Differential diagnosis of Crohn's disease using antibodies to glycoprotein 2 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Glycoprotein 2 (GP2), the major autoantigen of Crohn's disease (CD)-specific pancreatic autoantibodies, is reportedly correlated with several characteristics of CD. We investigated this serological marker in Turkish patients with CD and assessed its utility in combination with anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCAs) for differential diagnosis of CD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 60 patients with CD, 62 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 46 healthy controls with a definite diagnosis who were similar in age and sex were enrolled in the study conducted from November 2011 to October 2012. ASCA and anti-GP2 levels were measured using commercially available kits.

RESULTS

Anti-GP2 IgA and IgG levels were higher in patients with CD (25%) than in those with UC (5%) and controls (2%). The seroprevalence of anti-GP2 IgA was markedly higher than that of IgG in patients with CD in contrast to previous studies. The specificity and positive predictive value of seropositivity for both ASCA and anti-GP2 were 100%. ASCA IgA seropositivity was correlated with a complicated disease course and a history of surgery. There was no correlation between anti-GP2 seropositivity and disease location, disease behavior, or a history of surgery.

CONCLUSION

The combination of ASCA and anti-GP2 may enable differentiation of CD from UC. As ASCA seropositivity is associated with a more complicated disease course, patients seropositive for ASCA at the initial diagnosis should undergo more intense therapy.

The relationship between fibrosis level and blood neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in inactive hepatitis B carriers

AIM

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been used as a simple, affordable, and easily accessible marker to predict prognosis in a variety of inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. However, there are few studies investigating their role in patients with hepatitis B. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between NLR and liver fibrosis in patients who were being followed as inactive hepatitis B carriers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 78 patients who were followed for 1 year as inactive hepatitis B carriers. Liver biopsy was performed and the fibrosis scores of the histological activity index were assessed according to the Metavir scoring system. The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of the fibrosis scores: those with a score below 2 and those with a score above 2. In both groups, demographic data such as sex, age, and BMI were similar. The NLR of patients was calculated from blood samples taken at the same time as the biopsy.

RESULTS

Histopathologic analysis of 78 patients showed that 41 (53%) had fibrosis grade 0-1 and 37 (47%) patients had fibrosis grade greater than 2. According to the biopsy results, there were no cirrhotic patients. NLR was found to be statistically significantly lower in the group with fibrosis grade of at least 2 (1.51±0.61 vs. 1.79±0.64, P=0.043). Other biochemical and hematological data were found to be similar in both groups. No correlation was found between laboratory values and NLR. In addition, there was no correlation between NLR with histologic activity. Spearman correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between the fibrosis score and NLR (r=-0.279, P=0.013).

CONCLUSION

In inactive hepatitis B carriers, the histological activity index and NLR were found to be correlated negatively. NLR can be used as a predictor of fibrosis in combination with other noninvasive markers.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for colorectal laterally spreading tumors

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Colorectal laterally spreading tumors are superficial tumors classified into two groups as granular (G-laterally spreading tumor) and non-granular (non-granular-laterally spreading tumor) types. In this study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy and feasibility of endoscopic submucosal dissection in the treatment of laterally spreading tumors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-four laterally spreading tumors in 40 patients were treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection at a tertiary referral hospital. Patient data were collected retrospectively. In this study, we evaluated tumor size, macroscopic type, lesion location, histology, curative resection, and complications.

RESULTS

Of the 44 laterally spreading tumors excised by endoscopic submucosal dissection, 29 (65.9%) were G-laterally spreading tumor and 15 (34.1%) were non-granular-laterally spreading tumor. Most of the non-granular-laterally spreading tumors were localized in the right colon, while most G-laterally spreading tumors were localized in the left colon (p<0.001). There was also no difference between G-laterally spreading tumors (6/29) and non-granular-laterally spreading tumors (2/15) with regard to exhibiting malignant features (p=0.69). Although median size (40 mm vs. 27.5 mm) and procedure time (115 minutes vs. 60 minutes) for G-laterally spreading tumors were bigger and longer respectively, procedure time per cm2 was not different (8.9 minutes vs. 8.2 minutes) between the two groups. Curative resection rates for laterally spreading tumors were quite high (95.5%), while en bloc resection rates were low (77.3%). The rates of endoscopic submucosal dissection-related complications such as perforation, major and minor bleeding were low (4.5%, 2.3%, 6.8%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic submucosal dissection is an effective and safe therapeutic option with high curative rates for early-stage malignant and pre-malignant laterally spreading tumors not having an absolute indication for surgery, regardless of the lesion type and size.