INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE IN HISPANIC COMMUNITIES: a concerted South American approach could identify the aetiology of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

Association between prior appendectomy and the risk and course of Crohn's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The appendix has an important immune function in both health and disease, and appendectomy may influence microbial ecology and immune function. This meta-analysis aims to assess the association between appendectomy and the risk and course of Crohn's disease (CD).

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were used to identify all studies published until June 2022. Data from studies evaluating the association between appendectomy and CD were reviewed.

RESULTS

A total of 28 studies were included in the final analysis, comprising 22 case-control and 6 cohort studies. A positive relationship between prior appendectomy and the risk of developing CD was observed in both case-control studies (odds ratio [OR]: 1.59, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22-2.08) and cohort studies (relative risk [RR]: 2.28, 95% CI: 1.66-3.14). The elevated risk of CD persisted 5 years post-appendectomy (RR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.12-1.36). The risk of developing CD was similarly elevated regardless of the presence (RR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.17-2.31) or absence (RR = 2.77, 95% CI: 1.84-4.16) of appendicitis in patients. Moreover, significant differences were found in the proportion of terminal ileum lesions (OR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.38-1.93) and colon lesions (OR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.5-0.84) between CD patients with appendectomy and those without appendectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of developing CD following an appendectomy is significant and persists 5 years postoperatively. Moreover, the elevated risk of CD may mainly occur in the terminal ileum.

Gut dysbiosis and clinical phases of pancolitis in patients with ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a frequent type of inflammatory bowel disease, characterized by periods of remission and exacerbation. Gut dysbiosis may influence pathophysiology and clinical response in UC. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether gut microbiota is related to the active and remission phases of pancolitis in patients with UC as well as in healthy participants. Fecal samples were obtained from 18 patients with UC and clinical‐endoscopic evidenced pancolitis (active phase n = 9 and remission phase n = 9), as well as 15 healthy participants. After fecal DNA extraction, the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced (Illumina MiSeq), operational taxonomic units were analyzed with the QIIME software. Gut microbiota composition revealed a higher abundance of the phyla Proteobacteria and Fusobacteria in active pancolitis, as compared with remission and healthy participants. Likewise, a marked abundance of the genus Bilophila and Fusobacteria were present in active pancolitis, whereas a higher abundance of Faecalibacterium characterized both remission and healthy participants. LEfSe analysis showed that the genus Roseburia and Faecalibacterium were enriched in remission pancolitis, and genera Bilophila and Fusobacterium were enriched in active pancolitis. The relative abundance of Fecalibacterium and Roseburia showed a higher correlation with fecal calprotectin, while Bilophila and Fusobacterium showed AUCs (area under the curve) of 0.917 and 0.988 for active vs. remission pancolitis. The results of our study highlight the relation of gut dysbiosis with clinically relevant phases of pancolitis in patients with UC. Particularly, Fecalibacterium, Roseburia, Bilophila, and Fusobacterium were identified as genera highly related to the different clinical phases of pancolitis.

Inflammatory bowel disease in Mexico: Epidemiology, burden of disease, and treatment trends

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

There is no systematized information for determining/monitoring the burden of inflammatory bowel disease in Mexico. The aim of the present study was to estimate the annual burden of inflammatory bowel disease on the Mexican National Healthcare System, by number of patients seen, hospitalizations, and specific deaths, stratified into age groups.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Utilizing specific databases of the Mexican National Healthcare System registries coded as ICD-10: K50 and K51, we retrieved and analyzed the data corresponding to the patients seen and hospitalized in 2015, stratified by age group, as well as the specific deaths. Treatment trends among physicians were also examined.

