Strictures of ascending colon in cystic fibrosis and high-strength pancreatic enzymes

Diagnosis and Management of Gastrointestinal Manifestations in Children with Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is primarily known for its pulmonary consequences, which are extensively explored in the existing literature. However, it is noteworthy that individuals with CF commonly display gastrointestinal (G-I) manifestations due to the substantial presence of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein in the intestinal tract. Recognized as pivotal nonpulmonary aspects of CF, G-I manifestations exhibit a diverse spectrum. Identifying and effectively managing these manifestations are crucial for sustaining health and influencing the overall quality of life for CF patients. This review aims to synthesize existing knowledge, providing a comprehensive overview of the G-I manifestations associated with CF. Each specific G-I manifestation, along with the diagnostic methodologies and therapeutic approaches, is delineated, encompassing the impact of innovative treatments targeting the fundamental effects of CF on the G-I tract. The findings underscore the imperative for prompt diagnosis and meticulous management of G-I manifestations, necessitating a multidisciplinary team approach for optimal care and enhancement of the quality of life for affected individuals. In conclusion, the authors emphasize the urgency for further clinical studies to establish a more robust evidence base for managing G-I symptoms within the context of this chronic disease. Such endeavors are deemed essential for advancing understanding and refining the clinical care of CF patients with G-I manifestations.

Incidence of fibrosing colonopathy with pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy in patients with cystic fibrosis

BACKGROUND

High daily doses of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) were historically associated with risk of fibrosing colonopathy (FC) in people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF), leading to development of PERT dosing guidelines and reformulated products. This study quantified incidence of FC in pwCF treated with PERT following those measures.

METHODS

This large prospective cohort study included eligible pwCF enrolled in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Patient Registry with ≥1 clinic visit in 2012-2014 and follow-up through 2020. Data on PERT exposure, demographics, and medical history were collected. Clinical data, imaging, and histopathology of suspected cases were examined by an independent adjudication panel of physicians familiar with this complication.

RESULTS

Base Study Population included 26,025 pwCF who contributed 155,814 person-years [mean (SD) 6.0 (2.0) years] of follow-up. Over 7.8 years, 29 pwCF had suspected FC; three cases were confirmed by adjudication, 22 cases were confirmed as not FC, and four cases were indeterminate. There were 22,161 pwCF exposed to any PERT, with mean PERT use time of 5.583 person-years and mean daily dose of 8328 U lipase per kg per day. All three confirmed cases and four indeterminate cases of FC occurred during current use of PERT. Incidence rates per 1000 person-years exposed were 0.0242 (95 % CI [0.0050, 0.0709]) for confirmed FC and 0.0566 (95 % CI [0.0227, 0.1166]) for indeterminate or confirmed FC.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of FC in pwCF is very low in the era of current treatment guidelines and more stringent quality standards for PERT products.

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in Children - Challenges in Management

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the leading etiology for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) in children, followed by chronic pancreatitis, Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, and other genetic disorders. Management of EPI in children poses several unique challenges such as difficulties in early recognition, lack of widespread availability of diagnostic tests and limited number of pediatric-specific pancreatic centers. Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy is the cornerstone of EPI management and in young children difficulties in administering pancreatic enzymes are frequently encountered. Patients with EPI also should be screened for fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies and receive appropriate supplementation. Among disorders with EPI in children, CF is the relatively well-studied condition, and most management recommendations for EPI in children come from expert consensus and conventional practice guidelines. The impact of EPI can be greater in children given their high metabolic demands and rapid growth. Early diagnosis and aggressive management of EPI prevent consequences of complications such as malnutrition, fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies, and poor bone health and improve outcomes. Management by multi-disciplinary team is the key to success.

Fibrosing Colonopathy Presenting in a Patient with Cystinosis

Fibrosing colonopathy is a unique pathology characterized by long segment stricture, usually of the ileocecal region. Historically, it is most commonly described in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Fibrosing colonopathy is felt to be secondary to excessive doses of exogenous lipase medication. This condition is rarely seen in the last decade. In this case presentation, fibrosing colonopathy was identified in a patient with the lysosomal storage disorder of cystinosis. Fibrosing colonopathy has not previously been described in patients with cystinosis. The patient was found to have fibrosing colonopathy after perforation of the colon during a colonoscopy for bloody diarrhea. This case report aims to draw attention to a noteworthy case of fibrosing colonopathy in a patient who does not have cystic fibrosis, but rather cystinosis.

Thinking outside the box: a review of gastrointestinal symptoms and complications in cystic fibrosis

INTRODUCTION

Gastrointestinal (GI)-related symptoms, complications, and comorbidities in cystic fibrosis (CF) are common and research to reduce their burden is a priority for the CF community. To enable future research, this review aimed to summarize the range of GI symptoms, complications and comorbidities seen in CF, the underlying pathophysiology, and treatments.

