Adenoma Detection Rate and Colorectal Cancer Risk in Fecal Immunochemical Test Screening Programs : An Observational Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs based on fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) represent the standard of care for population-based interventions. Their benefit depends on the identification of neoplasia at colonoscopy after FIT positivity. Colonoscopy quality measured by adenoma detection rate (ADR) may affect screening program effectiveness. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between ADR and postcolonoscopy CRC (PCCRC) risk in a FIT-based screening program. DESIGN: Retrospective population-based cohort study. SETTING: Fecal immunochemical test-based CRC screening program between 2003 and 2021 in northeastern Italy. PATIENTS: All patients with a positive FIT result who had a colonoscopy were included. MEASUREMENTS: The regional cancer registry supplied information on any PCCRC diagnosed between 6 months and 10 years after colonoscopy. Endoscopists' ADR was categorized into 5 groups (20% to 39.9%, 40% to 44.9%, 45% to 49.9%, 50% to 54.9%, and 55% to 70%). To examine the association of ADR with PCCRC incidence risk, Cox regression models were fitted to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs. RESULTS: Of the 110 109 initial colonoscopies, 49 626 colonoscopies done by 113 endoscopists between 2012 and 2017 were included. After 328 778 person-years follow-up, 277 cases of PCCRC were diagnosed. Mean ADR was 48.3% (range, 23% and 70%). Incidence rates of PCCRC from lowest to highest ADR group were 13.13, 10.61, 7.60, 6.01, and 5.78 per 10 000 person-years. There was a significant inverse association between ADR and PCCRC incidence risk, with a 2.35-fold risk increase (95% CI, 1.63 to 3.38) in the lowest group compared with the highest. The adjusted HR for PCCRC associated with 1% increase in ADR was 0.96 (CI, 0.95 to 0.98). LIMITATION: Adenoma detection rate is partly determined by FIT positivity cutoff; exact values may vary in different settings. CONCLUSION: In a FIT-based screening program, ADR is inversely associated with PCCRC incidence risk, mandating appropriate colonoscopy quality monitoring in this setting. Increasing endoscopists' ADR may significantly reduce PCCRC risk. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: None.

Risk for colorectal neoplasia in patients with colonic Crohn's disease and concomitant primary sclerosing cholangitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Patients with ulcerative colitis and concomitant primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) have a greater risk of developing colorectal dysplasia or invasive cancer than patients with only ulcerative colitis. Therefore, annual surveillance colonoscopies are recommended. We investigated whether primary sclerosing cholangitis is also a risk factor for colorectal dysplasia or cancer in patients with Crohn's disease of the colon. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of data from a tertiary care hospital on 166 patients with PSC and inflammatory bowel disease; 120 had concomitant ulcerative colitis, 35 had Crohn's disease, and 11 had indeterminate colitis. The controls comprised 114 patients with colonic involvement of Crohn's disease and 102 patients with ulcerative colitis. The main outcome parameter was the development of colorectal cancer or intraepithelial neoplasia. RESULTS: Only 1 patient with colonic Crohn's disease and concomitant PSC developed dysplasia in an adenomatous polyp during a median follow-up of 10 years (range, 7-16 years). In contrast, 2 cancers and 8 cases of colorectal dysplasia were diagnosed in patients with ulcerative colitis and PSC during a median follow up of 11 years (range, 8-16 years); the crude annual incidence of dysplasia or colorectal cancer was 1 in 150 patients with ulcerative colitis. Among patients with colonic Crohn's disease without PSC, 2 developed colorectal cancer during follow-up. The presence of PSC did not increase the risk of developing colorectal dysplasia in patients with Crohn's disease (P = 1.00). CONCLUSIONS: PSC does not seem to increase the risk for dysplasia of the colon in patients with colonic Crohn's disease.

Sustainability in gastroenterology and digestive endoscopy: Position Paper from the Italian Association of Hospital Gastroenterologists and Digestive Endoscopists (AIGO).

Climate crisis is dramatically changing life on earth. Environmental sustainability and waste management are rapidly gaining centrality in quality improvement strategies of healthcare, especially in procedure-dominant fields such as gastroenterology and digestive endoscopy. Therefore, healthcare interventions and endoscopic procedures must be evaluated through the 'triple bottom line' of financial, social, and environmental impact. The purpose of the paper is to provide information on the carbon footprint of gastroenterology and digestive endoscopy and outline a set of measures that the sector can take to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases while improving patient outcomes. Scientific societies, hospital executives, single endoscopic units can structure health policies and investment to build a "green endoscopy". The AIGO study group reinforces the role of gastrointestinal endoscopy professionals as advocates of sustainability in digestive endoscopy. The "green endoscopy" can shape a more sustainable health service and lead to an equitable, climate-smart, and healthier future.

