Gas Chromatography-Sensor System Aids Diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and Separates Crohn's from Ulcerative Colitis, in Children.

The diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children and the need to distinguish between subtypes (Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC)) requires lengthy investigative and invasive procedures. Non-invasive, rapid, and cost-effective tests to support these diagnoses are needed. Faecal volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are distinctive in IBD. VOC profiles can be rapidly determined using a gas chromatography-sensor device (OdoReader©). In an inception-cohort of children presenting with suspected IBD, we directly compared the diagnostic fidelity of faecal calprotectin (FCP, a non-specific protein marker of intestinal inflammation) with OdoReader© VOC profiles of children subsequently diagnosed with IBD with matched controls diagnosed with other gastrointestinal conditions. The OdoReader© was 82% (95% confidence interval 75-89%) sensitive and 71% (61-80%) specific but did not outperform FCP (sensitivity 93% (77-99%) and specificity 86% (67-96%); 250 µg/g FCP cut off) in the diagnosis of IBD from other gastrointestinal conditions when validated in a separate sample from the same cohort. However, unlike FCP and better than other similar technologies, the OdoReader© could distinguish paediatric CD from UC (up to 88% (82-93%) sensitivity and 80% (71-89%) specificity in the validation set) and justifies further validation in larger studies. A non-invasive test based on VOCs could help streamline and limit invasive investigations in children.

Faecal volatile organic compounds differ according to inflammatory bowel disease sub-type, severity, and response to treatment in paediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: Faecal volatile organic compounds (VOCs) differ with disease sub-type and activity in adults with established inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) taking therapy. OBJECTIVE: To describe patterns of faecal VOCs in children newly presented with IBD according to disease sub-type, severity, and response to treatment. METHODS: Children presenting with suspected IBD were recruited from three UK hospitals. Children in whom IBD was diagnosed were matched with a non-IBD child for age, sex, and recruitment site. Faecal VOCs were characterised by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry at presentation and 3 months later in children with IBD. RESULTS: In 132 case/control pairs, median (inter-quartile range) age in IBD was 13.3 years (10.2-14.7) and 38.6% were female. Compared with controls, the mean abundance of 27/62 (43.6%) faecal VOCs was statistically significantly decreased in Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) or both especially amongst ketones/diketones, fatty acids, and alcohols (p < 0.05). Short-chain, medium chain, and branched chain fatty acids were markedly reduced in severe colitis (p < 0.05). Despite clinical improvement in many children with IBD, the number and abundance of almost all VOCs did not increase following treatment, suggesting persistent dysbiosis. Oct-1-en-3-ol was increased in CD (p = 0.001) and UC (p = 0.012) compared with controls and decreased following treatment in UC (p = 0.01). In CD, propan-1-ol was significantly greater than controls (p < 0.001) and extensive colitis (p = 0.001) and fell with treatment (p = 0.05). Phenol was significantly greater in CD (p < 0.001) and fell with treatment in both CD (p = 0.02) and UC (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Characterisation of faecal VOCs in an inception cohort of children with IBD reveals patterns associated with diagnosis, disease activity, and extent. Further work should investigate the relationship between VOCs and the microbiome in IBD and their role in diagnosis and disease monitoring.

Improved clinical outcomes with early anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha therapy in children with newly diagnosed Crohn's disease: real world data from the international prospective PIBD-SETQuality inception cohort study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Treatment guidelines for paediatric Crohn's disease (CD) suggest early use of anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF) in high-risk individuals. The aim is to evaluate the effect of early anti-TNF in a real-world cohort. METHODS: Children with newly-diagnosed CD were prospectively recruited at 28 participating sites of the international observational PIBD-SETQuality study. Outcomes were compared at 3 months, 1 and 2 years between patients receiving early anti-TNF (<90 days after diagnosis) and those not receiving early anti-TNF. Outcomes included sustained steroid-free remission (SSFR) without treatment intensification (specified as SSFR*) and sustained steroid-free mild/inactive disease without treatment intensification (specified as SSFMI*). Penalised logistic regression model-based standardisation was applied to estimate the relative risks (RR) of early therapy on outcomes. RRs were estimated for high-risk and low-risk patients based on presence of predictors of poor outcome (POPOs) and disease activity at diagnosis. RESULTS: In total, 331 children (median age 13.9 years [IQR 12.2 - 15.3]) were enrolled, with 135 (41%) receiving early anti-TNF. At 1 year, patients on early anti-TNF had higher rates of SSFR* (30% vs. 14%, p<0.001) and SSFMI* (69% vs. 33%, p<0.001), with RRs of 2.95 (95%CI 1.63-5.36) and 4.67 (95%CI 2.46-8.87) respectively. At 1 year, the RRs for SSFMI* were higher, and statistically significant in high-risk patients, i.e. those with moderate/severe disease compared to mild/inactive disease at diagnosis (5.50 [95%CI 2.51-12.05]) vs. 2.91 [95%CI 0.92-9.11]), and those with any POPO compared to no POPO (5.05 [95%CI 2.45-10.43] vs. 3.41 [95%CI 0.54-21.7]). CONCLUSION: In this cohort of children with newly-diagnosed CD, early anti-TNF demonstrated superior effectiveness in high-risk patients.

