Measured levels of positive transglutaminase 2 antibodies are not associated with presentation or incidental endoscopic findings at celiac disease diagnosis.

OBJECTIVES: It has been suggested that celiac disease could be diagnosed non-invasively in adults with transglutaminase antibody (TGA) levels >10x upper limit of normal (ULN). It is, however, unclear if high values signify more advanced disease and higher risk of co-morbidities. We investigated the association between the TGA levels, clinical characteristics and non-celiac endoscopic findings. METHODS: Medical data on 450 celiac disease patients at diagnosis were collected. They were further divided into those with high positive (>10x ULN, n = 164), moderately positive (1-10x ULN, n = 219), and negative (n = 67) TGA. RESULTS: Median age of patients was 50 years and 60% were women. Patients with negative TGA were older (median age 58 vs. 51 vs. 46 years respectively, p = 0.002) and had more often weight loss (27% vs. 10% vs. 9%, p < 0.001) and abdominal pain or dyspepsia (40% vs 27% vs. 22%, p = 0.017) than did those with moderately positive/high TGA. The groups did not differ in sex, BMI, or other symptoms. Major endoscopic findings included one esophageal adenocarcinoma presenting with dysphagia, six esophagitis, three gastric ulcers, and 39 H. Pylori or other active gastritis. High, moderately positive or negative TGA levels were not associated with these findings in crude or age-adjusted analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Presentation was similar in patients with moderate or high levels of TGA, whereas patients with negative TGA were different. The level of TGA was not associated with incidental endoscopic findings and the only malignancy presented with an alarm symptom atypical to celiac disease.

Long-term outcomes of patients with acute severe ulcerative colitis treated with cyclosporine rescue therapy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The early outcomes of ulcerative colitis (UC) after rescue therapy with cyclosporine A (CyA) are well known. Published data on the safety of this treatment in perioperative use and data on the long-term prognosis are scarce and are investigated here. METHODS: All UC patients treated with CyA in Tampere University Hospital between 2009 and 2018 were reviewed from patient records. RESULTS: A total of 182 patients were included with the median follow-up of 3.8 (range 0-13) years. Of all patients, 139 (76%) responded to CyA. A quarter of the responders achieved long-term remission and used thiopurines as maintenance therapy at the end of follow-up. Altogether 83 (46%) needed further enhancement of treatment with corticosteroids (Cs) and 57 (31%) with biologicals or small molecules. Of the nonresponders 27 (55%) were treated surgically within admission to index flare. Infliximab was used as a third-line rescue therapy for 16 patients of whom four benefitted. The overall colectomy rate in this series was 45%. When compared to Cs alone CyA did not increase the risk for severe postoperative complications in patients treated for severe treatment-refractory UC. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, despite the good initial response to CyA, a large proportion of patients relapsed during long-term follow-up and the colectomy rates remain high. Other therapy attempts after failure of CyA merely postpone surgery in many. We therefore recommend informing patients about the possibility of surgery prior to the initiation of rescue therapy.

Combining biological therapies in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a Finnish multi-centre study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Therapy with two concomitant biologicals targeting different inflammatory pathways has emerged as a new therapy option for treatment refractory inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Data on the efficacy and safety of dual biological therapy (DBT) are scarce and are investigated in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on all patients treated with a combination of two biologicals in four Finnish tertiary centres were collected and analysed. Remission was assessed by a physician on the basis of biomarkers, endoscopic evaluation and alleviation of symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 16 patients with 22 trials of DBT were included. Fifteen patients had Crohn's disease. The most common combination of DBT was adalimumab (ADA) and ustekinumab (USTE; 36%) with median follow-up of nine months (range 2-31). Altogether seven (32%) patients were in remission at the end of follow-up and in two trials response to DBT was assessed to be partial with the relief of patient symptoms. In a total of four trials DBT reduced the need for corticosteroids. The majority of patients achieving a response to DBT were treated with the combination of ADA and USTE (56%). At the end of follow-up all nine (41%) patients responding to DBT continued treatment. Infection complications occurred in three patients (19%). CONCLUSION: DBT is a promising alternative treatment for refractory IBD, and half of our patients benefitted from it. More data on the efficacy and safety of DBT are needed especially in long-term follow up.

