Effects of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases on left ventricular structure and function: a study protocol

Influence of systemic manifestations of inflammatory bowel diseases on endothelial function and cardiovascular risk

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) may be complicated by extraintestinal manifestations (EIM). Both conditions may be implicated in the overall increase of cardiovascular (CV) risk profile of the patients. The study aimed to assess CV risk in IBD patients with EIMs in relation to the stages of both diseases.

METHODS

A total of 70 (38 men, mean age 51.7±12.4 years) patients with IBD and 22 controls (12 men, mean age 49.2±13.6 years) were enrolled. All patients and controls were screened for extraintestinal manifestations and underwent physical and anthropometric examinations, standard laboratory investigations, ultrasound evaluation of carotid arteries and flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD). Patients were divided into four groups in relation to their active or remission stage of disease: 1. IBD+ EIM+; 2. IBD+ EIM-; 3. IBD- EIM+; 4. IBD- EIM-.

RESULTS

The groups were homogenous according to their clinical characteristics. Patients with both IBD and EIM in active phase showed significantly lower values in FMD than controls (p=0.024). Carotid intima-media thickness values (cIMT) were similar among groups. Patients with active phases of IBD and/or EIM showed statistically significant lower values in FMD measurements (p=0.0008 and p=0.0011, respectively). Multivariate regression did not reveal any independent predictors for FMD values.

CONCLUSIONS

The active phase of IBD or EIM or both may promote endothelial dysfunction in patients, thus increasing their CV risk profile. Patients in remission phase showed endothelial function similar at controls.

The cardiovascular system in patients with functional and inflammatory bowel diseases

AIM

Identification of subclinical and metamanifests state changes of cardiovascular system in patients with functional and inflammatory bow- el diseases (IBD) without a background of cardiac pathology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Was examined 79 patients with colon diseases, 20 patients were diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with diarrhea, a 37 - undifferentiated colitis (UdC) and 22 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). As a control group were examined in 50 healthy subjects. All patients received treatment in accordance with international and national guidelines. Prescribed medications had effect on the function of the cardiovascular system. Patients with contacting the hospital and against the onset of remission was performed ultrasound of the heart. Determines the size of the left atrium, heart rate, end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, ejection fraction (EF), cardiac index (CI), to- tal peripheral vascular resistance, the presence of right heart failure, blood flow, the area of the right atrium and right ventricle in systole and diastole, and calculated the proportion of contractility of the right atrium and right ventricle. Determined systolic pressure in PA (SPPA), the average pressure in PA (SPPA).

RESULTS

Clinical manifestations of cardiac syndrome was identified in 75,0% of patients with IBS, 54,1% of patients NK and 68,2% patients with UC. When performing correlation analysis in the patients with UdC and UC was noted the relationship of hemodynamic parameters and disease severity was more pronounced in UC. So, when comparing the duration of the disease and levels of the MLC - r=0,52 and r=0,73 (p<0,05), EF - r=-0,51 and r=-0,71 (p<0,05), CI - r=0,49 and r=0,70 (p<0,05), heart rate - r=0,47, r=0,68 (p<0,05); duration of stay in hospi- tal and the magnitudes of MLC - r=0,54 and r=0,77 (p<0,05), EF - r=-0,51 and r=-0,71 (p<0.05), CI - r=0,55 and r=0,73 (p<0,05), heart rate - r=0,47, r=0,63 (p<0,05). For patients with UC, we noted the presence of correlation when the average frequency of exacerbations per year and the values of the MLC - r=0,53 (p<0,05), EF - r=-0,55 (p<0,05), heart rate: r=0,54 (p<0,05); severity of UC and EF (r=-0,67; p<0,05). A statistically significant correlation of changes in EF and value SPPA and APPA, aggravated by the deepening severity of the disease. So, for IBS - r=-0,46, and r=-0,48 (p<0,05); for NK - r=-0,51 and r=-0,59 (p<0,05); for the UC - r=-0,62, and r=-0,67 (p<0,05). In the analysis of duration of hospitalization, and values SPPA and APPA for patients with IBS - r=0.48 and r=0.46 (p<0,05); with UdC - r=0,50 and r=0,53 (p<0,05); with UC - r=0,59 and r=0,62 (p<0,05). Sick UC was characterized by the greatest dilatation of RA and RV with access from outside the variations of the norms of 90.9 and 68.2 per cent, a significant decrease dRA and dRV. Discovered correlation of the squares of PP and SDL - r=0,48, r=0,54 and r=0,61 (p<0,05); APPA - r=0,50, r=0,56 and r=0,63 (p<0,05); RV areas and levels SPPA - r=0,45, r=0,50 and r=0.52 (p<0,05); and APPA - r=0,46, r=0,47 r=0,53 (p<0,05). When analyzing the values of the squares of the pancreas and MLC - r=0,47 r=0,54 and r=0,61 (p<0,05), levels of EF and dRV - r=0,41, r=0,50 and r=0,56 (p<0,05).

