Health maintenance and inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, specifically those with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are at an increased risk of developing adverse events either related to disease course or therapeutic interventions. These risks can be mitigated by ensuring the patient is current on all aspects of their general health maintenance. This article is intended to serve as a guide regarding the health maintenance issues of the patient with IBD with recommendations for screening and surveillance intervals.

Crohn's disease: the subsequent visit

The diagnosis and subsequent management of Crohn's disease are challenging for both the patient and the gastroenterologist. After the initial assessment, subsequent visits should assess the patient's readiness to begin therapy, monitor progress if therapy has been initiated, assess for complications of the disease or therapy, and ensure that all appropriate health maintenance measures are current. This article is intended to be a companion to our earlier paper "Crohn's Disease: The First Visit," which was published in Gastroenterology & Hepatology in March 2011. This article will offer a methodologic and sequential approach to subsequent office visits, as well as provide a checklist for the assessment of Crohn's disease.

"Red flag" evaluation yield in irritable bowel syndrome

BACKGROUND

The diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is based on clinical criteria. Further diagnostic testing is advised for certain "red flag" alarm or warning signs.

AIM

This investigation was designed to examine the yield of testing for "red flags".

METHODS

Consecutive patients who were prospectively evaluated and met the ROME III criteria for IBS were reviewed for "red flags" which included: 1) rectal bleeding, 2) iron-deficiency anemia (IDA), 3) weight loss, 4) family history of colon cancer, 5) fever, and 6) age of onset after age 50. The evaluations were reviewed for type of testing and findings. Subjects with nocturnal symptoms and fecal soiling, although not traditional warning signs, were also reviewed.

RESULTS

There were 200 patients who met the IBS criteria; 139 (70%) had a "red flag" alarm symptom or sign. Diarrhea predominant-IBS (D-IBS) was seen in 105, constipation predominant-IBS (C-IBS) in 57, alternating, mixed, or pain predominant-IBS in 38. There were 30 men and 170 women. Testing was not often performed in this setting and, when done, the yield was low with few clinically significant diagnostic findings.

CONCLUSION

There was a high prevalence of "red flag" symptoms or signs in the prospectively evaluated IBS cohort, but a low frequency of diagnostic testing directed at the investigation of these symptoms or signs. Further systematic study may show that the yield for testing in IBS is low even when "red flags" prompt diagnostic testing.