AB0875 Assessment of Clinical Signs of Spondyloarthritis in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), commonly face the presence of extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs). Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is present in about 10-39% of patients with IBD, being the most frequent EIM [1]. Diagnosis of axial SpA (axSpA) in IBD represents a clinical challenge. The diagnostic value of Ankylosing Spondylitis Assessment Society (ASAS) criteria that are used for defining inflammatory back pain (IBP) in axSpA, in patients with the association of axSpA and IBD is not clear.

Objectives

To determine the diagnostic value of ASAS criteria for IBP (2009) and to evaluate factors that are associated with a higher risk of axial SpA in patients with IBD.

Methods

The study included 91 patients with IBD (UC - 52 patients (57.1%), CD - 39 (42.9%), males – 47 (51.6%), mean age 40.2±11.7 years, duration of IBD – 7.7±7.6 years). IPB was defined by ASAS criteria (2009). AxSpA in patients with IBD is recommended to be diagnosed by the combination of Inflammatory Back Pain (IBP), and imaging (MRI and X-ray) [2]. Imaging of lumbar spine and sacroiliac joints was performed to patients, who fulfilled the ASAS criteria for IBP: X-ray - 55 patients; MRI (T1, STIR) - 41 patients. Imaging was considered positive when patients had at least unilateral sacroiliitis stage 2 or higher according to the accepted grading system on X-Ray, or MRI-verified sacroiliitis.

Results

Low back pain was observed in 84 (92.3%) patients with IBD, 39 (42.9%) patients fulfilled the criteria ASAS for IBP. MRI-verified sacroiliitis was present in 26 patients. Changes on X-ray were present in 40 patients. After imaging, 26 patients were diagnosed with axSpA, 14 of them fulfilled the modified New York criteria for the ankylosing spondylitis. Diagnostic value of the ASAS criteria was the following: sensitivity 76.9%, specificity 67.2%, PPV 0.51, NPV 0.87, LR+ 2.3, and LR- 0.3 (ECCO consensus definition used as the “gold standard”). Presence of arthritis - OR 10.77 [95% CI 2.26-44.2], p=0.005, arthralgia - OR 4.12 [95% CI 1.55-10.95], p=0.005, CD - OR 2.92 [95% CI 1.14-7.48], p=0.025 and IBP – OR 8.07 [95% CI 2.8-23.23], p=0.001 was associated with a higher risk of axSpA diagnosis in the univariate logistic regression model. The associations remained statistically significant when multivariate logistic regression model was constructed – arthritis 20.03 [95% CI 3.05 -131.69], CD – 3.51 [95% CI 1.04-11.82], IBP – 8.72 [95% CI 2.64-28.79], R2=0.486.

Conclusion

The ASAS criteria for IBP had a good diagnostic value in patients with IBD. The diagnostic value of the ASAS criteria for IBP (2009) in patients with IBD was comparable to the following in the patients with chronic back pain. Clinicians should pay attention to the presence of arthritis, arthralgia, IBP and CD, as these factors were associated with a higher risk of being diagnosed with axSpA in patients with IBD.

References

[1]Fragoulis, G. (2019). Inflammatory bowel diseases and spondyloarthropathies: From pathogenesis to treatment. World Journal Of Gastroenterology, 25(18), 2162-2176.

[2]Harbord, M. (2015). The First European Evidence-based Consensus on Extra-intestinal Manifestations in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Journal Of Crohn’s And Colitis, 10(3), 239-254.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

AB0513 THE RELATIONSHIP OF PERIARTICULAR TISSUES LESIONS AND JOINTS DEGENERATIVE CHANGES IN PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES

Background:

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are associated with a variety of extra-intestinal manifestations. The most frequent of these is joint involvement, which affects 16–33 % of IBD patients, whereas 5–10 % are affected by enthesitis [1, 2]. Recent studies have shown the superiority of ultrasound over clinical findings in the evaluation of joints and periarticular tissues [3].