AREAS COVERED

This was a rapid systematic review undertaken using the recommendations from the Cochrane Rapid Reviews Methods Group. We searched databases including PubMed, Embase, Medline and the Cochrane database and identified those studies reporting GI-related symptoms, complications, or comorbidities in CF or their treatment. Our searches identified 2,930 studies and a total 119 studies met our inclusion criteria. Where a prevalence could be determined, GI symptoms were reported in 33.7% of study participants. The range of symptoms reported was broad and the highest median prevalence included flatulence (43.5%), bloating and abdominal distension (36%), and fatty stool (36%). Meconium ileus was reported in 12% and distal intestinal obstruction syndrome in 8.5.

EXPERT OPINION

GI-related symptoms, complications, and comorbidities in CF are common. More consistent characterization and recording of these symptoms in clinical studies may help achieve the priority of reducing the burden of GI disease in CF.

Changing paradigms in the treatment of gastrointestinal complications of cystic fibrosis in the era of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator modulators

Cystic fibrosis (CF) - although primarily a lung disease - also causes a variety of gastrointestinal manifestations which are important for diagnosis, prognosis and quality of life. All parts of the gastrointestinal tract can be affected by CF. Besides the well-known pancreatic insufficiency, gastroesophageal reflux disease, liver disease and diseases of the large intestine are important pathologies that impact on prognosis and also impair quality of life. Diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal manifestations will be discussed in this review. Since optimisation of CF therapy is associated with a significantly longer life-span of CF patients nowadays, also gastrointestinal malignancies, which are more common in CF than in the non-CF population need to be considered. Furthermore, novel evidence on the role of the gut microbiome in CF is emerging. The introduction of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein modulators gives hope for symptom alleviation and even cure of gastrointestinal manifestations of CF.

Luminal Gastrointestinal Manifestations of Cystic Fibrosis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

People with cystic fibrosis (CF) are living longer. General age-related and CF-specific gastrointestinal symptoms are increasingly recognized. In this article, we review the latest data on luminal gastrointestinal manifestations in CF.

RECENT FINDINGS

People with CF have increased incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms and often prescribed proton-pump inhibitors (PPI). PPI use may increase risk of pulmonary exacerbations. Evidence to support gastric fundoplication to improve pulmonary outcomes is limited. Features of intestinal dysmotility are common. There are distinct differences in the gut microbiome in the CF population which may have clinical implications. CF is a possible hereditary digestive cancer syndrome, particularly in regard to colorectal cancer (CRC) with earlier incidence of CRC and advanced colonic neoplasia. Early screening colonoscopy is warranted in the CF population. Gastrointestinal manifestations in CF are prevalent across all digestive organs. More study on the effect of interventions for symptomatic treatment and cancer screening is needed.

[Abdominal manifestations in cystic fibrosis : Clinical review]

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common fatal autosomal recessive disease in the Caucasian population. A mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator protein (CFTR) gene leads to the production of abnormally viscous mucus and secretions in the lungs of these patients. A similar pathology also occurs in other organs. In the abdomen, among others the gastrointestinal tract, the pancreas, and the hepatobiliary system are affected. The involvement of the pancreas leads to its exocrine and endocrine insufficiency. Hepatic manifestations include hepatic steatosis, focal biliary and multilobular cirrhosis, and portal hypertension. Biliary complications include cholelithiasis, microgallbladder, and sclerosing cholangitis. In the gastrointestinal tract, complications such as the distal intestinal obstruction syndrome, invaginations, chronic constipation, wall thickening, and fibrosis in the colon may occur. An important renal manifestation is nephrolithiasis. With currently rapidly increasing life expectancy of patients with cystic fibrosis, complications of extrapulmonary cystic fibrosis manifestations including hepatic and gastrointestinal malignancy could be an increasing cause of morbidity and mortality of these patients. It is therefore important for radiologists to know and recognize these clinical patterns and to monitor these manifestations in follow-up exams. Previous therapy of extrapulmonary manifestations has been largely symptomatic. Fortunately, the new CFTR modulators seem to represent an effective causal therapeutic approach here.

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency after pancreaticoduodenectomy: Current evidence and management

Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is the commonest procedure performed for pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) may be caused or exacerbated by surgery and remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. The aim of this review was to ascertain the incidence of PEI, its consequences and management in the setting of PD for indications other than chronic pancreatitis. A literature search of databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane and Scopus) was carried out with the MeSH terms "pancreatic exocrine insufficiency" and "Pancreaticoduodenectomy". Studies that analysed PEI and its complications in the setting of PD for malignant and benign disease were included. Studies reporting PEI in the setting of PD for chronic pancreatitis, conference abstracts and reviews were excluded. The incidence of PEI approached 100% following PD in some series. The pre-operative incidence varied depending on the characteristics of the patient cohort and it was higher (46%-93%) in series where pancreatic cancer was the predominant indication for surgery. Variability was also recorded with regards to the method used for the diagnosis and evaluation of pancreatic function and malabsorption. Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy is the mainstay of the management. PEI is common and remains undertreated after PD. Future studies are required for the identification of a well-tolerated, reliable and reproducible diagnostic test in this setting.

