Localization of TNF alpha in ileocolonic biopsies of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Although antitumor necrosis factor alfa (TNFα) agents are widely used to treat patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) - both Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) - there is still some uncertainty in the cell type expressing TNFα in human ileo-colonic segments. AIMS: We investigated the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of TNFα in the ileo-colonic segments of patients with both active CD and UC, to establish its anatomic and cellular localization in the inflamed sites. Our aim was to identify patients potentially resistant to anti TNFα agents. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ileo-colonic slides of complete histological mapping of patients with CD and UC before any treatment was started were obtained, and serial sections assessed for TNFα expression, together with IHC markers for lymphocytes, macrophages, and plasma cells. RESULTS: TNFα was expressed in almost all inflamed segments of IBD patients, albeit with different strength, and was present, in addition to lymphocytes and, to a lesser extent, to macrophages, in plasma cells, where it had a strong positivity, as also demonstrated by colocalization of specific IHC staining. The expression of TNFα was mostly focal in CD patients and more diffuse in UC patients, likely due to the different patterns of inflammation (transmural and mucosal) of the two entities. CONCLUSIONS: In IBD, TNFα is strongly expressed also in plasma cells, and it is easily evidenced by conventional IHC techniques. It remains to be established whether this observation might be useful in future to establish in routine biopsy samples whether patients may be responsive to treatments toward this cytokine.

Retrospective analysis of safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsy in the 21st century.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsy is a standard procedure, but it might be burdened with serious adverse events, mainly hemorrhagic. Literature lacks recent studies taking into account new ultrasound machines, more sensitive to tiny vessels and the evolution of the bioptic technique, including ultrasound guidance in all instances. Hence, the primary aim of this study was to evaluate complication rates of ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsy in a recent population. Secondary aims were to evaluate if the experience of operator is a determinant of risk of complication and to identify other potential risk factors. METHODS: We evaluated 800 procedures carried out in one hospital in the period 2010-2018. RESULTS: Complication rate resulted in 4%, with the occurrence of moderate hemorrhagic complications in 0.75%. No cases of severe events or death were registered. A higher risk of bleeding was found to be associated with less experienced operators, while the need to perform multiple needle insertions increased the probability of adverse events. CONCLUSION: The present findings confirmed ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsy to be a substantially safe procedure with a low risk of overall adverse events and bleeding in particular, especially when performed by expert operators.