Clinical outcomes of potential coeliac disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Potential coeliac disease (PCD) is characterised by positive serological and genetic markers of coeliac disease with architecturally preserved duodenal mucosa. The clinical outcomes and rates of progression to overt coeliac disease in patients with PCD remain uncertain. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with PCD. DESIGN: We searched Medline, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane Library from 1991 through May 2024 to identify studies evaluating the clinical outcomes of patients with PCD. The progression rates to villous atrophy, seroconversion and response to a gluten-free diet (GFD) were analysed. A random-effect meta-analysis was performed, and the results were reported as pooled proportions with 95% CIs. RESULTS: Seventeen studies comprising 1010 patients with PCD were included in the final analyses. The pooled prevalence of PCD among patients with suspected coeliac disease was 16% (95% CI 10% to 22%). The duration of follow-up in most of the studies was at least 1 year, with follow-up periods within individual studies ranging from 5 months to 13 years. During follow-up, 33% (95% CI 18% to 48%; I2=96.4%) of patients with PCD on a gluten-containing diet developed villous atrophy, and 33% (95% CI 17% to 48%; I2=93.0%) had normalisation of serology. Among those who adhered to a GFD, 88% (95% CI 79% to 97%; I2=93.2%) reported symptomatic improvement. CONCLUSION: Almost a third of patients with PCD develop villous atrophy over time, whereas a similar proportion experience normalisation of serology despite a gluten-containing diet. Most symptomatic patients benefit from a GFD. These findings highlight the importance of structured follow-up and individualised management for patients with PCD.

Persistent villous atrophy predicts development of complications and mortality in adult patients with coeliac disease: a multicentre longitudinal cohort study and development of a score to identify high-risk patients.

OBJECTIVE: Persistent villous atrophy (pVA) in coeliac disease (CD) despite a gluten-free diet (GFD) has unclear meaning. We aimed to (i) study the relationship between pVA and long-term outcomes and (ii) develop a score to identify patients at risk of pVA. DESIGN: This is a multicentre retrospective-prospective study consisting of a study cohort (cohort 1) and an external validation cohort (cohort 2) of patients with biopsy-proven CD diagnosed between 2000 and 2021. Cohort 1 was used to (i) compare long-term outcomes between patients with and without pVA (Marsh ≥3a) at follow-up biopsy and (ii) to develop a score to evaluate the risk of pVA, which was validated in cohort 2. RESULTS: Of 2211 patients, 694 (31%) underwent follow-up duodenal biopsy and were included in the study cohort (491F, 44±16 years). 157/694 (23%) had pVA. Risk of complications (HR 9.53, 95% CI 4.77 to 19.04, p<0.001) and mortality (HR 2.93, 95% CI 1.43 to 6.02, p<0.01) were increased in patients with pVA. A 5-point score was developed and externally validated (receiver operating characteristic area under the curve 0.78, 95% CI 0.68 to 0.89) to stratify patients by risk of pVA: low (0-1 points, 5% pVA), intermediate (2 points, 16% pVA) and high (3-5 points, 73% pVA). Predictors for pVA used in the score were age at diagnosis ≥45 years (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.21 to 3.34, p<0.01), classical pattern of CD (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.28 to 3.58, p<0.01), lack of clinical response to GFD (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.43 to 4.01, p<0.001) and poor GFD adherence (OR 48.9, 95% CI 26.1 to 91.8, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Risk of complications and mortality were increased in patients with pVA. We developed a score to identify patients at risk of pVA and in need of histological reassessment and closer follow-up.

High Prevalence of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Celiac Patients with Persistent Symptoms on a Gluten-Free Diet: A 20-Year Follow-Up Study.

