Diffuse intestinal ulcerations: Diagnostic challenge in a patient with complicated celiac disease.

A 48-year-old female patient presented with longstanding unrecognized celiac disease (CD), a family history of CD, and a short duration of alarming symptoms. The diagnostic evaluation revealed the concomitant presence of small and large bowel ulcers raised a dilemma about differential diagnosis in her case. Pathologic examination of tissue specimens from the jejunal ulcer led to the diagnosis of enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma. In recent years, the availability of modern cross-sectional imaging and endoscopy modalities has dramatically improved the detection and characterization of small bowel lesions. Characterization of small bowel ulcers by endoscopy and radiology imaging in a patient with suspected complicated CD (CCD) needs to be made in conjunction with all clinical factors, as there is a wide overlap of the possible etiologic factors. Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma is a highly aggressive T-cell lymphoma with a poor prognosis, since early diagnosis and appropriate treatment may be delayed due to nonspecific clinical and endoscopic presentation. Therefore, it is crucial to timely recognize patients with suspected CCD and properly navigate diagnostic imaging tools, acquire adequate biopsy, and perform immunophenotyping to set early diagnosis in patients with diffuse intestinal ulcers and CD.

Gut microbiota in mucosa and feces of newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve adult inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome patients.

The knowledge on how gut microbes contribute to the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) at the onset of disease is still scarce. We compared gut microbiota in newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve adult IBD (Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC)) to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients and healthy group. Mucosal and fecal microbiota of 49 patients (13 UC, 10 CD, and 26 IBS) before treatment initiation, and fecal microbiota of 12 healthy subjects was characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Mucosa was sampled at six positions, from terminal ileum to rectum. We demonstrate that mucosal microbiota is spatially homogeneous, cannot be differentiated based on the local inflammation status and yet provides bacterial footprints superior to fecal in discriminating disease phenotypes. IBD groups showed decreased bacterial diversity in mucosa at all taxonomic levels compared to IBS. In CD and UC, Dialister was significantly increased, and expansion of Haemophilus and Propionibacterium characterized UC. Compared to healthy individuals, fecal microbiota of IBD and IBS patients had increased abundance of Proteobacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, in particular. Shift toward reduction of Adlercreutzia and butyrate-producing taxa was found in feces of IBD patients. Microbiota alterations detected in newly diagnosed treatment-naïve adult patients indicate that the microbiota changes are set and detectable at the disease onset and likely have a discerning role in IBD pathophysiology. Our results justify further investigation of the taxa discriminating between disease groups, such as H. parainfluenzae, R. gnavus, Turicibacteriaceae, Dialister, and Adlercreutzia as potential biomarkers of the disease.

Association of Atraumatic Splenic Rupture and Acute Pancreatitis: Case Report with Literature Review.

Atraumatic splenic rupture is an uncommon complication of acute pancreatitis. This article presents a case of a 35-year-old patient presenting with acute pancreatitis who subsequently developed a splenic vein thrombosis and splenic rupture requiring a laparotomy and splenectomy. This rare but life-threatening complication requires prompt recognition and management in patients with pancreatitis who develop sudden hemodynamic instability.

LEUKOCYTAPHERESIS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SEVERE STEROID-DEPENDENT ULCERATIVE COLITIS.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a multifactorial disease of unknown precise etiology and immunopathogenesis. Peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes/macrophages are the major sources of cytokines, which regulate inflammation. Leukocytapheresis (LCAP) is a method where blood is processed by apheresis system that removes lymphocytes and plasma before being returned to the body. We report the first case in Croatia where we used LCAP in the treatment of a patient with severe steroid-dependent UC. After 12 LCAP procedures, good clinical response was obtained and there were no significant adverse side effects noticed. The patient remained in clinical remission over two years in which he underwent regular follow ups at outpatient clinic. Over a 10-year follow-up period after LCAP, the patient had only occasional clinical symptoms of disease activity. The clinical course was complicated with the development of metastatic colorectal carcinoma, which points to the importance of regular disease monitoring rather than the increased risk of malignant disease after LCAP. Patients with UC are a demanding group of patients that warrant the search for novel treatment strategies other than conventional pharmacological therapies. Although LCAP is still not a common treatment modality in our daily practice, data from recent studies suggest it to be an effective and safe procedure in the management of active UC patients.