Nutrition in cystic fibrosis: From the past to the present and into the future

Nutritional management is an integral part of multidisciplinary care for persons with cystic fibrosis. This review will look at how nutrition care has evolved over time. In addition, we will look at how some newer therapies impact nutrition care.

Prevention of drug-related complications in cystic fibrosis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Due to continuous development of new drugs and better treatment strategies, survival of patients with cystic fibrosis has changed dramatically. Recently, targeted therapy of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators have become available. Despite these promising developments, treatment of this complex multiorgan disease constitutes a high and variable amount of other drugs. Complications of pharmacotherapeutic treatment are, therefore, expected to become more prevalent. This gives cause to review drug-related side effects in this new era in cystic fibrosis treatment.

RECENT FINDINGS

We will discuss cystic fibrosis-related pharmacotherapies with a focus on indication of treatment, side effects and their complications, drug--drug interactions, and options to monitor and prevent drug-induced toxicity. Many recent publications about pharmacotherapy in cystic fibrosis, focus on antifungal therapy and CFTR modulators. We will give an overview of the most important studies.

SUMMARY

With increased life expectancy which is, in part, because of better treatment options, the burden of pharmacotherapy in cystic fibrosis patients will increase. This has a high impact on quality of life as pharmacotherapy is time consuming and may cause side effects. Therefore, it is very important to be aware of possible pharmacotherapy-related side effects and their complications, drug--drug interactions, and options to monitor and prevent drug-induced toxicity.

Meconium Ileus

Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common inheritable traits in Caucasians. Meconium ileus and its potential complications are the most likely reasons that these patients will need surgical care. Surgical intervention is usually needed in the neonatal period but may also be required later in life. This article discusses the various ways cystic fibrosis can affect the gastrointestinal tract. Both the operative and nonoperative management of complicated and uncomplicated meconium ileus are discussed in the neonatal period as well as long-term issues, such as distal intestinal obstructive syndrome, fibrosing colonopathy, and rectal prolapse, all of which may be seen in older children and adults.

Efficacy and safety of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy on exocrine pancreatic insufficiency: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) is widely applied to patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), but its effect and safety has not been quantified. Therefore we performed a meta-analysis to determine the efficacy and tolerance of PERT on patients with EPI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed, Medline, Cochrane library database, Evidence-based medicine/clinical trials published before December 2016 were searched by two independent reviewers to identify prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

RESULTS

Seven RCTs, randomizing a total of 282 patients, were filtrated and assessed qualitatively (Jadad score). PERT increased CFA (WMD: 26.56, 20.35 to 32.76, I2= 79.6%, P < 0.001) compared with baseline, and CFA (WMD: 17.97, 12.61 to 23.34, I2 = 76.7%, P < 0.001) vs. placebo. Meanwhile, CNA, SFE, SNE and SW were significantly improved in PERT compared with baseline and placebo, with no statistical differences in adverse events. Subgroup analysis indicated that standard forms of PERT displayed more effectiveness with significantly decreased heterogeneity, and large sample size also reduced the heterogeneity to some degree.

CONCLUSIONS

PERT is demonstrated to be effective and tolerable in patients with EPI, especially using standard administration of PERT. Larger and higher quality studies on EPI are demanded to long-term effect of standard PERT treatment.

Gastrointestinal, Pancreatic, and Hepatobiliary Manifestations of Cystic Fibrosis

Pulmonary disease is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), but significant involvement within gastrointestinal, pancreatic, and hepatobiliary systems occurs as well. As in the airways, defects in CFTR alter epithelial surface fluid, mucus viscosity, and pH, increasing risk of stasis through the various hollow epithelial-lined structures of the gastrointestinal tract. This exerts secondary influences that are responsible for most gastrointestinal, pancreatic, and hepatobiliary manifestations of CF. Understanding these gastrointestinal morbidities of CF is essential in understanding and treating CF as a multisystem disease process and improving overall patient care.

Beyond pancreatic insufficiency and liver disease in cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a life shortening hereditary disease, primarily leading to progressive pulmonary infection and exocrine pancreatic dysfunction. Several gastrointestinal complications other than malabsorption can arise during the disease course and with the progressively increasing life span of patients with CF; new and more rare complications are being recognized. We review the literature on gastrointestinal manifestations in CF, excluding the liver and pancreas.

CONCLUSION

We describe the clinical presentation and treatment of more common conditions like gastroesophageal reflux, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, intussusception, meconium ileus, distal intestinal obstruction syndrome, and constipation, and we also discuss what is known on celiac disease, appendicitis, fibrosing colonopathy, inflammation and inflammatory bowel disease and gastrointestinal cancer.

WHAT IS KNOWN

• Gastrointestinal complications arise early in the course of the disease and have a severe impact on the quality of life of the patients. What is New: • This review is a concise summary of the current literature on gastrointestinal complications of cystic fibrosis. • We focused on clinical presentation and diagnostic investigations and provide a comprehensive resume of the current treatment options.

