Impact of cytomegalovirus on outcomes in acute severe ulcerative colitis: a retrospective observational study.

Background: Concomitant cytomegalovirus (CMV) is highly prevalent in acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) but data for outcomes of CMV positivity in ASUC and the benefit of antiviral therapy remain unclear. Objectives: We aim to determine the impact of CMV positivity, and antiviral therapy, on outcomes such as colectomy-free survival, length of hospital stay and readmission rate, among hospitalized patients with ASUC. Design: This is a retrospective, multicentre study of patients admitted with ASUC. Methods: CMV positivity was diagnosed from blood CMV DNA and inpatient colonic biopsies. Background demographics and disease characteristics, clinical characteristics and outcomes during admission and long-term outcomes were obtained from electronic medical records and compared according to the presence of CMV and the use of antiviral therapy. Results: CMV was detected in 40 (24%) of 167 ASUC admissions. Previous steroid exposure was the only clinical predictor of CMV positivity on multivariate analysis. Outcomes of greater requirement for rescue therapy (60% versus 33%), longer hospital stay (14.3 versus 9.9 days) and higher readmission rates at 3 and 12 months were associated with CMV positivity. No difference was found in the rate of colectomy or colectomy-free survival. Antiviral therapy was not associated with a lower risk of colectomy but did extend the time to colectomy (126 versus 36 days). Conclusion: CMV positivity was associated with worse outcomes of need for rescue therapy, hospital stay and readmissions. Antiviral therapy was not found to reduce the risk of colectomy but did extend the time to colectomy. Further prospective studies will be required to more clearly determine its benefit in patients with concomitant CMV and ASUC.

Cytomegalovirus reactivation in acute severe ulcerative colitis Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a highly prevalent virus that may result in concominant reactivation in patients with acute severe ulcerative colitis and potentially worsen their outcomes. Our study aims to determine the impact of presence of CMV in patients with acute severe ulcerate colitis requiring hospitalisation and its association with outcomes including risk of surgical resection of colon, length of hospital stay, readmission rate, as well as effect of outcomes amongst those treated with antivirals for CMV. Our results did not find a significant association between detection of CMV on surgical risk, though outcomes including longer hospital stays, higher readmission rate were found. Antiviral use was not associated with lower risk of surgery but was found to prolong time to surgery. Given that our study was based on retrospective data, further prospective studies will be required to examine the benefit of antiviral use in outcomes for those with concominant CMV and acute severe ulcerative colitis. We conclude from our study that while having concomitant CMV with acute severe uclerative colitis may not necessarily increase risk for surgery, patients may still have worse outcomes in other areas therefore the detection of CMV should be considered a significant and clinically relevant result.

Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis Causing Pyloric Stenosis: A Rare Manifestation.

Eosinophilic gastritis is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by eosinophilic infiltration in the gastric wall. We present a rare case of critical pyloric stenosis secondary to eosinophilic gastritis in a 16-year-old adolescent girl who presented with nausea, vomiting, early satiety, and abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography and subsequent esophagogastroduodenoscopy confirmed the anatomical diagnosis, but histological confirmation of the eosinophilic etiology was challenging. After an unsuccessful trial of high-dose systemic corticosteroids, a laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy was performed and long-term immunosuppression with mycophenolate mofetil was commenced.

Pancreatitis and Biliary Obstruction Secondary to Duodenal Metastasis from Rapidly Progressing Lung Adenocarcinoma Treated with Common Bile Duct Stenting.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is characterised by diffuse metastases, with common sites being the brain, liver, bones, and adrenal glands. Small bowel metastasis from NSCLC is a rare phenomenon, particularly in patients with an adenocarcinoma histology. We report the case of a 56-year-old lung adenocarcinoma patient with a duodenal metastasis diagnosed on FDG/PET-CT and confirmed on duodenal biopsy. Although initially asymptomatic, he subsequently presented with obstructive jaundice secondary to rapid local disease progression at the duodenal metastasis, requiring endoscopic intervention for biliary drainage. He was commenced on single agent pembrolizumab, with disease response on subsequent follow-up. This case highlights a rare case of gastrointestinal metastasis from NSCLC requiring endoscopic intervention due to rapid progression of the disease at the site of metastasis.

Validation of a Digital Support App to Assess Inflammatory Disease Activity and Mental Health Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs): A Pilot Investigation.

BACKGROUND: Real-time collection of mental health and disease activity patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are essential to assist clinicians in delivering optimal holistic health care. The aim of this pilot study was to validate a digital support tool (DST) delivered via a tablet device in an outpatient setting to assess IBD activity and psychological distress. METHODS: 48 individuals (26 females; average age: 40.04) with IBD completed the DST and a paper-based survey in a hospital IBD outpatient setting. PROs for disease activity and psychological distress (Kessler K10) were compared to paper-based gold-standard measures of disease activity (Partial Mayo Index or Harvey Bradshaw Index completed by the clinician) and psychological distress (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale; completed by the patient). Patient feedback regarding usability and acceptance of the DST was also collected. RESULTS: DST patient-derived disease activity scores were significantly correlated with clinician assessment of disease activity (p < 0.01). Patient DST-derived psychological well-being scores were also significantly correlated with the gold-standard measure of psychological distress (p < 0.05). Patients found the DST to be easy to use and identified a willingness to follow through with the recommendations provided by the DST in relation to their psychological distress scores. CONCLUSIONS: The pilot study demonstrates the value in collecting disease activity and psychological distress PROs via a DST in an outpatient setting. Disease activity and psychological distress PROs were found to correlate significantly with gold standard measures. The findings provide preliminary support for the value of embedding digital technology into clinical care to promote patient engagement and optimal holistic healthcare.