RESULTS

In 2015, 5,009 women (8.1) and 4,944 men (8.4) with Crohn's disease received medical attention (prevalence of cases seen) and 35.1% of those patients were ≥50years of age. In that same period, 17,177 women (27.7) and 15,883 men (26.9) with ulcerative colitis were seen and 31.6% of those patients were ≥50years of age. The hospitalized cases (prevalence of hospitalized cases) were 1,097 patients (0.91) with Crohn's disease and 43.7% of those patients were ≥50years of age; and 5,345 patients (4.42) with ulcerative colitis and 47.6% of those patients were ≥50years of age. Deaths (specific mortality rate) were: 32 women (0.52) and 36 men (0.50) due to Crohn's disease, and 267 women (4.31) and 186 men (3.15) due to ulcerative colitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Inflammatory bowel disease is a burden on the health of Mexican adults and the Mexican National Healthcare System, and it is expected to increase over the next 15years.

Progression of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Throughout Latin America and the Caribbean: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The incidence of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) is increasing in Latin America. We performed a systematic review to identify clinical and epidemiologic features of IBD in Latin America (including Mexico, Central America, and South America) and the Caribbean.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and SciELO databases for clinical or epidemiologic studies of Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) from Latin American and Caribbean countries and territories that reported incidence, prevalence, ratio of UC:CD, IBD phenotype, and treatment, through September 12, 2018. Data were extracted from 61 articles for analysis.

RESULTS

The incidence and prevalence of IBD have been steadily increasing in Latin America and the Caribbean. The incidence of CD in Brazil increased from 0.08 per 100,000 person-years in 1988 to 0.68 per 100,000 person-years in 1991-1995 to 5.5 per 100,000 person-years in 2015. The highest reported prevalence of IBD was in Argentina, in 2007, at 15 and 82 per 100,000 person-years for CD and UC, respectively. The ratio of UC:CD exceeded 1 in all regions throughout Latin America and the Caribbean with the exception of Brazil. Treatment with tumor necrosis factor antagonists increased steadily for patients with CD (43.4% of all patients in Brazil were treated in 2014) but less so for patients with UC (4.5% of all patients were treated in 2014). Surgery for IBD decreased with time. In Chile, surgeries were performed on 57.0% of patients with CD and 18.0% of patients with UC during the period of 1990-2002; these values decreased to 38.0% and 5.0%, respectively, during the period of 2012-2015. In Peru, 6.9% of patients with UC received colectomies in the period of 2001-2003 and 6.2% in 2004-2014.

CONCLUSIONS

In a systematic review, we found the incidence of IBD to be increasing throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Population-based epidemiology studies are needed to evaluate the increase in IBD in these regions, which differ from other global regions in climate, culture, demographics, diet, healthcare delivery and infrastructure, and socioeconomic status.

Geographic Distribution, Phenotype and Epidemiological Tendency in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients in Romania

Background and objective: The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) over the past years in Romania has been on the rise, but epidemiologic data are lacking. The aim of this study was to define the characteristics of IBD, the trends and phenotype among IBD patients in Romania. Material and methods: We conducted a prospective study over a period of 12 years, from 2006 to 2017. All patients diagnosed with IBD on clinical, radiological, endoscopic and histological features were included. We divided the country into eight regions: west (W), north-east (NE), north-west (NW), south-east (SE), south-west (SW), south (S), central (C) and Bucharest-Ilfov (B), and data were analyzed accordingly. Results: A total of 2724 patients were included in this database, but only 2248 were included in the final analysis, with all data available. Of the 2248 patients, 935 were Crohn's disease (CD), 1263 were ulcerative colitis (UC) and 50 were IBD-undetermined. In UC phenotypes we observed more frequent left-sided colitis (50.5%, p < 0.0001), and in CD phenotype we observed more frequent colonic and ileo-colonic localization (37.8% and 37.6%, p < 0.0001). The region with the most IBD cases was NE (25.1%) and with the least IBD cases was SW (4.9%). UC was found more frequently in NE (32%), while CD was found more frequently in Bucharest (28.6%). Conclusions: In Romania, ulcerative colitis is more frequent than CD. UC is predominant in the northern part of Romania, while CD has become predominant in the southern part of the country. IBD occurs more in the male population, and in urban and industrialized areas. There are differences between the regions in Romania regarding IBD phenotypes, gender distributions, age distribution, treatment, smoking status and complications.

Incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease in Mexico from a nationwide cohort study in a period of 15 years (2000-2017)

Despite the worldwide increasing incidence and prevalence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), our knowledge about it in Mexico is still limited. The aim of this study is to describe the incidence and prevalence of IBD as well as its clinical and socio-demographical characteristics in Mexico from a nation-wide perspective.Multicenter nation-wide cohort study that included 42 IBD clinics from all over the country that participated with electronically register of the new cases over 17 years as well as all known existing cases together with their clinical and socio-demographical characteristics from patients with IBD (ulcerative colitis [UC], Crohn disease [CD], and inflammatory bowel disease unclassified [IBDU]). The data collection was conducted between January and October 2017. Incidence, prevalence, and mean incidence over 2 decades were then calculated. Data base was analyzed using SPSS v24 program SPSS (version 24, IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).A total of 2645 patients with IBD were registered. The crude incidence rates of IBD, UC, and CD, respectively, were 0.21, 0.16, and 0.04 cases per 100,000-person year. The highest incidence was registered in the year 2015, compared with to the previous years. The mean incidence of IBD has increased steadily from 0.05 to 0.21 per 100,000 person-years over the past 15 years (P = .06). The incidence of IBD new cases have increased significantly throughout the last 16 years, 5.9-fold for IBD, 5.3-fold for UC, and 9.5-fold for CD. The prevalence rates of IBD, UC, and CD, respectively, were 1.83, 1.45, and 0.34 cases per 100,000-person-year.This is the first study from a nation-wide perspective that demonstrated a significant increase of prevalence and incidence of IBD in Mexico in the last 15 years.

Inflammatory bowel diseases: time of diagnosis, environmental factors, clinical course, and management - a follow-up study in a private inflammatory bowel disease center (2003-2017)

BACKGROUND

The governmental program of Brazilian Unified National Health System has already published studies on the incidence of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), but up until now, there have been no epidemiological studies in private centers in Brazil. However, these diseases tend to affect people from a higher socioeconomic class, mainly in the capital of MS state that has the third highest GDP in Brazil.

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to analyze an observational, descriptive study of an IBD database in a private center including: the side, behavior of the disease and medical management, the association of extra-intestinal manifestations, and the main clinical symptoms which led to the investigation and diagnosis of IBD.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A cohort study was developed in which data of all patients with IBD were analyzed with SPSS software in a constructed electronic database.

RESULTS

Of 329 patients, 212 (64.4%) had Crohn's disease (CD) and 117 (35.6%) had ulcerative colitis (UC). Average age at diagnosis of CD was 36.19 (±14.33) and of UC was 41.61 (±15.37). An amount of 50.05% of the patients with CD and 72.7% (P<0.001) with UC were female. We have observed that concerning the first symptoms, diahrrea and blood feces corresponded to 70% in UC while in CD 50% of the patients presented diahrrea with blood feces, loss of weight corresponded to 50% and only diahrrea 25%. (P<0.001). Anti-TNFs corresponded to 56.2% being more frequent in CD 0.001%. CD patients used biologic therapy and antibiotics more frequently than those with UC. In conclusion, IBD is also frequent in private health care centers in Brazil; women are most affected. Symptoms such as diarrhea and bleeding, as well as diarrhea and weight loss, must be taken as warning signs to investigate for inflammatory disease. The use of biologic therapies is frequent in referral centers when patients have severe disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease epidemiology in São Paulo State, Brazil

Purpose

This study aimed to estimate the incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in São Paulo, Brazil, for 2012–2015.