Ulceration of the Small and Large Bowel Mucosain Resection Specimens of Cystic Fibrosis Patients with Fibrosing Colonopathy

Fibrosing colonopathy (FC), observed in cystic fibrosis patients taking high-strength pancreatic enzyme preparations, is characterized by progressive obstruction of the ascending colon, with long-segment fusiform stenosis due to the deposition of submucosal fibrous tissue. The pathogenesis is uncertain, although direct toxic damage to the colonic mucosa by a constituent of such preparations has been proposed as an explanation. Mucosal defects and rectal bleeding have been observed by colonoscopy in cystic fibrosis patients at risk for and with evident FC. In a quantitative, observational study, mucosal defects were studied in six ileo-cecal resection specimens with FC confirmed by three independent pathologists' review. Representative areas (2.5-cm-long segments) were taken of terminal ileum, cecal colon, and ascending colon both at the site of most severe stenosis and at the most distal ascending colon site available; after processing with paraffin, the areas were serially sectioned at 500-μm intervals for the preparation of 5-μm sections for microscopical assessment. Marking in each section the area affected by (repairing) ulceration, and using three-dimensional reconstructions of the bowel lining, individual mucosal lesions were reconstructed. Using the reconstructed bowels, point scoring analysis of the area fraction affected by ulceration as well as the area of individual lesions was carried out. Lesions of variable age were found in the terminal

Cystic fibrosis from the gastroenterologist's perspective

Cystic fibrosis is a life-limiting, recessive disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Increased survival outcomes and the multisystem nature of the disease, including the involvement of hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal tracts, now require the need for more extensive knowledge and expertise in cystic fibrosis among gastroenterologists. Manifestations are either a direct consequence of the primary defect in cystic fibrosis or a secondary complication of the disease or therapy. Adult patients with cystic fibrosis also have an increased risk of malignancy in the gastrointestinal and pancreatico-biliary tracts compared with the general population. Novel treatments that target the basic defects in the CFTR protein have emerged, but to date not much is known about their effects on the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary systems. The introduction of such therapies has provided new opportunities for the application of intestinal endpoints in clinical trials and the understanding of underlying disease mechanisms that affect the gut in cystic fibrosis.

Emergency laparoscopic ileo-colic resection and primary intracorporeal anastomosis for Crohn's acute ileitis with free perforation and faecal peritonitis: first ever reported laparoscopic treatment

INTRODUCTION

Laparoscopy for abdominal surgical emergencies is gaining increasing acceptance given the spreading of advanced laparoscopic skills among modern surgeons, as it may allow at the same time an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment of acute abdomen. The use of the laparoscopic approach also in case of diffuse peritonitis is now becoming accepted provided hemodynamic stability, despite the common belief in the past decades that such severe condition represented an indication for conversion to open surgery or an immediate contraindication to continue laparoscopy. Crohn's Disease (CD) is a rare cause of acute abdomen and peritonitis, only a few cases of CD acute perforations are reported in the published literature; these cases have always been approached and treated by open laparotomy.

CASE DESCRIPTION

We report on a case of a faecal peritonitis due to an acute perforation caused by a terminal ileitis in an undiagnosed CD. The patient underwent diagnostic laparoscopy followed by a laparoscopic ileo-colic resection and primary intracorporeal anastomosis, with a successful postoperative outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Complicated CD has to be considered within the possible causes of small bowel non-traumatic perforation. Emergency laparoscopy with resection and primary intra-corporeal anastomosis can be feasible and may be a safe and effective minimally invasive alternative to open surgery even in case of faecal peritonitis, in selected stable patients and in presence of appropriate laparoscopic colorectal surgical skills and experience. To the best of our knowledge the present experience is the first ever reported case managed with a totally laparoscopic extended ileocecal resection with intracorporeal anastomosis in case of acutely perforated CD and diffuse peritonitis.

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency in pancreatic cancer: A review of the literature

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency is a well-documented complication of chronic pancreatitis; however, study results of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency in pancreatic cancer are less consistent. This applies for patients who are treated non-surgically and those who undergo curative pancreatic cancer resection. This review article summarizes relevant studies addressing pancreatic exocrine insufficiency in pancreatic cancer, with particular differentiation between non-surgically and surgically treated patients, as well as between the different surgeries. We also summarize studies addressing pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy in pancreatic cancer.

Evidence for a Cystic Fibrosis Enteropathy

Background

Previous studies have suggested the existence of enteropathy in cystic fibrosis (CF), which may contribute to intestinal function impairment, a poor nutritional status and decline in lung function. This study evaluated enterocyte damage and intestinal inflammation in CF and studied its associations with nutritional status, CF-related morbidities such as impaired lung function and diabetes, and medication use.

Methods

Sixty-eight CF patients and 107 controls were studied. Levels of serum intestinal-fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP), a specific marker for enterocyte damage, were retrospectively determined. The faecal intestinal inflammation marker calprotectin was prospectively studied. Nutritional status, lung function (FEV1), exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), CF-related diabetes (CFRD) and use of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) were obtained from the medical charts.

