). There was a 1.25-fold (95%CI: 0.90-1.74) increase in incidence of FVL gene mutation in IBD patients compared with HC. The FVL mutations were not significantly different between IBD patients with thrombosis and non-IBD patients with thrombosis (OR: 0.79; 95%CI: 0.43, 1.47).

CONCLUSION

FVL plays a role in IBD-TE, but to no greater extent than it does in the general population with TE.

[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.

Increased levels of homocysteine in patients with ulcerative colitis

AIM: To investigate serum levels of homocysteine (Hcys) and the risk that altered levels carry for thrombosis development in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients.

METHODS: 55 UC patients and 45 healthy adults were included. Hcys, vitamin B12 and folic acid levels were measured in both groups. Clinical history and thromboembolic events were investigated.

RESULTS: The average Hcys level in the UC patients was 13.3 ± 1.93 μmmol/L (range 4.60-87) and was higher than the average Hcys level of the control group which was 11.2 ± 3.58 μmmol/L (range 4.00-20.8) (P < 0.001). Vitamin B12 and folic acid average values were also lower in the UC group (P < 0.001). When multivariate regression analysis was performed, it was seen that folic acid deficiency was the only risk factor for hyperhomocysteinemia. Frequencies of thromboembolic complications were not statistically significantly different in UC and control groups. When those with and without a thrombosis history in the UC group were compared according to Hcys levels, it was seen that there were no statistically significant differences. A negative linear relationship was found between folic acid levels and Hcys.

CONCLUSION: We could not find any correlations between Hcys levels and history of prior thromboembolic events.

[A case of renal vein thrombosis in a patient with ulcerative colitis]

Venous thrombosis and thromboembolism appear to occur more often in patient with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The cause of thrombotic complications in IBD is generally considered to be associated with hypercoagulable conditions. Its prevalence rate ranges from 1% to 8% in clinical studies and rises to 39% in autopsy, but the renal vein thrombosis is very rare complication in ulcerative colitis patient. A 24-year-old man presented with intermittent abdominal pain and hematochezia for 6 months and recently developed pitting edema for few weeks. He was diagnosed as severe ulcerative colitis involving whole colon combined with thrombosis in both renal veins by colonoscopy and computed tomography scan of abdomen. We used steroid for the treatment of ulcerative colitis and both intravenous lower molecular weight heparin and warfarin for renal vein thrombosis. His symptoms were improved after treatment and maintained with mesalazine and warfarin. Follow-up abdominal CT scan showed complete resolution of both renal vein thrombosis. Currently he has been followed up for 2 years with oral mesalazine.

Assessment of thrombophilic abnormalities during the active state of inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Thromboembolic disease has been recognized as a complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The relative contributions of inherited or acquired thrombophilia and the inflammatory response to the mechanism of this tendency are unclear. Thrombotic events are more common in active disease although significant numbers also occur spontaneously. The aim of this study was to investigate common thrombophilic markers in patients with active IBD.

METHODS

Twenty-six patients with IBD who had active disease, and 40 sex- and age-matched non-IBD patients were recruited into the study. For all the subjects, complete blood counts, C-reactive protein levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, International normalized ratio, activated partial thromboplastin time, and levels of lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA IgG), proteins C and S, antithrombin-III (AT-III), and factor V were measured.

RESULTS

The International normalized ratio, activated partial thromboplastin time, and levels of proteins C and S were comparable between the two groups. However, antithrombin-III levels were significantly lower in the IBD group as compared with that in the healthy control group (P < 0.001). ACA IgG was detected in one patient in the IBD group. Factor V Leiden mutation was present in 3.8% of the patients in the IBD group, whereas the prevalence was 2.5% in the control group. Significantly elevated platelet counts were observed in patients with active Crohn's disease compared with that in the control group (P < 0.001), but they were not significantly increased in active ulcerative colitis (P = 0.231).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study failed to establish a strong association between the common thrombophilic markers and the active clinical course of IBD, with the exception of high platelet counts and lower levels of AT-III in the IBD group as compared with those in the control group. All other parameters of thrombophilia were comparable between the two groups.

Venous thromboembolism in hospitalized inflammatory bowel disease patients: the magnitude of the problem is staggering

There is evidence that thromboembolism as a disease-specific extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is developed as the result of multiple interactions between acquired and genetic risk factors. An imbalance of procoagulant, anticoagulant, and fibrinolitic factors predisposing to thrombosis has been reported by several studies in patients with IBD. The study by Nguyen and Sam demonstrates that hospitalized IBD patients have higher prevalence of venous thromboembolism and a more than two-fold excess of mortality compared with non-IBD hospitalized patients. When the findings from this large study are combined with previous data, they suggest that thromboembolism is a significant cause of extraintestinal morbidity and mortality in IBD patients with a higher risk during hospitalization.

Thrombosis and inflammatory bowel disease-the role of genetic risk factors

Thromboembolism is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Recent data suggest thromboembolism as a disease-specific extraintestinal manifestation of IBD, which is developed as the result of multiple interactions between acquired and genetic risk factors. There is evidence indicating an imbalance of procoagulant, anticoagulant and fibrinolytic factors predisposing in thrombosis in patients with IBD. The genetic factors that have been suggested to interfere in the thrombotic manifestations of IBD include factor V Leiden, factor II (prothrombin, G20210A), methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutation (MTHFR, 6777T), plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) gene mutation and factor XIII (val34leu). In this article we review the current data and future prospects on the role of genetic risk factors in the development of thromboembolism in IBD.