Disease course of inflammatory bowel disease unclassified in a European population-based inception cohort: An Epi-IBD study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: A definitive diagnosis of Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) is not always possible, and a proportion of patients will be diagnosed as inflammatory bowel disease unclassified (IBDU). The aim of the study was to investigate the prognosis of patients initially diagnosed with IBDU and the disease course during the following 5 years. METHODS: The Epi-IBD study is a prospective population-based cohort of 1289 IBD patients diagnosed in centers across Europe. Clinical data were captured prospectively throughout the follow-up period. RESULTS: Overall, 476 (37%) patients were initially diagnosed with CD, 701 (54%) with UC, and 112 (9%) with IBDU. During follow-up, 28 (25%) IBDU patients were changed diagnoses to either UC (n = 20, 71%) or CD (n = 8, 29%) after a median of 6 months (interquartile range: 4-12), while 84 (7% of the total cohort) remained IBDU. A total of 17 (15%) IBDU patients were hospitalized for their IBD during follow-up, while 8 (7%) patients underwent surgery. Most surgeries (n = 6, 75%) were performed on patients whose diagnosis was later changed to UC; three of these colectomies led to a definitive diagnosis of UC. Most patients (n = 107, 96%) received 5-aminosalicylic acid, while 11 (10%) patients received biologicals, of whom five remained classified as IBDU. CONCLUSIONS: In a population-based inception cohort, 7% of IBD patients were not given a definitive diagnosis of IBD after 5 years of follow-up. One in four patients with IBDU eventually was classified as CD or UC. Overall, the disease course and medication burden in IBDU patients were mild.

Natural disease course of Crohn's disease during the first 5 years after diagnosis in a European population-based inception cohort: an Epi-IBD study.

OBJECTIVE: The Epi-IBD cohort is a prospective population-based inception cohort of unselected patients with inflammatory bowel disease from 29 European centres covering a background population of almost 10 million people. The aim of this study was to assess the 5-year outcome and disease course of patients with Crohn's disease (CD). DESIGN: Patients were followed up prospectively from the time of diagnosis, including collection of their clinical data, demographics, disease activity, medical therapy, surgery, cancers and deaths. Associations between outcomes and multiple covariates were analysed by Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: In total, 488 patients were included in the study. During follow-up, 107 (22%) patients received surgery, while 176 (36%) patients were hospitalised because of CD. A total of 49 (14%) patients diagnosed with non-stricturing, non-penetrating disease progressed to either stricturing and/or penetrating disease. These rates did not differ between patients from Western and Eastern Europe. However, significant geographic differences were noted regarding treatment: more patients in Western Europe received biological therapy (33%) and immunomodulators (66%) than did those in Eastern Europe (14% and 54%, respectively, P<0.01), while more Eastern European patients received 5-aminosalicylates (90% vs 56%, P<0.05). Treatment with immunomodulators reduced the risk of surgery (HR: 0.4, 95% CI 0.2 to 0.6) and hospitalisation (HR: 0.3, 95% CI 0.2 to 0.5). CONCLUSION: Despite patients being treated early and frequently with immunomodulators and biological therapy in Western Europe, 5-year outcomes including surgery and phenotype progression in this cohort were comparable across Western and Eastern Europe. Differences in treatment strategies between Western and Eastern European centres did not affect the disease course. Treatment with immunomodulators reduced the risk of surgery and hospitalisation.

Natural Disease Course of Ulcerative Colitis During the First Five Years of Follow-up in a European Population-based Inception Cohort-An Epi-IBD Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Few population-based cohort studies have assessed the disease course of ulcerative colitis [UC] in the era of biological therapy and widespread use of immunomodulators. The aim of this study was to assess the 5-year outcome and disease course of patients with UC in the Epi-IBD cohort. METHODS: In a prospective, population-based inception cohort of unselected patients with UC, patients were followed up from the time of their diagnosis, which included the collection of their clinical data, demographics, disease activity, medical therapy, and rates of surgery, cancers, and deaths. Associations between outcomes and multiple covariates were analysed by Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 717 patients were included in the study. During follow-up, 43 [6%] patients underwent a colectomy and 163 [23%] patients were hospitalised. Of patients with limited colitis [distal to the left flexure], 90 [21%] progressed to extensive colitis. In addition, 92 [27%] patients with extensive colitis experienced a regression in disease extent, which was associated with a reduced risk of hospitalisation (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.5 95% CI: 0.3-0.8]. Overall, patients were treated similarly in both geographical regions; 80 [11%] patients needed biological therapy and 210 [29%] patients received immunomodulators. Treatment with immunomodulators was found to reduce the risk of hospitalisation [HR: 0.5 95% CI: 0.3-0.8]. CONCLUSIONS: Although patients in this population-based cohort were treated more aggressively with immunomodulators and biological therapy than in cohorts from the previous two decades, their disease outcomes, including colectomy rates, were no different. However, treatment with immunomodulators was found to reduce the risk of hospitalisation.