Young persons and healthcare professionals experience of virtual gastroenterology consultations: a multicentre survey conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To explore Young Persons (YP) and healthcare professionals (HCP) experiences of virtual consultations (VC) and establish whether developmentally appropriate healthcare can be delivered virtually. Method: YP and HCP questionnaire surveys were designed and piloted. Electronic questionnaire links were sent by post, email or text message January-April 2021 to YP aged 13-25 years old, with predefined chronic gastrointestinal conditions, attending a gastroenterology/hepatology VC. HCP undertaking VC were invited to complete staff questionnaire. Results were anonymous and collated using Excel version 2302. Results: Five UK hospital trusts participated, with 35 HCP responses. Of the 100 YP completing the survey 66% were female and 34% male aged between 13 years and 25 years (median: 18 years). 13% were new appointments and 87% follow ups, 29% were by video, 69% by phone and 2% gave no response. 80% of HCP spoke to YP directly but not privately (69%). 87% of YP and 88% HCP found VC useful. 83% of YP want VC again, although 20% preferred face to face. 43% of HCP required improved phone/internet connection. 77% of YP required hospital appointments for tests following VC. Conclusions: Overall respondents were satisfied with VC, finding them useful, convenient and time saving. Successful VC rely on appropriate patient selection and availability of reliable technology. Patient preference is key which may alter with time.

Inflammatory bowel disease patient-reported quality assessment should drive service improvement: a national survey of UK IBD units and patients.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare service provision in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is often designed to meet targets set by healthcare providers rather than those of patients. It is unclear whether this meets the needs of patients, as assessed by patients themselves. AIMS: To assess patients' experience of IBD and the healthcare they received, aiming to identify factors in IBD healthcare provision associated with perceived high-quality care. METHODS: Using the 2019 IBD standards as a framework, a national benchmarking tool for quality assessment in IBD was developed by IBD UK, comprising a patient survey and service self-assessment. RESULTS: 134 IBD services and 9757 patients responded. Perceived quality of care was lowest in young adults and increased with age, was higher in males and those >2 years since diagnosis. No hospital services met all the national IBD standards for recommended workforce numbers. Key metrics associated with patient-reported high- quality care were: identification as a tertiary centre, patient information availability, shared decision- making, rapid response to contact for advice, access to urgent review, joint medical/surgical clinics, and access to research (all p < 0.001). Higher numbers of IBD nurse specialists in a service was strongly associated with patients receiving regular reviews and having confidence in self-management and reporting high- quality care. CONCLUSIONS: This extensive patient and healthcare provider survey emphasises the importance of aspects of care less often measured by clinicians, such as communication, shared decision- making and provision of information. It demonstrates that IBD nurse specialists are crucial to meeting the needs of people living with IBD.

Transition Services for Paediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Multicentre Study of Practice in the United Kingdom.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with paediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) constitute one of the largest cohorts requiring transition from paediatric to adult services. Standardised transition care improves short and long-term patient outcomes. This study aimed to detail the current state of transition services for IBD in the United Kingdom (UK). METHODS: We performed a nationwide study to ascertain current practice, facilities and resources for children and young people with IBD. Specialist paediatric IBD centres were invited to contribute data on: timing of transition/transfer of care; transition resources available including clinics, staff and patient information; planning for future improvement. RESULTS: Twenty of 21 (95%) of invited centres responded. Over 90% of centres began the transition process below 16 years of age and all had completed transfer to adult care at 18 years of age. The proportion of patients in the transition process at individual centres varied from 10% to 50%.Joint clinics were held in every centre, with a mean of 12.9 clinics per year. Adult and paediatric gastroenterologists attended at all sites. Availability of additional team members was patchy across the UK, with dietetic, psychological and surgical attendance available in <50% centres. A structured transition tool was used in 75% of centres. Sexual health, contraception and pregnancy were discussed by <60% of teams. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides real-world clinical data on UK-wide transition services. These data can be used to develop a national strategy to complement current transition guidelines, focused on standardising services whilst allowing for local implementation.