Long-term outcome of patients with acute ulcerative colitis after first course of intravenous corticosteroids.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Every fifth patient with ulcerative colitis (UC) experiences severe acute flare at some point in the course of the disease. Corticosteroids (Cs) remain the treatment of choice in acute flare. Data on the efficacy of first intravenous Cs in the long-term prognosis of UC are scarce and were investigated here. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All episodes of patients with acute UC admitted to Tampere University Hospital and treated with intravenous Cs between January 2007 and January 2016 were identified from patient records and reviewed. The risks for colectomy and for continuous use of Cs were evaluated. Predictive factors were analysed. RESULTS: The study comprised 217 patients of whom 184 (85%) responded to intravenous Cs at index flare. Of the 33 non-responders, 31 (94%) were treated with intravenous cyclosporine A and 28 responded. Five (2.3%) patients needed emergency colectomy. Twenty-six (12%) patients underwent colectomy within 1 year of index flare. Overall colectomy rate was 56 (26%) during follow-up (median 7.5 years, range 0.1-10.5). Six months after index flare 66 (30%) patients were still on steroids. In this series 149 (69%) required further Cstherapy and 104 (48%) needed rehospitalization for new flare at some point during follow-up. Overall 155 patients were treated with thiopurines, of whom 72% within the first year after admission. A total of 36 patients had infliximab as a first-line biological treatment, nine needed second-line therapy with adalimumab or vedolizumab after infliximab failed. CONCLUSION: Although intravenous Cs were efficient in inducing clinical response in patients with severe acute UC, only one fifth maintained remission in the long term. Two-thirds of patients required further Cs and the overall colectomy rate remained at 26%. High relapse rate indicates the need for closer monitoring of these patients. Enhancement of maintenance therapy should be considered at early stage after acute flare.

A nationwide real-world study on dynamic ustekinumab dosing and concomitant medication use among Crohn's disease patients in Finland.

BACKGROUND: Real-world evidence to support optimal ustekinumab dosing for refractory Crohn's disease (CD) patients remains limited. Data from a retrospective nationwide chart review study was utilized to explore ustekinumab dosing dynamics and optimization, identify possible clinical predictors of dose intensification, and to evaluate ustekinumab trough concentrations (TCs) and concomitant medication use in Finland. METHODS: Information gathered from17 Finnish hospitals included clinical chart data from 155 adult CD patients who received intravenous ustekinumab induction during 2017-2018. Data on ustekinumab dosing and TCs, concomitant corticosteroid and immunosuppressant use, and antiustekinumab antibodies were analyzed in a two-year follow-up, subject to availability. RESULTS: Among 140 patients onustekinumab maintenance therapy, dose optimization was required in 55(39%) of the patients, and 41/47 dose-intensified patients (87%) persisted on ustekinumab. At baseline, dose-intensified patient group had significantly higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and at week 16, significantly lower ustekinumab TCs than in patients without dose intensification. Irrespective of dose optimization, a statistically significant reduction in the use of corticosteroids was observed at both 16 weeks and one year, coupled with an increased proportion of patients on ustekinumab monotherapy. Antiustekinumab antibodies were undetectable in all 28 samples from 25 patients collected throughout the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly a third of all CD patients on ustekinumab maintenance therapy, with a history of treatment-refractory and long-standing disease, required dose intensification. These patients persisted on ustekinumab and had significant reduction of corticosteroid use. Increased baseline CRP was identified as the sole indicator of dose intensification. TRIAL REGISTRATION: EUPAS30920.

Overall and Cause-Specific Mortality in Adult Celiac Disease and Dermatitis Herpetiformis Diagnosed in the 21st Century.