BACKGROUND: Ongoing symptoms in treated celiac disease (CD) are frequent and are commonly thought of as being due to infractions to a gluten-free diet (GFD) or complications. AIMS: To study the etiology and natural history of clinically relevant events (CREs) throughout follow-up and identify predictors thereof to guide follow-up. METHODS: CREs (symptoms/signs requiring diagnostic/therapeutic interventions) occurring in celiac patients between January-2000 and May-2021 were retrospectively collected between June and September 2021 and analysed. RESULTS: One-hundred-and-eighty-nine adult patients (133 F, age at diagnosis 36 ± 13 years, median follow-up 103 months, IQR 54-156) were enrolled. CREs were very common (88/189, 47%), but hardly due to poor GFD adherence (4%) or complications (2%). Interestingly, leading etiologies were functional gastrointestinal disorders (30%), reflux disease (18%) and micronutrient deficiencies (10%). Age at diagnosis ≥ 45 years (HR 1.68, 95%CI 1.05-2.69, p = 0.03) and classical pattern of CD (HR 1.63, 95%CI 1.04-2.54, p = 0.03) were predictors of CREs on a multivariable Cox model. At 5 years, 46% of classical patients ≥ 45 years old at diagnosis were event-free, while this was 62% for non-classical/silent ≥ 45 years, 60% for classical < 45 years, and 80% for non-classical/silent < 45 years. CONCLUSIONS: CREs occurred in almost half of CD patients during follow-up, with functional disorders being very common. New follow-up strategies for adult CD may be developed based on age and clinical pattern at diagnosis.

Determinants and Trends of Adherence to a Gluten-Free Diet in Adult Celiac Patients on a Long-term Follow-up (2000-2020).

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Data on factors governing long-term adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD) in celiac disease (CD) are scarce. We aimed to determine trends and clinical predictors of long-term GFD adherence in adult CD. METHODS: Initial and long-term (>3 years) GFD adherence, clinical characteristics at baseline and follow-up were collected retrospectively from celiac patients followed-up over 20 years (2000-2020). Predictors of long-term GFD adherence at diagnosis, and follow-up were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: 248 patients (37 ± 12 years, 186F, median time on a GFD 90 months) were included. Twenty-five (10.1%) had only short-term follow-up (<3 years) while 223 (89.9%) had initial and long-term dietary assessment. 187/223 (83.9%) patients were initially adherent and 36/223 (16.1%) were not. 17/36 (47.2%) patients initially not adherent become adherent, while only 4/187 (2.1%) initially adherent patients became not adherent. In the long-term, 200/223 (89.7%) were adherent and 21/223 (9.4%) patients were not. Adherence improved more frequently than worsened (OR, 39.5; 95% CI, 11.4-178.5; P < .01). Classical symptoms (diarrhea, weight loss) at diagnosis of CD predicted stricter long-term GFD adherence (OR, 3.27; 95% CI, 1.21-8.81; P = .02), while anemia (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.12-0.82; P = .02) and dermatitis herpetiformis (OR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.06-0.91; P = .04) predicted poorer long-term adherence. At follow-up, initial GFD adherence (OR, 42.70; 95% CI, 10.70-171.00; P = .04) was the major determinant of long-term GFD adherence. CONCLUSIONS: GFD adherence changes over time in <10% of patients, generally improving when it does. Major determinants of long-term GFD adherence are classical symptoms at diagnosis and initial adherence to a GFD. Patients with anemia or dermatitis herpetiformis at diagnosis require stricter dietetic input.

Long-Term Adherence to a Gluten-Free Diet and Quality of Life of Celiac Patients After Transition to an Adult Referral Center.