Objectives:

To assess of joint and entheseal involvement in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) using ultrasound with Power Doppler.

Methods:

We prospectively included 70 IBD patients into the study. Peripheral joints and entheses were imaged by ultrasound, using Samsung Accuvix A30 5-13 MHz linear array transducer. Ultrasound examination of 14 peripheral joints (hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, acromioclavicular, elbow, wrist) and 35 entheses was performed. Vascularization was assessed with Power Doppler (PD). Statistical analysis was done by Mann-Whitney test by “Statistica” software.

Results:

In 70 patients UC was in 40 (57%), CD - in 30 (43%). The mean age of patients was 32 (27; 36) years. The mean duration of the disease was 48 (12; 84) months. The majority of patients had highly active disease: moderate and severe activity was observed in 47 (67%).

Osteophytes were found in 32 (46%) IBD pts, in 10 pts (14%) - osteophytes were found in three or more joints. We divided pts into two groups. In first group we included pts without degenerative changes in the joints, in the second - with identified osteophytes.

Osteophytes were found more often in the acromioclavicular joints - 13 pts (41%) and in the hip joints - 10 pts (31%). With the same frequency (9 pts), osteophytes were detected in the wrist, knee and ankle joints. The mean age of pts and mean duration of IBD were significantly higher in the second group patients (p = 0.00002 and p = 0.019).

Enthesitis (echogenicity reduction and thickening) without vascularization were detected in 26 patients of the first group (68%) and 29 patients of the second group (91%) (p = 0.009). The rate of vascularized enthesitis in the two groups was the same: enthesitis with vascularization were observed in 14 pts of the first group (37%) and 14 of the second group (44%) (p = 0.822). Structure damage (erosions and enthesophytis) was more frequent in the second group (p = 0.025 and p = 0.001). There were no significant differences in the incidence of tendinitis and tenosynovitis between two groups.

Conclusion:

Joint and periarticular tissues damage in IBD patients increases with age and duration of the disease. The presence of degenerative changes in the joints is associated with more frequent detection of enthesitis and enthesopathies.

References:

[1]The First European Evidence-based Consensus on Extra-Intestinal Manifestations in IBD. JCC. 2016; 10 (3): 239-254.

[2]Rovisco J, Duarte C, Batticcioto A et al. Hidden musculoskeletal involvement in inflammatory bowel disease: a multicenter ultrasound study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2016; 17: 84.

[3]Yu-Fen Hsiao, Shu-Chen Wei, Cheng-Hsun Lu et al. Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease have Higher Sonographic Enthesitis Scores than Normal Individuals: Pilot Study in Taiwan. Journal of Medical Ultrasound. 2014 Dec; 22(4): 194-199.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared.

OP0027 AS-RELATED TCR BETA CLONOTYPES ARE PRESENT IN DIFFERENT INFLAMED TISSUES OF PATIENTS WITH SPONDYLOARTHROPATHIES

Background:

Recently a group of T-cell clones with characteristic T-cell receptor (TCR) motif was identified in peripheral blood and synovial fluid of HLA-B*27+ patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) [1-2] - a prototypic disease from a wider group of spondyloarthropathies (SpAs). Extraarticular manifestations of AS could involve skin, intestine or eye. Emerging data indicate linkage between intestinal and joint inflammation, including expression of gut-associated integrins on synovial T-cells [3-4]. However, clonal T-cell composition and presence of identical clones in different inflamed sites in SpAs remains poorly studied.

Objectives:

To investigate clonal T-cell repertoire and presence of AS-related TCR motif in different sites of inflammation of patients with SpA.

Methods:

Samples of synovial fluid (SF) were obtained from HLA-B*27+ and HLA-B*27- patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), as well as gut biopsy samples from patients with AS and Crohn’s disease (AS/CD) or ulcerative colitis (AS/UC), and conjunctival swabs from patients with uveitis (Uv) and with or without articular manifestations (Table 1). Also SF and gut biopsy samples were obtained from HLA-B*27+ patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). For one patient PsA patient paired samples of SF and gut biopsy were obtained.