Results

Serum I-FABP levels were elevated in CF patients as compared with controls (p<0.001), and correlated negatively with FEV1 predicted value in children (r-.734, p<0.05). Faecal calprotectin level was elevated in 93% of CF patients, and correlated negatively with FEV1 predicted value in adults (r-.484, p<0.05). No correlation was found between calprotectin levels in faeces and sputum. Faecal calprotectin level was significantly associated with the presence of CFRD, EPI, and PPI use.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated enterocyte damage and intestinal inflammation in CF patients, and provides evidence for an inverse correlation between enteropathy and lung function. The presented associations of enteropathy with important CF-related morbidities further emphasize the clinical relevance.

The Pancreas: Causes for Malabsorption

Background

The pancreas has a central function in digestion and glucose homeostasis. With regard to the exocrine function, which is responsible for the digestion and absorption of nutrients and vitamins, the most important disturbances of these physiological processes are based on deficiencies in enzyme production and secretion, either due to impaired excretion caused by obstruction of the pancreatic duct or due to loss of pancreatic tissue. Both conditions result in maldigestion, malabsorption, and malnutrition.

Methods

Systematic literature review.

Results

Symptoms associated with pancreatic exocrine failure are gastrointestinal discomfort, steatorrhea, and weight loss. Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency caused by ductal obstruction occurs in chronic pancreatitis or with neoplasia of the pancreatic head. Loss of functional parenchyma can be caused either by chronic pancreatitis resulting in fibrotic replacement of the destroyed parenchyma or by a postoperative state of pancreatic resection.

Conclusion

In patients with chronic pancreatitis, a stage-adapted and timely therapy including conservative as well as surgical measures is essential to prevent functional deterioration and to preserve residual function. In the case of pancreatic resection for chronic pancreatitis, this can be achieved with modern organ-sparing surgery such as the duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection. In patients requiring more extended pancreatic resections and even total duodenopancreatectomy, regardless of the underlying indication, adequate enzyme replacement and monitoring of the nutritional status is critical to prevent impairment of quality of life as well as detrimental malnutrition in the long term.

Gastrointestinal Manifestations of Cystic Fibrosis

Gastrointestinal symptoms of cystic fibrosis are the most important non-pulmonary manifestations of this genetic illness. Pancreatic manifestations include acute and chronic pancreatitis as well as pancreas insufficiency resulting in malnutrition. Complications in the gastrointestinal lumen are diverse and include distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (DIOS), meconium ileus, intussusception, and constipation; biliary tract complications include focal biliary cirrhosis and cholangiectasis. The common pathophysiology is the inspissation of secretions in the hollow structures of the gastrointestinal tract. Improved survival of CF patients mandates that the adult gastroenterologist be aware of the presentation and treatment of pancreatic, luminal, and hepatobiliary CF complications.

Study design considerations for evaluating the efficacy and safety of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy in patients with cystic fibrosis

In 2006, the US FDA issued a 'Guidance for Industry' regarding submission of New Drug Applications for pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) products. Five oral delayed-release PERT products have been approved by the FDA, and several others are under development and/ or evaluation for New Drug Application submission. We present in this paper recommendations of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Therapeutics Development Network and Data Safety Monitoring Board regarding study design considerations for evaluating PERT products in patients with CF. Careful attention to study design and accuracy of the outcome measures has confirmed our understanding of the efficacy and safety of PERT for the treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency of CF.

Maximal daily dose of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy in infants with cystic fibrosis: a reconsideration

The current recommendations for dosing of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) in infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) were made using a limited evidence base. The per meal recommended dose was extrapolated from dosing guidelines for older patients into a maximal daily dose for infants. We discuss why this maximal daily dose recommendation may be insufficient for young infants with CF, although the optimal dose of PERT for infants with CF remains unknown.

Acute appendicitis mimicking intestinal obstruction in a patient with cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease of the secretory glands caused by mutations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene. The clinical manifestations of CF are repetitive lung infections, biliary cirrhosis, pancreatic abnormalities, and gastrointestinal disorders. We report a 21-year-old Taiwanese man with CF who had abdominal pain for 2 days. The diagnosis of CF had been confirmed by peripheral blood analysis of the CFTR gene 5 years before admission. He presented to the emergency department with nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, and crampy abdominal pain, which is atypical for acute appendicitis. The physical examination and a series of studies revealed intestinal obstruction, but acute appendicitis could not be ruled out. After conservative treatment, together with empiric antibiotics, the refractory abdominal pain and leukocytosis with a left-shift warranted surgical intervention. A diagnostic laparoscopy revealed a swollen, hyperemic appendix, a severely distended small intestine, and serous ascites. The laparoscopic procedure was converted to a laparotomy for open disimpaction and appendectomy. He was discharged on the eighth postoperative day. The histologic examination of the appendix was consistent with early appendicitis. In conclusion, acute abdominal pain in adult CF patients is often associated with intestinal obstruction syndrome. The presentation of concurrent appendicitis may be indolent and lead not only to diagnostic difficulties, but also a number of therapeutic choices.