BACKGROUND: Modalities for the transition to adult care of celiac patients diagnosed during childhood/adolescence and their impact on long-term adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD-A), quality of life (QOL) and maintenance of follow-up in adulthood are unknown. AIMS: To evaluate whether timing of transition affects long-term GFD-A, QOL, and continuity of follow-up in adulthood and to identify predictors of long-term GFD-A. METHODS: Clinical and demographic data about pediatric care and adult follow-up at our center were retrospectively collected from clinical notes of celiac patients diagnosed during childhood/adolescence and then referred to our tertiary center. QOL and adult long-term GFD-A were prospectively evaluated with validated questionnaires. These parameters were studied by means of univariate and multivariate statistical analysis. RESULTS: 183 patients (130F, mean age at diagnosis 7.6 ± 5.8 years) were enrolled. Median age at transition to adult care was 20 years (IQR 17-25). There was no relationship between age at transition to adult care, long-term GFD-A, QOL, and continuity of follow-up. GFD-A tended to improve overall from pediatric care to adult referral (OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.13-7.87, p = 0.02) and also throughout adult follow-up (OR 9.0, 95% CI 4.2-19.7, p < 0.01). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, classical symptoms at diagnosis of celiac disease (p = 0.02) and good GFD-A at adult referral (p < 0.01) predicted good long-term GFD-A, while being lost to follow-up predicted poorer long-term GFD-A (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical characteristics can guide development of personalized strategies for implementing long-term GFD-A and ensure maintenance of regular follow-up in celiac patients diagnosed in childhood/adolescence and transitioning to adult care.

Inadvertent and minimal gluten intake has a negligible role in the onset of symptoms in patients with coeliac disease on a gluten-free diet.

Although the quantity of gluten that a well-instructed coeliac patient can involuntarily ingest is <10 mg of gluten/d which cannot induce significant villous damage, coeliac patients often attribute the origin of symptoms to the involuntary ingestion of trace quantities of gluten, either certain or hypothetical. Our aim was to evaluate whether the occurrence of symptoms in coeliac patients who histologically responded to a strict gluten-free diet was related to the involuntary consumption of minimal quantities of gluten. A case-control study to assess the association between gluten exposure and the occurrence of symptoms was designed. Between January 2017 and May 2018, coeliac patients attending our outpatient clinic were interviewed to detect the presence of symptoms. Based on a specifically designed form, patients were also divided into different risk groups of gluten exposure. A total of ninety-five coeliac patients on a strict gluten-free diet and with known histological recovery were enroled. Of them, fifty-two of them reported symptoms and they were enroled as cases; the remaining forty-three patients denied symptoms and were enroled as controls. Although this was not statistically significant, gluten exposure was more frequent in controls (Fisher's exact test, P=0·07). Our results show no relationship between exposure to minimal quantities of gluten and onset of symptoms in coeliac patients. Symptoms are more frequent in patients who have no risk of gluten exposure. It is possible that the presence of these symptoms leads the patients to avoid situations that may place them at risk of gluten exposure.

The high mortality of patients with common variable immunodeficiency and small bowel villous atrophy.

OBJECTIVES: Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a primary humoral immunodeficiency characterised by reduced serum levels of immunoglobulins, recurrent infections, autoimmune phenomena and lymphoproliferative disorders. Gastrointestinal symptoms are very common in these patients and a coeliac-like villous atrophy was described in some of them. Since mortality in CVID is much higher than in the general population, our aim was to evaluate mortality rates and clinical predictors of survival in patients with both CVID and duodenal villous atrophy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sex, date of diagnosis of villous atrophy, HLA genomic typing, date of death/last follow-up, type of complication were retrospectively collected from medical files. Univariate analysis for each predictor was conducted and Kaplan-Meier curves were generated to evaluate survival. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients were enrolled (9 females, mean age at diagnosis of villous atrophy 38 ± 13 years) and 8 of them died after a median time of 96 months (25th-75th 60-120 months) corresponding to a mortality rate of 3.9 per 100 person-years (95% CI 1.9-7.7). Mortality was higher in men compared to women (60 vs. 11/1000 person-years), although not statistically significant. Causes of death included onco-haematological disorders and infections. CONCLUSIONS: Although based on a small cohort, our results confirm that patients with CVID and villous atrophy are burdened by a very high mortality mainly due to onco-immunological disorders and infections. Strict follow-up is required in these patients.