Patients and methods:

This observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study included 22,638 IBD patients out of 43,046,555 inhabitants, who had initiated their treatment through the Governmental Program of the Brazilian Unified National Health System between the years of 2012 and 2015. The onset of the disease (used to determine incidence) was established as the date of the patient’s initial registration in the Governmental Program with a diagnosis for Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC). Every patient registered in the system as of December 2015 was included in determining the prevalence. The demographic and clinical data, such as age and sex, were collected for each patient. Statistical analysis included mean and SD, absolute and percentage frequencies, and Pearson’s chi-squared test (c²). The incidence and prevalence rates were calculated based on the estimated annual population of the State of São Paulo.

Results

The study population consisted of 10,451 (46.16%) CD patients and 12,187 (53.84%) UC patients. The mean age was 42.66 (SD±16.2) years for the CD group and 47.87 (SD±16.6) years for the UC group. There was a predominance of females corresponding to 59.70% of the study population (female:male =1.48:1.00; P<0.0001). The incidence of IBD was 13.30 new cases/100,000 inhabitants per year, while the overall prevalence was 52.6 cases/100,000 inhabitants.

Conclusion

This population-based study demonstrated a stability in IBD incidence rates and an increase in IBD prevalence rates in São Paulo state between 2012 and 2015. The IBD incidence and prevalence rates were comparable to European countries, with a higher occurrence in the female participants.

The prevalence and phenotype in Brazilian patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Background

The epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) varies in different countries. This study aimed to assess phenotype, medications, prevalence and incidence of IBD in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil.

Methods

Patients with IBD who utilized the Public Medication-Dispensing System of the Department of Health of Espírito Santo, between August 2012 and July 2014. Of 1484 active patients, 1048 were analyzed, which included patients of all ages.

Results

The prevalence of IBD was 38.2 per 100,000 inhabitants, with ulcerative colitis (UC) being 24.1 per 100,000 and Crohn’s disease (CD), 14.1 per 100,000. The incidence of IBD was 7.7 per 100,000 inhabitants/year (UC – 5.3/100,000 inhabitants/year and CD – 2.4/100,000 inhabitants/year). Out of the 1048 patients analyzed, 669 had UC (63.84%), 357 had CD (34.06%), and 22 had unclassified inflammatory bowel disease (UIBD; 2.10%). There were 48/1048 (4.5%) pediatric patients (16 years of age or younger). On the UC phenotype (n = 654), we observed left-sided colitis in 247 (37.7%), pancolitis in 209 (31.9%), and proctitis in 198 patients (30.2%). Pancolitis was more frequent in pediatric patients (p = 0.007). CD showed a homogeneous distribution between ileitis (L1), colitis (L2), and ileocolitis (L3). Regarding the CD behavior (n = 352) observed the inflammatory type (B1) in 176 (50%); fistulizing (B3) in 75 (21.2%), isolated type (B3) in 29 (8.2%), and perianal fistulizing type (B3p) in 46 (13.1%). Biologic therapies were used in 154/357 (43.3%).

Conclusion

The prevalence of the IBD in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil was higher than in two other brazilian studies. There was high utilization of biologic therapies in patients with CD.

Hispanic Americans and Non-Hispanic White Americans Have a Similar Inflammatory Bowel Disease Phenotype: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a devastating immune-mediated disease on the rise in Hispanics living in the USA. Prior observational studies comparing IBD characteristics between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites (NHW) have yielded mixed results.

AIMS

We performed a meta-analysis of observational studies examining IBD phenotype in Hispanics compared to NHW.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic search of US-based studies comparing IBD subtype (Ulcerative Colitis: UC or Crohn's disease: CD) and phenotype (disease location and behavior) between Hispanics and NHW. We evaluated differences in age at IBD diagnosis, the presence of family history and smoking history. A random effects model was chosen "a priori." Categorical and continuous variables were analyzed using odds ratio (OR) or standard mean difference (SMD), respectively.