Table 1.

Detection of the AS-related motif TRBV9_CASS[V/A/L/P][G/A] [L/T/V][F/Y]STDTQYF_TRBJ2-3 in bTCR repertoires of samples from different inflamed sites of patients with SpA

TissueDiagnosisB27+B27-AS-related TCR motif+ among all samples from B27+ donorsSynovial fluidAS2012PsAJIAIntestinal biopsyAS/CD433 / 4AS/UCJLAConjunctival swabUv804 / 8

SF and gut samples were processed to isolate mononuclear cells, while conjunctival swabs were directly lysed in the lysis buffer. CD3+ β7-intergin+ cells were isolated from SF by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Deep TCR repertoire profiling was carried out using UMI-based cDNA library preparation technology [1].

Results:

Identical T-cell clonotypes were detected between paired SF and gut samples of the same patient with psoriatic arthritis and intestinal inflammation. The subpopulation of β7-intergin+ SF T-cells shared significantly more identical clonotypes with gut biopsy repertoire compared to the bulk SF T-cell repertoire.

Clonotypes belonging to the AS-related TCR beta motif TRBV9_CASS[V/A/L/P][G/A][L/T/V][F/Y]STDTQYF_TRBJ2-3 were detected in all inflamed tissues tested: synovial fluid, intestinal biopsies and conjunctival swabs of SpA patients (Table 1). Importantly, we observed these clonotypes exclusively in samples from HLA-B*27+ donors (n=26), but not in HLA-B27- context (n=15) with comparable analysis depth, thus confirming strong HLA-B*27-restriction of the clonotypes. The AS-related clonotypes were detected in the subpopulation of β7-intergin+ SF T-cells from HLA-B*27+ patients with PsA.

Conclusion:

For the first time we directly report the T-cell clonal sharing between synovial fluid and inflamed gut tissue of SpA patients. In sum our data suggests involvement of identical T-cell clones in inflammation in different anatomical sites in SpA.

References:

[1]Komech et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2018;57(6):1097-1104.

[2]Faham et al. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2016;11(10):300-308.

[3]Guggino et al.Ann Rheum Dis. Published Online First: 18 October 2019.doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2019-216456.

[4]Qaiyum et al Ann Rheum Dis. 2019;78(11):1566-1575.

Acknowledgements:

We thanks all the patients and medical personnel involved in the study

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

AB1092 ULTRASOUND EXAMINATION OF JOINTS AND PERIARTICULAR TISSUES IN PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES

Background:

Joints and entheseal involvement is a common extraintestinal manifestation in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) [1]. Recent studies have shown the superiority of ultrasound over clinical findings in the evaluation of joints and periarticular tissues.

Objectives:

To assess of joint and entheseal involvement in IBD patients using ultrasound with Power Doppler, their correlation with IBD clinical variables and the difference between Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods:

We prospectively included 38 IBD patients into the study. Disease activity was evaluated in CD by Harvey Bradshaw, in UC - Mayo Index. Peripheral joints and entheses were imaged by ultrasound, using Samsung Accuvix A30 5-13 MHz linear array transducer. Ultrasound examination of 14 peripheral joints (hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, acromioclavicular, elbow, wrist) and 35 entheses was performed. Vascularization on them was assessed with Power Doppler (PD). Entheseal abnormalities were scored with US according to indices GUESS, MASEI and BUSES [2]. Statistical analysis was done by Mann-Whitney test and Spearman criteria by “Statistica” software.

Results:

In 38 patients UC was in 22 (58%), CD - in 16 (42%). The mean age of UC patients was 28 (23; 35) years, in CD - 33 (27; 36) years. The mean duration of UC was 24 (10; 48) months; CD - 66 (24; 114) months. The majority of patients had highly active disease: in UC - moderate and severe attacks in 16 pts (72%), in CD out of 16 patients, moderate and severe activity was observed in 9 (56%).