Liprotamase long-term safety and support of nutritional status in pancreatic-insufficient cystic fibrosis

OBJECTIVES

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) who have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) require treatment with pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) to maintain adequate nutrition and age-appropriate growth and weight gain. Liprotamase, a nonporcine, highly purified biotechnology-derived PERT, has demonstrated significant efficacy in fat and protein malabsorption in patients with EPI compared to placebo. This study of liprotamase is the first ever long-term trial of a PERT to evaluate safety and nutritional parameters.

METHODS

This phase III 12-month open-label trial assessed the safety, tolerability, and long-term nutritional effects of liprotamase treatment in patients with CF and EPI 7 years and older. All of the patients were required to discontinue their long-term use of porcine PERTs at the time of enrollment. Dosing started at 1 capsule of liprotamase (32,500 US Pharmacopoeia (USP) units crystallized cross-linked lipase, 25,000 USP units crystallized protease, and 3,750 USP units amorphous amylase) per meal or snack; dose could be increased based on protocol-defined parameters.

RESULTS

A total of 215 subjects were enrolled and 214 received at least 1 dose of liprotamase (mean 5.5 capsules per day). During the study period, height, weight, and body mass index z scores and lung function as measured by forced expiratory volume in 1 second were stable. There were no clinically meaningful changes in laboratory tests, including levels of fat-soluble vitamins. Liprotamase was well tolerated without any significant safety concerns. Adverse events, primarily gastrointestinal, led to treatment discontinuation for 36 subjects (16.8%), most within the first 3 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with a mean of 5.5 capsules of liprotamase per day, during meals and snacks, for up to 12 months was safe, well tolerated, and associated with age-appropriate growth and weight gain or weight maintenance in subjects with CF-related EPI.

Combination of low-dose aspirin and thienopyridine exacerbates small bowel injury

OBJECTIVE

Antithrombotics is increasingly being used for cardiovascular prevention. In more recent studies, small bowel injury and enteropathy associated with low-dose aspirin are increasingly being recognized. Aim of this study was to evaluate small bowel injury using video capsule endoscopy (VCE) in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) patients taking low-dose aspirin including other antithrombotics.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This is a retrospective review of chronic users of antithrombotics who underwent VCE for suspected small bowel bleeding. Small bowel mucosal injury was evaluated using VCE findings.

RESULTS

Fifty-four OGIB patients (36 men and 18 women, mean age 72.4 years) underwent VCE from January 2007 to May 2009. Twenty-two patients were taking 100 mg of enteric-coated aspirin (aspirin group), 8 taking thienopyridine, (ticlopidine or clopidogrel, thienopyridine group), 13 taking aspirin combined with thienopyridine (combined group), and 11 taking warfarin (warfarin group). The mucosal injury, especially ulcers were most frequently detected in the combined group (46.2%, p = 0.01) among the four groups. The median number of redness lesions in the combined group was the highest among the four groups and was significantly higher than that in the warfarin group. The lesions of redness or small erosions in the aspirin and the combined groups tended to exist in the proximal part of small bowel.

CONCLUSIONS

Combination of low-dose aspirin therapy and thienopyridine may exacerbate small bowel injury, and the preventive strategies should be established.

CREON (Pancrelipase Delayed-Release Capsules) for the treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is associated with conditions including cystic fibrosis (CF), chronic pancreatitis (CP), and pancreatic surgery (PS). The symptoms include maldigestion, malnutrition, weight loss, flatulence, and steatorrhea. Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) is the standard treatment for EPI; it is regulated in many countries and most recently in the USA following a US FDA mandate for all PERT manufacturers to submit new drug applications. Pancrelipase delayed-release capsules (CREON®, Abbott, Marietta, GA, USA) have been available in Europe since 1984 and in the USA since 1987; a new formulation was the first PERT to gain approval in the USA in 2009. The efficacy and safety of CREON have been demonstrated in double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials in patients with CF aged ≥7 years and in patients with CP or post-PS. The data consistently demonstrate significantly better fat and nitrogen absorption with CREON versus placebo, and improvements in clinical symptoms, stool frequency, and body weight. Additionally, efficacy and safety of CREON have been shown in open-label studies in young children with CF (aged 1 month to 6 years), with control of fat malabsorption and control of clinical symptoms. The most commonly reported adverse events (AEs) with PERT are gastrointestinal disorders and allergic skin reactions. In clinical studies, CREON was well tolerated with very few withdrawals due to AEs and a low frequency of AEs judged treatment related, regardless of patient age. To further support the known safety profile of PERT, all manufacturers are required to investigate risk factors for fibrosing colonopathy, a rare gastrointestinal complication of CF, and the theoretical risk of viral transmission from porcine-derived PERT products. Together, the clinical study data and wealth of clinical experience suggest that CREON is effective and safe in patients with EPI regardless of etiology, with a very favorable risk-benefit profile.