Correct use of telemedicine in gastroenterology, hepatology, and endoscopy during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: Recommendations from the Italian association of hospital gastroenterologists and endoscopists (AIGO).

The purpose of the present document is to provide detailed information on the correct and optimal use of digital media to ensure continuity of care for gastroenterological patients in everyday clinical practice, in health emergencies and/or when the patient cannot reach the hospital for other reasons. During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine has allowed many patients with chronic diseases to access remote care worldwide, proving to be the ideal solution to overcome restrictions and carry out non-urgent routine follow-ups on chronic patients. The COVID-19 pandemic has therefore made organizational and cultural renewal essential for the reorganization of healthcare in order to ensure greater continuity of care with a minimum risk of spreading the virus to users, practitioners and their families. These AIGO recommendations are intended to provide Italian gastroenterologists with a tool to use this method appropriately, in compliance with current legislation, in particular the proper approach and procedures for conducting a remote examination using a video conferencing tool, the so-called televisit. In the near future, telemedicine may contribute to a possible reorganization of healthcare systems, through innovative care models focusing on the citizen and facilitating access to services throughout the entire Country.

Combination immunomodulator and antibiotic treatment in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and clostridium difficile infection.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Management of Clostridium difficile infection in patients with flaring inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not been optimized. We investigated the effects of combination therapy with antibiotics and immunomodulators in patients with IBD and C difficile infection. METHODS: We analyzed data from 155 patients (59% with ulcerative colitis [UC]) from a retrospective, European Crohn's and Colitis organization, multi-center study comparing outcome of hospitalized IBD patients with C difficile infection who were treated with antibiotics (n = 51) or antibiotics and immunomodulators (n = 104). The primary composite outcome was death or colectomy within 3 months of admission, in-hospital megacolon, bowel perforation, hemodynamic shock, or respiratory failure. RESULTS: The primary outcome occurred in 12% of patients given the combination treatment vs none of the patients given antibiotics alone (P = .01). UC, abdominal tenderness, or severe bloody diarrhea was more common among patients that received the combined therapy. However, multivariate analysis revealed that only the combination therapy maintained a trend for an independent association with the primary outcome (likelihood ratio = 11.9; CI, 0.9-157; P = .06). Treatment with 2 or 3 immunomodulators was correlated with the primary outcome, independent of disease severity at presentation (odds ratio [OR] = 17; CI, 3.2-91; P < .01). Acid-suppressing medications increased the risk of C difficile relapse (OR = 3.8; CI, 1.1-12.9; P = .03), whereas recent hospitalization correlated with increased rate of C difficile persistence (OR = 8; CI, 2.1-29; P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with IBD that also have C difficile infection are frequently treated with a combination of antibiotics and immunomodulators. However, this combination tends to associate with a worse outcome than antibiotic therapy alone. Prospective controlled trials are urgently needed to optimize the management of these challenging patients.

Reduced endothelial progenitor cell number and function in inflammatory bowel disease: a possible link to the pathogenesis.

OBJECTIVES: Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are essential for endothelial repair and vascular healing. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may suffer from endothelial dysfunction. Reduced EPC number, impaired mobilization, or increased EPC apoptosis may be crucial in this phenomenon. The aim of our study was to investigate the number and function of EPCs in patients with IBD and to assess their endothelial function. METHODS: In 100 IBD patients (47 ulcerative colitis (UC) and 53 Crohn's disease (CD)) and 50 healthy controls, EPC number, CXC motif receptor 4 (CXCR4) expression, the percentage of apoptotic circulating EPCs, and the number of colony-forming units were evaluated. Endothelial dysfunction was assessed by luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone levels, and in a subgroup of patients, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was measured. Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA (analysis of variance), Mann-Whitney U two-tailed, and Spearman's rank correlation tests were used to assess differences. RESULTS: EPC number was significantly lower in UC patients (39.6 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 30.7-48.6)) and in CD patients (43.1 (95% CI: 35.9-50.4)) than in healthy controls (97.1 (95% CI: 88.3-105.9)), (P<0.001). LH and FSH levels and CXCR4 expression on EPCs did not significantly differ from controls. Testosterone concentrations and FMD were lower in UC patients. Number of apoptotic EPCs was higher in both UC and CD patients with an impaired ability to generate colony in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesize that in IBD patients, apoptosis contributes to the reduction of circulating EPC number and to their ability to proliferate in vitro. As this condition represents a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, endothelial function should be evaluated in these patients.