Synovitis were found in 19 patients (50%), 8 patients with UC (36%), and 10 patients with CD (62%), synovitis with vascularization was detected in 7 patients (18%), five with CD (13%), two with UC (9%).

Enthesitis (echogenicity reduction and thickening) was detected in 30 patients (79%), 8 (50%) pts with CD and 17 (77%) pts with UC, enthesitis with vascularization (PD) in 13 pts (34 %), 5 (31%) pts with CD and 8 (36%) pts with UC. Tenosynovitis was observed in 11 pts (29%), three (19%) with CD and 8 (36%) pts - UC, tenosynovitis with vascularization in two patients (5%), one with UC and one with CD. Structure damage (erosion, enthesophytis) were found in 23 patients (61%), 12 patients (75%) with CD and 11 (50%) patients with UC.

There were no significant differences in ultrasound signs of joint and entheses damage between patients with UC and CD.

We found an association between the clinical characteristics of IBD and the ultrasound signs of entheses damage: duration of the disease has a direct moderate correlation with the number of enthesitis (SR = 0.36; p = 0.026) and GUESS (SR = 0.37; p = 0.022).

There was no statistically significant relationship between the severity of the attack and damage to the joints and entheses.

Conclusion:

The severity of joint and periarticular tissues damage is significantly correlated with the duration of the index disease and are independent of IBD activity.

References:

[1]The First European Evidence-based Consensus on Extra-Intestinal Manifestations in IBD // JCC. — 2016. —V. 10, № 3. — Р. 239-254.

[2] Bandinelli F, Milla M, Genise S et al. Ultrasound discloses entheseal involvement in inactive and low active inflammatory bowel disease without clinical signs and symptoms of spondyloarthropathy. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2011 Jul; 50 (7): 1275-1279.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

Effect of everolimus on skin lesions in patients treated for subependymal giant cell astrocytoma and renal angiomyolipoma: final 4-year results from the randomized EXIST-1 and EXIST-2 studies

BACKGROUND

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disorder associated with tumour growth in various organs, including the brain, kidneys, heart and skin. Cutaneous lesions are prevalent manifestations of TSC, occurring in up to 90% of patients. Oral mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors, such as everolimus, is believed to be effective for treatment of TSC-associated lesions because they act on the underlying disease pathophysiology.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the long-term effect of oral everolimus on TSC-associated skin lesions as a secondary objective in the phase III studies EXIST-1 (NCT00789828) and EXIST-2 (NCT00790400) after approximately 4 years of treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Everolimus was dosed 4.5 mg/m² /day (titrated to trough 5-15 ng/mL) in patients with TSC-associated subependymal giant cell astrocytoma in EXIST-1, and 10 mg/day initially in adult patients with TSC- or sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis-associated renal angiomyolipoma in EXIST-2. Following positive results from the core phase, remaining patients were offered open-label everolimus in an extension. Skin lesion response rate was the proportion of patients achieving complete or partial clinical response.

RESULTS

A total of 105 patients in EXIST-1 and 107 in EXIST-2 received everolimus and had ≥1 skin lesion at baseline. Skin lesion response rate (95% confidence interval) was 58.1% (48.1-67.7%) in EXIST-1 and 68.2% (58.5-76.9%) in EXIST-2; most were partial responses. At week 192 (EXIST-1: n = 55; EXIST-2: n = 56), 69% and 66% had a response. Most common drug-related adverse event was stomatitis (41-45%).

CONCLUSION

Oral everolimus improved TSC-related skin lesions, with responses sustained over 4 years of treatment in EXIST-1 and EXIST-2.

