Proteomics and irritable bowel syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disease that according to Rome IV criteria is subdivided into four subtypes. The pathophysiology of this disease is not well understood due to numerous factors playing multiple roles in disease development, such as diet, stress and hormones. IBS has a variety of symptoms and overlaps with many other gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal diseases. Area covered: This review aims to present an overview of implementation of proteomics in experimental studies in the field of IBS. Expert commentary: Proteomics is commonly used for biomarker discovery in and has also been extensively used in IBS research. The necessity of a sensitive and specific biomarker for IBS is apparent, but despite the intensive research performed in this field, an appropriate biomarker is not yet available.

Long-term administration of rifaximin improves the prognosis of patients with decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Cirrhotic patients are predisposed to intestinal bacterial overgrowth with translocation of bacterial products which may deteriorate liver hemodynamics. Having shown that short-term administration of rifaximin improves liver hemodynamics in decompensated cirrhosis, we conducted this study to investigate the effect of intestinal decontamination with rifaximin on the long-term prognosis of patients with alcohol-related decompensated cirrhosis (Child-Pugh > 7) and ascites. METHODS: Patients who had received rifaximin and showed improved liver hemodynamics were enrolled in the current study and continued to receive rifaximin (1200 mg/day). Each patient was matched by age, sex, and Child-Pugh grade to two controls and followed up for up to 5 years, death or liver transplantation. Survival and risk of developing portal hypertension-related complications were compared between rifaximin group and controls. RESULTS: Twenty three patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria and matched with 46 controls. Patients who received rifaximin had a significant lower risk of developing variceal bleeding (35% vs. 59.5%, P = 0.011), hepatic encephalopathy (31.5% vs. 47%, P = 0.034), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (4.5% vs. 46%, P = 0.027), and hepatorenal syndrome (4.5% vs. 51%, P = 0.037) than controls. Five-year cumulative probability of survival was significantly higher in patients receiving rifaximin than in controls (61% vs. 13.5%, P = 0.012). In the multivariate analysis, rifaximin administration was independently associated with lower risk of developing variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatorenal syndrome, and higher survival. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with alcohol-related decompensated cirrhosis, long-term rifaximin administration is associated with reduced risk of developing complications of portal hypertension and improved survival.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for the treatment of hypersensitive esophagus: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: Ambulatory 24-h pH-impedance monitoring can be used to assess the relationship of persistent symptoms and reflux episodes, despite proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. Using this technique, we aimed to identify patients with hypersensitive esophagus and evaluate the effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on their symptoms. METHODS: Patients with normal endoscopy and typical reflux symptoms (heartburn, chest pain, and regurgitation), despite PPI therapy twice daily, underwent 24-h pH-impedance monitoring. Distal esophageal acid exposure (% time pH <4) was measured and reflux episodes were classified into acid or non-acid. A positive symptom index (SI) was declared if at least half of the symptom events were preceded by reflux episodes. Patients with a normal distal esophageal acid exposure time, but with a positive SI were classified as having hypersensitive esophagus and were randomized to receive citalopram 20 mg or placebo once daily for 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 252 patients (150 females (59.5%); mean age 55 (range 18-75) years) underwent 24-h pH-impedance monitoring. Two hundred and nineteen patients (86.9%) recorded symptoms during the study day, while 105 (47.9%) of those had a positive SI (22 (20.95%) with acid, 5 (4.76%) with both acid and non-acid, and 78 (74.29%) with non-acid reflux). Among those 105 patients, 75 (71.4%) had normal distal esophageal acid exposure time and were randomized to receive citalopram 20 mg (group A, n=39) or placebo (group B, n=36). At the end of the follow-up period, 15 out of the 39 patients of group A (38.5%) and 24 out of the 36 patients of group B (66.7%) continue to report reflux symptoms (P=0.021). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with SSRIs is effective in a select group of patients with hypersensitive esophagus.

5-HT2A receptor gene polymorphisms and irritable bowel syndrome.