Adaptations to the current ECCO/ESPGHAN guidelines on the management of paediatric acute severe colitis in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: a RAND appropriateness panel.

OBJECTIVE: Paediatric acute severe colitis (ASC) management during the novel SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic is challenging due to reliance on immunosuppression and the potential for surgery. We aimed to provide COVID-19-specific guidance using the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation/European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition guidelines for comparison. DESIGN: We convened a RAND appropriateness panel comprising 14 paediatric gastroenterologists and paediatric experts in surgery, rheumatology, respiratory and infectious diseases. Panellists rated the appropriateness of interventions for ASC in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results were discussed at a moderated meeting prior to a second survey. RESULTS: Panellists recommended patients with ASC have a SARS-CoV-2 swab and expedited biological screening on admission and should be isolated. A positive swab should trigger discussion with a COVID-19 specialist. Sigmoidoscopy was recommended prior to escalation to second-line therapy or colectomy. Methylprednisolone was considered appropriate first-line management in all, including those with symptomatic COVID-19. Thromboprophylaxis was also recommended in all. In patients requiring second-line therapy, infliximab was considered appropriate irrespective of SARS-CoV-2 status. Delaying colectomy due to SARS-CoV-2 infection was considered inappropriate. Corticosteroid tapering over 8-10 weeks was deemed appropriate for all. After successful corticosteroid rescue, thiopurine maintenance was rated appropriate in patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 swab and asymptomatic patients with positive swab but uncertain in symptomatic COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Our COVID-19-specific adaptations to paediatric ASC guidelines using a RAND panel generally support existing recommendations, particularly the use of corticosteroids and escalation to infliximab, irrespective of SARS-CoV-2 status. Consideration of routine prophylactic anticoagulation was recommended.

Characterisation of fasted state gastric and intestinal fluids collected from children.

Fundamental knowledge about the composition of intestinal fluids in paediatric populations is currently unavailable. This study aimed to characterise gastric and intestinal fluid from paediatric populations. Gastric and intestinal fluid samples were obtained during routine clinical endoscopy from paediatric patients at a large teaching hospital. These fluids were characterised to measure the pH; buffer capacity; osmolality; bile acid concentration and composition. A total of 55 children were recruited to the study aged from 11 months to 15 years of age where 53 gastric fluid samples and 40 intestinal fluid samples were obtained. pH values recorded ranged from pH 0.57 to 11.05 (median: 2.50) in gastric fluids and from 0.89 to 8.97 (median: 3.27) in intestinal fluids. The buffer capacity did not change significantly between gastric and intestinal fluids with median values of 12 mM/L/ΔpH for both fluids. Gastric fluid osmolality values ranged from 1 to 615 mOsm/kg, while intestinal fluid values ranged from 35 to 631 mOsm/kg. Gastric fluid bile acid concentrations ranged from 0.002 to 2.3 mM with a median value of 0.017 mM whilst intestinal fluid bile acid concentrations ranged from 0.0008 to 3.3 mM with a median value of 0.178 mM. Glycocholate; taurocholic acid; glycochenodeoxycholate and taurochenodeoxycholate were the most commonly identified bile acids within paediatric intestinal fluids. All compositional components were associated with large inter-individual variability. Further work is required to develop simulated paediatric media and to explore the impact of these media on drug solubility and dissolution.

Impact of COVID-19 on diagnosis and management of paediatric inflammatory bowel disease during lockdown: a UK nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has impacted on healthcare provision. Anecdotally, investigations for children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have been restricted, resulting in diagnosis with no histological confirmation and potential secondary morbidity. In this study, we detail practice across the UK to assess impact on services and document the impact of the pandemic. METHODS: For the month of April 2020, 20 tertiary paediatric IBD centres were invited to contribute data detailing: (1) diagnosis/management of suspected new patients with IBD; (2) facilities available; (3) ongoing management of IBD; and (4) direct impact of COVID-19 on patients with IBD. RESULTS: All centres contributed. Two centres retained routine endoscopy, with three unable to perform even urgent IBD endoscopy. 122 patients were diagnosed with IBD, and 53.3% (n=65) were presumed diagnoses and had not undergone endoscopy with histological confirmation. The most common induction was exclusive enteral nutrition (44.6%). No patients with a presumed rather than confirmed diagnosis were started on anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy.Most IBD follow-up appointments were able to occur using phone/webcam or face to face. No biologics/immunomodulators were stopped. All centres were able to continue IBD surgery if required, with 14 procedures occurring across seven centres. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic IBD practice has been hugely impacted by COVID-19, with >50% of new diagnoses not having endoscopy. To date, therapy and review of known paediatric patients with IBD has continued. Planning and resourcing for recovery is crucial to minimise continued secondary morbidity.