Contrast-enhanced MDCT in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours: correlation with histological findings and diagnostic performance in differentiation between tumour grades

AIM

To identify the multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) features of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (pNETs), which correlate with tumour histology and enable preoperative grading.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-nine patients with histologically confirmed pNET who underwent preoperative contrast-enhanced MDCT were included in this study. Nineteen tumours were classified as Grade 1 (G1) and 20 as Grade 2 (G2). Histopathology slides were reviewed to assess the intratumoural microvascular density (MVD) and the amount of tumour stroma. Computed tomography (CT) image analysis included tumour size, margin delineation, calcifications, homogeneity, contrast enhancement (CE) pattern, tumour absolute and relative enhancement, presence of cystic changes, pancreatic duct dilatation, regional and distant metastases. The diagnostic ability to predict tumour grade was measured for each MDCT finding and their combinations.

RESULTS

The mean arterial enhancement ratio had a mean±standard deviation of 1.53±0.45 in G1 and 1.01±0.33 in G2 pNETs (p=0.0003) and correlated with intratumoural microvascular density (MVD; r=0.55, p=0.0002). Tissue stroma percentage did not correlate with imaging findings. Late CE of the tumour (the peak attenuation observed in the venous phase) was significantly associated with G2. Tumour size >20 mm, arterial enhancement ratio <1.1, and late CE showed 74.4%, 79.5%, and 74.4% accuracy, respectively, in diagnosing G2 tumours, while the accuracy of at least two of these criteria used in combination was 82%. Based on these results, a diagnostic algorithm was proposed, which showed high interobserver agreement (k=0.82) in the prediction of tumour grade.

CONCLUSION

Contrast-enhanced MDCT features correlate with histological findings and enable the differentiation between G1 and G2 pNETs during preoperative examination.

Health-related quality of life improves during one year of medical and surgical treatment in a European population-based inception cohort of patients with inflammatory bowel disease--an ECCO-EpiCom study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is impaired in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The aim was prospectively to assess and validate the pattern of HRQoL in an unselected, population-based inception cohort of IBD patients from Eastern and Western Europe.

METHODS

The EpiCom inception cohort consists of 1560 IBD patients from 31 European centres covering a background population of approximately 10.1 million. Patients answered the disease specific Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ) and generic Short Form 12 (SF-12) questionnaire at diagnosis and after one year of follow-up.

RESULTS

In total, 1079 patients were included in this study. Crohn's disease (CD) patients mean SIBDQ scores improved from 45.3 to 55.3 in Eastern Europe and from 44.9 to 53.6 in Western Europe. SIBDQ scores for ulcerative colitis (UC) patients improved from 44.9 to 57.4 and from 48.8 to 55.7, respectively. UC patients needing surgery or biologicals had lower SIBDQ scores before and after compared to the rest, while biological therapy improved SIBDQ scores in CD. CD and UC patients in both regions improved all SF-12 scores. Only Eastern European UC patients achieved SF-12 summary scores equal to or above the normal population.

CONCLUSION

Medical and surgical treatment improved HRQoL during the first year of disease. The majority of IBD patients in both Eastern and Western Europe reported a positive perception of disease-specific but not generic HRQoL. Biological therapy improved HRQoL in CD patients, while UC patients in need of surgery or biological therapy experienced lower perceptions of HRQoL than the rest.

Health care and patients' education in a European inflammatory bowel disease inception cohort: an ECCO-EpiCom study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The EpiCom study and inception cohort was initiated in 2010 in 31 centers from 14 Western and 8 Eastern European countries, covering a 10.1million person background population. Our aim was to investigate whether there is a difference between Eastern and Western Europe in health care and education of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

METHODS

A quality of care (QoC) questionnaire was developed in the EpiCom group consisting of 16 questions covering 5 items: time interval between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis, information, education, empathy and access to health care providers.