INTRODUCTION: We assessed whether celiac disease-associated mortality is increased in Finland among patients diagnosed in the 21st century, given recent improvements in diagnostic and treatment facilities. METHODS: Biopsy-proven patients with celiac disease (Marsh III) and dermatitis herpetiformis aged 20-79 years (median 50 years) diagnosed 2005-2014 (n = 12,803) were identified from the national dietary grant registry. Dates and causes of death were obtained from Statistics Finland. Overall mortality and causes of death were compared with reference individuals (n = 38,384) matched for age, sex, and area of residence (at the time of celiac disease diagnosis) selected from the Population Information System. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 7.7 years (SD ±3.0 years), 884 (6.9%) and 2,613 (6.8%) deaths occurred among the celiac cohort and reference group, respectively. Overall mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.01, 95% confidence intervals [CIs] 0.94-1.09), mortality from all malignancies (HR 1.11, 95% CI 0.96-1.27), gastrointestinal tract malignancies (HR 1.21, 95% CI 0.56-1.71), or cardiovascular diseases (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.77-1.07) were not increased among patients with celiac disease. Overall, mortality from lymphoproliferative diseases (HR 2.36, 95% CI 1.65-3.39) and nonmalignant digestive diseases (HR 2.19, 95% CI 1.40-3.43) was increased, but HRs decreased after the exclusion of the first 2 years of follow-up (HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.10-2.66 and HR 1.75, 95% CI 1.01-3.05, respectively). DISCUSSION: The overall mortality in adult celiac disease diagnosed 2005-2014 was not increased. Mortality from lymphoproliferative diseases was increased but lower than previously reported.

Long-term deep remission during maintenance therapy with biological agents in inflammatory bowel diseases.

Background and aims: A multicentre, retrospective, non-interventional, patient chart review study was conducted to investigate deep (DR) and histological remission rates during maintenance therapy with biological agents in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Methods: We reviewed clinical, endoscopic, and histological findings, and laboratory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and faecal calprotectin (FC) on average of nine years after the initiation of anti-TNF-therapy. DR was defined as no clinical symptoms (The physicians' global assessment scores; PGA = 0) with endoscopic remission (the Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease [SES-CD] ≤ 2 or Mayo endoscopic subscore ≤1). Histological activity was defined as normal if only architectural alterations without cellularity changes occurred.Results: Of 117 IBD patients on maintenance therapy, 72 (62%; CD n = 55 [56%], UC n = 17 [85%]) patients were in DR. Of patients in DR, 76% were also in histological remission. 77% of patients remained on initiated biological treatment. UC patients achieved DR significantly more often than CD patients (p = .016). Both median CRP and FC levels were significantly lower in patients with DR.Conclusion: Reassuringly, almost two thirds of the IBD patients on maintenance therapy with biological agents maintained DR in the long-term, and more than two thirds of patients in DR achieved also histological remission. CD patients in DR had fewer surgical operations due to CD than patients not achieving DR.

Dietary Factors and Mucosal Immune Response in Celiac Disease Patients Having Persistent Symptoms Despite a Gluten-free Diet.

GOALS: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of dietary factors, distinct small-bowel mucosal immune cell types, and epithelial integrity in the perpetuation of gastrointestinal symptoms in treated celiac disease patients. BACKGROUND: For unexplained reasons, many celiac disease patients suffer from persistent symptoms, despite a strict gluten-free diet (GFD) and recovered intestinal mucosa. STUDY: We compared clinical and serological data and mucosal recovery in 22 asymptomatic and 25 symptomatic celiac patients on a long-term GFD. The density of CD3 and γδ intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs), CD25 and FOXP3 regulatory T cells, and CD117 mast cells, and the expression of tight junction proteins claudin-3 and occludin, heat shock protein 60, interleukin 15, and Toll-like receptor 2 and 4 were evaluated in duodenal biopsies. RESULTS: All subjects kept a strict GFD and had negative celiac autoantibodies and recovered mucosal morphology. The asymptomatic patients had higher mean fiber intake (20.2 vs. 15.2 g/d, P=0.028) and density of CD3 IELs (59.3 vs. 45.0 cell/mm, P=0.045) than those with persistent symptoms. There was a similar but nonsignificant trend in γδ IELs (17.9 vs. 13.5, P=0.149). There were no differences between the groups in other parameters measured. CONCLUSIONS: Low fiber intake may predispose patients to persistent symptoms in celiac disease. There were no differences between the groups in the markers of innate immunity, epithelial stress or epithelial integrity. A higher number of IELs in asymptomatic subjects may indicate that the association between symptoms and mucosal inflammation is more complicated than previously thought.