GOALS: The aim of the study was to investigate the potential association between single nucleotide polymorphisms of the 5-HT2A receptor gene and susceptibility to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the Greek population. BACKGROUND: Serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] is the main mediator involved in the pathophysiology of IBS. Thus, genes implicated in 5-HT metabolism are good candidates for susceptibility to IBS. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms -1438 (G/A) and 102 (C/T) in the 5-HT2A receptor gene have been associated with the pathophysiology of IBS. STUDY: One hundred twenty-four patients with IBS diagnosed according to the Rome III criteria and 238 healthy individuals were included in the study. The -1438 (G/A) and 102 (C/T) in the 5-HT2A receptor gene polymorphisms have been studied using the polymerase chain reaction based restriction fragment length polymorphism method. RESULTS: A genotype association was found between A allele and AA genotype of the -1438 (G/A) polymorphism and IBS (P=0.0037 and P=0.0064, respectively). Concerning the 102 (C/T) polymorphism, no significant association was found. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the carriers of A allele of the -1438 (G/A) polymorphism of the 5-HT2A receptor gene have a high risk of IBS.

Efficacy of three different dosages of esomeprazole in the long-term management of reflux disease: a prospective, randomized study, using the wireless Bravo pH system.

OBJECTIVES: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic condition that usually requires long-term maintenance therapy with proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs). In clinical practice, patients receive PPIs at the lowest dose to control symptoms. However, it is not known whether this approach adequately controls acidic esophageal reflux. We sought to investigate the efficacy of three different dosages of esomeprazole in patients receiving maintenance therapy for GERD, using the Bravo pH system. METHODS: Patients with a previous history of erosive esophagitis A or B (LA classification) that was healed at the time of enrollment or endoscopy-negative reflux disease (ENRD), documented with an abnormal pH study, were randomized to receive maintenance therapy with esomeprazole 40 mg twice daily (group A), once daily (group B), or every other day (group C). Intraesophageal pH was monitored for two consecutive days using the Bravo wireless system, 30 days after randomization. The parameters subjected to analysis were percent of total time pH<4 and the De Meester score. RESULTS: The pH results from 73 patients (group A=24, group B=24, group C=25 patients) were subjected to final analysis. On the first day of the study, the mean (+/-s.d.) percent of total time pH <4 and the De Meester score were group A: 0.9(1.2) and 4.1(4.0); group B: 1.5(1.6) and 7.0(6.9); group C: 1.3(1.0) and 6.0(3.3), respectively (P=0.262 and 0.134, respectively). On the second day of the study, the corresponding values were group A: 0.7(1.0) and 3.9(5.9); group B: 1.5(1.8) and 6.4(6.6); group C: 7.0(4.4) and 29.4(19.4), respectively. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.0001 and <0.0001, respectively). Further analysis showed that patients not receiving PPI had a significantly higher mean percent of total time pH<4 and De Meester score as compared with patients on PPI once or twice daily (P<0.001 and <0.001 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The administration of esomeprazole 40 mg every other day does not control acidic esophageal reflux on the day off PPI. Esomeprazole 40 mg once daily effectively controls reflux of acid in patients with history of mild esophagitis or ENRD, whereas doubling the dose does not seem to confer any further advantage.

Is there a role for second-look capsule endoscopy in patients with obscure GI bleeding after a nondiagnostic first test?

BACKGROUND: Long-term follow-up data on patients with obscure GI bleeding subjected to capsule endoscopy (CE) are missing. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to follow up patients with a nondiagnostic test and determine whether a second-look CE would be beneficial. PATIENTS: We enrolled 293 subjects. CE studies were classified as diagnostic (positive findings) or nondiagnostic (findings of uncertain significance/no findings). Patients were followed up for a mean (SD) 24.8 (5.2) months. Outcome was defined as continued or complete resolution of bleeding. INTERVENTIONS: Patients with a nondiagnostic test were subjected to a repeat CE if they manifested a new bleeding episode or a drop in hemoglobin >or=2 g/dL. RESULTS: Positive findings, findings of uncertain significance, and no findings were identified in 41.6%, 16.0%, and 42.3% of our patients, respectively. Therapeutic intervention was possible in 72.1% of those with positive findings and in 30% of those with findings of uncertain significance. Complete resolution of bleeding occurred more often in patients with a diagnostic test (65.2%) compared with those with a nondiagnostic test (35.4%, P < .001). Second-look CE was performed in a subgroup of our patients (n = 76) and was diagnostic in those whose presentation changed from occult to overt or those whose hemoglobin dropped >or=4 g/dL. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with obscure GI bleeding, a diagnostic CE leads to therapeutic interventions and a favorable outcome. Patients with a nondiagnostic test would definitely benefit from a second-look CE if the bleeding presentation changes from occult to overt or if the hemoglobin value drops >or=4 g/dL.

