Association Between Sense of Coherence, Disease-Specific Symptoms, and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Japanese Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: We examined the associations among disease-related symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and sense of coherence (SOC) in Japanese patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: This cross-sectional survey involved patients and physicians at 23 hospitals specializing in UC treatment in Japan (December 2019-December 2020). Multiple linear regression analysis was performed using scores on the Mental Health and General Health subscales of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey as outcomes and SOC as the main independent variable. Scores on the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) and Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale (FIQL) were used to measure the effect of disease-related symptoms. The moderating effect of symptoms on the association between HRQOL and SOC was also tested. RESULTS: SOC was positively and independently associated with HRQOL (Mental Health: ß = 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.24-0.61, P < 0.001; General Health: ß = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.23-0.59, P < 0.001). The association of SOC with Mental Health scores did not differ by symptoms, whereas its association with General Health was attenuated by symptoms (interaction term of IBDQ by SOC: ß = -0.0082, 95% CI = -0.017 to 0.00064, P = 0.07; that of FIQL by SOC: ß = -0.0052, 95% CI = -0.011 to 0.0010, P = 0.10). CONCLUSIONS: SOC affected mental health independently, and its protective association with general health perception was affected by symptoms. Further research is required to determine the most effective use of SOC in interventions to improve HRQOL in patients with UC.

Small and large intestinal cancer in patients with Crohn's disease studied by surgeons.

PURPOSE: The current study summarized the clinical course and treatment outcomes of intestinal cancer in CD seen in our department and explored the steps to take in the future. METHODS: Subjects were patients who had been diagnosed with CD at our hospital and who underwent surgery in our department from 1985 to 2020. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients had CD and intestinal cancer, including 6 with cancer of the small intestine and 25 with cancer of the large intestine. In all six patients with cancer of the small intestine, the site where cancer or a tumor developed was at or near the site of the anastomosis made at a previous surgery. Of the 25 patients with cancer of the large intestine, 22 developed cancer in the rectum or anal region. CONCLUSION: Many of the patients with cancer of the small intestine had previously undergone surgery, and the cancer developed at or near the site of the anastomosis. In patients who have previously undergone resection of the small intestine, the small intestine needs to be examined regularly. Cancer of the large intestine often developed in the rectum or anal region of our patients, so a detailed examination of the same site needs to be performed.

[A Case of Anastomotic Stenosis with Reconstructed Small Intestine Mucosal Damage during Taking S-1 Orally after Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer].

An 83-year-old woman underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy and Billroth Ⅱ reconstruction for gastric cancer. Since histopathological examination revealed that the lesion was Stage ⅢA, she had started taking S-1 as an adjuvant chemotherapy 7 weeks after gastrectomy. Seventeen days later after taking S-1 administration, she felt nauseous and self-interrupted. Nineteen days later, she was urgently hospitalized. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD)showed anastomotic lumen was open, but reconstructed small intestine mucosal damage was found, and reconstructed small intestine muscle layer was fused to anastomotic region. On 50th day of hospitalization, mucosa was regenerated and endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD)was performed from 78th day. She was discharged on 151th day of hospitalization after 7 times of EBD. One year later, she does not need EBD and can be taken orally and has no recurrence.

