Dramatic Increase in Incidence of Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease (1988-2011): A Population-Based Study of French Adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: Few data are available to describe the changes in incidence of pediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to describe changes in incidence and phenotypic presentation of pediatric-onset IBD in northern France during a 24-year period. METHODS: Pediatric-onset IBD (<17 years) was issued from a population-based IBD study in France between 1988 and 2011. Age groups and digestive location were defined according to the Paris classification. RESULTS: 1,350 incident cases were recorded (8.3% of all IBD) including 990 Crohn's disease (CD), 326 ulcerative colitis (UC) and 34 IBD unclassified (IBDU). Median age at diagnosis was similar in CD (14.4 years (Q1=11.8-Q3=16.0)) and UC (14.0 years (11.0-16.0)) and did not change over time. There were significantly more males with CD (females/males=0.82) than UC (females/males=1.25) (P=0.0042). Median time between onset of symptoms and IBD diagnosis was consistently 3 months (1-6). Mean incidence was 4.4/105 for IBD overall (3.2 for CD, 1.1 for UC and 0.1 for IBDU). From 1988-1990 to 2009-2011, a dramatic increase in incidences of both CD and UC were observed in adolescents (10-16 years): for CD from 4.2 to 9.5/105 (+126%; P<0.001) and for UC, from 1.6 to 4.1/105 (+156%; P<0.001). No modification in age or location at diagnosis was observed in either CD or UC. CONCLUSIONS: In this population-based study, CD and UC incidences increased dramatically in adolescents across a 24-year span, suggesting that one or more strong environmental factors may predispose this population to IBD.

Incontinence in full-thickness rectal prolapse: low level of improvement after laparoscopic rectopexy.

AIM: The study aimed to quantify incontinence before and after laparoscopic rectopexy in patients suffering from rectal prolapse. METHOD: Eighty-five patients underwent laparoscopic rectopexy to treat rectal prolapse between 2003 and 2009. Symptomatic and functional data were collected prospectively before and after surgery by self-administered questionnaires including the Cleveland Clinic Fecal Incontinence Score (CCIS) and constipation, gastrointestinal quality of life and urinary incontinence questionnaires. Incontinence was considered to be present when the CCIS remained at ≥ 5 after surgery. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up period of 36 months after surgery, 83% of the patients reported good to excellent results. Continence was improved in 58 (68%), with a significant decrease in the continence score (-3.4 ± 5.8, P = 0.001). However, 50 (58.9%) patients remained incontinent: 47 (55%) reported urge incontinence and 27 (32%) had passive leakage. Incontinence for liquid stool, incontinence for solid stool and the need for protection was seen in 43 (51%), 35 (41%) and 43 (51%) patients. Manometry, defaecography and ultrasonography were not associated with any improvement. In contrast, the patients' average age (60.2 ± 15.8 vs 46.9 ± 15.5 years; P = 0.003), symptom duration before surgery (58.1 ± 70.1 vs 29.5 ± 33.3 months; P = 0.011), preoperative urinary incontinence score (10.7 ± 10.8 vs 4.2 ± 5.7; P = 0.0131) and faecal incontinence score (12.9 ± 4.9 vs 7.1 ± 6; P < 0.0001) were significantly higher in patients suffering from postoperative incontinence. CONCLUSION: Despite some continence improvement in two-thirds of patients who underwent surgery for rectal prolapse, the level of improvement remained low in more than half of the patients.

Low sensitivity of invasive tests for the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with bleeding ulcer.

BACKGROUND: A high false negative rate for antral infection with Helicobacter pylori when assessed by rapid urease test has recently been reported in patients with bleeding ulcer. This result could partly explain the differing prevalence of H. pylori infection in bleeding and non-bleeding ulcers. AIMS: To evaluate the accuracy of a rapid urease test (UT), histology and culture for detection of H. pylori in antral biopsies from acute bleeding peptic ulcer patients using a serological test as reference. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All consecutive patients with active bleeding gastric or duodenal ulcer at endoscopic examination admitted in six university hospitals in France were considered for inclusion. Five antral biopsies were taken during the diagnostic endoscopy for UT, culture and histology. A blood sample was taken for H. pylori serology. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty one patients were included and 129 (71%) had a positive serology. The sensitivity of UT, histology and culture for detection of H. pylori infection were 41%, 33% and 34%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the combination of the three invasive tests were 48.8% (95% CI: 40.2-57.4) and 90.6% (95% CI: 82. 6-99) respectively. In the 52 serologically negative patients, only 5 had at least one invasive positive test. The sensitivity of the invasive tests decreased significantly with age but was not influenced by NSAIDs intake. Of 80 patients with a positive serological test and negative histological evaluation for H. pylori, chronic antral inflammation was found in 70 patients (87%). In 46 patients with both negative serological test and H. pylori negative test according to histology, only 13 (28%) had chronic antral inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of invasive tests for detection of H. pylori is low during acute ulcer bleeding, and they should be used with caution in this condition. A serological test is recommended to identify patients with H. pylori infection in spite of negative invasive tests.