CONCLUSION

Cardiac syndrome in patients with IBS and IBD without a background of cardiac pathology can occur in the form of subclinical or manifested weakly, but persistent changes that may not be recognized, but in the future may complicate the course of the underlying dis- ease, necessitating research to develop tactics to correct them.

Effects of surgery on peripheral N-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen in patients with Crohn's disease

AIM

This study investigates the effects of surgery on collagen turnover in patients affected by Crohn's disease (CD).

METHODS

Fifteen patients affected by active CD, assessed according to the Crohn's disease activity index, and confirmed by histology, with different pharmacological treatments, were enrolled in the study. N-Terminal propeptide of type III collagen was assessed on peripheral blood before and 6 months after surgery, as an index of collagen turnover. A control group of 15 healthy age- and sex-matched subjects was also studied.

RESULTS

In CD patients peripheral N-terminal propeptide of type III collagen serum levels were significantly higher than in controls before surgery (5.0 +/- 1.8 vs 2.7 +/- 0.7 microg/l, respectively; p = 0.0001). Six months after these values were significantly reduced (from 5.0 +/- 1.8 to 3.1 +/- 0.8 microg/l; p = 0.003). Independently on the pretreatment regimen and the duration of the disease, an improvement in the patients' symptoms was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The surgical resection of the affected intestinal segment in CD patients seems to be able to break down the collagen synthesis processes. Peripheral N-terminal propeptide of type III collagen could be seen as an additive marker to clinical and endoscopic observations after surgery.

Elevated serum procollagen type III peptide in splanchnic and peripheral circulation of patients with inflammatory bowel disease submitted to surgery

BACKGROUND

In the hypothesis that the increased collagen metabolism in the intestinal wall of patients affected by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is reflected in the systemic circulation, we aimed the study to evaluate serum level of procollagen III peptide (PIIIP) in peripheral and splanchnic circulation by a commercial radioimmunoassay of patients with different histories of disease.

METHODS

Twenty-seven patients, 17 with Crohn and 10 with ulcerative colitis submitted to surgery were studied. Blood samples were obtained before surgery from a peripheral vein and during surgery from the mesenteric vein draining the affected intestinal segment. Fifteen healthy age and sex matched subjects were studied to determine normal range for peripheral PIIIP.

RESULTS

In IBD patients peripheral PIIIP level was significantly higher if compared with controls (5.0 +/- 1.9 vs 2.7 +/- 0.7 microg/l; p = 0.0001); splanchnic PIIIP level was 5.5 +/- 2.6 microg/l showing a positive gradient between splanchnic and peripheral concentrations of PIIIP. No significant differences between groups nor correlations with patients' age and duration of disease were found.

CONCLUSIONS

We provide evidence that the increased local collagen metabolism in active IBD is reflected also in the systemic circulation irrespective of the history of the disease, suggesting that PIIIP should be considered more appropiately as a marker of the activity phases of IBD.