Small-intestinal TG2-specific plasma cells at different stages of coeliac disease.

BACKGROUND: In coeliac disease, ingestion of gluten induces the production of transglutaminase 2 (TG2)-targeted autoantibodies by TG2-specific plasma cells present at high frequency in the small intestinal mucosa in untreated disease. During treatment with a gluten-free diet (GFD), the number of these cells decreases considerably. It has not been previously investigated whether the cells are also present prior to development of villous atrophy, or in non-responsive patients and those with dietary lapses. We aimed to define the frequency of small bowel mucosal TG2-specific plasma cells in coeliac disease patients with varying disease activity, and to investigate whether the frequency correlates with serum and small intestinal TG2-targeting antibodies as well as mucosal morphology and the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes. RESULTS: Mucosal TG2-specific plasma cells were found in 79% of patients prior to development of mucosal damage, in all patients with villous atrophy, and in 63% of the patients after 1 year on GFD. In these disease stages, TG2-specific plasma cells accounted for median of 2.3, 4.3, and 0.7% of all mucosal plasma cells, respectively. After long-term treatment, the cells were present in 20% of the patients in clinical remission (median 0%) and in 60% of the patients with poor dietary adherence (median 5.8%). In patients with non-responsive coeliac disease despite strict GFD, the cells were found in only one (9%) subject; the cells accounted for 2.4% of all plasma cells. A positive correlation between the percentage of TG2-specific plasma cells and serum TG2 antibody levels (rS = 0.69, P < 0.001) and the intensity of mucosal TG2-targeting IgA deposits (rS = 0.43, P < 0.001) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that TG2-specific plasma cells are already detectable prior to villous atrophy, and that generally their frequency increases during overt disease. By contrast, on GFD, the percentage of these cells decreases. Overall, the presence of TG2-specific plasma cells in the small bowel mucosa mirrors the presence of gluten in the diet, but the frequency is not always parallel to the level of serum or intestinal TG2 antibodies. These findings increase the knowledge about the development of the TG2 plasma cell responses especially in the early phases of coeliac disease.

Microbial Biomarkers in Patients with Nonresponsive Celiac Disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In nonresponsive celiac disease (NRCD), the symptoms and duodenal damage persist despite a gluten-free diet. Celiac disease patients with persistent symptoms are found to have a dysbiotic microbiota. We thus hypothesized that increased seroreactivity to the serum gluten-sensitive microbial antibodies Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ASCA), Pseudomonas fluorescens-associated sequence (I2), and Bacteroides caccae TonB-linked outer membrane protein (OmpW) is associated with NRCD. METHODS: ASCA, I2 and OmpW were measured in 20 seronegative CD patients with persistent villous damage despite strict dietary treatment (NRCD group). Fifty-eight responsive patients served as CD controls (55 on gluten-free treatment) and 80 blood donors as non-CD controls. RESULTS: At least one microbial marker was positive in 80% of NRCD patients, in 97% of untreated CD and 87% of treated CD patients, and in 44% of controls. NRCD patients had the highest frequency of ASCA positivity (65% vs 52, 20, and 0%, respectively) and also significantly higher ASCA IgA (median 14.5 U/ml) and IgG (32.5 U/ml) titers than treated CD patients (7.0 U/ml, 13.0 U/ml) and non-CD controls (4.5 U/ml, 5.8 U/ml). The frequencies of I2 and OmpW were lower in NRCD than in untreated CD (65% and 45% vs 86% and 59%, respectively), and I2 titers were higher in NRCD (median absorbance 0.76) and untreated (1.0) and treated (0.83) CD than controls (0.32). OmpW was elevated in untreated (1.1) and treated (0.94) CD patients compared with controls (0.79). CONCLUSIONS: Seropositivity and high titers of ASCA are associated with NRCD and might serve as an additional follow-up tool in CD.