Systematic review with meta-analysis: Cause-specific and all-cause mortality trends across different coeliac disease phenotypes.

BACKGROUND: Data on mortality in coeliac disease are contrasting. AIMS: To systematically review the literature on all-cause and cause-specific mortality in coeliac disease compared to the general population, and evaluate differences across clinical phenotypes, geographical regions, and over time. METHODS: We searched PubMed and Embase from 1 January 1970 to 31 December 2022 for eligible studies reporting on all-cause and cause-specific mortality in coeliac disease compared to the general population or controls. The protocol was registered on Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/852DN). RESULTS: We included 25 studies. All-cause mortality (HR 1.16, 95% CI 1.05-1.27, I2 = 89%), mortality due to malignancies (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.08-1.36, I2 = 65%) and respiratory disease (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.04-1.86, I2 = 76%) were increased. Mortality due to non-Hodgkin lymphoma (HR 10.14, 95% CI 2.19-46.88, I2 = 96%) was markedly increased. Mortality significantly decreased in recent decades: 1989-2004 (HR 1.61, 95% CI 1.27-2.03, I2 = 91%), 2005-2014 (HR 1.16, 95% CI 0.99-1.36, I2 = 89%), 2015-2022 (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.05-1.35, I2 = 93%). All-cause mortality was not increased in dermatitis herpetiformis (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.73-0.99, I2 = 40%) and undiagnosed coeliac disease (HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.95-1.25, I2 = 0%). Mortality was increased in the UK (HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.03-1.47, I2 = 91%) but not Scandinavia (HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.91-1.13, I2 = 81%). Limitations include high heterogeneity and lack of data for many countries. CONCLUSION: Mortality in coeliac disease is increased, predominantly due to malignancies-particularly non-Hodgkin lymphoma-although differing significantly across disease phenotypes. Mortality of patients with coeliac disease has significantly decreased in recent decades. These results may influence diagnosis and management.

Whipple's disease: A rare disease that can be spotted by many doctors.

Whipple's disease, an extremely rare, chronic infection caused by Tropheryma whipplei, an actinobacterium ubiquitously present in the environment, is a multisystemic condition that can affect several organs. Therefore, Whipple's disease should always be considered by physicians working across various branches of medicine, including internal medicine, rheumatology, infectious diseases, gastroenterology, haematology, and neurology. Initially, Whipple's disease is challenging to diagnose due to both its rarity and non-specific clinical features, almost indistinguishable from rheumatological conditions. A few years later, the onset of gastrointestinal symptoms increases the specificity of its clinical picture and helps in reaching the correct diagnosis. Diagnosis is typically made by finding PAS-positive macrophages in the lamina propria at duodenal biopsy. PCR for Tropheryma whipplei is nowadays also increasingly available, and represents an undeniable help in diagnosing this condition. However, it may also be misleading as false positives can occur. If not promptly recognized and treated, central nervous system involvement may develop, which can be fatal. The therapeutic gold standard has not yet been fully established, particularly in cases of recurrent disease, neurological involvement, and an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome that may arise following the initiation of antibiotic therapy.

Efficacy of a Low-FODMAP Diet for Coeliac Patients with Persistent IBS-like Symptoms despite a Gluten-Free Diet: A Systematic Review.