Long-term prognosis of cirrhotics with an upper gastrointestinal bleeding episode: does infection play a role?

BACKGROUND AND AIM: We evaluated the effect of infection on the short- and long-term outcome of cirrhotic patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), in a series of patients not submitted to antibiotic prophylaxis. METHODS: The cirrhotic patients hospitalized for UGIB were prospectively followed up until the last visit, death, or transplantation. A standard screening protocol was used for bacterial infection at admission. RESULTS: In total, 205 patients were included in the study. Antibiotics were administered in 79 (38.5%) patients and an infection was documented in 64 (31.4%) patients. In total, 130 (63.4%) patients died after a mean (SD) follow up of 23.8 (30.9) months. Six-week mortality was higher in the infected patients (P < 0.0001). The mortality of patients who were alive 6 weeks after admission was not different between the infected and non-infected patients. Antibiotic use or bacterial infection, the Child-Pugh score, hepatocellular carcinoma, and creatinine were the independent predictors of 6-week mortality. Age and the Child-Pugh score were the only predictors of mortality of the patients who had survived for more than 6 weeks after acute bleeding. In total, 51 (24.9%) patients rebled, 37 (18.1%) within 5 days of admission. Rebleeding was more frequent (41.8% vs 14.3%, P < 0.0001) in infected patients, mostly due to differences in early rebleeding (31.6% vs 9.5%, P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Bacterial infection is associated with failure to control UGIB and early mortality in cirrhotic patients, but does not seem to affect the outcome of patients who overcome the bleeding episode.

Proton pump inhibitor and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor therapy for the management of noncardiac chest pain.

INTRODUCTION: Although gastroesophageal reflux disease is the main cause of noncardiac chest pain (NCCP), proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) benefit a minority of patients. Our prospective study evaluated the effect of PPI and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on the different subtypes of NCCP characterized by impedance-pH monitoring. METHODS: All NCCP patients underwent impedance-pH monitoring and on the basis of the results, those with abnormal distal esophageal acid exposure received PPIs twice daily (group A), those with a positive symptom index for chest pain received citalopram 20 mg and PPI once daily (group B), and those with a negative symptom index for chest pain received citalopram 20 mg once daily (group C). Therapy was administered for 12 weeks and treatment success was defined as complete disappearance of chest pain. RESULTS: From March 2015 to March 2016, 63 patients were included (group A=9, group B=18, group C=36). After 12 weeks of therapy, complete resolution of chest pain was noted in 8/9 (88.9%) group A, 13/18 (72.2%) group B, and 24/36 (66.7%) group C patients. CONCLUSION: Combined impedance-pH monitoring identifies different subtypes of NCCP patients who can receive tailored management. Targeted therapy with PPIs and/or citalopram offers complete symptom relief in the great majority of them.

Predictors of tissue healing in ulcerative colitis patients treated with anti-TNF.

AIM: To identify factors predicting mucosal healing in ulcerative colitis patients treated with anti-TNFα agents with or without azathioprine. METHODS: In a prospective, multicenter, one-year study biologic naïve patients aged 25-65 years, with corticosteroid-dependent or refractory colitis received combination treatment with anti-TNFα and azathioprine for 6 months followed by anti-TNFα monotherapy. Patients who denied combination therapy or were outside this age range received anti-TNFα monotherapy (controls). Before and at weeks 12 and 54 of treatment the total Mayo score was calculated. Mucosal healing was defined as endoscopic subscore of 0. Mucosal expression of T helper (Th) cell-lineage specific transcription factors (Tbet, Gata3, Rorc, FoxP3) before treatment was also associated with mucosal healing. RESULTS: Of 67 patients, 58 (86.6%) received combination and 9 (13.4%) anti-TNFα monotherapy. Overall 29 (43.3%) patients achieved mucosal healing; rates were higher in patients receiving combination therapy vs. monotherapy (p=0.03) and in azathioprine naïve vs. exposed patients in the combination group (p=0.01). Mucosal healing was associated with lower pre-treatment mucosal expression of transcription factor Th1-Tbet (p<0.05) and higher expression of Th17-Rorc (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Mucosal healing was associated with combination therapy, especially in biologic and azathioprine-naïve patients and pre-treatment mucosal expression of specific Th specific transcripting factors (Tbet and Rorc).

Effective colonoscopy training techniques: strategies to improve patient outcomes.