Association of polymorphic variants in serotonin re-uptake transporter gene with Crohn's disease: a retrospective case-control study.

AIM: To analyze the distribution of SLC6A4 gene polymorphisms in Crohn's disease (CD) patients and their association with the disease. METHODS: We evaluated the presence/absence of promoter (5-HTTLPR, rs25531) and intron 2 (STin2 VNTR) polymorphic variants of SLC6A4 gene in a retrospective case-control study including 192 CD patients and 157 healthy controls (HC). Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction. The association of polymorphisms with CD and its clinical subtypes was analyzed using χ2 and Fisher exact test, binary logistic regression, and haplotype analysis. RESULTS: CD patients and healthy controls had similar sex (88 [45.8%] vs 84 [53.5%] women, respectively; P=0.154) and age (41.3±12.8 years vs 41.7±8.8 years, respectively, P=0.091) distribution. Significant differences were observed in the STin2 genotype and allele distribution between CD patients and healthy controls (P=0.003 and P=0.002, respectively) and between the corresponding female subgroups (P=0.004 and P=0.007, respectively), with a significant negative association of biallelic ss (STin2.9 and Stin2.10) STin2 genotype with CD (P=0.013, age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.29-0.86; women: P=0.006, age-adjusted OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.14-0.72) and a significantly higher S-STin2.12 (5-HTTLPR/rs25531: S-STin2: STin2.12) haplotype distribution in CD patients (P=0.004, OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.16-2.26). There was no significant association between 5-HTTLRP and rs25531 genotype or allele frequencies and CD and between any SLC6A4 polymorphic loci with clinical CD subtypes. CONCLUSION: STin2 VNTR polymorphism of SLC6A4 gene may contribute to CD pathogenesis.

Vitamin D deficiency in a European inflammatory bowel disease inception cohort: an Epi-IBD study.

BACKGROUND: Serum vitamin D level is commonly low in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although there is a growing body of evidence that links low vitamin D level to certain aspects of IBD such as disease activity and quality of life, data on its prevalence and how it varies across disease phenotype, smoking status and treatment groups are still missing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with IBD between 2010 and 2011 were recruited. Demographic data and serum vitamin D levels were collected. Variance of vitamin D level was then assessed across different treatment groups, disease phenotype, disease activity and quality of life scores. RESULTS: A total of 238 (55.9% male) patients were included. Overall, 79% of the patients had either insufficient or deficient levels of vitamin D at diagnosis. Patients needing corticosteroid treatment at 1 year had significantly lower vitamin D levels at diagnosis (median 36.0 nmol/l) (P=0.035). Harvey-Bradshaw Index (P=0.0001) and Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index scores (P=0.0001) were significantly lower in patients with higher vitamin D level. Serum vitamin D level correlated significantly with SIBQ score (P=0.0001) and with multiple components of SF12. Smokers at diagnosis had the lowest vitamin D levels (vitamin D: 34 nmol/l; P=0.053). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the high prevalence of low vitamin D levels in treatment-naive European IBD populations. Furthermore, it demonstrates the presence of low vitamin D levels in patients with IBD who smoke.

Increased arterial stiffness - similar findings in patients with inflammatory bowel disease without prior hypertension or diabetes and in patients with well-controlled hypertension.

PURPOSE: Chronic inflammatory diseases are related with earlier onset of atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that inflammatory bowel disease patients with chronic, systemic inflammation have an increased arterial stiffness associated with the disease duration. Also, we wanted to compare arterial stiffness markers between inflammatory bowel disease and well-controlled hypertension patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 89 inflammatory bowel disease patients (60 patients with Crohn's disease and 29 patients with ulcerative colitis, age range 20-64 years) without history of arterial hypertension or diabetes were enrolled and age matched with a control group of patients (73 patients, age range 25-69 years, 41 (56.1%) males) with known history of well-controlled arterial hypertension. We have used a noninvasive device that simultaneously measures brachial blood pressure and estimates PWV and AIx in inflammatory bowel disease and hypertension groups of patients. RESULTS: Patients with pathological PWV values were significantly older, had significantly longer duration of inflammatory bowel disease, higher values of serum cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol, and higher AIx (17.4% vs. 9.8%) (all p < .05). Higher PWV was associated with age and duration of inflammatory bowel disease in the linear regression model. PWV values were higher in hypertensive patients in the first two age quartiles while interestingly, in the last two quartiles, PWV was lower than in inflammatory bowel disease group of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic subclinical inflammation is responsible for dyslipidemia and accelerated atherosclerosis which consequently alterates arterial elasticity. Inflammatory bowel disease and its duration should also be considered a risk factor for subclinical organ damage, as well as hypertension.