Hyperhomocysteinemia in inflammatory bowel disease patients without past intestinal resections: correlations with cobalamin, pyridoxine, folate concentrations, acute phase reactants, disease activity, and prior thromboembolic complications

OBJECTIVE

Homocysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid formed during the demethylation of methionine and high levels of this amino acid is a known risk factor for both arterial and also venous thromboembolic complications. Deficiencies of cobalamin, folate, and pyridoxine may predispose subjects to hyperhomocysteinemia, a common phenomenon in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence, risk factors of hyperhomocysteinemia and its correlation with prior thromboembolic events in an IBD cohort without past intestinal resections.

METHODS

In this prospective study, we studied the concentrations of homocysteine, cobalamin, folate, and pyridoxine in 105 consecutive patients with IBD, of whom 11 had a prior history of thromboembolic complications. Data regarding smoking habits, medication use, disease location, and severity were gathered and patients with past intestinal resections were excluded. Age-matched and sex-matched 85 healthy volunteers served as controls and multivariate regression analysis was performed to find out independent predictors of hyperhomocysteinemia.

RESULTS

The mean age (+/-SD) in the IBD cohort was 38.69+/-12.13 years, and 51% were male. The mean age in the control group was 37.61+/-10.05 years, and 52% were male. Homocysteine concentrations in patients were higher [16.35 micromol/L (range 6.82 to 48.15) vs. 9.60 micromol/L (range 4.97 to 17.39), P=0.000] and hyperhomocysteinemia had a higher prevalence in patients than in the controls (56.2% vs. 4.7%, chi2=56.179, P=0.000), thus IBD significantly increased the risk of hyperhomocysteinemia [odds ratio=25.973 (95% confidence interval: 8.861-76.128)]. Homocysteine concentrations in patients with a history of thrombosis were not higher than those without a history of thrombosis [16.29 micromol/L (range 8.45 to 34.75) vs. 16.36 micromol/L (range 6.82 to 48.15), not significant]. Hyperhomocysteinemia was found in 54.5% of patients with thrombosis and 56.4% of patients without thrombosis (not significant). On stepwise regression analysis, plasma cobalamin level, albumin concentration, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and platelet count were found to be independent predictors of elevated homocysteine levels.

CONCLUSIONS

IBD patients have a higher prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia than do healthy controls and elevated homocysteine levels are independently associated with lower serum cobalamin, albumin levels and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and platelet count. There is no correlation between hyperhomocysteinemia and a history of prior thromboembolic events.

Inflammatory bowel disease and cerebrovascular arterial and venous thromboembolic events in 4 pediatric patients: a case series and review of the literature

Inflammatory bowel disease has been linked to cerebrovascular lesions, but the mechanisms of these vascular complications and their frequency among children with inflammatory bowel disease are unclear. We present 4 children with inflammatory bowel disease who developed ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke or cerebral sinovenous thrombosis. All 4 patients were female; 3 had Crohn's disease and 1 had indeterminate colitis. All of the patients had additional risk factors for thrombosis including thrombocytosis, severe dehydration attributable to an inflammatory bowel disease exacerbation, and, in 2 instances, genetically mediated coagulation defects. It is believed that the occurrence of thrombotic complications in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease is attributable to multifactorial causes. The current literature on cerebrovascular complications and treatment in the setting of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease is reviewed.

Genetic risk factors in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and vascular complications: case-control study

BACKGROUND

Inherited risk factors have been suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of vascular complications of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of mutations associated with cardiovascular disease in IBD patients with or without vascular complications compared with thrombotic and healthy controls (HC).

METHODS

Twelve polymorphisms of thrombophilic and vasoactive genes were evaluated in a group of 30 IBD patients with vascular complications (IBD-VC) compared with 60 IBD patients without vascular complications, 30 thrombotic controls (TC), and 54 healthy controls, using a commercially available kit.

RESULTS

No significant differences between IBD-VC and TC concerning the carriage of these mutations were found. The frequencies of the factor V (FV) 506 RQ (Leiden) genotype and the 506Q allele were significantly higher in these groups than in HC (P < 0.05) but not IBD controls (P > 0.05). The allele frequency of the mutant 4G allele of the plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) polymorphism, similar in the IBD-VC and TC groups, was significantly higher in these groups compared with the IBD group (P = 0.03) and the HC (P = 0.001). It is noteworthy that there was a trend of association of FV R506Q polymorphism with venous thrombosis and PAI-1 gene polymorphism with arterial thrombosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the investigated gene polymorphisms do not differ in patients with IBD-VC and TC. FV R506Q and PAI-1 gene polymorphisms might be associated with the increased risk of development of vascular complications in IBD.

