Adherence of gastroenterologists to European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation consensus on Crohn's disease: a real-life survey in Spain.

BACKGROUND: There is no information as to the extent by which Spanish gastroenterologists adhere to Crohn's disease (CD) management guidelines. The objective of this study was to evaluate the degree of adherence of Spanish gastroenterologists to the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) guidelines and to determine whether differences in adherence exist between gastroenterologists specialized in inflammatory bowel diseases (GSIBDs) and general gastroenterologists (GGs). METHODS: This was a prospective, nation-wide, questionnaire-based survey covering aspects related to diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, and safety considered by the physicians in their daily management of CD, as well as demographic traits seen in clinical practice. RESULTS: The overall degree of adherence to guidelines by both GSIBDs and GGs was high. However, the use of imaging techniques in diagnosis, follow-up, and in relapsed patients differed between the two groups. In the diagnosis of perianal disease, GSIBDs used magnetic resonance and surgical exploration under anesthesia more frequently than GGs. In terms of therapeutic choices, the adherence to guidelines was good in both groups. However, GSIBDs showed significantly higher adherence in some areas: thiopurines were used less in refractory cases and methotrexate was used more commonly in corticoid-dependent, azathioprine-intolerant patients, and in patients under biological treatment. Request for infection studies and vaccinations at diagnosis or prior to treatment was more common among GSIBDs. CONCLUSIONS: Guideline adherence among Spanish gastroenterologists is high. However, there are significant differences between IBD-specialized (more adherent in general) and non-specialized gastroenterologists.

Adherence of gastroenterologists to European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation consensus on ulcerative colitis: a real-life survey in Spain.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: A European consensus on the management of ulcerative colitis (UC) was recently published; however, there is no adequate evidence about adherence to such guidelines among gastroenterologists. This knowledge would allow the local evaluation of the situation and the adoption of actions to reduce the existent clinical variability. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Spain to assess the adherence to the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) guidelines on mild to moderate UC. We surveyed 700 gastroenterologists, and finally a total of 530 gastroenterologists specialised in inflammatory bowel disease (GSIBDs) and general gastroenterologists (GGs), responded to the survey (76%). RESULTS: Agreement with the guidelines was high; discrepancies included that only 25% of the GGs used the combination of oral and topical 5-aminosalycilic acid (5-ASA) for treating extensive UC vs 45% of the GISBDs. In addition, topical rectal steroids were considered as effective as topical mesalazine by 48% of the GGs vs 31% of the GSIBDs, indefinite treatment with 5-ASA was prescribed by only 26% of the GGs vs 41% of the GSIBDs, and the once daily dosing of 5-ASA was generally used by 46% of the GGs vs 51% of the GSIBDs. CONCLUSIONS: The questionnaire showed a high degree of agreement between GGs and GSIBDs. Nevertheless, the GSIBD group showed closer agreement with the ECCO guidelines. Furthermore, some shortcomings were found in the GG group, in which increased maintenance treatment with 5-ASA, the use of a single daily dose of 5-ASA, and the use of combined oral and topical treatment for distal colitis should be advised.

Clinical outcome of newly diagnosed Crohn's disease: a comparative, retrospective study before and after infliximab availability.

BACKGROUND: Infliximab (IFX) could change the course of Crohn's disease (CD) by reducing steroid use, surgery or prompting earlier introduction of immunomodulators (IMM). AIM: To evaluate the impact of IFX availability on the course of early CD. METHODS: Two cohorts of newly diagnosed CD patients were identified: The first cohort included patients diagnosed from January 1994 to December 1997 and the second from January 2000 to December 2003. All patients were diagnosed, treated and followed up in the same centre until December 1999 (first cohort) or December 2005 (second cohort). Development of disease-related complications, steroid, IMM or IFX requirements and intestinal resections during follow-up were registered. RESULTS: A total of 328 patients were included (146 first cohort, 182 second cohort). A similar proportion of patients in both cohorts received steroids, but steroid exposure resulted significantly more intense in the first cohort (P = 0.001). In the second cohort, 14% of patients received IFX. Thiopurines were used more (P = 0.001) and earlier (P = 0.012) in the second cohort. No differences in surgical requirements or the development of disease-related complications were found. CONCLUSIONS: Following a step-up therapeutic algorithm, IFX availability did not reduce surgical requirements or the development of disease-related complications.