Colonoscopy has substantially evolved during the last 20 years and many different training techniques have been developed in order to improve the performance of endoscopists. The most known are mechanical simulators, virtual reality simulators, computer-simulating endoscopy, magnetic endoscopic imaging, and composite and explanted animal organ simulators. Current literature generally indicates that the use of simulators improves performance of endoscopists and enhances safety of patients, especially during the initial phase of training. Moreover, newer endoscopes and imaging techniques such as high-definition colonoscopes, chromocolonoscopy with dyes spraying, and third-eye retroscope have been incorporated in everyday practice, offering better visualization of the colon and detection of polyps. Despite the abundance of these different technological features, training devices are not widely used and no official guideline or specified training algorithm or technique for lower gastrointestinal endoscopy has been evolved. In this review, we present the most important training methods currently available and evaluate these using existing literature. We also try to propose a training algorithm for novice endoscopists.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Extra-intestinal Manifestations in a Large Cohort of Greek Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Extraintestinal manifestations [EIMs] are common in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. Data on epidemiology and risk factors of EIMs in IBD patients are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of EIMs in a large cohort of Greek IBD patients and identify risk factors for their development. METHODS: The study population consisted of IBD patients, who were followed in eight tertiary Greek hospitals. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients were analysed. The diagnosis of EIMs was based on standard criteria and on specialist consultation. RESULTS: In total, 1860 IBD patients (1001 with Crohn's disease [CD], 859 with ulcerative colitis [UC]) were registered. Among them 615 [33.1%] exhibited at least one EIM; 238 patients [38.6%] developed an EIM before IBD diagnosis. An association between active IBD and presence of an EIM was established in 61.1% of the patients. Arthritic [peripheral arthritis], mucocutaneous [erythema nodosum], and ocular [episcleritis] were the most common manifestations. EIMs were more prevalent in females, patients with CD, smokers [for all p <0.0001], patients with extensive UC [p = 0.007], and patients with a previous appendectomy [p < 0.0001] or a major IBD-related surgery [p = 0.012]. CONCLUSIONS: About one-third of Greek IBD patients developed at least one EIM. Of those, more than one-third had their EIM diagnosed before IBD, and in about two-thirds it was related to disease activity. EIMs were more frequently present in females and patients with extensive UC in multivariate analysis.

Azathioprine discontinuation earlier than 6 months in Crohn's disease patients started on anti-TNF therapy is associated with loss of response and the need for anti-TNF dose escalation.

OBJECTIVES: A high proportion of Crohn's disease (CD) patients lose response to antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) and therapy needs to be intensified. We aimed to prospectively determine the predictors and frequency of anti-TNF loss of response and therefore the need for dose escalation and de-escalation in CD patients treated with infliximab or adalimumab. METHODS: All patients were anti-TNF naive while concomitant azathioprine was administered for 6 months. In patients initially responding to anti-TNF and subsequently losing clinical response after the first 14 weeks of therapy, dose escalation was scheduled. During the follow-up period and after 1 year of intensified administration, anti-TNF was de-escalated in patients in remission. RESULTS: A total of 161 patients were started on infliximab (n=96) or adalimumab (n=65); however, 29 patients (18.0%) did not respond to therapy and were excluded from further analysis. From the remaining 132 patients (infliximab=77, adalimumab=55), 31 (23.5%) needed a dose escalation for maintenance of remission during a median 28-month follow-up period. Factors associated with loss of response and therefore the need for anti-TNF dose escalation were azathioprine discontinuation earlier than 6 months and smoking. Most patients achieved clinical remission (n=25, 80.6%) without other interventions and among these, 16 patients (64%) were successfully de-escalated to the standard maintenance infliximab or adalimumab dose schedule after 1 year of intensified anti-TNF administration. CONCLUSION: Azathioprine discontinuation earlier than 6 months and smoking in CD patients started on anti-TNF therapy is associated with loss of response and the need for anti-TNF dose escalation.

Long term benefit of one year infliximab administration for the treatment of chronic refractory pouchitis.