Common carotid arterial thrombosis associated with ulcerative colitis

A 26-year-old woman with ulcerative colitis was transferred to our hospital with left hemiparesis due to cerebral infarction. Cervical ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging angiography revealed thrombosis at the right common carotid artery and the right internal carotid artery. Antithrombotic and anticoagulant therapies were commenced. After about 2 wk of the treatment, the frequency of her diarrhea increased. She underwent emergency subtotal colectomy, but 10 d later an abundant hemorrhage from the remnant rectum occurred, so the remnant rectum was resected and an ileal pouch anal anastomosis was performed. Antithrombotic and anticoagulant therapies were continued, but neither her neurological status nor magnetic resonance imaging angiography findings showed subsequent changes. She was discharged 3 mon after operation. This is a rare case of common carotid arterial thrombosis occurring as a complication of ulcerative colitis, in which antithrombotic and anticoagulant therapies are considered to provoke a deterioration of the patient’s bowel disease.

Common carotid arterial thrombosis associated with ulcerative colitis

A 26-year-old woman with ulcerative colitis was transferred to our hospital with left hemiparesis due to cerebral infarction. Cervical ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging angiography revealed thrombosis at the right common carotid artery and the right internal carotid artery. Antithrombotic and anticoagulant therapies were commenced. After about 2 wk of the treatment, the frequency of her diarrhea increased. She underwent emergency subtotal colectomy, but 10 d later an abundant hemorrhage from the remnant rectum occurred, so the remnant rectum was resected and an ileal pouch anal anastomosis was performed. Antithrombotic and anticoagulant therapies were continued, but neither her neurological status nor magnetic resonance imaging angiography findings showed subsequent changes. She was discharged 3 mon after operation. This is a rare case of common carotid arterial thrombosis occurring as a complication of ulcerative colitis, in which antithrombotic and anticoagulant therapies are considered to provoke a deterioration of the patient’s bowel disease.

The search for a common thrombophilic state during the active state of inflammatory bowel disease

The clinical course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is frequently associated with thromboembolic complications. The aim of this study was to investigate common thrombophilic markers in Turkish patients with active IBD. Twenty-seven consecutive patients with IBD who were followed-up at the Hacettepe University Hospital were recruited. All the patients were in the active disease state. International normalized ratio, activated partial thromboplastin time, lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin IgG, IgM antibodies, protein C, protein S, antithrombin-III, factor V, and factor II mutation of all the IBD patients and of a sex-matched and age-matched control group of non-IBD patients were measured. International normalized ratio, activated partial thromboplastin time, protein C, protein S, lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin IgG and IgM, and Proteins C and S mutations were comparable between the 2 groups, but antithrombin-III was significantly lower in the IBD group compared with healthy control group (P<0.0001). As a conclusion, it is reasonable to assume that there may be a subpopulation of the patients with IBD, in whom thrombophilic abnormalities might be important for either disease manifestation or for thrombotic complications. Those hemostatic abnormalities could be either inherited or secondary to the ongoing disease process. Routine screening for the common markers of thrombophilia does not seem to be warranted unless simultaneous arterial and venous thrombosis, major organ thrombosis, strong family history of thrombophilia, unusual and recurrent thrombosis resistant to standard anticoagulant therapy are present. Further studies are definitely required to clarify these complicated associations.

What is the impact of resistance to activated protein C (Leiden mutation to factor V) in inflammatory bowel disease?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Resistance to activated protein C (APCR) caused by the Leiden mutation to factor V is the most common cause of inherited thrombosis. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are considered to have an increased risk of thromboembolic complications, and the role of APCR as a cause has previously been investigated. In this study, we investigated if APCR was associated with non-thrombotic morbidities in IBD.

PATIENTS/METHODS

Of 951 patients asked to participate, 389 agreed by returning a signed informed consent and filled questionnaire and took the blood test for APCR. Self-reported IBD-related surgery was used as a rough indicator for increased morbidity.

RESULTS

APCR was present in 6.6% of patients with Crohn's disease (CD; 10/152) and in 12.7% of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients (30/237). The difference of 6.1% is significant (p=0.039). Among patients with CD and APCR, 9 out of 10 had had surgery, significantly more than among those without APCR (81/142). In patients with UC and APCR, 10 out of 30 had had surgery, still significantly more than in those without APCR (36/207). For the whole group of IBD patients, APCR is associated with a significantly increased risk for thrombosis (p=0.0018), and for the UC group (8/28) p=0.0029, but not for the CD patients alone (2/9), p=0.2323. No other significant differences could be shown for parameters normally related to increased morbidity.

CONCLUSIONS

APCR in IBD was associated with an increased frequency of IBD-related surgery, which may warrant screening for APCR in therapy-resistant IBD. In patients with APCR, it may be more difficult and/or important to control inflammation.

Plasma total homocysteine in the active stage of ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND

Homocysteine, an independent risk factor for thromboembolism, has been recently shown to be elevated in ulcerative colitis (UC). However, its relation to the activity of the disease remain unclear.

METHODS

Two groups were studied: group consisted of 1-30 patients with UC (17 men, 13 women, mean age 50.3 +/- 14.7 years), including 15 patients with active disease. Group 2 (controls) consisted of 21 age-, sex-, bodyweight-matched healthy persons (12 men, nine women, mean age 53.1 +/- 12.8 years). Total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) and serum folate and vitamin B12 as well as selected coagulation parameters were assessed.