Rate of Reoperation Decreased Significantly After Year 2002 in Patients With Crohn's Disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Patients with Crohn's disease (CD) can require multiple intestinal surgeries. We examined time trends and risk factors for reoperation in patients with CD who underwent intestinal surgery, focusing on the effects of postoperative medical treatments. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 1871 patients with CD who underwent initial intestinal resection at 10 tertiary care institutions in Japan, with an initial surgical date after May 1982. We collected data on the background characteristics of all patients, including Montreal Classification, smoking status, and medical therapy after surgery (tumor necrosis factor antagonists [anti-TNF] agents or immunomodulators). The primary outcome was requirement for first reoperation. Rate of reoperation was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and risk factors for reoperation were identified using the Cox regression model. RESULTS: The overall cumulative 5- and 10-year reoperation rates were 23.4% and 48.0%, respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that patients who underwent the initial surgery after May 2002 had a significantly lower rate of reoperation than patients who underwent surgery before April 2002 (hazard ratio [HR], 0.72; 95% CI, 0.61-0.86). Preoperative smoking (HR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.18-1.68), perianal disease (HR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.27-1.77), and ileocolic type of CD (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.20-1.69) were significant risk factors for reoperation. Postoperative use of immunomodulators (HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.44-0.81) and anti-TNF therapy (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.57-0.88) significantly reduced the risk. Anti-TNF was effective in the bionaive subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of reoperation in patients with CD significantly decreased after May 2002. Postoperative use of anti-TNF agents might reduce the reoperation rate for bionaive patients with CD.

Surveillance Colonoscopy for Ulcerative Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer Offers Better Overall Survival in Real-World Surgically Resected Cases.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of surveillance colonoscopy (SC) and optimize its use by assessing real-world surgically resected cases of ulcerative colitis (UC)-associated colorectal cancer (CRC) and dysplasia. METHODS: Clinicopathological data of 406 (238 CRC and 168 dysplasia) patients who underwent surgical resection in 10 UC specialized institutions were retrospectively reviewed. The overall survival (OS) rates were compared between the SC and non-SC groups. The incidence of and risk factors for early-onset CRC (<8 years after UC onset) were identified. The distribution of CRC lesions was also assessed. RESULTS: Cancer stages were significantly more advanced in the non-SC group than in the SC group (P < 0.001). The patients in the SC group showed significantly better OS than those in the non-SC group (5-year OS: 89% vs 70%; log-rank test: P = 0.001). Seventeen percent of patients developed CRC within 8 years after UC onset. The age at UC onset was a risk factor and a good predictor of early-onset CRC (<8 years) (P < 0.01; AUC: 0.85). The most common sites of CRC were the rectum (51%) and sigmoid colon (20%). Multiple CRC was identified in 16% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Surveillance colonoscopy was effective and improved the OS in patients with UC. We recommend that patients with late-onset UC (>40 years) undergo SCs earlier because of the high incidence of CRC within 8 years of UC onset. Moreover, the rectum and sigmoid colon should be more thoroughly examined.

Changes in the rate of and trends in colectomy for ulcerative colitis during the era of biologics and calcineurin inhibitors based on a Japanese nationwide cohort study.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the recent incidence of surgery and the changing surgery trends for ulcerative colitis (UC) in Japan due to the increasing use of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was performed to assess the number of surgeries, surgical indications, surgical timing, and immunosuppressive treatments before surgery between 2007 and 2017. RESULTS: A total of 3801 surgical cases were reported over 11 years. The prevalence of UC surgery decreased over the period studied. The rate of prednisolone (PSL) use did not change. The prevalence of both calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) and anti-TNF agents increased during the period studied (p < 0.01). The prevalence of urgent/emergent surgery did not change. The most distinctive change in surgical indications was the increase in cancer/dysplasia (CAC), the prevalence of which increased from 20.2% in 2007 to 34.8%. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of UC surgery seems to be decreasing according to the increasing rate of anti-TNF agent and CNI administration. However, the indication of CAC significantly increased. Further research should evaluate whether or not long-term remission maintained with several agents can lead to increasing CAC.

Efficacy and safety analysis of chemotherapy for advanced colitis-associated colorectal cancer in Japan.