Management of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency: Australasian Pancreatic Club recommendations

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) occurs when the amounts of enzymes secreted into the duodenum in response to a meal are insufficient to maintain normal digestive processes. The main clinical consequence of PEI is fat maldigestion and malabsorption, resulting in steatorrhoea. Pancreatic exocrine function is commonly assessed by conducting a 3-day faecal fat test and by measuring levels of faecal elastase-1 and serum trypsinogen. Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy is the mainstay of treatment for PEI. In adults, the initial recommended dose of pancreatic enzymes is 25,000 units of lipase per meal, titrating up to a maximum of 80,000 units of lipase per meal. In infants and children, the initial recommended dose of pancreatic enzymes is 500 units of lipase per gram of dietary fat; the maximum daily dose should not exceed 10,000 units of lipase per kilogram of bodyweight. Oral pancreatic enzymes should be taken with meals to ensure adequate mixing with the chyme. Adjunct therapy with acid-suppressing agents may be useful in patients who continue to experience symptoms of PEI despite high-dose enzyme therapy. A dietitian experienced in treating PEI should be involved in patient management. Dietary fat restriction is not recommended for patients with PEI. Patients with PEI should be encouraged to consume small, frequent meals and to abstain from alcohol. Medium-chain triglycerides do not provide any clear nutritional advantage over long-chain triglycerides, but can be trialled in patients who fail to gain or to maintain adequate bodyweight in order to increase energy intake.

Drug-induced Injury of the Gastrointestinal Tract

The effects of drugs on the gastrointestinal tract are diverse and depend on numerous factors. Diagnosis is centered on histologic findings, with mostly nonspecific patterns of injury that must be interpreted in the correct clinical context. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs are a common cause of drug-induced gastrointestinal injury, with effects primarily in the gastric mucosa but also throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Another common class of drugs causing a variety of pathologic findings in the gut is chemotherapeutic agents. This article discusses the differential diagnosis of the various patterns of injury, including ischemic damage, and the histologic findings specific for certain drugs.

Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy in chronic pancreatitis

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a serious condition which occurs in several diseases including chronic pancreatitis (CP), cystic fibrosis, pancreatic cancer, and as a result of pancreatic surgery. The lack or absence of pancreatic enzymes leads to an inadequate absorption of fat, proteins, and carbohydrates, causing steatorrhoea and creathorrhea which results in abdominal discomfort, weight loss, and nutritional deficiencies. To avoid malnutrition related morbidity and mortality, it is pivotal to commence pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) as soon as EPI is diagnosed. Factors as early acidic inactivation of ingested enzymes, under dosage, and patient incompliance may prevent normalisation of nutrient absorption, in particular of fat digestion. This review focuses on the current status of how to diagnose and treat EPI.

Randomized, double-blind, pilot study of geranylgeranylacetone versus placebo in patients taking low-dose enteric-coated aspirin. Low-dose aspirin-induced small bowel damage

OBJECTIVE

Low-dose enteric-coated aspirin is increasingly being used for prevention of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether geranylgeranylacetone (GGA) could prevent aspirin-induced small bowel injury.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, pilot study of GGA versus placebo in subjects taking low-dose enteric-coated aspirin. Young healthy volunteers were enrolled and each received 100 mg of enteric-coated aspirin per day plus either GGA (150 mg/day) or matching placebo for 7 days. Video capsule endoscopy of the small bowel and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) questionnaire were performed before and after the administration of aspirin.

RESULTS

Twenty volunteers were evaluated. There was no significant difference in the number of lesions in any category between those receiving or not receiving GGA. Large erosions or ulcers were observed in 12 (60%; 95% confidence interval 36%- 80%) aspirin users. Mucosal breaks were most frequently found in the latter half of the proximal small bowel.

CONCLUSIONS

Short-term administration of low-dose enteric-coated aspirin was associated with visible small bowel damage in the majority of users. We could not prove that aspirin-induced small bowel mucosal injury was prevented by GGA.

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation evidence-based guidelines for management of infants with cystic fibrosis

Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis (CF) offers the opportunity for early medical and nutritional intervention that can lead to improved outcomes. Management of the asymptomatic infant diagnosed with CF through newborn screening, prenatal diagnosis, or sibling screening is different from treatment of the symptomatically diagnosed individual. The focus of management is on maintaining health by preventing nutritional and respiratory complications. The CF Foundation convened a committee to develop recommendations based on a systematic review of the evidence and expert opinion. These guidelines encompass monitoring and treatment recommendations for infants diagnosed with CF and are intended to help guide families, primary care providers, and specialty care centers in the care of infants with CF.

Familial occurrence of an association of multiple intestinal atresia and choanal atresia: a new syndrome?

We report on two familial cases from a non-consanguineous marriage, presenting multiple intestinal and choanal atresia. Massive hydramnios and dilatation of the bowel were observed at 29 weeks of gestation during routine ultrasound scan of a healthy mother. The fetal karyotype was normal and cystic fibrosis screening was negative. Regular scans were performed throughout the pregnancy. The child was born at 34 weeks gestation. Choanal atresia was diagnosed at birth and abdominal investigations showed multiple atresia interesting both the small bowel and the colon. Further interventions were necessary because of recurrent obstructions. During the following pregnancy, a dilatation of the fetal intestinal tract was detected by ultrasonography at 27 weeks of gestation. Pregnancy was interrupted. Post-mortem examination of the fetus confirmed the stenosis of long segments of the small intestine associated with areas of colonic atresia. In both cases, histology and distribution were consistent with those reported in hereditary multiple intestinal atresia (HMIA). An association between multiple intestinal and choanal atresia has never been reported. We suggest it could correspond to a new autosomal recessive entity for which cytogenetic investigations and high-resolution array CGH revealed no visible anomalies.

