Factors Associated with Fecal Incontinence in Women of Childbearing Age with Crohn's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Fecal incontinence is common in women with Crohn's disease, but little is known about the impact of childbirth, perianal Crohn's disease, and past surgical history on fecal incontinence. METHODS: Self-administered questionnaires were mailed to consecutive women referred to a tertiary gastroenterology centre with a focus on fecal incontinence and childbirth. These data were cross-referenced with a prospective database of the same patients' own Crohn's disease histories. Fecal incontinence was defined as a Cleveland Clinic Incontinence Score ≥5. Factors associated with fecal incontinence were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 173 patients were assessed, including 113 parous women. The prevalence of fecal incontinence was 37.5% (95% CI, 30.7-45.0). The disease duration, a history of anal surgery for fistula, the number of childbirths per woman and Crohn's activity were all independently associated with fecal incontinence in a multivariate analysis model. Specifically, among the group of parous women, fecal incontinence was associated with prior abdominal surgery, prior anal surgery, and Crohn's activity. The mode of delivery was not statistically associated with fecal incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: Fecal incontinence is a significant complaint in at least one-third of women of childbearing age with Crohn's disease. Patients'disease and treatment histories seem to have a comparable effect to their childbirth history concerning the presence of fecal incontinence. Both physicians and surgeons who are involved in the management of Crohn's disease need to keep this in mind.

Azathioprine for refractory ulcerative proctitis: A retrospective multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Efficacy of azathioprine (AZA) in refractory ulcerative proctitis (UP) is unknown. METHODS: All patients treated with AZA for refractory UP in three referral centers between 2002 and 2012 were included. "Treatment success" in the long-term was defined as the absence of colectomy during follow-up, no need for anti-TNF during follow-up, no ongoing systemic steroids use, no adverse event leading to AZA withdrawal, and clinically quiescent disease at last follow-up. RESULTS: Of the 1279 adult patients with ulcerative colitis, 25 patients were treated with AZA for refractory UP (median disease duration 4.9 years). Of these, 4 had no short-term clinical assessment. Of the remaining 21, 4 were primary non responders to AZA, 7 discontinued AZA for adverse events and 10 showed clinical improvement. At the long-term assessment at last follow up after a median of 46 months, 5 patients had treatment success and were still on AZA treatment, the remaining 20 were treatment failures. Of these, 5 discontinued AZA for adverse events and 15 were treated with infliximab (clinical response in 11 patients, primary non-response in one patient, and 3 underwent colectomy). CONCLUSION: AZA may be efficacious in maintaining clinical response in one-fifth of patients with refractory UP in a real-life setting.

Prevalence and characteristics of acid gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in Jackhammer oesophagus.

BACKGROUND: An association between acid gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Jackhammer oesophagus has been suggested. AIM: To assess the prevalence and characteristics of acid-GERD in Jackhammer oesophagus and the efficacy of proton pump inhibitors. METHODS: Data and outcomes of patients with Jackhammer oesophagus were assessed. Two groups were compared: (i) GERD, defined by endoscopic oesophagitis or by an increase in acid exposure time or by an acid-hypersensitive oesophagus and (ii) non-GERD defined by normal oesophageal acid exposure without acid-hypersensitive oesophagus. RESULTS: Among the 1994 high-resolution manometries performed, 44 Jackhammer oesophagus (2.2%) were included (sex ratio M/F: 19/25; median age: 66 [61-75] years). Nineteen patients (43.2%) had GERD, 16 (36.4%) had no GERD and 9 patients (20.4%) were undetermined. Dysphagia was the predominant symptom (37/43 (86%)). After a median follow-up of 25.3 months [9.6-31.4], dysphagia was improved in 22/36 (61.1%) patients. Dysphagia improvement as well as other symptoms improvement was not associated with GERD status or proton-pump inhibitors use. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of GERD is high among patients with Jackhammer oesophagus. The rates of symptom improvement in Jackhammer oesophagus were high regardless of the use of proton-pump inhibitors treatment or of the presence of GERD.

High-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia: Progression to invasive cancer is not a certainty.

BACKGROUND: The incidences of high-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia (HSIL) and superficially invasive squamous cell carcinomas (SISCCA) related to human papillomavirus (HPV) have increased. These lesions can progress to invasive anal cancer. The aim of the study was to assess the clinical outcome with a special focus on the healing rate. METHODS: Forty-six consecutive patients (M/F: 35/11; HIV+: 30) with histologically proven HSIL lesions (N=41) or SISCCA (N=5) were enrolled in a follow-up survey. RESULTS: Of the 46 patients, 40 were treated by excision (n=9), electrocoagulation (n=13), topical treatment (n=2) or combined strategies (n=16). After a mean follow-up of 35 (27-43) months, only one patient progressed to an invasive cancer. Regression and healing were observed in 14 (30%) and 15 (33%) patients. The cumulative probabilities of healing were 14%, 49% and 74% after 1, 3 and 5 years. None of the current smokers healed. Heterosexual patients, sexual abstinence, patients older than 44 years old, non-smokers, patients without any past history of condyloma and those with less than 2 high-risk HPVs at baseline were more likely to heal. CONCLUSION: Progression to invasive cancer is a rare event. Large, prospective cohort studies are needed to plan coherent strategies for both follow-up and treatment.