Chemotherapy for advanced colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) has been insufficiently evaluated. The goal of this study was to clarify the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy for CAC in Japan. CAC patients who were treated with chemotherapy between 2005 and 2015 were retrospectively examined. Twenty-nine patients (median age, 48 years; 23 men) were assessed. Eighteen patients had ulcerative colitis, and 11 had Crohn's disease. Three ulcerative colitis and four Crohn's disease patients were in the active disease phase. Primary tumors were located in the rectum/anus (n=16), the left colon (n=9), or the right colon (n=4). Palliative or adjuvant chemotherapy was performed in 13 and 16 patients, respectively. First-line palliative chemotherapy regimens were as follows: fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX; n=6), FOLFOX+bevacizumab (n=3), and others (n=4). Adjuvant chemotherapy regimens were S-1 (n=7), oxaliplatin-based (n=4) and others (n=5). In palliative chemotherapy, the objective response rate was 15%, and the median progression-free survival and overall survival were 182 and 315 days, respectively. In adjuvant chemotherapy, the 5-year relapse-free survival rate was 78%. Grade 3/4 adverse events (AEs) were observed in 16 patients (55%). Active and remission inflammatory bowel disease patients suffered grade 3/4 nonhematological AEs at an incidence of 71 and 23%, respectively (P<0.01). Dose reduction was required in 11 patients (38%), eight of whom required it for hematological AEs. Adjuvant chemotherapy for CAC exhibited sufficient efficacy, whereas modest efficacy was shown for palliative chemotherapy for CAC. AEs, particularly nonhematological AEs, were closely associated with disease activity of colitis.

Long-term course of Crohn's disease in Japan: Incidence of complications, cumulative rate of initial surgery, and risk factors at diagnosis for initial surgery.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Intestinal complications of stenosis or fistula may occur during the course of Crohn's disease (CD), and surgery is performed in a fair number of patients. The risk factors for initial surgery in a Japanese hospital-based cohort of CD patients were evaluated. METHODS: This study was a single-center, retrospective, cohort study. The subjects were 520 patients who underwent inpatient and outpatient treatment at our hospital, had a definitive diagnosis of CD, and no previous surgery. Three parameters were investigated: (i) cumulative incidence of stenosis and fistula; (ii) cumulative rate of initial surgery for each disease type; and (iii) risk factors at diagnosis for initial surgery. RESULTS: (i) Stenosis and fistula increased with time, with stenosis or fistula appearing in about half of the patients after 5 years. (ii) The cumulative rate of initial surgery was about 50% after 10 years. (iii) The patient factors at diagnosis of current smoker, upper gastrointestinal disease, stricturing, penetrating, moderate to severe stenosis of the jejunum, moderate to severe stenosis of the ileum, and moderate to severe stenosis of the terminal ileum were risk factors for initial surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Stenosis or fistula appeared in about half of the patients after 5 years from diagnosis. When upper gastrointestinal disease or complicated small intestinal lesions are seen at the time of diagnosis, the cumulative rate of initial surgery is significantly higher.

[Surgical treatment for perianal Crohn's disease].

Perianal lesions are a frequent complication of Crohn's disease (CD) and include fistula, abscess, anal ulcer, skin tag, anal stricture, and carcinoma. Perianal fistula is the most commonly observed condition and exhibits multiple incidence and intractable characteristics. The starting point for the management of perianal fistula is an accurate diagnosis, which requires careful exploration during an EUA. The condition is treated with medications such as antibiotics, immunosuppressants, or anti-tumor necrosis factor agents. However, it is difficult to maintain long-term remission. Surgical therapy is selected according to the type of fistula and can include conventional fistulotomy, seton drainage, diverting stoma, and anorectal amputation. After fistulotomy, recurrence is frequent and there is an increased risk of incontinence. Seton drainage is the preferred treatment to improve symptoms and preserve anal function. Stoma is useful to relieve symptoms but difficult to indicate for young patients. The optimum treatment for perianal fistula associated with CD remains controversial. Currently, the goal of therapy for these patients has shifted from complete fistula closure to reducing drainage from the fistula to improve their quality of life. Ongoing careful management is important to control anal symptoms and maintain long-term anal function in the treatment of patients with CD, while monitoring them to detect possible progression to anorectal carcinoma.