Which patients taking non-aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs bleed? A case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) among users of non-aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NANSAIDs). DESIGN: Case-control study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 120 patients aged over 60 years and using NANSAIDs were hospitalized between January 1988 and September 1992 for GIB related to erosions or ulceration of the gastroduodenal mucosa. A group of 100 general practitioners selected two controls matched for age and sex, receiving NANSAIDs and without GIB, for each patient. METHODS: The same questionnaire was used to interview patients and controls about their medical history, use of NANSAIDs and other drugs, alcohol and tobacco use, recent stress and nutritional status. RESULTS: The adjusted odds ratios (OR) for the risk factors related to the pattern of NANSAID use were 3.39 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.77-6.47] when the intake of NANSAIDs was followed by decubitus, 3.00 (95% CI 1.54-5.85) when NANSAIDs were taken before a meal, 6.05 (95% CI 2.10 17.43) with a high dose of NANSAIDs, 5.87 (95% CI 2.00-17.25) with recent NANSAID use, 3.35 (95% CI 1.47-7.64) with NANSAIDs associated with aspirin use, 3.46 (95% CI 1.15-10.36) with more than one NANSAID, and 10.70 (95% CI 1.06-108.07) when NANSAIDs were associated with corticosteroids. The patient-related risk factors and their OR were 9.94 (95% CI 3.29-24.28) for irregular food intake, 3.94 (95% CI 1.45-10.69) for previous peptic ulcer, 3.71 (95% CI 1.26-10.89) for recent weight loss, 4.44 (95% CI 1.48-13.30) for heavy alcohol abuse, 2.92 (95% CI 1.36-6.26) for recent stress and 5.26 (95% CI 1.19-23.33) for a past history of GIB. CONCLUSION: This study identified a group at 'high risk' for GIB which would benefit from the development of a prophylactic therapy.

[Results of therapeutic management of vesico-urethral and anorectal disorders in 20 patients with cauda equina syndrome]. / Résultats de la prise en charge thérapeutique des troubles vésico-sphinctériens et ano-rectaux de 20 patients ayant un syndrome de la queue de cheval.

Twenty patients (7 females and 13 males) with cauda equina lesions (12 herniated lumbar disks, 4 tumours, and 4 compression fractures of the lumbar spine), were treated according to a standardized management of their urinary and digestive symptoms, after surgery. The bladder emptying inability was managed by Crédé manoeuver facilitated by appropriate drugs completed by self intermittent catheterization. The constipation was treated by non irritant osmotic laxatives, and defecation obtained by abdominal straining, was facilitated by a suppository. All the patients recovered a sphincteric autonomy, without invalidating incontinence. Within 3 to 6 months, eleven patients improved enough bladder emptying to stop drugs and self-catheterization. None presented urinary incontinence. Within the same time, 14 had a stool daily, but medical treatment of the constipation had to be carried on in all of the 20 patients. None of the patients had incontinence for the solid stools, but only the patients who improved (spontaneously or after biofeedback therapy) the voluntary anal sphincter contraction were continent for the gaz, and liquid stools. The intermittent self-catheterization release (a complete emptying of the bladder being achieved) was more frequent after tumor treatment than after herniated disk, or compressive fracture treatment; the same release happened in case of immediate management if compared with delayed management of the urinary symptoms. Adversely, the digestive recovering was not influenced by either the etiology of the cauda equina lesions or the therapeutic management delay. Defecography demonstrated anatomical disturbances of the rectoanal apparatus such as perineal descent and/or mucosal prolapse, which could be secondary to the abdominal straining necessary to complete bladder and rectum emptying.

[Multivariate analysis of clinical signs, parameters of anorectal manometry, defecography, transit time of radiopaque markers in 76 patients complaining of fecal incontinence]. / Analyse multifactorielle des signes cliniques, des paramètres de la manométrie anorectale, de la défécographie, du temps de transit des marqueurs radio-opaques chez 76 patients se plaignant d'incontinence anale.

The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical symptoms, disease past-history, and parameters of anorectal manometry, defecography, and radiopaque pellet transit time in anal incontinence by multivariate analysis. We studied 76 patients, 68 women and 8 men, who complained of anal incontinence, excluding that due to obstetrical lesions. All patients were asked to complete a standard questionnaire. Results indicated that: a) hemorrhoidectomy, hysterectomy, and cholecystectomy appeared to play a role, b) daily incontinence for air or liquid stools is more frequent after hemorrhoidectomy, c) decreased resting pressure of the upper part of the anal canal was observed mainly after hysterectomy, d) decreased resting pressure of the upper part of the anal canal could be a factor of poor prognosis after treatment, e) anal incontinence in men was secondary to traumatic lesions of the anal sphincter in 7 of 8 cases.