BACKGROUND-AIM: The aim of this study is to identify the long term benefit of one year infliximab administration for the treatment of chronic refractory pouchitis following ileo-pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) for ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: Seven patients with chronic refractory pouchitis diagnosed by clinical, endoscopic and histological criteria received infliximab 5 mg/kg at 0, 2, and 6 weeks and thereafter every 2 months for 1 year. Three patients had fistulae (1 pouch-bladder, 2 perianal) and 4 extraintestinal manifestations (2 erythema nodosum, 2 arthralgiae). All patients were refractory to antibiotics and 3 to azathioprine. Crohn's disease was excluded after re-evaluation of the history and small bowel examination with enteroclysis or capsule endoscopy. Clinical response was classified as complete, partial and no response. Fistulae closure was classified as complete, partial and no closure. The pouchitis disease activity index (PDAI) was used as an outcome measure. All patients were followed up for 3 years after discontinuation of infliximab therapy. RESULTS: After 1 year of infliximab administration 5 patients had complete clinical response, 1 partial clinical response and 1 no response, while 2 out of the 3 patients with fistulae had a complete closure. The median PDAI dropped from 11 (baseline) (range, 10-14) to 5 (range, 3-8). Extraintestinal manifestations were in complete remission too. Three years after completion of therapy, all patients with complete clinical response at one year remained in remission. CONCLUSIONS: One year infliximab administration is associated with a long term benefit in patients with chronic refractory pouchitis following IPAA for UC.

Refractory GERD: increased body mass index is associated with persisting acid exposure but not hypersensitive esophagus or functional heartburn.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence of persistent abnormal acid exposure, hypersensitive esophagus (HE), and functional heartburn (FH) in obese/overweight and normal-weight patients referred for impedance-pH monitoring, because of persisting gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms despite therapy with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). ΜETHODS: Patients with normal endoscopy and typical GERD symptoms, despite PPI therapy twice daily, underwent 24-h impedance-pH monitoring while on therapy. Distal esophageal acid exposure (% time pH<4) was measured and reflux episodes were classified into acid or nonacid. A positive symptom index was defined when at least 50% of symptom events were preceded by reflux episodes. Patients were categorized as those with persistent abnormal acid exposure, those with HE, and those with FH. The incidence of persistent abnormal acid exposure, HE, and FH between overweight/obese patients (BMI≥25 kg/m) and normal-weight patients (BMI<25 kg/m) was subsequently evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 246 patients (women: 158, men: 88, increased BMI: 151, normal BMI: 95, mean age 55, range 18-75 years) were included. Persistent abnormal acid exposure was found in 39 patients (increased BMI: 31, normal BMI: 8), HE in 77 patients (increased BMI: 43, normal BMI: 34), and FH in 118 patients (increased BMI: 69, normal BMI: 49). When comparing BMI among all three groups, patients with increased BMI were more likely to have acid reflux than HE or FH (P=0.03). CONCLUSION: In patients with GERD symptoms refractory to double-dose PPI therapy, those with increased BMI are more likely to have persistent abnormal acid exposure than HE or FH.

Inflammatory bowel disease: Greek patients' perspective on quality of life, information on the disease, work productivity and family support.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients' perspectives regarding everyday life issues. METHODS: From October 2010 till April 2011, 1,181 IBD patients completed an anonymous questionnaire through the internet (827 cases) or at the outpatient clinic of the participating centers (354 cases), aiming to identify: a) the impact of disease on social life, emotional status and work productivity; b) the source of disease information; and c) the level of support from family members and friends. RESULTS: Fifty-five percent of the patients reported that IBD interferes with their social life, while 65% felt stressed, 60% depressed and 19% tired because of it. Disease information (physician/ internet) was reported only by 31%, while 26% admitted not discussing their therapy with their gastroenterologist. Forty percent felt that the health service they receive is not satisfactory, with 76% desiring more gastroenterologists, 67% more outpatient clinics, 49% more dieticians and 42% more psychologists specialized in IBD. IBD interfered with working capacity in 40% of the participants, while 57% needed time off of work (ranging from 1-20 days per year). One of three patients (32%) has not informed his work environment about the disease; however, 88% had the support of their family and friends for coping with it. CONCLUSIONS: Greek IBD patients claim that health-related social life, emotional status and work productivity are severely affected by their disease, whereas they complain about lack of information regarding the therapy. These unmet demands call for immediate action by healthcare providers and society.

Selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors for the treatment of hypersensitive esophagus.