Consensus standards of healthcare for adults and children with inflammatory bowel disease in the UK.

OBJECTIVE: Symptoms and clinical course during inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) vary among individuals. Personalised care is therefore essential to effective management, delivered by a strong patient-centred multidisciplinary team, working within a well-designed service. This study aimed to fully rewrite the UK Standards for the healthcare of adults and children with IBD, and to develop an IBD Service Benchmarking Tool to support current and future personalised care models. DESIGN: Led by IBD UK, a national multidisciplinary alliance of patients and nominated representatives from all major stakeholders in IBD care, Standards requirements were defined by survey data collated from 689 patients and 151 healthcare professionals. Standards were drafted and refined over three rounds of modified electronic-Delphi. RESULTS: Consensus was achieved for 59 Standards covering seven clinical domains; (1) design and delivery of the multidisciplinary IBD service; (2) prediagnostic referral pathways, protocols and timeframes; (3) holistic care of the newly diagnosed patient; (4) flare management to support patient empowerment, self-management and access to specialists where required; (5) surgery including appropriate expertise, preoperative information, psychological support and postoperative care; (6) inpatient medical care delivery (7) and ongoing long-term care in the outpatient department and primary care setting including shared care. Using these patient-centred Standards and informed by the IBD Quality Improvement Project (IBDQIP), this paper presents a national benchmarking framework. CONCLUSIONS: The Standards and Benchmarking Tool provide a framework for healthcare providers and patients to rate the quality of their service. This will recognise excellent care, and promote quality improvement, audit and service development in IBD.

A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial to Assess Safety and Tolerability of (Thetanix) Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron in Adolescent Crohn's Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Thetanix (gastroresistant capsules containing lyophilized Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron) is a live biotherapeutic, under development for Crohn's disease, that antagonizes transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B, reducing proinflammatory cytokines, particularly tumor necrosis factor alpha. We aimed to assess safety and tolerability in adolescents with Crohn's disease in remission. METHODS: Subjects who were 16-18 years with Crohn's in remission (weighted pediatric Crohn's disease activity index <12.5) were recruited. Each active dose comprised ∼108.2±1.4 colony forming units of B. thetaiotaomicron (randomized 4:1 active:placebo). Part A was single dose. Part B involved 7.5 days twice daily dosing. Serial stools were analyzed for calprotectin, 16S rRNA sequencing, and B. thetaiotaomicron real-time polymerase chain reaction. Bloods were taken serially. Subjects reported adverse events and recorded temperature twice daily. RESULTS: Fifteen subjects were treated-8 in part A (75% men, median 17.1 years) and 10 in part B, including 3 from part A (80% men, median 17.1 years); all 18 completed. Seventy percent took concurrent immunosuppression. Reported compliance was >99% in part B. Two subjects reported adverse events deemed related-one in part A with eructation, flatulence, and reflux; one in part B with dizziness, abdominal pain, and headache. No serious adverse events were reported. There was no significant change in median calprotectin across part B (87.8 [4.4-447] to 50.5 [5.3-572], P = 0.44 by the Fisher exact test in the active group). No significant differences were found in microbiota profiles, but diversity seemed to increase in treated subjects. DISCUSSION: Thetanix, after single and multiple doses, was well tolerated. Although the numbers in this study were small, the safety profile seems good. Future studies should explore efficacy.