Ex vivo Culture of Duodenal Biopsies from Patients with Dermatitis Herpetiformis Indicates that Transglutaminase 3 Antibody Production Occurs in the Gut.

Coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) are characterized by autoantibodies targeting transglutaminase (TG)2 and TG3, respectively. Previous studies show that TG2 antibodies are produced in the gut and can be assessed in organ culture of small-intestinal biopsies from patients with coeliac disease. Thus far, no studies have investigated TG3 antibodies in organ culture of biopsies from patients with DH, or exploited the method in DH. The aim of this study was to investigate TG3 and TG2 antibody responses in serum and small-intestinal biopsies from patients with DH with active disease, and from those in remission. The majority of patients with DH were negative for both serum and organ culture medium TG2-targeting antibodies. Surprisingly, patients with active DH secreted TG3 antibodies into the culture medium despite seronegativity. In patients secreting high levels of TG3 antibodies into the culture medium, we also detected TG3-antibody-positive cells in the small-intestinal mucosa. These findings suggest that TG3 antibodies can be investigated in the organ culture system and that their secretion occurs in the small intestine, especially in active DH.

Dermatitis Herpetiformis Refractory to Gluten-free Dietary Treatment.

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is a blistering skin disease, which is regarded as an extra-intestinal manifestation of coeliac disease. Refractory cases of coeliac disease, that do not respond to a gluten-free diet and which carry an increased risk of lymphoma, are well-known in coeliac disease. To determine whether refractory cases of DH with active rash and persistent small bowel atrophy occur we analysed our series of 403 patients with DH. Seven (1.7%) patients, who had been on a gluten-free diet for a mean of 16 years, but who still required dapsone to treat the symptoms of DH, were identified. Of these, one patient died from mucinous adenocarcinoma before re-examination. At re-examination skin immunoglobulin A (IgA) deposits were found in 5/6 refractory and 3/16 control DH patients with good dietary response. Small bowel mucosa was studied at re-examination from 5 refractory and 8 control DH patients and was normal in all 5 refractory and 7/8 control DH patients. One refractory DH patient died from adenocarcinoma, but no lymphoma developed in any of the patients. This study documents for the first time refractory DH, in which the rash is non-responsive to a gluten-free diet, but the small bowel mucosa heals. This differs from refractory coeliac disease, in which the small bowel mucosa does not heal on a gluten-free diet.

Incidence of malignancies in diagnosed celiac patients: a population-based estimate.

OBJECTIVES: The association between celiac disease and malignancies is well recognized. In Finland, the prevalence of clinically diagnosed adult celiac disease is 0.6%. In this large, population-based cohort, we aimed at a realistic projection of the cancer risk. METHODS: In the period 2002-2011, the register comprised 32,439 adult celiac patients. This was linked with the Finnish Cancer Registry, which covers over 98% of diagnosed malignancies. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) was calculated for the malignancies, on the basis of incidence figures for the whole population. A time-stratified analysis was made in celiac patients diagnosed after 2004 (n=11,991). Lifestyle factors, including smoking habits and obesity, were not obtainable. RESULTS: The overall incidence ratio of malignant diseases was not increased (SIR 0.94; 95% confidence intervals 0.89-0.98), but it was ≥5 years from the diagnosis of celiac disease (1.31, 1.04-1.63). The SIRs for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL; 1.94; 1.62-2.29), small-intestinal cancer (4.29; 2.83-6.24), colon cancer (1.35; 1.13-1.58), and basal cell carcinoma of the skin (1.13; 1.03-1.22) were increased, whereas those for lung cancer (0.60; 0.48-0.74), pancreatic cancer (0.73; 0.53-0.97), bladder cancer (0.53; 0.35-0.77), renal cancer (0.72; 0.51-0.99), and breast cancer (0.70; 0.62-0.79) were decreased. SIR for NHL immediately after the diagnosis of celiac disease was 2.56 (1.37-4.38). CONCLUSIONS: There was no increased SIR of cancer in the whole series, but SIR was increased after 5 years from the diagnosis of celiac disease. The risk of breast and lung cancers was decreased. The risk of small-intestinal cancer and NHL was increased, but to a lesser extent than previously described.