Terminal ileum resection as a trigger for Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection and ensuing serial sepsis in a 37-year-old patient with complicated Crohn's disease: a case report.

The nematode Strongyloides stercoralis, outside the tropics and subtropics present in small endemic foci, can cause an infection after direct skin contact with contaminated soil containing infective filariform larvae and, rarely, after intimate interhuman contact or after transplantation of an infected solid organ. Following skin penetration, migration, and maturation through several stages, a small number of invasive filariform larvae can develop anew in the gut lumen, perpetuating new cycles of penetration, tissue migration, and reproduction, without leaving the host.In a state of immunosuppression, autoinfection can progress to life-threatening hyperinfection and/or infection disseminated through virtually any organ. In developed countries, the most frequently recognized risk for severe hyperinfection is corticosteroid therapy, but this has been also described in malnourished, alcoholic, cancer, and transplant patients. Due to the frequent need for immunosuppressive therapy, patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are susceptible to develop overwhelming strongyloidiasis. Strongyloidiasis can be easily overlooked in clinical settings, and in many European regions there is poor insight into the epidemiological burden of this disease.We present a case of S. stercoralis hyperinfection that triggered 3 successive episodes of sepsis caused by pathogens of the gut flora in a young patient suffering from stenotic form of Crohn's disease. S. stercoralis hyperinfection occurred in the corticosteroid-free period, shortly after resection of the terminal ileum, which was probably the trigger for the overwhelming course. The patient was successfully treated with 10-day albendazole therapy.

QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube Test in the Diagnosis of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Arthritis Patients Treated with Tumor Necrosis Factor Antagonists.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-GIT) in detecting latent tuberculosis in immunocompromised patients before introducing tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) antagonists. The study included 300 subjects of similar age. The study group comprised of 150 QuantiFERON (QFT) positive subjects with rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis, while control group comprised of 150 QFT negative respondents with the same diseases. Exhaustive medical history was documented for all patients. Screening tests were performed including QFT-GIT, tuberculin skin test (TST), chest radiography and detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosisin sputum culture 2 times. A positive QFT-GIT test result, regardless of TST result, was considered as an indication for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treatment. Results of this study showed good correlation between the conclusive results of QFT-GIT and TST. All study group patients had normal clinical findings, normal radiologic findings and negative results of sputum microbiological analysis during the course of prophylaxis and after its completion and during the course of biological therapy. Conversion of positive QFT-GIT test to negative was observed in 4% of study group patients, while QFT negative respondents remained negative. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between QFTGIT, TST results and patient age, smoking habit and contact with tuberculosis. Study results showed that along with good clinical evaluation and detailed medical history, it is important to conduct testing in order to avoid disease progression or unnecessary isoniazid prophylaxis.

AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF THIOPURINE-METHYLTRANSFERASE VARIANTS IN A CROATIAN INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE PATIENT COHORT.

Thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) is an enzyme that converts thiopurine drugs into inactive metabolites. Over 20 variant TPMT-encoding alleles, which cause reduced enzymatic activity, have been discovered so far. Our aim was to investigate the frequencies of variant alleles, i.e. genotypes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients and healthy individuals and to compare these frequencies with selected world populations. The most common variant alleles TPMT*2, TPMT*3A, TPMT*3B and TPMT*3C were analyzed with polymerase chain reaction-based assays and allele-specific polymerase chain reaction-based assays in 685 participants including 459 IBD patients and 226 healthy volunteers. Study results revealed 434/459 (94.55%) IBD patients and 213/226 (94.25%) healthy subjects to be homozygous for the wild-type allele (TPMT*1/*1). TPMT*1/*2 and TPMT *1/*3C genotypes were found in 4/459 (0.87%) and 7/459 (1.53%) IBD patients, respectively; in healthy volunteers they were not found. TPMT*1/*3A genotype was found in 14/459 (3.05%) IBD patients and 13/226 (5.75%) healthy subjects. Variant genotypes were statistically significantly more common in Crohn's disease subgroup than in ulcerative colitis subgroup. The prevalence of variant genotypes was 23/338 (6.80%) in Crohn's disease subgroup as compared with 2/121 (1.65%) in ulcerative colitis subgroup (χ2 = 4.59; p = 0.032). In conclusion, the most frequently occurring nonfunctional TPMT allele in Croatian population is TPMT*3A. The overall frequency of mutant alleles in our population is statistically nonsignificantly lower when compared with other populations of Caucasian origin. The Crohn's disease group had more mutant alleles than the ulcerative colitis group.