Cancer risk in Japanese Crohn's disease patients: investigation of the standardized incidence ratio.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: There have been very few reported investigations on the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of intestinal cancer and all cancers other than intestinal cancer with Crohn's disease (CD) by organ in Japan. This study examined the risk of developing cancer (i.e. SIR) that occurs in association with CD. METHODS: The subjects were 770 CD patients managed at our hospital department, which specializes in inflammatory bowel disease, during the approximately 25 years from July 1985 to August 2010. The number of expected cancer patients in a healthy population matched for sex and age with the CD patients in our hospital was then calculated. The relative risk, or SIR, was also calculated. RESULTS: The total observation period was 10,552 person-years, during which 19 cases (2.5%) of cancer were discovered in 770 subjects. The cancer cases included nine cases of colorectal cancer (CRC), one case of small bowel cancer, one case of stomach cancer, three cases of acute myeloid leukemia, two cases of endometrial cancer, one case of lung cancer, one case of skin cancer, and one case of thyroid cancer. The SIR for cancers in Japan in 2003 was 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.52-1.35) for all cancers, 2.79 (95% CI 1.28-5.29) for CRC, and 6.94 (95% CI 1.43-20.3) for leukemia. CONCLUSIONS: Among the cancers in CD patients in our hospital, no significant difference was seen in the risk for all cancers in comparison with the standard population. However, the risks for CRC and leukemia were significantly higher than in the standard population.

Value of concomitant endoscopic balloon dilation for intestinal stricture during long-term infliximab therapy in patients with Crohn's disease.

AIM: We assessed the long-term outcome of infliximab (IFX) therapy in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and investigated the efficacy of concomitant endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) for intestinal stricture during treatment. METHODS: The effectiveness of maintenance therapy with IFX was retrospectively evaluated in 185 patients with CD in a single center (median observation period 24 months). IFX effectiveness with and without immunomodulators (IMM) and enteral nutrition (EN), as well as cumulative surgery-free rates, were compared. The efficacy of concomitant EBD in patients with obstructive symptoms and high-level stricture was evaluated. RESULTS: In 185 patients receiving the maintenance therapy, the long-term efficacy rate was 84.9% at 24 months and 79.0% at 48 months. The cumulative surgery-free rate was significantly higher in the maintenance group (P < 0.001). Concomitant IMM and EN did not significantly affect the effectiveness of IFX. IFX was discontinued in only 18 cases (7.3%). Symptomatic high-level stricture occurred in 33 patients (17.8%) in the maintenance group and the cumulative surgery-free rate was significantly higher in the EBD combination compared with the non-EBD group (P < 0.05). If EBD were considered invasive intervention, the actual cumulative surgery rate in the maintenance group was significantly lower compared with the cumulative invasive intervention rate (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Long-term treatment with IFX is highly effective. The surgery-free rate was clearly higher in the maintenance group. Only concomitant EBD for intestinal stricture helped in the avoidance of surgery.

Laparoscopic splenic vessel-preserving distal pancreatectomy after laparoscopic pylorus-preserving gastrectomy: A case report.

A 77-year-old woman who had undergone laparoscopic pylorus-preserving gastrectomy for gastric cancer showed dilatation of the main pancreatic duct in the distal pancreas on ultrasonography during postoperative surveillance. Detailed examination revealed that she had a main-duct type intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm with high-risk stigmata. As invasive malignancy was not suggested, laparoscopic splenic vessel-preserving distal pancreatectomy was performed to preserve the remnant stomach. Although adhesions around the gastroduodenostomy and splenic artery were severe, the magnified laparoscopic view facilitated the identification of appropriate dissection layers, resulting in limited blood loss. The distal pancreas was successfully resected without sacrificing blood flow to the remnant stomach. The postoperative course was uneventful. The pathological diagnosis was low-grade intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm. Laparoscopic splenic vessel-preserving distal pancreatectomy for benign or low-grade malignant disease of the distal pancreas can be useful for preserving the remnant stomach in patients with a history of gastrectomy.