RESULTS

Mean tHcy in UC patients was significantly higher than in healthy controls: 10.8 +/- 3.1 mmol/L versus 6.8 +/- 2.5 mmol/L (P < 0.001). Patients with active disease had higher tHcy than patients in remission: 11.2 +/- 3.5 mmol/L versus 9.0 +/- 2.3 mmol/L (P = 0.048). Patients with > or =4 recurrences of the disease had also higher tHcy than the others: 11.5 +/- 3.6 mmol/L versus 9.0 +/- 2.1 mmol/L (P = 0.035). The tHcy correlated with duration of disease: r = 0.6632 (P < 0.05). Folate and B12 levels were within their reference ranges in all subjects. However, in the patients with active disease the platelet count, fibrinogen and D-dimer were significantly higher than in the patients in remission and the controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Ulcerative colitis is associated with elevated tHcy concentration, particularly in the active stage, and in more recurrent types of the disease; this elevation does not seem to be prevented by a normal folate status and might have an enhancing effect on the procoagulation blood profile.

Hyperhomocystéinémie et facteurs associés au cours des MICI : étude prospective chez 81 patients

BACKGROUND

A high prevalence (52%) of hyperhomocysteinemia is observed in Crohn disease (CD), however it is not well documented in ulcerative colitis (UC). Furthermore, in the different works studying hyperhomocysteinemia the associated factors are different.

AIM

Prospective evaluation of hyperhomocysteinemia in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, of the risk factors and the determination of a potential risk of colorectal carcinoma in case of hyperhomocysteinemia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

IBD patients followed in our department were prospectively recruited between November 2003-September 2004. To be included patients should have passed a coloscopy in the two years. Patients with kidney failure or drugs supposed, to interfere with homocystéine metabolism (folates, vitamin B12, methotrexate) were excluded from the study. The following parameters were analysed: age, sex, clinical activity indexes (CDAI for Crohn disease and CAI for ulcerative colitis), length-extent and type of the disease (CD or UC), smoking, plasma homocystein concentration, folates and vitamin B12.

RESULTS

Eighty-one patients (60 CD, 21 UC, mean age 43.8 +/- 17.3) were included, 30 had an active disease at inclusion and 16 were smokers. The prevalence of high homocystein concentration was 55.6%. In univariate analysis a low rate of folates was the only risk factor for a high homocystein concentration (74 vs. 52.8%; P = 0.018). Smoking was almost an associated factor. In multivariate analysis, a low rate of folate was the only risk factor of hyperhomocysteinemia, OR = 3.59 [1.27-10.17]. Five endoscopic lesions considered as precancerous were described; these patients had all a hyperhomocysteinemia.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia is high in UC and in CD. A low folate rate is the only risk factor observed in our study. There is a possible link between colorectal cancer and hyperhomocysteinemia. A high Plasma homocystein concentration must be search in inflammatory bowel disease patients and a substitutive treatment of folates and vitamin B12 is necessary in case of hyperhomocysteinemia.

The incidence of postoperative venous thrombosis among patients with ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND

Patients with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) have inherent prothrombotic tendencies. It is unknown whether this necessitates the use of additional perioperative anti-thrombotic prophylaxis when such patients require major surgery.

METHODS

The postoperative courses of 79 patients with UC undergoing 180 major abdominal and pelvic operations were examined for clinical and radiological evidence of venous thrombosis. Eighteen patients with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) having surgery (35 operations) of similar magnitude were also studied. Standard anti-thrombosis prophylaxis was utilised in all patients.

RESULTS

Nine patients with UC were clinically suspected of developing postoperative venous thrombosis, but only three (3.8%) had their diagnosis confirmed radiologically (all had a pulmonary embolus). Therefore, the overall postoperative thrombosis rate, on an intention to treat basis, was 1.7% (3/180). No patient with FAP developed significant venous thrombosis.

CONCLUSION

Standard perioperative antithrombotic modalities are sufficient to maintain any potential increase in postoperative thrombotic risk at an acceptable level in patients with UC undergoing operative intervention.

Therapy insight: Vascular complications in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with an increased risk of vascular complications. The most important of these complications are arterial and venous thromboembolism, which represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in IBD patients. Recent data suggest that thromboembolism is a disease-specific extraintestinal manifestation of IBD. The most common thrombotic manifestations in IBD are deep vein thrombosis of the leg and pulmonary emboli. It has been suggested that disease activity and the extent of colonic localization are correlated with the risk of developing thromboembolism. The occurrence of thrombosis in patients with IBD is partially attributed to the existing hypercoagulable state in IBD. Both coagulation and fibrinolysis are activated in patients with IBD; this is especially true for those with active disease. The most common risk factors for thrombophilia in IBD patients with venous thromboembolism are Leiden mutation in the gene encoding factor V, hyperhomocysteinemia, and antiphospholipid antibodies. The main genetic defects that have been established as risk factors for venous thrombosis are rather uncommon in IBD, but when present increase the risk of thromboembolism. Screening for coagulation defects seems justified only in IBD patients with a history of thrombosis or a family history of venous thromboembolic events. Antithrombotic treatment of IBD patients with venous thromboembolism is similar to that of thrombotic non-IBD patients.

Hyperhomocysteinemia in ulcerative colitis is related to folate levels

AIM: To study the prevalence and clinical significance of hyperhomocysteinemia (hHcys), an independent factor for arterial and venous thrombosis, in a group of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODS: Fasting homocysteine (Hcys), folate, and vitamin B12 serum levels were measured in 40 UC patients and 50 healthy controls. Clinical data regarding UC were gathered.