Reduced skeletal muscle protein balance in paediatric Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: An inability to respond to nutrition could be implicated in low muscle mass in Crohn's disease. We aim to determine skeletal muscle metabolic response to feeding in Crohn's disease and healthy volunteers. METHODS: Twenty asymptomatic Crohn's disease participants (15.6 ± 0.5 yrs; BMI 20.6 ± 0.9 kg/m2); 9 with active disease (faecal calprotectin, 808 ± 225 ug/g and C-reactive protein, 2.2 ± 1.2 mg/dl), 11 in deep remission (faecal calprotectin, 61 ± 12 ug/g and C-reactive protein, 0.3 ± 0.2 mg/dl) and 9 matched healthy volunteers (16.0 ± 0.6 yrs; BMI 20.7 ± 0.6 kg/m2) were recruited. Participants had a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan, handgrip dynamometer test, wore a pedometer and completed a food diary. Arterialised hand and venous forearm blood samples were collected concurrently and brachial artery blood flow measured at baseline and every 20 min for 2 hrs after the ingestion of a standardised liquid meal. Net balance of branched chain amino acids (BCAA) and glucose were derived. RESULTS: Controls had a positive mean BCAA balance. CD participants had an initial anabolic response to the meal, with increasing BCAA balance between t = 0 & t = 20, but returned to negative by t = 60. This was associated with reduced FFM z-scores in CD but not with insulin resistance or disease activity. Exploratory analyses suggest that negative postprandial BCAA response seen in CD is predominant in males (p = 0.049), with associated lower appendicular muscle mass (p = 0.034), higher muscle fatigue (p = 0.014) and reduced protein intake (p = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS: The inability to sustain a positive protein balance postprandially could provide an explanation for the reduced muscle mass seen in CD. Further mechanistic studies will be needed to confirm these findings.

Improved Medical Treatment and Surgical Surveillance of Children and Adolescents with Ulcerative Colitis in the United Kingdom.

Background: Pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC) presents at an earlier age and increasing prevalence. Our aim was to examine morbidity, steroid sparing strategies, and surgical outcome in children with active UC. Methods: A national prospective audit was conducted for the inpatient period of all children with UC for medical or surgical treatment in the United Kingdom (UK) over 1 year. Thirty-two participating centers recruited 224 children in 298 admissions, comparisons over 6 years were made with previous audits. Results: Over 6 years, recording of Paediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (PUCAI) score (median 65)(23% to 55%, P < 0.001), guidelines for acute severe colitis (43% to 77%, P < 0.04), and ileal pouch surgery registration (4% to 56%, P < 0.001) have increased. Corticosteroids were given in 183/298 episodes (61%) with 61/183 (33%) not responding and requiring second line therapy or surgery. Of those treated with anti-TNFalpha (16/61, 26%), 3/16 (18.8%) failed to respond and required colectomy. Prescription of rescue therapy (26% to 49%, P = 0.04) and proportion of anti-TNFalpha (20% to 53%, P = 0.03) had increased, colectomy rate (23.7% to 15%) was not significantly reduced (P = 0.5). Subtotal colectomy was the most common surgery performed (n = 40), and surgical complications from all procedures occurred in 33%. In 215/224 (96%) iron deficiency anemia was detected and in 51% treated, orally (50.2%) or intravenously (49.8%). Conclusions: A third of children were not responsive to steroids, and a quarter of these were treated with anti-TNFalpha. Colectomy was required in 41/298 (13.7%) of all admissions. Our national audit program indicates effectiveness of actions taken to reduce steroid dependency, surgery, and iron deficiency. 10.1093/ibd/izy042_video1izy042.video15769503407001.

Use of Infliximab Biosimilar Versus Originator in a Pediatric United Kingdom Inflammatory Bowel Disease Induction Cohort.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to summarize short-term effectiveness, safety, and cost of using infliximab biosimilar (IFX-B) drugs, (Inflectra [Hospira] and Remsima [NAAP]) compared to originator infliximab (IFX-O) (Remicade [MSD]) in biologic naive pediatric inflammatory bowel disease in the United Kingdom. METHODS: Prospective audit of patients starting anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy. Disease severity, response to treatment, and remission rate was measured by Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index (PCDAI) and/or Physician Global Assessment. RESULTS: Between March 2015 and February 2016, 278 patients (175 IFX-O, 82 IFX-B, and 21 Adalimumab) were started on anti-TNF therapy. This was compared with collected data on 398 patients started on IFX-O from 2011 to 2015. At initiation, median PCDAI was 36 (20,48) (n = 42) in the IFX-O group and 28 (20,40) (n = 29) in the IFX-B group, (P = 0.08). Immunosuppression rates were similar: 150/175 (86%) for IFX-O and 65/82 (79%) for IFX-B (P > 0.05). Post induction, median PCDAI score was 5 (0,11) (n = 19) and 0 (0,8) (n = 15) in the IFX-O and IFX-B groups, respectively (P = 0.35). There was no difference in response to treatment using Physician Global Assessment 85% (n = 28) in IFX-O group and 86% (n = 19) in IFX-B group (P > 0.05). Adverse events at initiation and post induction were not different between both groups (P > 0.05). Using conservative calculations, £875,000 would have been saved for a 1-year period with universal adoption of biosimilars in patients who were instead treated with IFX-O. CONCLUSIONS: IFX-B is likely as effective as IFX-O in treating IBD in comparable pediatric populations. Sites should adopt infliximab biosimilar for new starts due to cost reduction with no difference in other parameters.