Small bowel lesions detected with wireless capsule endoscopy in patients with active ulcerative colitis and with post-proctocolectomy.

BACKGROUND: Although rare, duodenal lesions have been reported in association with ulcerative colitis (UC); however, there have been very few reports on small bowel lesions, and many aspects of their pathology and frequency remain unknown. This study determined whether small bowel lesions are present in UC by using wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE). PATIENTS AND METHODS: WCE was performed on 20 patients with active UC and 10 who had undergone proctocolectomy. RESULTS: Small bowel lesions (e.g. edema or ulcers) were observed in 11 of the 30 patients (36.6%): in eight (40%) of the 20 patients with active UC and in three (33.3%) of the 10 post-proctocolectomy patients. Ulcers that extended over a long segment or whole tertile of the small bowel were observed in five patients, and the disease type was extensive colitis in three of these and pouchitis in the other two. Age at onset was significantly lower in the 20 active UC patients that had small bowel lesions. CONCLUSION: WCE revealed the presence of ulcers that extended over a long segment or a whole tertile in the small bowel in active extensive colitis and pouchitis. In future, it will be necessary to assess the clinical significance of small bowel lesions in UC in detail.

Primary gastric synovial sarcoma resected by laparoscopic endoscopic cooperative surgery of the stomach: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Primary gastric synovial sarcoma is extremely rare, only 44 cases have been reported so far, and there have been no reports of laparoscopic endoscopic cooperative surgery for this condition. CASE PRESENTATION: A 45-year-old male patient presented with gastric pain. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed that led to the identification of an 8-mm submucosal tumor in the anterior wall of the antrum, and a kit-negative gastrointestinal stromal tumor was suspected following biopsy. On endoscopic ultrasonography, the boundary of the tumor, mainly composed of the second layer, was depicted as a slightly unclear low-echo region, and a pointless no echo region was scattered inside. A boring biopsy revealed synovial sarcoma. Positron emission tomography did not reveal fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) accumulation in the stomach or other organs. Thus, the patient was diagnosed with a primary gastric synovial sarcoma, and laparoscopic endoscopic cooperative surgery was performed. The tumor of the antrum could not be confirmed laparoscopically from the serosa, and under intraoperative endoscopy, it had delle on the mucosal surface, which was removed by a method that does not involve releasing the gastric wall. Immunohistochemistry showed that the spindle cells were positive for EMA, BCL-2 protein, TLE-1, and SS18-SSX fusion-specific antibodies but negative for KIT and DOG-1. The final pathological diagnosis was synovial sarcoma of the stomach. The postoperative course was good, and the patient was discharged from the hospital on the 11th postoperative day. CONCLUSION: Resection with laparoscopic endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS), which has not been reported before, was effective for small synovial sarcomas that could not be confirmed laparoscopically. With the combination of laparoscopic and endoscopic approaches to neoplasia with a non-exposure technique (CLEAN-NET) procedure, it was possible to excise the tumor with the minimum excision range of the gastric serosa without opening the stomach.

Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm-associated pancreatic cancer: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas is often found incidentally during examination for other diseases. In addition to the risk of malignant transformation, patients with IPMN are at risk of developing pancreatic cancer. We report a case of pancreatic tail cancer that developed separately from a preexisting IPMN after minimally invasive esophagectomy for cancer of the esophagogastric junction and was resected successfully by laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 72-year-old man underwent thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy for esophagogastric junction cancer. He had undergone surgery for ascending colon cancer 20 years ago. At that time, IPMN was confirmed in the pancreatic body by a preoperative examination. Computed tomography was regularly performed for postoperative work-up and follow-up of the IPMN, and a solid lesion with cystic components was detected in the pancreatic tail 9 months after the operation. On detailed examination, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma concomitant with IPMN, accompanied by a retention cyst, was considered. Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy was successfully performed after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Pathological diagnosis of the lesion in the pancreatic tail was of an invasive intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma (ypT3ypN0yM0 ypStageIIA). CLINICAL DISCUSSION: If an IPMN is detected during preoperative examination for malignancies of other organs, careful follow-up is necessary due to the high risk of pancreatic cancer development. Furthermore, initial operation with minimally invasive surgery may reduce adhesion and facilitate subsequent surgeries. CONCLUSION: We have provided evidence that supports the importance of a careful follow-up of IPMNs, even if they are low risk.