RESULTS: Median serum Hcys levels in UC patients were similar to those in controls (12.26 µmol/L vs 12.32 µmol/L), but the prevalence of hHcys was higher in UC patients than in controls (30% vs 10%, P = 0.028). UC significantly increased the risk of hHcys (adjusted odds ratio: 4.125; 95%CI: 1.26-13.44). Multivariate regression analysis showed that male sex, folate and vitamin B12 deficiency or lower serum values were significant independent predictors of higher Hcys levels in UC patients (r² = 0.4; P<0.001).

CONCLUSION: hHcys is common in UC patients and it is related to folate and vitamin B12 deficiency or lower serum values. It would be reasonable for patients with UC to receive folate and vitamin B complex supplements as a prophylactic measure.

Crohn's and Behçet's disease association presenting with superior vena cava thrombosis

A 21-year-old male patient with a 6-year history of Crohn's disease presented with shoulder pain and edema in the neck and bilateral supraclavicular fossa. Color Doppler ultrasonography and computed tomography scan revealed bilateral thrombosis of the external jugular veins, brachiocephalic veins, and superior vena cava. Other etiologies were appropriately ruled out and the thrombosis was initially attributed to Crohn's disease. In the follow-up, the patient developed recurrent, painful orogenital ulcers and acne vulgaris-like skin eruptions. HLA tissue typing was HLA B-51. The diagnosis of Crohn's disease associated with Behçet's disease was made. Although there are several case reports describing such an association, a Medline research revealed that this was the first presentation of such an association with thrombosis. Thrombosis in unusual sites may reflect the uncommon association of Crohn's disease with hypercoagulable conditions such as Behçet's disease.

Thrombosis in inflammatory bowel diseases: role of inherited thrombophilia

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are characterized by an increased risk for venous and arterial thrombosis. Although the pathogenetic mechanisms of this predisposition are unclear, a possible role of inherited risk factors for thrombosis in determining this predisposition has been suggested.

AIM

To evaluate the role of factor V Leiden (G1691A) and G20210A prothrombin gene mutations in determining the occurrence of thrombosis in IBD patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty-seven IBD patients (30 ulcerative colitis and 17 Crohn's disease) with a positive history for thrombosis (9 at arterial sites and 38 at venous sites) were enrolled in the study. For each patient, two non-IBD subjects matched for sex and age, type, and site of thrombosis were used as controls. Peripheral blood DNA specimens were amplified by PCR using appropriate primers and analyzed by restriction analysis on agarose gel electrophoresis. Statistical analysis was performed by means of Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

The total number of subjects with one or both mutations was significantly lower in IBD patients with thrombosis than in control subjects (12.8%vs 29.8%, respectively; p= 0.035, OR = 0.34, 95% CI 0.13-0.90). The total frequency of the mutated alleles was also significantly lower in IBD than in controls (7.4%vs 16.5%, respectively; p= 0.041, OR = 0.40, 95% CI 0.17-0.96). Prothrombotic mutations were particularly unfrequent in IBD patients with active disease at the time of thrombosis compared with patients with quiescent disease (8.0%vs 36.4%, respectively; p= 0.057, OR = 0.15, 95% CI 0.02-1.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The major inherited risk factors for thrombosis are significantly less frequent in thrombotic IBD patients than in thrombotic non-IBD subjects, suggesting that acquired risk factors play the most relevant role in determining thromboembolic events observed in IBD patients, particularly during active phases of the disease.

Venous thrombosis in inflammatory bowel disease

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a threefold increased risk of venous thrombosis, a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Although the exact mechanism explaining the initiation of thrombosis remains unclear, it is likely to be a multifactorial process. Reported abnormalities include activation of markers of the coagulation cascade, disturbed fibrinolysis and the activation of platelets. The contribution of thrombophilic disorders such as factor V Leiden, prothrombin gene mutations and hyperhomocysteinaemia are discussed, but their role in thrombosis associated with IBD has remained unclear. Recent research has examined elevated CD40, P-selectin levels and tissue factor-bearing microvesicles in venous thrombosis, and the relevance of these observations to IBD is reviewed.

Drug treatment of ulcerative colitis: unfractionated heparin, low molecular weight heparins and beyond

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterised by chronic inflammation of the colon of unknown aetiology. Medical treatment of UC is complex and sometimes unsatisfactory. A total of 75% of patients experience relapses during the course of their illness and 20 - 25% require a colostomy. Recent years have witnessed a paradigm shift in the way UC is medically treated. The focus has now shifted to newer forms of therapy along with the older established drugs such as sulfasalazine and corticosteroids. Unfractionated heparin and low molecular weight heparins have been tested for their efficacy in patients with UC with conflicting results in various studies. Immunosuppressive and immune-based therapies, drugs modifying biological responses, prebiotics, probiotics, symbiotics, melatonin and topical butyrate have all been tested with variable success. The current review delineates the recent therapeutic alternatives in UC with main emphasis on heparins.