Impact of Cigarette Smoking on Clinical Presentation and Treatment Response in Coeliac Disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The environmental factors, apart from gluten ingestion predisposing to coeliac disease are poorly known. Smoking is associated with many immune-mediated diseases, but research on coeliac disease is scarce. This study aims to investigate how smoking affects the clinical presentation, presence of comorbidities and response to gluten-free diet in coeliac disease. METHODS: Altogether 815 adults with coeliac disease participated in a nationwide cross-sectional study. Participants were interviewed and smoking habits (never, former, or current smoker), clinical presentation of coeliac disease and presence of comorbidities were elicited. Serology and severity of small bowel mucosal lesions at diagnosis were gathered from the participants' medical records and follow-up serology was measured. Gastrointestinal symptoms and psychological well-being were assessed using validated questionnaires. RESULTS: Current smokers were more often male and were diagnosed at younger ages than never or former smokers. There were no differences between the groups in clinical presentation, severity of symptoms or mucosal lesions at diagnosis or in dietary compliance and clinical, serological, and histological recovery. Musculoskeletal disorders, particularly osteoporosis and osteopenia, were more common in never smokers than in other groups (14.5% vs. 5.1% and 4.1%, p<0.001), and cardiovascular disorders were diagnosed more often in former smokers (36.2% vs. 23.5% and 21.9%, p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Smoking does not seem to have an impact on the clinical presentation, severity of symptoms or mucosal damage in coeliac disease. Histological and clinical recovery as well as seroconversion on gluten-free diet are not affected by smoking status.

Real-life treatment persistence and treatment outcomes of Finnish patients with inflammatory bowel disease receiving vedolizumab as first-line biological treatment.

Purpose: To analyze treatment persistence and treatment outcomes of vedolizumab as first-line biological treatment in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients in a Finnish real-world setting. Methods: Observational, retrospective, multi-center chart review study that included adult CD and UC patients initiating vedolizumab as first-line biological treatment between 2014 and 2020. Results: The cohort consisted of 54 CD and 69 UC patients. At month 12, treatment persistence was 84.9 % in CD and 64.7 % in UC. Most vedolizumab discontinuations (CD, n = 11; UC, n = 26) were due to inefficacy. Discontinuations due to adverse events were rare (n < 5). Efficacy improvements were observed in treatment persistent patients at 12 months vs. baseline in the Harvey-Bradshaw Index (CD, 1.8 vs. 3.9, p = 0.001), Partial Mayo Score (UC, 1.0 vs. 4.9, p < 0.001), Physician's Global Assessment (CD, 0.9 vs. 1.8, p < 0.001; UC, 0.4 vs. 2.1, p < 0.001), along with positive endoscopic and biochemical outcomes. Clinical remission was 90.9 % vs. 63.0 % for CD, and 81.6 % vs. 12.3 % for UC, while corticosteroid use was 15.9 % vs. 53.7 % for CD, and 14.6 % vs. 92.8 % for UC at 12 months and baseline, respectively. Conclusion: Vedolizumab was associated with improvements in efficacy, endoscopic activity, biochemical parameters, and decreased corticosteroid burden when used as a first-line biological treatment.

[When gluten-free diet does not cure celiac disease]. / Kun gluteeniton ruokavalio ei korjaa keliakiaa.

Dietary deviations and continuous usage of gluten even in small amounts are the most common causes of poor treatment response for celiac disease. In rare refractory celiac disease symptoms and small bowel mucosal morphological damage do not heal despite a strict diet. In such cases it is important to distinguish between type I and II refractory celiac disease by using small bowel lymphocyte markers and clonality of inflammatory cells. Increased risk of small intestinal lymphoma is especially associated with type II disease, which has a poorer prognosis. Type I is often treated with corticosteroids and azathioprine.