RESULTS

Of 1,515 patients, 947 (217 east/730 west) answered the QoC questionnaire. Only 23% of all patients had knowledge about IBD before diagnosis. In Eastern Europe, significantly more patients searched out information about IBD themselves (77% vs. 68%, p<0.05), the main source was the Internet (92% vs. 88% p=0.23). In Western Europe, significantly more patients were educated by nurses (19% vs. 1%, p<0.05), while in Eastern Europe, gastroenterologists were easier to contact (80% vs. 68%, p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Health care differed significantly between Eastern and Western Europe in all items, but satisfaction rates were high in both geographic regions. Because of the low awareness and the rising incidence of IBD, general information should be the focus of patient organizations and medical societies. In Western Europe IBD nurses play a very important role in reducing the burden of patient management.

Environmental factors in a population-based inception cohort of inflammatory bowel disease patients in Europe--an ECCO-EpiCom study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing in Eastern Europe possibly due to changes in environmental factors towards a more "westernised" standard of living. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in exposure to environmental factors prior to diagnosis in Eastern and Western European IBD patients.

METHODS

The EpiCom cohort is a population-based, prospective inception cohort of 1560 unselected IBD patients from 31 European countries covering a background population of 10.1 million. At the time of diagnosis patients were asked to complete an 87-item questionnaire concerning environmental factors.

RESULTS

A total of 1182 patients (76%) answered the questionnaire, 444 (38%) had Crohn's disease (CD), 627 (53%) ulcerative colitis (UC), and 111 (9%) IBD unclassified. No geographic differences regarding smoking status, caffeine intake, use of oral contraceptives, or number of first-degree relatives with IBD were found. Sugar intake was higher in CD and UC patients from Eastern Europe than in Western Europe while fibre intake was lower (p<0.01). Daily consumption of fast food as well as appendectomy before the age of 20 was more frequent in Eastern European than in Western European UC patients (p<0.01). Eastern European CD and UC patients had received more vaccinations and experienced fewer childhood infections than Western European patients (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In this European population-based inception cohort of unselected IBD patients, Eastern and Western European patients differed in environmental factors prior to diagnosis. Eastern European patients exhibited higher occurrences of suspected risk factors for IBD included in the Western lifestyle.

East-West gradient in the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in Europe: the ECCO-EpiCom inception cohort

OBJECTIVE

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing in Eastern Europe. The reasons for these changes remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether an East-West gradient in the incidence of IBD in Europe exists.

DESIGN

A prospective, uniformly diagnosed, population based inception cohort of IBD patients in 31 centres from 14 Western and eight Eastern European countries covering a total background population of approximately 10.1 million people was created. One-third of the centres had previous experience with inception cohorts. Patients were entered into a low cost, web based epidemiological database, making participation possible regardless of socioeconomic status and prior experience.

RESULTS

1515 patients aged 15 years or older were included, of whom 535 (35%) were diagnosed with Crohn's disease (CD), 813 (54%) with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 167 (11%) with IBD unclassified (IBDU). The overall incidence rate ratios in all Western European centres were 1.9 (95% CI 1.5 to 2.4) for CD and 2.1 (95% CI 1.8 to 2.6) for UC compared with Eastern European centres. The median crude annual incidence rates per 100,000 in 2010 for CD were 6.5 (range 0-10.7) in Western European centres and 3.1 (range 0.4-11.5) in Eastern European centres, for UC 10.8 (range 2.9-31.5) and 4.1 (range 2.4-10.3), respectively, and for IBDU 1.9 (range 0-39.4) and 0 (range 0-1.2), respectively. In Western Europe, 92% of CD, 78% of UC and 74% of IBDU patients had a colonoscopy performed as the diagnostic procedure compared with 90%, 100% and 96%, respectively, in Eastern Europe. 8% of CD and 1% of UC patients in both regions underwent surgery within the first 3 months of the onset of disease. 7% of CD patients and 3% of UC patients from Western Europe received biological treatment as rescue therapy. Of all European CD patients, 20% received only 5-aminosalicylates as induction therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

An East-West gradient in IBD incidence exists in Europe. Among this inception cohort--including indolent and aggressive cases--international guidelines for diagnosis and initial treatment are not being followed uniformly by physicians.