Risk factors for thromboembolic complications in inflammatory bowel disease: the role of hyperhomocysteinaemia

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with an increased risk for thromboembolic events. Aim of this study was to examine the relationship of hyperhomocysteinemia and thrombosis in IBD patients and to assess the role of this factor in addition to other known prothrombotic abnormalities. IBD patients with a history of thrombosis (n = 22) and sex-, age-, and diagnosis-matched IBD controls (n = 23) were studied. Homocysteine (tHcy) was assessed before and after methionine loading. Plasma levels of protein C, protein S, antithrombin III, and fibrinogen and the presence of anticardiolipin and antiphospholipid antibodies were determined and genetic testing for factor V Leiden and the prothrombin gene mutation was performed. Results showed that fasting homocysteine levels in IBD patients with a history of arterial or venous thrombosis tended to be higher than in IBD controls, although not significantly. The increase in homocysteine levels after methionine loading was significantly higher in IBD patients in the arterial thrombosis group than in IBD controls (40.9 +/- 17.7 vs. 27.2 +/- 9.9 microM; P < 0.05). Among the other prothrombotic factors, only factor V Leiden was significantly associated with a history of venous thrombosis (20 vs. 0%). At least one risk factor was found in 64% of the IBD patients with previous thromboembolic complications. We conclude that there is an association between hyperhomocysteinemia and a history of arterial thrombosis in IBD patients. We confirm the high prevalence of factor V Leiden in IBD patients with a history of venous thrombosis. In the majority of IBD patients with previous thromboembolic complications, at least one prothrombotic risk factor is detected.

Venous thromboembolism in inflammatory bowel disease

OBJECTIVES

Venous thromboembolism has been associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We sought to describe the clinical features, acquired and congenital risk factors, and outcomes of venous thromboembolism in IBD.

METHODS

All patients with confirmed IBD and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) at our institution between 1991 and 2000 were identified. Medical records were abstracted for clinical features, risk factors, treatment, and outcomes.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine ulcerative colitis (UC) patients (68% males) and 39 Crohn's disease (CD) patients (41% males) were identified. UC extent was pancolonic in 76%, and CD extent was ileocolonic in 56%, colonic in 23%, and ileal in 21%. Eighty percent of CD patients and 79% of UC patients had active disease. Thrombophilia was present in 33% of the 40 patients tested. Most patients (87%) had other risk factors for DVT/PE. Long-term treatment included warfarin alone (62%), warfarin and IVC filter (18%), and IVC filter alone (7%). Five CD patients (13%) had recurrent DVT/PE. Among the 16 UC patients who underwent proctocolectomy following DVT/PE, there were two recurrences (13%), similar to the three recurrences (10%) seen among the 29 patients who had intact colons. Mortality rate was 22% after a median follow-up of 1.8 yr.

CONCLUSIONS

Venous thromboembolism is a serious complication of IBD that may lead to death. Thrombophilia evaluations have a relatively high diagnostic yield overall, although specific genetic abnormalities are individually uncommon. Other DVT/PE risk factors are usually present. Proctocolectomy is not protective of recurrent DVT/PE.

Inflammatory bowel disease emergencies

Emergency complications of IBD are rare, but may be life-threatening, require surgery, and result in permanent end organ damage. The most common complications associated with UC are fulminant colitis, toxic megacolon, and bleeding. Each of these complications may resolve with aggressive medical therapy but often result in a total proctocolectomy. The most common complications associated with CD are abscesses and intestinal obstruction. Although initial treatment includes medical treatment, these Crohn's-related complications usually require a surgical intervention and intestinal resection. Finally, the most common extraintestinal manifestations that present as an emergency include thromboembolic events, ocular complications, and hepatobiliary disease. Some of these complications may parallel the course of the underlying disease and respond to IBD treatment, but thromboemboli, uveitis, and PSC do not. In the last decade there has been an explosion of knowledge and discovery into the pathogenesis of IBD. These findings have led to better and earlier treatment of IBD that it is hoped will alter the natural course of disease and prevent many of the complications outlined in this article.

High prevalence of combined thrombophilic abnormalities in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

INTRODUCTION

A hypercoagulable state has been recognized in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of single and combined thrombophilic abnormalities in patients from northern Portugal with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, without a history of thrombosis. METHODS A cross-sectional study involving 116 patients (42 with ulcerative colitis, 74 with Crohn's disease), and 141 randomly chosen asymptomatic blood donors was carried out. Prothrombotic variables and genetic abnormalities were assessed.

RESULTS

The prevalence of single prothrombotic abnormalities (only one alteration) in inflammatory bowel disease patients was higher than in the reference population (26% and 18%, respectively; P < 0.02). The allelic frequency of genetic polymorphisms was higher in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis for MTHFR C677T, ACE Del and PAI-1 4G (P < 0.001) than in the reference population. The prevalence of combined thrombophilic abnormalities (at least two alterations) in both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis was also higher (22% and 21%, respectively) than in the reference population (9%; P < 0.01). These differences were not related to age or gender; however, in Crohn's disease the frequency of two or more abnormalities was related to disease activity (odds ratio 3.0 [1.3-6.7]).

CONCLUSION

Higher prevalences of single and combined thrombophilic defects were found in inflammatory bowel disease patients, factors that could be involved in the disease pathogenesis.

Association of extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease in a province of western Hungary with disease phenotype: Results of a 25-year follow-up study

AIM: IBD is a systemic disease associated with a large number of extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs). Our aim was to determine the prevalence of EIMs in a large IBD cohort in Veszprem Province in a 25-year follow-up study.