Diagnosis and clinical course of ulcerative gastroduodenal lesion associated with ulcerative colitis: possible relationship with pouchitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is not only characterized by pathological lesions localized to colonic mucosa, but also to various complications involving other organs, including postoperative pouchitis. Among these complications, diffuse gastroduodenitis with lesions resembling colonic lesions has been reported, albeit rarely.The aim of the present study was to attempt to characterize the lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract occurring as a complication of UC, and to assess the frequency and clinical course of these lesions. METHODS: A total of 322 UC patients who had undergone upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were retrospectively analyzed. We assessed the frequency of endoscopic findings, including diffuse gastroduodenal lesions resembling colonic lesions. Ulcerative gastroduodenal lesion (UGDL) associated with UC was diagnosed if lesions satisfied the following criteria: (i) improvement of the lesions with treatment of UC; and/or (ii) resemblance to UC in pathological findings. RESULTS: UGDL satisfying the aforementioned criteria was found in 15 (4.7%) of 322 patients. All the 15 patients had UGDL accompanied by pancolitis or after proctocolectomy. Frequency in 146 patients with pancolitis was 6.2% (nine patients) and that in 81 patients who had undergone proctocolectomy was 7.4% (six patients). Four patients with diffuse ulcerative upper-gastrointestinal mucosal inflammation (DUMI) had pouchitis. In all patients except one, the lesions resolved easily with medical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In more than half of the post-proctocolectomy patients, UGDL was related to the occurrence of pouchitis. The existence of characteristic UGDL must be taken into account in the diagnosis and treatment of UC, and UGDL is possibly related to the occurrence of pouchitis.

Vedolizumab in the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis: An Evidence-Based Review of Safety, Efficacy, and Place of Therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Selective blockade of the integrins and mucosal adhesion molecules is a promising therapeutic strategy for ulcerative colitis (UC). Vedolizumab (VDZ), a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody against α4ß7 integrin, selectively blocks the trafficking of the leukocytes into the gastrointestinal tract through its binding with the α4ß7 integrin. AIM: In this review, we provide an overview of the unique mechanism of VDZ, along with its efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data obtained from clinical trials, observational studies, and meta-analyses. EVIDENCE REVIEW: A positive exposure-efficacy relationship with regard to clinical remission and clinical response was apparent in VDZ induction therapy. No drug-specific safety signals are currently available. PLACE IN THERAPY: VDZ has been shown to be effective as first- or second-line induction and maintenance therapy in UC. CONCLUSION: VDZ is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with UC. Prolonged VDZ induction therapy may contribute to improved outcomes in patients with UC, particularly those previously treated with tumor necrosis factor-α. Prospective head-to-head study of VDZ and other biologics would alter the positioning of VDZ much more clearly.