Background: Persistent symptoms in coeliac disease (CD) can be due to not only poor gluten-free diet (GFD) adherence and complications of CD, but also functional gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Although the role of a low fermentable oligo-, di-, and monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diet is well-established in IBS, little data are available on its role in coeliac patients with persistent IBS-like symptoms despite a GFD. Methods: We systematically reviewed the literature in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines for studies evaluating the role of FODMAPs and/or a low-FODMAP diet in coeliac patients with persistent symptoms. PubMed and Embase were searched from inception to 16 January 2024 for eligible full-text papers. The study protocol was registered on Open Science Framework. Results: A total of 239 records were identified, and six papers were included. Of these, four were interventional studies comparing a low-FODMAP GFD to a regular GFD for persistent symptoms in 115 total coeliac patients (two randomized controlled trials and two open-label studies). A low-FODMAP GFD for a minimum of 4 weeks was significantly more effective than a regular GFD in reducing symptoms (p < 0.05 in 3/4 studies). Dietary FODMAP content of a conventional GFD was significantly lower than that of non-coeliac patients on a gluten-containing diet (both p < 0.05), especially regarding high-FODMAP grain products. However, coeliac patients consumed more servings of fruits/vegetables high in FODMAP. No relationship between FODMAP intake and persistence of symptoms was reported. Conclusions: A low-FODMAP diet may be beneficial for uncomplicated celiac patients with persistent IBS-like symptoms despite strict adherence to a GFD.

Systematic review: Clinical phenotypes, histopathological features and prognosis of enteropathy due to angiotensin II receptor blockers.

BACKGROUND: Although enteropathy due to angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) has been known for over 10 years, clinicians' awareness of this condition is still low. AIMS: To systematically review the literature about clinical phenotypes, distribution of mucosal changes throughout the gastrointestinal tract and prognosis of enteropathy due to ARBs. METHODS: According to PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed and Embase for relevant articles up to November 6, 2023. We included full-text papers, letters, case reports and case series describing enteropathy due to ARBs. Patients were classified into subgroups based on endoscopic and histological findings of different regions of the gastrointestinal tract. The protocol was registered with Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/TK67C). RESULTS: We included 94 articles reporting 183 cases (101 female, mean age at diagnosis 69 ± 10 years). The clinical picture at diagnosis was characterised by severe diarrhoea (97%) and weight loss (84%, median -13 kg), leading to hospital admission in 167 (95%) patients. Olmesartan (90%) was most frequently implicated. Villous atrophy (VA) was reported in 164/183 (89%) patients. One hundred and nine had only VA, 12 had pan-gastrointestinal involvement, 23 had VA and gastric involvement and 19 had VA and colon involvement (predominantly microscopic colitis). Outcomes were reported for 178/183 (97%) patients, who all recovered clinically on ARBs withdrawal. Histological recovery occurred in all 96 patients with VA at baseline who underwent follow-up duodenal biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: Enteropathy due to ARBs is characterised by severe malabsorption often requiring hospital admission and can involve the entire gastrointestinal tract. Clinician awareness can lead to prompt diagnosis and excellent prognosis.

Comparison between SeHCAT test and clinical response to cholestyramine in patients with chronic diarrhea and high suspicion of bile acid malabsorption: A single-center prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the clinical response to cholestyramine in patients with functional chronic diarrhea and a high clinical suspicion of bile-acid diarrhea (BAD) investigated with 75-selenium homocholic acid taurine (SeHCAT) test. METHODS: Adult patients attending our outpatient clinic between January and December 2021 for chronic diarrhea with suspicion of BAD were proposed SeHCAT testing and a therapeutic trial of cholestyramine 4-8 g daily. Clinical response to cholestyramine was evaluated at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Clinical and demographic data were analyzed according to SeHCAT test results. RESULTS: Among the 50 patients with chronic diarrhea and clinical suspicion of BAD, 13 (26.0%) refused either SeHCAT testing or cholestyramine therapy. Finally, 37 patients (31 females, age 44 ± 14 years) agreed to undergo SeHCAT and were started on cholestyramine (median follow-up 14 months [interquartile range 6-16 months]). Initial response to cholestyramine was similar in patients with positive and negative SeHCAT test results, but improved over time in those with a positive test result. Long-term response (100% vs 65.2%, P = 0.02) and necessity of maintenance therapy for symptom control were more common in those with positive SeHCAT test result (71.4% vs 26.1%, P = 0.02). However, response to cholestyramine was also frequent in patients with a negative test result. CONCLUSIONS: The SeHCAT test accurately identifies patients with BAD who benefit from long-term cholestyramine treatment. Nevertheless, cholestyramine may be also effective in patients with chronic diarrhea but negative SeHCAT test result.