East-West gradient in the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in Europe: the ECCO-EpiCom inception cohort

OBJECTIVE

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing in Eastern Europe. The reasons for these changes remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether an East-West gradient in the incidence of IBD in Europe exists.

DESIGN

A prospective, uniformly diagnosed, population based inception cohort of IBD patients in 31 centres from 14 Western and eight Eastern European countries covering a total background population of approximately 10.1 million people was created. One-third of the centres had previous experience with inception cohorts. Patients were entered into a low cost, web based epidemiological database, making participation possible regardless of socioeconomic status and prior experience.

RESULTS

1515 patients aged 15 years or older were included, of whom 535 (35%) were diagnosed with Crohn's disease (CD), 813 (54%) with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 167 (11%) with IBD unclassified (IBDU). The overall incidence rate ratios in all Western European centres were 1.9 (95% CI 1.5 to 2.4) for CD and 2.1 (95% CI 1.8 to 2.6) for UC compared with Eastern European centres. The median crude annual incidence rates per 100,000 in 2010 for CD were 6.5 (range 0-10.7) in Western European centres and 3.1 (range 0.4-11.5) in Eastern European centres, for UC 10.8 (range 2.9-31.5) and 4.1 (range 2.4-10.3), respectively, and for IBDU 1.9 (range 0-39.4) and 0 (range 0-1.2), respectively. In Western Europe, 92% of CD, 78% of UC and 74% of IBDU patients had a colonoscopy performed as the diagnostic procedure compared with 90%, 100% and 96%, respectively, in Eastern Europe. 8% of CD and 1% of UC patients in both regions underwent surgery within the first 3 months of the onset of disease. 7% of CD patients and 3% of UC patients from Western Europe received biological treatment as rescue therapy. Of all European CD patients, 20% received only 5-aminosalicylates as induction therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

An East-West gradient in IBD incidence exists in Europe. Among this inception cohort--including indolent and aggressive cases--international guidelines for diagnosis and initial treatment are not being followed uniformly by physicians.

Pregnancy and birth outcomes in families with asthma

Studies of maternal asthma in pregnancy have shown an increased risk of adverse neonatal and maternal outcomes such as preeclampsia, hypertension, cesarean delivery, prematurity, low birth weight, and perinatal/neonatal mortality. However, results are not consistent between studies. We studied the association between maternal asthma and various adverse neonatal and maternal outcomes and explored whether there is any evidence that pregnancy exacerbates maternal asthma. The data were collected as part of the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study. Pregnant women with asthma or women whose partners or other children had current symptoms of asthma were recruited at six Sydney hospitals. All women recruited were post 36 weeks gestation and were living within 30 km of the study recruitment center. Information about family history of asthma was collected using a questionnaire at 36 weeks gestation and subsequent information about antenatal and perinatal events was obtained from hospital records. Data from 611 pregnant women were available for analysis, 340 of whom had asthma. Hypertension was significantly more common in asthmatics than in nonasthmatics [OR = 2.16 (1.02-4.6), p < 0.043]. The prevalence of gestational diabetes, labor complications, delivery complications, and adverse neonatal outcomes did not differ significantly between the groups. We also found that the course of maternal asthma usually remains unchanged during pregnancy, but that more severe asthma is likely to get worse. We have confirmed previous observations that women with asthma are at increased risk of hypertension in pregnancy, which is consistent with studies that show that pregnant asthmatic women have a slightly increased risk of preeclampsia. However, we did not find evidence of an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes.

Risk factors for onset and remission of atopy, wheeze, and airway hyperresponsiveness

BACKGROUND

Although many children with asthma may have a remission as they grow and other children who did not have asthma may develop asthma in adult life, knowledge about the factors that influence the onset and prognosis of asthma during adolescence and young adulthood is very limited.