Clinical presentation and diagnosis of intestinal adenocarcinoma in Crohn's disease: analysis of clinical predictors and of the life-time risk.

BACKGROUND: Late diagnosis of cancer in CD often occurs, and the prognosis is poor. The primary aim of this study was to assess the relationship between clinical presentation and diagnosis of intestinal adenocarcinoma in CD; the secondary aim was to evaluate the timing of cancer occurrence in CD patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical records of 12 consecutive patients with intestinal adenocarcinoma in CD and of 79 consecutive CD patients undergoing bowel surgery were reviewed. Presentation symptoms were analyzed as possible predictors. Timing of intestinal adenocarcinoma occurrence in patients with CD was analyzed including all the 347 consecutive patients that had undergone surgery for CD in our institute from January 1984 to June 2008. Life table analysis and uni/multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: Ten men and two women underwent surgery for intestinal cancer in CD with a median age of 50 years (31-68). Carcinomas were localized in the terminal ileum in four cases, right colon in three, transverse colon in one, sigmoid colon in one, rectum in two, and an anorectal fistula in one. Only three patients were pre-operatively diagnosed with cancer. At multivariate analysis only age (OR 1.057 (95% CI 0.999-1.107), p = 0.05) and obstruction (OR 6.530 (95% CI 1.533-27.806), p = 0.01) significantly predicted cancer diagnosis. The risk rate (RR) for cancer occurrence started to rise at the end of the third decade of life (RR = 0.005). The analysis of risk rate for cancer occurrence during overt CD showed that it is initially high at onset (RR = 0.001) and after two other peaks at 150 months from onset, it began to rise again. The presence of Crohn's colitis was associated to a significant risk of cancer (HR = 4.790, p = 0.009) while the use of 5-ASA resulted to be a protective factor against cancer occurrence (HR = 0.122, p = 0.013). DISCUSSION: In CD, rectal bleeding, the most common alarm symptom for intestinal cancer, is not useful for an early diagnosis. CD patients presenting with an older age and obstruction should be thoroughly investigated to rule out neoplastic lesions. There is probably no safe interval of CD where surveillance for intestinal cancer can be omitted. In the meantime, even in absence of active disease, all CD patients should undergo therapy with 5-ASA.

Prevalence and clinical impact of endoscopic pseudomembranes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and Clostridium difficile infection.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Limited data suggests that pseudomembranes are uncommon in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and C. difficile associated disease (CDAD), but the reason for this is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the rate of pseudomembranes in this population, identify predictive factors for pseudomembranes' presence and assess its clinical impact. METHODS: This was a sub-study of a retrospective European Crohn's & Colitis Organization (ECCO) multi-center study on the outcome of hospitalized IBD patients with C. difficile. The present study included only patients who underwent lower endoscopy during hospitalization, and compared demographic and clinical parameters in the group of patients with discernable pseudomembranes versus those without. RESULTS: Out of 155 patients in the original cohort, 93 patients underwent lower endoscopy and constituted the study population. Endoscopic pseudomembranes were found in 12 (13%) of these patients. Patients with pseudomembranes presented more commonly with fever (p=0.02) compared to patients without pseudomembranes. No difference between the two groups was found with respect to the use of immunosuppressant drugs, background demographics or disease characteristics. Neither was there a difference between the group with or without pseudomembranes in the frequency of severe adverse clinical outcome or in the duration of hospitalization. On multi-variate analysis the presence of fever remained independently associated with the finding of pseudomembranes (OR 6, 95% CI 1.2-32, p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: This study documents that hospitalized IBD patients with CDAD have low rate of endoscopic pseudomembranes, which is not accounted for by the use of immunosuppressant drugs. IBD patients with CDAD and discernable pseudomembranes more commonly present with fever, but their clinical outcome is similar to patients without pseudomembranes.

Successful prophylaxis with valaciclovir for relapsing HSV-1 in a girl treated with infliximab for moderate Crohn's disease.

Biological agents such as inhibitors of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha ) are associated with the development of opportunistic infections. Although there are no international recommendations for the management of opportunistic infections, their prevention is a key safety issue for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We report that chemoprophylaxis with oral valaciclovir was effective in preventing Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) reactivation in a girl treated with infliximab for Crohn's disease.