Objectively assessed disease activity and drug persistence during ustekinumab treatment in a nationwide real-world Crohn's disease cohort.

OBJECTIVE: Long-term evidence on ustekinumab treatment response and persistence in patients with Crohn's disease in a real-world setting is scarce. We performed a retrospective nationwide chart review study of long-term clinical outcomes in Crohn's disease patients treated with ustekinumab. METHODS: The study was conducted in 17 Finnish hospitals and included adult Crohn's disease patients who received an initial intravenous dose of ustekinumab during 2017-2018. Disease activity data were collected at baseline, 16 weeks, and 1 year from health records. RESULTS: The study included 155 patients. The disease was stricturing or penetrating in 69 and 59% had prior Crohn's disease-related surgeries, and 97% had a treatment history of at least one biologic agent. Of 93 patients with ≥1 year of follow-up, 77 (83%) were still on ustekinumab at 1 year. In patients with data available, from baseline to the 1-year follow-up the simple endoscopic score for Crohn's disease (SES-CD) decreased from 10 to 3 (P = 0.033), C-reactive protein from 7 to 5 mg/L, (P < 0.001) and faecal calprotectin from 776 to 305 µg/g (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Ustekinumab treatment in patients with highly refractory Crohn's disease resulted in high long-term treatment persistence and significantly reduced disease activity, assessed with objective markers for intestinal inflammatory activity.

Gluten Challenge Induces Skin and Small Bowel Relapse in Long-Term Gluten-Free Diet-Treated Dermatitis Herpetiformis.

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is an extraintestinal manifestation of celiac disease causing an itchy, blistering rash. Granular IgA deposits in the skin are pathognomonic for DH, and the treatment of choice is a lifelong gluten-free diet (GFD). Preliminary evidence suggests that there are patients with DH who redevelop gluten tolerance after adherence to a GFD treatment. To evaluate this, we performed a 12-month gluten challenge with skin and small-bowel mucosal biopsy samples in 19 patients with DH who had adhered to a GFD for a mean of 23 years. Prechallenge biopsy was negative for skin IgA and transglutaminase 3 deposits in 16 patients (84%) and indicated normal villous height-to-crypt depth ratios in the small bowel mucosa in all 19 patients. The gluten challenge caused a relapse of the rash in 15 patients (79%) in a mean of 5.6 months; of these 15 patients, 13 had skin IgA and transglutaminase 3 deposits, and 12 had small-bowel villous atrophy. In addition, three patients without rash or immune deposits in the skin developed villous atrophy, whereas one patient persisted without any signs of relapse. In conclusion, 95% of the patients with DH were unable to tolerate gluten even after long-term adherence to a GFD. Therefore, lifelong GFD treatment remains justified in all patients with DH.

Long-term follow-up in adults with coeliac disease: Predictors and effect on health outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Guidelines recommend regular follow-up in coeliac disease, but effect of this on long-term outcomes remains unclear. AIMS: To evaluate predictors and significance of long-term follow-up. METHODS: 677 previously diagnosed coeliac patients were recruited for a nationwide health survey. Medical data were gathered through interviews and patient records. Current symptoms and quality of life were assessed by validated questionnaires and blood samples were drawn for serology. All variables were compared between patients with and without long-term (>2 years) follow-up. RESULTS: 15% had long-term follow-up, median duration 10 years. Predictors (p < 0.05) for the follow-up were immunological (35% vs. 24%) and circulatory (20% vs. 12%) comorbidities, whereas it was less common in subjects with musculoskeletal (23% vs. 34%) comorbidity and those not belonging to any at-risk group (16% vs. 27%). Patients with or without follow-up had comparable age, adherence and ability to manage a gluten-free diet and frequency of seropositivity. Also questionnaire scores paralleled, but those without follow-up reported more overall symptoms (16% vs. 26%). Most patients wished for follow-up. CONCLUSION: Only a minority of patients had regular follow-up. However, patients with and without the follow-up were comparable in most long-term outcomes, indicating that it might not be always necessary. The results call for more personalized follow-up policies in coeliac disease.