Lymphocytic leiomyositis and myenteric ganglionitis are intrinsic features of cystic fibrosis: studies in distal intestinal obstruction syndrome and meconium ileus

BACKGROUND

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a multisystem disorder intrinsically associated with inflammation of mucosal surfaces. Because inflammation can result in enteric neuromuscular dysfunction we hypothesized that terminal ileitis in patients with CF may predispose to distal ileal obstruction syndrome (DIOS).

METHODS AND PATIENTS

Full-thickness terminal ileal tissues from 6 children with CF and severe DIOS, 6 infants with complicated meconium ileus (MI), and 6 children with non-CF intestinal atresia were studied.

RESULTS

Lymphocyte-predominant mucosal and transmural ileal inflammation was present in 6 of 6 patients with DIOS. Lymphocytic ganglionitis was present in 4 of 6 although numbers of myenteric neurons were not decreased (5/5). Myocyte proteins were preserved (6/6). Mild submucosal fibrosis was common in DIOS (5/6) and transformation of submucosal fibroblasts to a myofibroblastic phenotype was noted in 4 of 6. Inflammatory changes were distinct from those described in fibrosing colonopathy. Antroduodenal manometry in an individual who had experienced MI/DIOS was consistent with a neuropathic pseudo-obstructive process. Submucosal or transmural lymphocyte predominant inflammation was also present in 6 of 6 infants with complicated MI, which, when coupled with submucosal myofibroblast proliferation (5/6), appeared highly predictive of CF rather than non-CF atresia. Histological findings at birth were similar, although milder, than those seen in DIOS, suggesting that these changes are a primary abnormality in CF.

CONCLUSIONS

Submucosal or transmural inflammation of the ileum is common in newborns with CF and MI and older children with DIOS. Severe recurrent DIOS should be investigated with seromuscular and mucosal biopsy of the ileum to seek a transmural ileitis potentially amenable to anti-inflammatory therapies.

Establishing causality in the assessment of safety of medicines for children

BACKGROUND

Data on safety of medicines in children typically arises from various sources, rendering assessment of causality challenging.

METHODS

We outline these sources, together with their strengths and weaknesses. Bradford Hill proposed criteria for assessment of causality of observed associations; we explore their utility in this context.

CONCLUSION

Collaborations between clinicians, epidemiologists and clinical pharmacologists, making intelligent use of both older and newer methodologies, can help make the use of medicines in children safer.

Patterns of gastrointestinal disease associated with mutations of CFTR

This review focuses on the pathobiology of the gastrointestinal and hepatic manifestations of cystic fibrosis (CF) disease in relation to their genetic basis in mutations of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. It reviews the nature of the CFTR protein, a categorization of the types of gene mutations underlying CF's various manifestations, and the ways in which absent or reduced CFTR produces various functional abnormalities in the different organs affected by CF. Subsequently, the particular organ-related clinical manifestations of CF directly associated with loss of CFTR function are addressed. Thereafter, the review discusses some of the complexities of the genotype-phenotype relationships related to milder mutations or complex genetic disorders in which CFTR abnormalities interact with other genetic and environmental factors, and the potential diagnostic roles of sweat testing or other electrophysiologic testing. This discussion examines secondary gastrointestinal manifestations of CF and the particular cases of diseases that may be related to abnormalities of CFTR.

[Drug-induced enterocolitis]

Drug-induced enterocolitis is a frequent but underdiagnosed disease. Gross and microscopic features are often non-specific, except for particular cases. Drug-induced enterocolitis is usually a diagnosis of exclusion. In this article we describe the pathologic features and causes of various cases of drug-induced enterocolitis.

Drug-induced side effects affecting the gastrointestinal tract

With the ever-growing armamentarium of pharmacological agents, the gastrointestinal drug-induced side effects of dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation are increasingly seen. They are often self-limiting and without serious sequelae, but of greater concern is drug-induced mucosal ulceration that can manifest as gastrointestinal haemorrhage, stricture and perforation. These complications are mainly attributable to NSAIDs and aspirin, which can injure the mucosa anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract. These iatrogenic serious side effects can be reduced with co-prescription of a proton pump inhibitor, substitution of a COX-2 inhibitor and eradication of Helicobacter pylori when the bacterium is present. Other recognised gastrointestinal complications include small intestinal diaphragm, microscopic colitis, a range of hepatotoxic effects and pancreatitis. The introduction of new classes of drugs has resulted in new adverse effects that require consideration in patients presenting with gastroenterological symptoms. These include pill oesophagitis from bisphosphonates and ischaemic colitis relating to serotonin antagonists. Here, the authors review the literature on drug-induced complications of the gastrointestinal tract and present the pertinent management issues relevant to clinical practice.