Infliximab treatment for anal fistula in patients with Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Infliximab has played a central role in the treatment of luminal Crohn's disease (CD) due to its great usefulness. Although the seton placement has been widely used for the treatment of anal fistula in patients with CD, we have used infliximab for severe cases in which improvement was not achievable by the seton placement, or for patients in whom improvement of quality of life (QOL) could be expected. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The anal region of 383 patients with CD was examined during the period from July 1985 to December 2005 and the presence of a lesion in the anal region was confirmed in 326 patients. Among them, the number of cases with fistula was highest (245), followed by those with skin tags (115), those with fissures (106), those with anal tumefaction and enlarged papillae (61), and those with anal stenosis (56). The seton placement was used for 93 patients with anal fistula; of these, 86 patients received the treatment for one year or more. During the treatment, infliximab was used for 19 patients and their pathology and progress were evaluated. RESULTS: Infliximab was used for 11 severe cases in which improvement had not been achieved using the seton placement, and for 8 patients for improvement of their QOL. For evaluation, the patients who did not undergo additional treatment after infliximab administration were assigned to the good response group, those who underwent additional treatment other than surgical treatment to the intermediate response group and those who required surgical treatment to the poor response group. The good, intermediate and poor response groups included 8 (42.1%), 5 (26.3%) and 6 (31.6%) patients, respectively. A study of the relationship between the diagnostic indications of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the course of disease showed that most of the patients with a localized inflammation of the anal fistula had better courses and most of the patients with diffuse inflammation had poor courses. CONCLUSION: Approximately 70% of the patients required no surgical treatment. In addition, it was considered important to appropriately select patients for infliximab treatment. MRI was useful as a examination to be performed before infliximab administration because it enabled close examination of the localization of anal fistula and the range of inflammation.

Crohn's disease-specific mortality: a 30-year cohort study at a tertiary referral center in Japan.

BACKGROUND: In this study, survival and cause of death were investigated in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) at a tertiary referral center. METHODS: A database was created based on the medical records of 1108 CD patients who had a history of visiting our hospital to investigate background characteristics, cumulative survival rates from diagnosis, causes of death, and the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for each cause of death. A follow-up questionnaire survey of patients followed up inadequately was also conducted. The cumulative survival rate from diagnosis was determined using the life table method and compared with that of a sex- and age-matched population model from the year 2000. RESULTS: The study included 1108 patients whose mean age at diagnosis was 25.6 ± 10.8 years. The mean duration of follow-up was 14.6 ± 9.4 years, and there were 52 deaths. The cumulative survival rate was significantly lower 25 years after the diagnosis of CD (91.7%) than in the standard population model (95.7%). SMRs for both all causes [3.5; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.7-4.6] and CD-specific causes (36.7; 95% CI 26.1-51.6) were high. Among the CD-specific causes, SMRs were especially high for small intestine and colorectal cancers, gastrointestinal diseases including intestinal failure (IF), perioperative complications, and amyloidosis. CONCLUSION: The SMRs for both all causes and CD-specific causes were high in CD patients. CD-specific causes including intestinal cancer, IF, perioperative complications, and amyloidosis showed especially high SMRs.

Anorectal cancer surveillance in Crohn's disease.

OBJECTIVES: One of the characteristics of colorectal cancer complicating Crohn's disease (CD) in the Japanese population is that it frequently occurs in the lower anorectal site. This study aimed to examine CD patients biopsied in the lower anorectal sites to investigate the significance and problems associated with this method of cancer surveillance. METHODS: Among 116 patients with CD duration of ≥10 years, we examined patients diagnosed with cancer using histological examination of the lower anorectal site (287 times). We also evaluated the detection rates of cancer and atypical cells using this method. RESULTS: Of the 116 patients, neoplastic lesions were detected through biopsy in 22 (19.0%), of which 18 had carcinomas and 4 had atypical cells. The clinicopathological traits of the cancer patients were early-age onset and chronic disease duration of CD before cancer diagnosis. Histologic findings were characterized by a high frequency of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and mucinous carcinoma. The 18 patients with cancer were assigned to groups A and B depending on the presence or absence of cancer-related symptoms, and their characteristics were compared. Of these, 5 patients whose cancer was detected without symptoms (group A) had better prognosis than those detected with symptoms (group B) based on survival curves. We next examined 103 patients for surveillance after excluding 13 patients who were diagnosed with cancer-related symptoms from the 116 patients and found a 5.8% (6 patients) detection rate of cancer and atypical cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest the effectiveness of transanal histological testing for the surveillance of anorectal cancer with CD.