MDR1 polymorphisms are associated with inflammatory bowel disease in a cohort of Croatian IBD patients.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic diseases of unknown etiology and pathogenesis in which genetic factors contribute to development of disease. MDR1/ABCB1 is an interesting candidate gene for IBD. The role of two single nucleotide polymorphisms, C3435T and G2677T remains unclear due to contradictory results of current studies. Thus, the aims of this research were to investigate the association of MDR1 polymorphisms, C3435T and G2677T, and IBD. METHODS: A total of 310 IBD patients, 199 Crohn's disease (CD) patients and 109 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, and 120 healthy controls were included in the study. All subjects were genotyped for G2677T/A and C3435T polymorphism using RT-PCR. In IBD patients, review of medical records was performed and patients were phenotyped according to the Montreal classification. RESULTS: Significantly higher frequency of 2677T allele (p=0.05; OR 1.46, 95% CI (1.0-2.14)) and of the 3435TT genotype was observed among UC patients compared to controls (p=0.02; OR 2.12; 95% CI (1.11-4.03). Heterozygous carriers for C3435T were significantly less likely to have CD (p=0.02; OR 0.58, 95% CI (0.36-0.91)). Haplotype analysis revealed that carriers of 3435T/2677T haplotype had a significantly higher risk of having UC (p=0.02; OR 1.55; 95% CI (1.06-2.28)). CONCLUSION: MDR1 polymorphisms are associated with both CD and UC with a stronger association with UC.

[The role of anti-TNF therapy in ulcerative colitis]. / Mjesto anti-TNF terapije u lijecenju ulceroznog kolitisa.

Anti-TNF-alfa molecules are currently being used to treat ulcerative colitis regarding to the fact that TNF-alpha has an important role in the pathogenesis of IBD. Although these drugs improved the therapy of patients, immunogenicity limits their potential for clinical use. Infliximab and adalimumab are effective for induction and maintenance of remission in outpatients with moderate to severe steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis. Biologics can be a drug of choice for patients with refractory proctitis and refractory pouchitis. In hospitalized patients with steroid-resistant severe ulcerative colitis who are candidates for colectomy, infliximab may be second-line option. Adequate long-term maintenance therapy with anti-TNF is required after rescue therapy for a sustained benefit. Regarding to the known risk for side-effects of anti-TNF drugs especially in patients concomitantly treated with thiopurines it is urgent future research.

A pilot study of transrectal endoscopic ultrasound elastography in inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Using standard diagnostic algorithms it is not always possible to establish the correct phenotype of inflammatory bowel disease which is essential for therapeutical decisions. Endoscopic ultrasound elastography is a new endoscopic procedure which can differentiate the stiffness of normal and pathological tissue by ultrasound. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of transrectal ultrasound elastography in distiction between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. METHODS: A total 30 Crohn's disease, 25 ulcerative colitis, and 28 non-inflammatory bowel disease controls were included. Transrectal ultrasound elastography was performed in all patients and controls. In all ulcerative coltis patients and 80% of Crohn's disease patients endoscopy was performed to assess disease activity in the rectum. RESULTS: Significant difference in rectal wall thickness and strain ratio was detected between patients with Crohn's disease and controls (p = 0.0001). CD patients with active disease had higher strain ratio than patients in remission (p = 0.02). In ulcerative colitis group a significant difference in rectal wall thickness was found between controls and patients with active disease (p = 0.03). A significant difference in rectal wall thickness (p = 0.02) and strain ratio (p = 0.0001) was detected between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patient group. Crohn's disease patients with active disease had a significantly higher strain ratio compared to ulcerative colitis patients with active disease (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Transrectal ultrasound elastography seems to be a promising new diagnostic tool in the field of inflammatory bowel disease. Further study on a larger cohort of patients is needed to definitely assess the role of transrectal ultrasound elastography in inflammatory bowel disease.

