A subgroup of first-degree relatives of Crohn's disease patients shows a profile of inflammatory markers in the blood which is more typical of Crohn's disease patients than of normal individuals

Abnormal platelet parameters in inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Platelet dysfunction plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Despite clinical observations indicating abnormalities in platelet parameters among IBD patients, inconsistencies persist, and these parameters lack standardization for diagnosis or clinical assessment.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted in the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases for relevant articles published up to December 16th, 2023. A random-effects model was employed to pool the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and plateletcrit (PCT) between IBD patients and healthy controls, and subgroup analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis included 79 articles with 8,350 IBD patients and 13,181 healthy individuals. The results revealed significantly increased PLT and PCT levels (WMD: 69.910, 95% CI: 62.177, 77.643 109/L; WMD: 0.046%, 95% CI: 0.031%, 0.061%), and decreased MPV levels (WMD: -0.912, 95% CI: -1.086, -0.739 fL) in IBD patients compared to healthy individuals. No significant difference was found in PDW between the IBD and control groups (WMD: -0.207%, 95% CI: -0.655%, 0.241%). Subgroup analysis by disease type and disease activity showed no change in the differences for PLT, PCT, and MPV in the ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease groups, as well as the active and inactive groups. Notably, the active group exhibited significantly lower PDW levels than the control group (WMD: -1.138%, 95% CI: -1.535%, -0.741%).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with healthy individuals, IBD patients display significantly higher PLT and PCT and significantly lower MPV. Monitoring the clinical manifestations of platelet abnormalities serves as a valuable means to obtain diagnostic and prognostic information. Conversely, proactive measures should be taken to prevent the consequences of platelet abnormalities in individuals with IBD.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42023493848.

Preclinical and Undiagnosed Crohn's Disease: The Submerged Iceberg

Little is known on the natural history of Crohn's disease (CD) before diagnosis. By the time the patient is diagnosed, the disease has often produced considerable damage to the intestinal mucosa and sometimes other organs. Such period before diagnosis might involve both a silent and a symptomatic phase. The silent phase, or preclinical CD, might last several years after the biological disease onset. Evidence is accumulating that the symptomatic phase might also go undiagnosed for months or years. In fact, for each established case of CD, there are probably several undiagnosed cases, a classic iceberg phenomenon of disease. Such status quo--lagging behind diagnostic standards for many other diseases--effectively hampers efforts to block disease evolution and the development of complications. This is no longer tenable because CD is a debilitating, severe, and costly affection, whose incidence is rapidly rising worldwide. Here, we will review what is currently known on preclinical and undiagnosed CD and what could be done to improve accuracy and timeliness of diagnosis.

Tissue studies in screened first-degree relatives reveal a distinct Crohn's disease phenotype

BACKGROUND

First-degree relatives of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) are at risk of developing the disease with 5% to 15% reported to be affected over time. Yet, a much greater proportion of them (>40%) shows features of "subclinical inflammation" with elevated intestinal inflammatory markers such as fecal calprotectin. The meaning of these findings is unclear in the absence of tissue data.

METHODS

Thirty-eight asymptomatic first-degree relatives of patients with CD underwent ileocolonoscopy and other tests including fecal calprotectin. All known causes of intestinal inflammation were carefully excluded. Age and gender-matched controls consisted of 10 individuals who underwent colonoscopy for other reasons. Histology was scored based on known methods.

RESULTS

Compared with controls, the relatives had significantly greater median values for fecal calprotectin and histological scores. In relatives, endoscopy identified 3 different phenotypes: (1) normal, (2) with minor lesions (aphthae or small superficial erosions), and (3) with typical CD inflammation. Based on the histological scores, the clustering analysis produced 3 corresponding highly separated clusters (61%, 26%, and 13% of the total, respectively) with divisive coefficient D = 0.94. When followed up (on the average for 53 mo), individuals in the second cluster had histological scores similar to baseline values (P = 0.12).

CONCLUSIONS

Tissue studies in first-degree relatives of patients with CD reveal 3 distinct groups: normal, with minimal inflammation, and with frank disease. The second cluster represents a novel phenotype, which does not seem to develop the disease over time. These findings explain previous observations of "subclinical inflammation" in such population.

Relação entre estado nutricional e atividade inflamatória em pacientes com doença inflamatória intestinal

RACIONAL: As doenças inflamatórias intestinais caracterizam-se por diversos sintomas que afetam o aparelho digestório e, consequentemente, podem interferir sobre o estado nutricional. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o estado nutricional de pacientes com doença inflamatória intestinal em diferentes estágios de atividade inflamatória. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 55 pacientes com doença inflamatória intestinal, por meio de dados antropométricos, com aferição de peso, altura, circunferência do braço e prega cutânea do tríceps e tiveram sua composição corporal determinada por impedância bioelétrica. Para determinação de atividade inflamatória da doença foram utilizados os níveis séricos de proteína C reativa e o índice de Harvey e Bradshaw. Para comparação de médias foi usado o teste t não pareado, e para as médias não paramétricas, o teste de Mann-Whitney, considerando nível de significância valor de p<0,05. RESULTADOS: Entre os pacientes avaliados, 28 apresentavam doença de Crohn e 27 retocolite ulcerativa inespecífica, com idade entre 19 e 63 anos e tempo de diagnóstico de 1 a 22 anos. Não houve diferença nas medidas antropométricas e na composição corporal dos pacientes cuja doença inflamatória estava em atividade ou em remissão. Os que usaram glicocorticóides nos seis meses anteriores à avaliação apresentaram percentual de gordura corporal de 23,4±8,2%, enquanto para os que não usaram o percentual foi de 30,7±11,3 (p<0,0199). Os sintomas gastrintestinais mais comuns foram distensão abdominal (41%), diarréia (18%), náusea (13%), obstipação (12%), inapetência (11%) e vômito (5%). Todos os sintomas foram mais frequentes nos pacientes com maior índice de massa corporal e de gordura corporal. CONCLUSÃO: Houve maior número de pacientes com excesso de peso e de gordura corporal, sendo que esses pacientes foram mais sintomáticos e apresentaram maiores valores de proteína C reativa.

Accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound for restaging rectal cancer following neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy

OBJECTIVES

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) provides important information in the initial staging of patients with rectal cancer. Preoperative combined modality chemotherapy and radiation (neoadjuvant therapy) for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer may reduce local recurrence and improve survival. The accuracy of EUS restaging of rectal cancer after chemoradiation has not been extensively studied and its usefulness is unclear. The aim of this study was to verify the accuracy of EUS in staging rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiation in a large cohort of patients.

METHODS

EUS staging was performed before and after concurrent 5-fluorouracil and hyperfractionated radiotherapy in 82 patients with recently diagnosed locally advanced rectal cancer. All patients underwent subsequent surgical resection and complete pathologic staging.

RESULTS

After chemoradiation, 16 patients (20%) had no residual disease at pathologic staging. (T0N0). However, EUS correctly predicted complete response to chemoradiation in only 10 of 16 patients (63%). Overall accuracy of EUS post chemoradiation for pathologic T-stage was only 48%. Fourteen percent were understaged and 38% overstaged. EUS accuracy for N-stage was 77%. The T-category was correctly staged before surgery in 23 of the 56 responders (41%) and in 16 of 24 nonresponders (67%). EUS was unable to accurately distinguish postradiation changes from residual tumor.

CONCLUSION

EUS staging of rectal cancer after chemoradiation is inaccurate, especially in the group of patients with visual and EUS evidence of response. Its routine use for staging purposes after neoadjuvant chemoradiation for rectal cancer should be discouraged.