RESULTS

Seven studies were included with 687 Hispanics and 1586 NHW. UC was more common in Hispanics compared to NHW (OR 2.07, CI 1.13-3.79, p = 0.02). Location of disease was similar between Hispanics and NHW except for the presence of upper gastrointestinal CD, which was less common in Hispanics (OR 0.58, CI 0.32-1.06, p = 0.07). Hispanics were less likely to smoke (OR 0.48, CI 0.26-0.89, p = 0.02) or have a family history of IBD (OR 0.35, CI 0.22-0.55, p < 0.001). CD behavior classified by Montreal classification and age at IBD diagnosis were similar between Hispanics and NHW.

CONCLUSION

UC was more common among US Hispanics compared to NHW. Age at IBD diagnosis is similar for both Hispanics and NHW. For CD, disease behavior is similar, but Hispanics show a trend for less upper gastrointestinal involvement. A family history of IBD and smoking history were less common in Hispanics.

Crohn’s disease environmental factors in the developing world: A case-control study in a statewide catchment area in Brazil

AIM

To identify environmental risk factors associated with the development of Crohn’s disease (CD) in order to re-assess the hygiene hypothesis.

METHODS

A hospital-based, case-control study was carried out with CD patients (n = 145) and controls (n = 163) representing a socioeconomically diverse statewide catchment area in Brazil. Controls were recruited from caregivers of patients seen in different outpatient clinics at the same hospital. A multi-item survey with 94 questions regarding family history of CD, perinatal and childhood circumstances, living conditions, tobacco use and familial socioeconomic status was carried out by interviewers.

RESULTS

On the univariate analysis, predictive variables for CD included being male, under age of 40, a high education level, urban dweller, smaller family size, exposure to enteric pathogens and user of treated water (P < 0.005). On the multivariate analysis, variables significantly associated with CD were male gender (OR = 2.09), under age 40 (OR = 3.10), white (OR = 2.32), from a small family in childhood (OR = 2.34) and adulthood (OR = 3.02), absence of viral infections in childhood (OR = 2.23), exposure to enteric pathogens (OR = 2.41), having had an appendectomy (OR = 2.47) and prior or current smoker (OR = 2.83/1.12).

CONCLUSION

Most variables supporting the “hygiene hypothesis” are associated with the development of CD but are not independent predictors of the diagnosis.

Autoimmunity and the microbiome: T-cell receptor mimicry of "self" and microbial antigens mediates self tolerance in holobionts: The concepts of "holoimmunity" (TcR-mediated tolerance for the holobiont) and "holoautoimmunity" (loss of tolerance for the holobiont) are introduced

I propose a T-cell receptor (TcR)-based mechanism by which immunity mediates both "genetic self" and "microbial self" thereby, connecting microbiome disease with autoimmunity. The hypothesis is based on simple principles. First, TcR are selected to avoid strong cross-reactivity with "self," resulting in selection for a TcR repertoire mimicking "genetic self." Second, evolution has selected for a "microbial self" that mimics "genetic self" so as to share tolerance. In consequence, our TcR repertoire also mimics microbiome antigenicity, providing a novel mechanism for modulating tolerance to it. Also, the microbiome mimics the TcR repertoire, acting as a secondary immune system. I call this TcR-microbiome mimicry "holoimmunity" to denote immune tolerance to the "holobiont self." Logically, microbiome-host mimicry means that autoimmunity directed at host antigens will also attack components of the microbiome, and conversely, an immunological attack on the microbiome may cross-react with host antigens producing "holoautoimmunity."

COELIAC DISEASE IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA: time for a concerted approach to its epidemiology

Central and South America offer an opportunity to resolve some of the current controversies that surround the epidemiology of celiac disease. Through a concerted action which brings together clinicians, researchers and patients there is an opportunity to establish robust data sets which will allow detailed analysis of environmental and genetic factors. In this review available data from the continent together with data from Spain and Italy are drawn together to give a current picture in the hope that it will stimulate further research.