Construction and validation of a web-based epidemiological database for inflammatory bowel diseases in Europe An EpiCom study.

BACKGROUND: The EpiCom-study investigates a possible East-West-gradient in Europe in the incidence of IBD and the association with environmental factors. A secured web-based database is used to facilitate and centralize data registration. AIM: To construct and validate a web-based inception cohort database available in both English and Russian language. METHOD: The EpiCom database has been constructed in collaboration with all 34 participating centers. The database was translated into Russian using forward translation, patient questionnaires were translated by simplified forward-backward translation. Data insertion implies fulfillment of international diagnostic criteria, disease activity, medical therapy, quality of life, work productivity and activity impairment, outcome of pregnancy, surgery, cancer and death. Data is secured by the WinLog3 System, developed in cooperation with the Danish Data Protection Agency. Validation of the database has been performed in two consecutive rounds, each followed by corrections in accordance with comments. RESULTS: The EpiCom database fulfills the requirements of the participating countries' local data security agencies by being stored at a single location. The database was found overall to be "good" or "very good" by 81% of the participants after the second validation round and the general applicability of the database was evaluated as "good" or "very good" by 77%. In the inclusion period January 1st -December 31st 2010 1336 IBD patients have been included in the database. CONCLUSION: A user-friendly, tailor-made and secure web-based inception cohort database has been successfully constructed, facilitating remote data input. The incidence of IBD in 23 European countries can be found at www.epicom-ecco.eu.

[Croatian guidelines for use of enteral nutrition in Crohn's disease]. / Hrvatske smjernice za primjenu enteralne prehrane u Crohnovoj bolesti.

Nutrition has an important role in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), especially in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). This role includes the prevention and correction of malnutrition, the prevention of osteoporosis and the promotion of optimal growth and development in children. In active Crohn's disease, nutritional therapy (in the form of enteral feeding) is an effective primary therapy for pediatric patients. Studies have shown that there is no difference in the efficacy of elemental, oligomeric and polymeric enteral formulas. Therefore, the use of polymeric formula is recommended because of higher palatability, better acceptance by patients, lower rate of complications and lower cost when compared with other enteral formulas. Today we have knowledge that some nutrients which are added to modified special enteral formulas have almost pharmacological terapeutic potential in the management of inflammatory bowel disease. Novel nutritional therapeutic strategies for inflammatory bowel disease, such as transforming growth factor-beta-enriched (TGF-beta2) enteral feeding, showed beneficial effects in several clinical studies. Croatian guidelines for enteral nutrition in Crohn's disease have been developed by interdisciplinary expert group of Croatian clinicians involved with inflammatory bowel disease. The guidelines are based on evidence from relevant medical literature and clinical experience of working group.

Chronic Budd-Chiari syndrome as a rare complication of Crohn's disease: a case report.

The Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is characterized by hepatic venous outflow obstruction involving the hepatic veins, inferior vena cava, or both. BCS has occasionally been reported in the literature as a very rare complication of ulcerative colitis. However, association of Crohn's disease (CD) and BCS is extremely rare with only a single case reported in the world literature to date. We report a case of a young woman with chronically active, therapy-resistant CD who developed massive ascites, elevation of liver enzymes, and coagulopathy in the course of her disease. She was subsequently diagnosed with BCS for which a successful liver transplantation was performed. Chronically active therapy resistant CD and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutation have been identified as possible risk factors for development of BCS in this patient.

[Endoscopic ultrasonography elastography in gastroenterology]. / Euz elastografija u gastroenterologiji.

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) elastography is a new technique for detecting the elastic properties of examined tissues during real time ultrasonography. The method is a very valuable tool for the diagnosis and evaluation of pathologic processes affecting the gastrointestinal tract and its adjacent organs. It represents a major advance in the diagnosis and staging of gastrointestinal malignancies, especially pancreatic carcinoma. EUS also provides guidance for fine needle aspiration (FNA) of undiagnosed masses and lymph nodes. Establishing the diagnosis of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis is sometimes very difficult. When inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is confined to the colon, there is a lack of diagnostic tools for distinction between Crohn's colitis and ulcerative colitis, which is especially important in definitive phenotyping before surgical decision. Our ongoing studies emphasize the role of EUS elastography in the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease phenotype and primary sclerosing cholangitis. As there are no literature data on this issue, we recommend further investigations in this promising new area of research.