METHODS: Eight hundred and seventy-three IBD patients were enrolled (ulcerative colitis/UC/: 619, m/f: 317/302, mean age at presentation: 38.3 years, average disease duration: 11.2 years; Crohn’s disease/CD/: 254, m/f: 125/129, mean age at presentation: 32.5 years, average disease duration: 9.2 years). Intestinal, extraintestinal signs and laboratory tests were monitored regularly. Any alteration suggesting an EIMs was investigated by a specialist.

RESULTS: A total of 21.3% of patients with IBD had EIM (UC: 15.0%, CD: 36.6%). Age at presentation did not affect the likelihood of EIM. Prevalence of EIMs was higher in women and in CD, ocular complications and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) were more frequent in UC. In UC there was an increased tendency of EIM in patients with a more extensive disease. Joint complications were more frequent in CD (22.4% vs UC 10.2%, P < 0.01). In UC positive family history increased the risk of joint complications (OR: 3.63). In CD the frequency of type-1 peripheral arthritis was increased in patients with penetrating disease (P = 0.028). PSC was present in 1.6% in UC and 0.8% in CD. Dermatological complications were present in 3.8% in UC and 10.2% in CD, the rate of ocular complications was around 3% in both diseases. Rare complications were glomerulonephritis, autoimmune hemolytic anaemia and celiac disease.

CONCLUSION: Prevalence of EIM in Hungarian IBD patients is in concordance with data from Western countries. The high number of EIM supports a role for complex follow-up in these patients.

Review article: inherited thrombophilia in inflammatory bowel disease

Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease frequently experience increased systemic thromboembolic complications, which represent an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Risk factors for thrombosis can be inherited or acquired. The most common inherited risk factors for thromboembolism are factor V Leiden mutation, G20210A mutation in the prothrombin gene, and homozygous C677T mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene. In the last few years, a great amount of literature has focused on the prevalence of such genetic mutations and their role in determining thrombosis in IBD patients. In this review, we summarize the results of these studies.

Prevalence of factor V G1691A (Leiden), prothrombin G20210A, and methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase C677T thrombophilic mutations in children with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an increased incidence of thromboembolic events. This risk may be caused by an increased frequency of thrombophilic mutations such as factor V Leiden G1691A (FVL), prothrombin G20210A (PT), or methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase C667T (MTHFR). Prevalence rates of heterozygous mutations in FVL, PT, and MTHFR are reported for whites (1.8%, 1.3%, 26.6%, respectively), blacks (0.8%, 0.3%, and 12.4%, respectively), and Hispanics (1.2%, 2.4%, and 41.5%, respectively). We sought to determine the prevalence of these thrombophilic mutations in a large cohort of children with IBD.

METHODS

Children aged 21 years or younger with IBD were genotyped for FVL, PT, and MTHFR mutations by polymerase chain reaction amplification and restriction enzyme digestion. Prevalence rates were compared with established rates in the respective populations.

RESULTS

Of 92 patients enrolled, 89 (62 with Crohn disease, 24 with ulcerative colitis, and 3 with indeterminate colitis) had genotype results available. The mean age was 13.3 +/- 4.2 years (range, 2-21 years). Statistical analysis was performed on 89 FVL, PT, and MTHFR allele pairs. Polymerase chain reaction genotyping identified 5 patients with heterozygous FVL mutations, 3 patients heterozygous for the PT mutation, and 36 patients heterozygous and 4 patients homozygous for the MTHFR mutation. The thrombophilic allele mutation frequencies in our sample were not significantly different from predicted weighted average values: FVL, 2.8% versus 1.5%; PT, 1.7% versus 1.1%; and MTHFR, 24.7% versus 24.4%. In 24 patients with a family history of thrombosis, 1 was heterozygous for FVL and for MTHFR, 1 was heterozygous for FVL and homozygous for MTHFR, 2 were heterozygous for PT, and 9 were heterozygous MTHFR. There was no significant correlation between family history of thrombosis and presence of a thrombophilic mutation. The four patients with homozygous mutations for MTHFR, two of whom also were heterozygous for FVL, did not have either a personal history of thrombosis or a family history of thrombotic events. Two patients had thrombotic events without mutations in these genotypes: one had protein S deficiency and the other had no identifiable cause.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of genetic mutations that predispose to hypercoagulable states does not appear to correlate with the prevalence of IBD or to thromboembolic events in patients with IBD. There was no statistical difference between the proportions of the mutated allele frequency in our study patients and the general population.

Extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease

Numerous extraintestinal diseases have been associated with IBD. The role of the gastrointestinal tract in host response to the foreign antigens present in the gut makes the enteric immune system highly susceptible to any external perturbation to the system. Dysregulation of the enteric immune response results in pathology in various organs outside of the gut. The site-specific manifestations of this immune response are not understood fully. Better understanding of the pathogenesis of IBD and the complex interactions between the gut immune system and the extraintestinal systems would provide insights into the development of many of these extraintestinal manifestations. Much is unknown about the presence of cardiac, pulmonary, and hematologic diseases in patients with IBD. True association or coincidental presence of the diseases in these organ systems with IBD requires better delineation. An important consideration in all patients with IBD presenting with extraintestinal manifestations should be a careful search for medication-related complications.

Increased levels of lipoprotein (a) in Crohn's disease: a relation to thrombosis?

