Cardiovascular risk assessment in inflammatory bowel disease with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been reported to increase the risk of early atherosclerosis even in young patients. Moreover, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which has been linked to IBD, is a well-recognized but underdiagnosis entity related to cardiovascular risk. We analyze the impact of MASLD in IBD patients' cardiovascular risk through both advanced lipoprotein profile sorted by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT).

METHODS

Cross-sectional cohort study which involves 941 IBD adult outpatients. Of them, 50 patients with IBD who met criteria for MASLD and 50 with IBD without MASLD, matched by sex and age were included. Alterations in CIMT were evaluated considering abnormal measures above the 75th percentile adjusted for sex and age. Specific advanced lipoprotein profile was also carried out.

RESULTS

Most of the patients had an abnormal CIMT (58%). MASLD (OR=5.05, CI 95%=1.71-14.92) and female sex (OR=3.32, CI 95%=1.03-10) were significantly associated with CIMT alterations. Dense LDL particles (with high cholesterol composition in general cohort (OR=3.62, 95% CI=1.07-12.19) and high triglycerides density in young subgroup (OR=6.25, 95% CI=1.04-50) but not total LDL cholesterol were associated with CIMT alterations.

CONCLUSIONS

MASLD and female sex are associated with early atherosclerosis in IBD patients. Dense LDL particle in combination with vascular imaging findings should be evaluated as non-invasive tools in the management of cardiovascular risk in IBD patients.

Prevalence and description of disorders of gut-brain interaction in Spain according to the results of the Rome Foundation Global Epidemiology Study

BACKGROUND

Data for Spain from the Rome Foundation Global Epidemiology Study on the disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) were used to assess the national and regional prevalence of all 22 DGBI, the percentage of respondents meeting diagnostic criteria for at least one DGBI, and the impact on burden of disease in our country.

METHODS

Data were collected through an anonymous, nationwide, and secure Internet survey with multiple built-in quality-assurance techniques that included the Rome IV diagnostic questionnaire and an in-depth supplemental questionnaire.

KEY RESULTS

The survey was completed by 2072 adult Spanish participants (50.2% female) with a mean age of 45.67 ± 15.44 years with a good representative national distribution. 43.6% (41.5%-45.8%) met diagnostic criteria for at least one DGBI, with 8.2% for any esophageal disorder, 12.1% for any gastroduodenal disorder, 30.1% for any bowel disorder, and 11.5% for any anorectal disorder. Functional constipation was the most prevalent DGBI in Spain (12.8%). We found that proctalgia fugax (9.3%), unspecified bowel disorders (10.8%), and functional dysphagia (5.6%) showed unexplained high rates in our country. DGBI rates were higher for women. Having any DGBI was negatively associated with psychosocial variables (including quality of life, somatization, and concern about digestive problems), and associated with increased healthcare utilization.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

We provide the first comprehensive data on the prevalence and burden of all DGBI in Spain using the Rome IV criteria. The enormous burden of DGBI in Spain highlights the need for specialized training and future research.

[Intrathecal immunoglobulin synthesis evaluation in bone marrow transplantation]

The central nervous system involvement in chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD) has been suggested. Chronic GVHD resembles auto immune connective tissue disorders. In order to investigate the immunoglobulin intra blood brain barrier (BBB) synthesis during chronic GVHD, and contribute to understanding the pathophysiology of the disease, we studied 33 patients who underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplants (BMT) from HLA identical related donors. Immunoglobulin intra BBB synthesis was investigated quantitative and qualitatively. The samples were collected pre BMT, pos BMT and during chronic GVHD. There were no evidence of immunoglobulin intra BBB synthesis, and no oligoclonal bands were found. Only isolated cases suggested IgO and IgA intra BBB synthesis, and in one case IgM during GVHD.

[Blood-brain barrier evaluation in bone marrow transplantation]

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) contributes to the central nervous system (CNS) immunological isolation. BBB has never been studied in patients who developed chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic bone marrow transplants (BMT), from HLA identical related donors. BBB disruption was investigated through the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteins, quantitative and graphically, in order to detect the incidence and possible pathophysiology of the CNS involvement in chronic GVHD. Thirty three CSF and matched serum samples from chronic myeloid leukemia patients were collected pre BMT pos BMT and during chronic GVHD. There was no evidence of BBB disruption in any patient studied.