In patients with proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) resistant reflux symptoms, ambulatory 24 h pH impedance monitoring can be used to assess whether a relationship exists between symptoms and reflux episodes. Using this technique it has been suggested that patients with typical reflux symptoms and a normal upper endoscopy should be subclassified as follows: normal endoscopy and abnormal distal acid esophageal exposure (patients with acid reflux); normal endoscopy, with normal distal acid esophageal exposure and a positive symptom association for either acid or nonacid reflux (patients with hypersensitive esophagus); and normal endoscopy, normal distal acid esophageal exposure and a negative symptom association for acid and nonacid reflux (patients with functional heartburn). Although for patients with a normal endoscopy and abnormal distal acid esophageal exposure more aggressive acid suppression can be recommended, managing patients with hypersensitive esophagus and functional heartburn remains a real challenge.Therefore, investigators have evaluated the role of tricyclic antidepressants or selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in influencing esophageal perception. Imipramine has been shown to decrease pain perception in healthy male volunteers and improve symptoms of patients with chest pain and normal coronary angiograms. Trazodone improved symptoms in patients with esophageal contraction abnormalities, while administration of SSRIs lowered chemical and mechanical sensitivity and benefited patients with diffuse esophageal spasm. Furthermore, in a recent study conducted by our group, citalopram administered once daily for 6 months was effective in a select group of patients with hypersensitive esophagus, suggesting that there is a role for SSRIs in the treatment of this disorder.

Current insights in to the pathophysiology of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) represents a functional disorder of gastrointestinal tract without the presence of an anatomic defect, in which abdominal pain is relieved with defecation and is associated with altered bowel habits.IBS includes a wide range of symptoms while its pathophysiology is very complicated. Recent studies indicate that the most important mechanisms include visceral sensitivity, abnormal gut motility and autonomous nervous system dysfunction. The interactions between these three mechanisms make bowel's function susceptible to many exogenous and endogenous factors like gastrointestinal flora, feeding and psychosocial factors. Recent data indicate that according to the above mechanisms, the influence of genetic factors and polymorphisms of human DNA in the development of IBS is equally important.

Course of inflammatory bowel disease in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection depletes CD4+ lymphocytes, which may benefit patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim was to compare the course of IBD in HIV patients with a matched group of IBD seronegative patients. METHODS: A total of 20 IBD (14 Crohn's disease, 6 ulcerative colitis) HIV infected patients and 40 matched control seronegative IBD patients (2 controls per case) were compared regarding relapse of their disease. The CD4+ count was followed every 6 months and a value of < or =500 cells/microL was used to define patients with immunosuppression. Relapse rates per year of follow-up were compared among the 2 groups and survival curves for cumulative remission rates were compared with a log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was used to discriminate among the impact of different variables on the risk of IBD relapse. RESULTS: The median duration of follow-up was 8.4 years (range 0.6-18 years). The mean relapse rate for the HIV+IBD group was 0.016/year of follow-up as compared to 0.053/year of follow-up for the IBD-matched control group (P = 0.032). Regarding the HIV-positive/IBD group, 14 patients were immunosuppressed at any given time during the follow-up period. None of these patients experienced an IBD relapse, whereas 3 out of the 6 without immunosuppression relapsed (P = 0.017). According to the multivariate analysis, HIV status was the only risk factor independently associated with a lower probability of IBD relapse. CONCLUSIONS: HIV infection reduces the relapse rates in IBD patients and this may be attributed to the lower CD4+ counts seen in these patients.

Wireless capsule endoscopy versus enteroclysis in the diagnosis of small-bowel Crohn's disease.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to prospectively compare the diagnostic yield of wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) and enteroclysis in the detection of Crohn's disease (CD) of the small bowel. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with known CD (group 1) suspected to have more extensive small-bowel involvement and 26 patients, who were suspected to suffer from CD but did not have an earlier history of it (group 2) were prospectively evaluated with enteroclysis and WCE. Each examiner was blinded to the results of other investigations. RESULTS: Enteroclysis was unsuccessful in two patients from group 1 8 and six patients from group 2, respectively. In group 1, abnormal findings consistent with CD were detected in 20 patients by using WCE and in 11 patients by using enteroclysis, out of the total 27, at per-protocol analysis (74.1 vs. 40.7%, P<0.05). Of the 11 patients who had ileal CD on enteroclysis, three had more extensive small-bowel disease, which was detected only by WCE. In group 2, WCE showed findings consistent with CD in 13 of 20 patients, in contrast with enteroclysis, which was positive for CD in only six of 20 patients (65 vs. 30%, P<0.05). Three more patients had findings compatible with CD on WCE, but they failed their enteroclysis. Overall, a new diagnosis of CD was made in 16 patients. CONCLUSION: WCE has a higher diagnostic yield than enteroclysis in the detection of CD of the small bowel, both in patients with known and newly suspected CD.