Fecal calprotectin measurement as a biomarker of severe disease phenotype in celiac disease and non-celiac enteropathies.

BACKGROUND: Fecal calprotectin (FC) is a non-invasive biomarker of gut inflammation, but its role in celiac disease (CD) and non-celiac enteropathies (NCEs) is undefined. AIMS: To retrospectively evaluate FC in patients with CD and NCEs as a tool for assessing disease activity and predicting long-term outcomes. METHODS: Patients with uncomplicated and complicated CD, and NCEs with data on FC, evaluated at our center between June-2008 and December-2023, were enrolled. The relationship between elevated FC (>50 mg/kg) and disease activity was statistically analysed and Cox regression adjusted for age and sex was used to compare development of complications and mortality in patients with elevated and normal FC. RESULTS: 177 patients (109F, mean age at diagnosis 39±20 years, 132 CD, 17 complicated CD, 28 NCEs) were enrolled. 55 patients had elevated FC, which was associated with lack of clinical and histological response to therapy (both p < 0.001). During a median follow-up of 103 months (IQR 54-176), 22 patients developed complications (15.4 %) and 21 died (11.9 %). Elevated FC was significantly more common in complicated CD (70.6 %) and NCEs (67.9 %) than in uncomplicated CD (18.2 %), p < 0.001. Elevated FC was independently predictive of developing complications (HR 4.8,95 %CI 1.4-17.7, p = 0.01) and mortality (HR 4.8,95 %CI 1.6-14.3, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: FC is a promising non-invasive biomarker for assessing disease severity and long-term outcomes in CD and NCEs.

Resilience in Adult Coeliac Patients on a Gluten-Free Diet: A Cross-Sectional Multicentre Italian Study.

BACKGROUND: Data on resilience, the ability to recover from adversity, in coeliac disease (CeD) are lacking. AIM: To assess the degree of resilience in patients with CeD on a gluten-free diet (GFD), and its association with clinical features, sociodemographic factors, psychological morbidity, and quality of life (QOL). METHODS: A cross-sectional multicentre Italian study was conducted on adult CeD patients between May 2022 and April 2023. Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), the Coeliac Disease-specific Quality of Life Scale (CD-QOL), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scale (STAI-Y), and the Beck Depression Inventory scale (BDI) were used to evaluate resilience, QOL, anxiety, and depression, respectively. A multivariate analysis was conducted to identify factors independently associated with the degree of resilience. RESULTS: A total of 305 patients (221 F, mean age at CeD diagnosis 36 ± 16 years) on a long-term GFD (median 8 years, IQR 3-17) were enrolled. A total of 298/305 patients (98%) had a high level of resilience (CD-RISC ≥ 35). At univariate analysis, resilience was statistically associated with male gender (p = 0.03), age at enrolment (p = 0.02), marital status (p = 0.03), QOL (p < 0.001), anxiety (p < 0.001), and depression (p < 0.001). On multivariate regression analysis, trait anxiety (STAI-Y2, p < 0.001) and depression (BDI, p = 0.02) were independent predictors of lower levels of resilience. CONCLUSIONS: Higher trait anxiety predicts lower levels of resilience. Targeted interventions in this subgroup of patients may be helpful for their management and follow-up.

Superior bowel preparation quality for colonoscopy with 1L-PEG compared to 2L-PEG and picosulphate: Data from a large real-world retrospective outpatient cohort.