OBJECTIVE

Lipoprotein (a) is recognized as a risk factor for arterial and venous thrombosis, a property that might be related to its structural similarity to plasminogen. Since patients with inflammatory bowel disease frequently suffer from thromboembolic events, we studied the role of lipoprotein (a) in conjunction with lipids and apolipoproteins in Greek patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

METHODS

Lipoprotein (a), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein A-1 and apolipoprotein B-100 were determined in sera from 129 consecutive fasting Greek patients with inflammatory bowel disease (66 with ulcerative colitis and 63 with Crohn's disease) and from 66 matched healthy controls.

RESULTS

In Crohn's disease patients, the mean serum lipoprotein (a) level was significantly higher than in control patients (41.2 mg/dl vs 22.9 mg/dl; P = 0.005). Mean apolipoprotein A-1 and apolipoprotein B-100 levels were significantly lower in Crohn's disease patients than in the controls. In ulcerative colitis patients the mean levels of lipoprotein (a) and apolipoprotein A-1 were not significantly different to the controls, but the levels of apolipoprotein B-100 were significantly lower. Raised levels of lipoprotein (a) of > 30 mg/dl were found in 29 Crohn's disease patients (46%), 15 ulcerative colitis patients (23%) and 11 control patients (17%). Patients with active Crohn's disease had significantly higher mean lipoprotein (a) and lower apolipoprotein A-1 than patients with non-active disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that Crohn's disease patients have different lipoprotein (a) and apolipoprotein patterns compared to ulcerative colitis patients and healthy controls. These changes in Crohn's disease patients may possibly expose them to a higher risk of thrombosis.

Factor V Leiden and prothrombin gene mutation in inflammatory bowel disease in a Mediterranean area

BACKGROUND

Thromboembolism has been reported to be associated with inflammatory bowel disease.

AIM

To evaluate the association of factor V Leiden and prothrombin gene mutation with inflammatory bowel disease in a population of patients with thromboembolic events and inflammatory bowel disease and in a control population of patients with inflammatory bowel disease without thromboembolic events.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A series of 18 patients with inflammatory bowel disease and a history of arterial or venous thrombosis and 45 patients with inflammatory bowel disease without thromboembolic events were evaluated for the presence of factor V Leiden and prothrombin gene mutation. Frequency of gene mutation was compared with its occurrence in 100 healthy controls.

RESULTS

One patient with inflammatory bowel disease without thromboembolic events was heterozygous for factor V Leiden mutation. whereas no patient with a thromboembolic event had factor V Leiden mutation. No patients (either cases or controls) had prothrombin gene mutation. In the healthy population the frequency of factor V Leiden and prothrombin mutation was 5% and 2%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Data emerging from the present study do not support any role of factor V Leiden and prothrombin gene mutation as the cause of thromboembolism in inflammatory bowel disease.

Hyperhomocysteinemia and prevalence of polymorphisms of homocysteine metabolism-related enzymes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

OBJECTIVES

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an increased risk of thrombotic complications. Moreover, a hypercoagulable state has been hypothesized as a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of IBD. Recently, a growing amount of interest has focused on mild-to-moderate hyperhomocysteinemia as a risk factor for thromboembolic disease. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with IBD and to investigate the contribution of genetic defects in the enzymes involved in homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism and vitamin status in determining increased levels of plasma total Hcy (tHcy).

METHODS

The concentrations of tHcy, folate, and vitamin B12 as well as the prevalence of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C to T mutation and the 68-bp insertion at exon 8 of cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) were measured in patients with IBD and healthy controls.

RESULTS

In all, 17 out of 64 IBD patients (26.5%) and four out of 121 (3.3%) controls had hyperhomocysteinemia with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.0001). No significant difference was found between IBD patients and controls with regard to the prevalence of homozygotes for the C677T variant (TT) of MTHFR or the prevalence of heterozygotes for the CBS-gene mutation (IN). Among the IBD patients the only independent factor significantly associated with hyperhomocysteinemia was folate deficiency (p = 0.0002), regardless of the MTHFR or the CBS genotype.

CONCLUSIONS

IBD patients have a higher prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia than do healthy controls. Folate deficiency is the only independent risk factor in developing hyperhomocysteinemia.

The comorbid occurrence of other diagnoses in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease

OBJECTIVES

The comorbidity between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other diagnoses may help to shed light on the etiology and pathophysiology of IBD. The US Vital Statistics offer the opportunity to study causes of death broken down by comorbid disease associations. The aim of this study was to analyze the presence of comorbid conditions in persons who died from ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.

METHODS

The numbers of deaths from ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease were retrieved from the computerized 1991-1996 data files of the National Center for Health Statistics. Comorbid associations between other diagnosis and ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease were expressed as age-, gender-, and race-standardized proportional mortality ratios.

RESULTS

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease showed, in general, similar patterns of comorbidity. Both diseases were associated with similar sets of GI complications, such as intestinal obstruction and stasis, mucosal inflammation and infection, vascular complications, and complications related to fistula and abscess formation. Extraintestinal complications of both IBD involved disorders of the hepatobiliary system, urinary system, and various coagulopathies. Ulcerative colitis alone was found to be associated with Hirschsprung's disease and schizophrenia, whereas Crohn's disease alone was found to be related with osteoporosis and amyloidosis.

CONCLUSIONS

No completely unexplained or hitherto undescribed association was revealed. The numerous intestinal and extraintestinal complications associated with IBD serve as a reminder of the systemic nature and the resultant clinical severity of both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.