Real-life Anti-tumor Necrosis Factor Experience in More Than 500 Patients: High Co-immunosuppression Rates But Low Rates of Quantifying Treatment Response.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to measure the effectiveness, safety, and use of anti-tumor necrosis Factor (TNF) therapy in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease in the United Kingdom (UK). METHODS: Prospective UK audit of patients newly starting anti-TNF therapy. Disease severity was assessed using Physician Global Assessment +/or the Paediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index. RESULTS: A total of 37 centers participated (23/25 specialist pediatric inflammatory bowel disease sites). A total of 524 patients were included: 429 with Crohn disease (CD), 76 with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 19 with IBD unclassified (IBDU). Eighty-seven percent (488/562) of anti-TNF was infliximab; commonest indication was active luminal CD 77% (330/429) or chronic refractory UC/IBDU 56% (53/95); 79% (445/562) had concomitant co-immunosuppression. In CD (267/429 male), median time from diagnosis to treatment was 1.42 years (interquartile range 0.63-2.97). Disease (at initiation) was moderate or severe in 91% (156/171) by Physician Global Assessment compared to 41% (88/217) by Paediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index (Kappa (κ) 0.28 = only "fair agreement"; P < 0.001.Where documented, 77% (53/69) of patients with CD responded to induction; and 65% (46/71) entered remission. A total of 2287 infusions and 301.96 years of patient' follow-up (n = 385) are represented; adverse events affected 3% (49/1587) infliximab and 2% (2/98) adalimumab infusions (no deaths or malignancies). Peri-anal abscess drainage was less common after anti-TNF initiation (CD), that is 26% (27/102) before, 7% (3/42) after (P = 0.01); however, pre and post anti-TNF data collection was not over equal time periods. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-TNFs are effective treatments, usually given with thiopurine co-immunosuppression. This study highlights deficiencies in formal documentation of effect and disparity between disease severity scoring tools, which need to be addressed to improve ongoing patient care.

Management of ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) in children is increasing. The range of treatments available has also increased too but around 1 in 4 children still require surgery to control their disease. An up-to-date understanding of treatments is essential for all clinicians involved in the care of UC patients to ensure appropriate and timely treatment while minimising the risk of complications and side effects.

Recent advances in paediatric gastroenterology.

Over the last few years, many changes have been introduced in the diagnosis and management of paediatric gastrointestinal problems. This review highlights the recent developments in Helicobacter pylori infection, eosinophilic oesophagitis, coeliac disease and inflammatory bowel disease.

The provision of paediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy services in the United Kingdom.

OBJECTIVE: There are no specific data available regarding paediatric endoscopy provision in the UK and anecdotal experiences suggest that such provision varies widely between the units. The aim of our study was to identify the current provision of paediatric endoscopy services in the UK, the number of endoscopies performed in each unit, the number of operators performing these endoscopies and whether endoscopies were performed under sedation or general anaesthesia. METHODS AND RESULTS: An email questionnaire was sent to all 31 units in the UK performing paediatric endoscopies and responses were received from 25 centres (81%). The median number of total endoscopies (upper and lower) per unit each year was 332 (range 64-2040). The median number of gastrosopy per consultant in each centre was 101 (range 20-288) and median number of colonoscopies performed per consultant per year was 49 (range 10-215). 18 of the 25 centres performed all endoscopies under general anaesthesia with 7 centres using sedation as well as general anaesthesia. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy insertion (PEG) was performed in 24 out of 25 centres with the service undertaken by paediatric surgeons in 11 centres. 11 centres provided formal out of hours endoscopy services. CONCLUSION: There is wide variation in paediatric endoscopy provision and the British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (BSPGHAN) endoscopy working group is collaborating with the Joint Advisory Group (JAG) to provide specific standards for paediatric endoscopy services in the UK.