BACKGROUND: Several randomized clinical trials comparing different bowel preparations (BP) have shown similar efficacy; however, there is a lack of real-world studies on this topic. AIMS: This study aims to identify the most effective BP regimen in a real-world setting and any predictors of inadequate BP. METHODS: A retrospective single-center study was conducted over 14 months at an academic hospital including outpatient colonoscopies in which adult patients did not teach on how to perform BP before colonoscopy. Colonoscopies with 1L-PEG, 2L-PEG and picosulphate mixtures were considered. A multivariable analysis for factors associated to poor BP was fitted. RESULTS: Overall, 1779 patients (51 %F, 60±14) years were included. The 1L-PEG regimen provided a higher rate of BP adequacy at multivariate analysis (adjusted OR 2.30, 95 %CI 1.67-3.16,p < 0.001) and was associated with higher median Boston Bowel Preparation Scale score (p < 0.001), higher rate of right-colon cleansing (p < 0.001) and exam completion (p = 0.04). Furthermore, we identified male sex, history of constipation, active smoking, previous pelvic surgery, concomitant psychiatric/neurological or chronic kidney diseases as predictors of inadequate BP. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest real-world study comparing 1L-PEG to other BP regimens. Our results suggest 1L-PEG provides better BP in a non-controlled setting, improving clinical practice quality and minimizing the need for repeated colonoscopies and saving healthcare resources.

Clinical and laboratory predictors and prevalence of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in patients with Whipple's disease.

OBJECTIVES: Whipple's disease (WD) is a rare and potentially fatal infectious disease caused by Tropheryma whipplei. It is characterized by a long prodromal phase that mimics a rheumatological disease, often leading to immunosuppressant treatment. Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is currently the most important complication of WD, requiring prompt recognition and treatment as it can be fatal. However, epidemiological data on IRIS are scarce. We aimed to identify the clinical and laboratory predictors of IRIS at WD diagnosis and to evaluate whether the prevalence of IRIS has changed over time. METHODS: Forty-five patients with WD (mean age 52 ± 11 years; 10 females) were followed up between January 2000 and December 2021. Clinical and laboratory data at WD diagnosis were retrospectively collected and compared among patients who developed IRIS and those who did not. RESULTS: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR; 33.4 ± 11.8 mm/h vs 67.1 ± 26.3 mm/h, P < 0.01), platelet (PLT; 234 × 109 /L vs 363 × 109 /L, P < 0.01), and body mass index (22.0 ± 2.0 kg/m2 vs 19.8 ± 3.0 kg/m2 , P = 0.04) differed significantly between patients who subsequently developed IRIS and those who did not. ROC analysis identified ESR ≤46 mm/h (AUROC 0.88, 95% CI 0.72-1.00) and PLT ≤ 327 × 109 /L (AUROC 0.85, 95% CI 0.70-1.00) as optimal cut-off values to discriminate WD patients at a high risk of developing IRIS. Prevalence of IRIS remained stable (22.2%) over time. CONCLUSIONS: Low ESR and PLT count at diagnosis help identify WD patients at high risk of developing IRIS. Instead, a greater inflammatory response suggests a lower risk of IRIS. Prevalence of IRIS did not change over two decades.

Humoral immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with coeliac disease and other noncoeliac enteropathies compared to healthy controls.

OBJECTIVES: Data are lacking on the immunogenicity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines in patients affected by coeliac disease, Whipple's disease and other noncoeliac enteropathies (NCE), characterised by primary or drug-related immunosuppression. We aimed to assess humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in these patients compared to controls. METHODS: Between December 2021 and January 2022, IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibodies were measured in serum samples of coeliac disease, Whipple's disease and NCE patients attending our gastroenterology outpatient clinic for follow-up, who had received their first SARS-CoV-2 vaccination dose 3-6-9 (±1) months prior. Humoral response was compared with healthy controls (vaccinated healthcare workers undergoing serological screening), matched for gender, age, and time from first vaccine dose at sample collection. RESULTS: A total of 120 patients [107 coeliac disease; 10 Whipple's disease; 2 common-variable immunodeficiency (CVID); 1 idiopathic villous atrophy; 77 F, 42 ± 16 years] and 240 matched controls (154 F, 43 ± 14 years) were enrolled. At 3, 6 and 9 months, humoral response in coeliac patients was not impaired compared to controls. Inadequate humoral response to vaccination was significantly more common among Whipple's disease patients than controls ( P < 0.001). Patients on immunosuppressive therapy had markedly lower IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titres (median 14 vs. 520 BAU/mL, P < 0.001). As expected, patients with CVID showed no humoral response to vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Humoral immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines was not reduced in coeliac disease patients compared to controls, although it was in Whipple's disease and CVID patients. Post-vaccination humoral response should be monitored in patients with Whipple's disease and chronic enteropathies on immunosuppressive therapy in order to schedule vaccine booster doses.