METHODS

A cohort of 8-10 year old children (n=718) living in Belmont, New South Wales, Australia were surveyed six times at 2 yearly intervals from 1982 to 1992, and then again 5 years later in 1997. From this cohort, 498 subjects had between three and seven assessments and were included in the analysis. Atopy, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and wheeze in the last 12 months were measured at each survey. Late onset, remission, and persistence were defined based on characteristics at the initial survey and the changes in characteristics at the follow up surveys.

RESULTS

The proportion of subjects with late onset atopy (13.7%) and wheeze (12.4%) was greater than the proportion with remission of atopy (3.2%) and wheeze (5.6%). Having atopy at age 8-12 years (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.5 to 5.1) and having a parental history of asthma (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.02 to 4.13) were significant risk factors for the onset of wheeze. Having AHR at age 8-12 years was a significant risk factor for the persistence of wheeze (OR 4.3, 95% CI 1.3 to 15.0). Female sex (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.01 to 3.60) was a significant risk factor for late onset AHR whereas male sex (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.8) was a significant risk factor for late onset atopy.

CONCLUSIONS

The onset of AHR is uncommon during adolescence, but the risk of acquiring atopy and recent wheeze for the first time continues during this period. Atopy, particularly present at the age of 8-10 years, predicts the subsequent onset of wheeze.

Family patterns of asthma, atopy and airway hyperresponsiveness: an epidemiological study

BACKGROUND

The patterns of inheritance of asthma have largely been explored using data of symptom history collected by questionnaires which are subject to bias and which may therefore distort the measured relationship.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine family patterns of allergic disease using objective measurements of atopy and of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR).

METHODS

A large random sample of children aged 8-11 years was studied and 3 months later, their parents were also invited for study. Of the sample of 1655 children, both parents of 661 children were studied. In all subjects, respiratory illness history was measured by questionnaire, atopy by skin tests and AHR by responsiveness to histamine.

RESULTS

The odds ratio for a child to have AHR if either parent had the same condition was approximately 2. 0, which was the same as the odds ratio for wheeze or diagnosed asthma in the presence of the same condition in either parent. The odds ratio for atopy was smaller (approximately 1.4, NS) but the risk of a nonatopic child having AHR if the parent had AHR was 3.0 (P = 0.01). The correlation between weal size in the child and parent was poor and the severity of AHR in the child was only modestly correlated with the severity of AHR in the parent (R = 0.51, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

The use of objective measurements did not strengthen the association between atopic or asthmatic conditions in the parent and child, but did suggest that atopy and AHR are inherited independently.

Prevalence and severity of childhood asthma and allergic sensitisation in seven climatic regions of New South Wales

OBJECTIVE

To compare the prevalence and severity of asthma and of allergic sensitisation in children in different regions. We hypothesised that regions with different standardised hospital admission rates would have different prevalences of childhood asthma and that diverse climates would result in a range of sensitisations to different allergens.

DESIGN AND SETTING

We studied large random population samples of children in seven regions in New South Wales (NSW) in 1991-1993. Hospitalisation rates were obtained from NSW Department of Health data.

PARTICIPANTS

6394 children aged 8-11 years.

OUTCOME MEASURES

History of respiratory symptoms by self-administered questionnaire; airway hyperresponsiveness by histamine inhalation test; and sensitisation to allergens by skin-prick tests.

RESULTS

Children in all regions had a high prevalence of recent wheeze (22%-27%), of diagnosed asthma (24%-38%) and of use of asthma medications (22%-30%), but no region was consistently higher or lower for all measurements. The prevalence of current asthma in children living in three coastal regions (where sensitisation to house-dust mites was high) and in the far west (where sensitisation to alternaria was high) was 12%-13%, which was significantly higher than the prevalence of 7%-10% in children living in three inland regions (where sensitisation to these allergens was lower) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

We found significant variations in the prevalence and severity of childhood asthma in NSW. The prevalence of hospitalisations, diagnosed asthma, recent symptoms and medication use may relate to different regional diagnostic patterns, whereas current asthma prevalence may relate to different levels of allergic sensitisation.