Patients with Whipple's disease have a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection.

INTRODUCTION: Whipple's disease is a rare systemic infection due to an impaired immunological response against T. whipplei in genetically predisposed individuals. Since we previously noted development of H. pylori related complications in some patients with Whipple's disease, our aim was to study the prevalence of H. pylori infection and H. pylori related disorders in Whipple's disease. METHODS: Whipple's disease patients diagnosed from Jan-2002 to Dec-2021 and two controls per patient, matched for age, gender, ethnicity and year of H. pylori testing were enrolled. RESULTS: 34 patients with Whipple's disease and 68 controls were enrolled. H. pylori infection (13/34 vs 8/68, p<0.01), H. pylori-related gastritis (p<0.01) and gastric atrophy (p = 0.01) were significantly more common in patients with Whipple's disease than controls. H. pylori infection and Whipple's disease were diagnosed synchronously in 6/13 patients, and during follow-up in the remaining 7. Interestingly, these last 7 patients were all on trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole long-term therapy. Two patients developed H. pylori-related gastric malignancies during follow-up. No patients on doxycycline developed H. pylori infection. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori infection and related disorders are common in patients with Whipple's disease and should always be excluded both at time of diagnosis and during follow-up. These findings should be taken into account when selecting antibiotics for Whipple's disease long-term prophylaxis.

Flow cytometry for the assessment and monitoring of aberrant intraepithelial lymphocytes in non-responsive celiac disease and non-celiac enteropathies.

BACKGROUND: Few data are available on flow cytometry (FC) for monitoring intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) in refractory celiac disease (RCD), non-responsive celiac disease (NRCD), and non-celiac enteropathies (NCEs). AIMS: 1) To investigate the significance of monitoring IELs immunophenotype with FC in patients with NRCD, RCD and NCEs; 2) to evaluate FC concordance with immunohistochemistry (IHC) and γ-TCR clonality analysis. METHODS: Patients investigated between January-2012 and February-2023 were divided into two groups: 1)confirmed RCD or NRCD being investigated for persistent symptoms and suspected complications of celiac disease (CD); 2)NCEs lacking clinical/histological response. Clinical/molecular features and outcomes were retrospectively collected and analysed according to presence/absence of aberrant IELs on FC (cut-off≥20 % CD103+sCD3-CD8-iCD3+ IELs). RESULTS: 52 patients (18 RCD,21 NRCD,13 NCEs; 38F, 55±13 years; median follow-up 30 months, IQR 2-58) underwent 100 FC IELs determinations. 22/52 had ≥2 FC determinations and IEL phenotype remained unchanged over time in all them (κ=1.00). Aberrant IEL phenotype in CD was associated with increased mortality (HR 4.2, 95 % CI 1.5-11.9, p < 0.01). No patients with NCEs had an aberrant IEL phenotype at FC, although 3/13 developed lymphoma and 4/13 died. Concordance of FC was fair with both IHC (κ=0.40) and γ-TCR clonality analysis (κ=0.22). CONCLUSION: FC is accurate for assessing and monitoring IEL phenotype and providing important prognostic information in celiac patients. Further study is needed on its role in NCEs.