[Recurrent acute liver toxicity from intravenous methylprednisolone]. / Toxicidad hepática recurrente secundaria a metilprednisolona intravenosa.

Adverse drug reactions (hepatotoxicity) are a frequent cause of acute liver injury with a wide clinical and histological spectrum. An early recognition of drug-related liver disease has been considered essential in clinical practice due to potential risks. In most cases exposure discontinuation improves the clinical picture.Steroids are used in a variety of clinical settings. However, intravenous steroids have rarely been associated with hepatotoxicity. We report the case of a middle-aged woman with multiple sclerosis who received a bolus of methylprednisolone on three occasions for the management of relapsing disease, with the development of repeated episodes of elevated liver enzymes after corticoid administration. In the third episode a liver biopsy was performed, which showed acute hepatitis with bridging necrosis; such histological picture has not been described before in patients treated with intravenous steroids.

[Current status of inflammatory bowel disease treatment]. / Estado actual del tratamiento de la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal.

Treatment of inflammatory bowel disease should take some general considerations into account, standing out among them the importance of nutrition, antithrombotic prophylaxis in certain situations, prevention of osteoporosis and prevention of colorectal cancer by endoscopic screening in extensive ulcerous colitis or Crohn's colitis. Ulcerous colitis is still effectively treated with salicylates and steroids in its mild and moderate forms. Severe forms require parenteral steroids, cyclosporine or infliximab, and these are successfully used with immunosuppressants (azathioprine or mercaptopurine) in steroid dependence. Maintenance with salicylates, that should be adequately complied with, is an important point. Crohn's disease is treated with steroids in its mild and moderate forms, and again in corticodependent ones with immunosuppressants, which we are using increasingly sooner. Refractory forms or fistulous forms benefit from the use of biological treatments (infliximab) generally accompanied by immunosuppressants.

[A prospective study about the usefulness of ultrasonographic monitoring after invasive liver procedures--liver biopsy and fine-needle aspiration (FNA)]. / Estudio prospectivo sobre la utilidad de la ecografía de control tras la realización de pruebas invasivas hepáticas: biopsia hepática y punción aspiración con aguja fina (PAAF).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the need to perform ultrasound scans to all patients after liver biopsy or fine-needle aspiration (FNA) in order to detect complications with or without symptoms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After liver biopsy or FNA using a regular protocol the patient is observed for 24 hours at the hospital, and all patients undergo an abdominal sonography at that time even in the absence of evident complications. RESULTS: 298 liver biopsies and 98 FNAs were performed. There were complications in 37 patients (9.34%): 36 (9.09%) were minor complications such as pain, vasovagal episodes, or small bleeding, and 1 (0.25%) was a major complication with severe hemorrhage. Only 1 out of all 396 procedures had a complication detected by ultrasounds (intrahepatic hematoma) while the patient was asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: The low incidence of complications occurring without symptoms, and their favorable course suggest that routine ultrasonography is not necessary after these techniques, and that it should be only performed when a complication is suspected.

["The three-lies disease": solitary rectal ulcer syndrome]. / "Enfermedad de la tres mentiras": síndrome de la úlcera rectal solitaria.

Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome is an uncommon benign condition characterized by rectal bleeding, passage of mucus, and pain. Histological features are well established as obliteration of the lamina propria by fibrosis and smooth-muscle fibers extending from a thickened muscularis mucosa to the lumen. Diagnosis can usually be made on sigmoidoscopy, and biopsies should always be taken. Ulceration is not universally present, and polypoid, non-ulcerated lesions and erythematous areas are also seen. The lesion or lesions are most often found on the anterior or anterolateral wall of the rectum, although they can also be located in the left colon and be more extensive or even circumferential. Lesions are multiple in 30 percent of cases. These are the reasons why this entity is also known as "the disease of three lies". We report a case of solitary rectal ulcer syndrome presenting at endoscopy with an erythematous area on the left side wall of the rectum.

Effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy in rosacea patients.

OBJECTIVE: The causal relation between rosacea and Helicobacter pylori infection is discussed. We evaluated the clinical evolution of rosacea after infection eradication. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have prospectively studied 44 patients diagnosed with rosacea. Helicobacter pylori infection was determined, and infected patients were treated with eradication therapy. The evolution of dermatological symptoms in a subgroup of 29 infected patients in whom eradication had been achieved was followed during 16.8 (+/- 17.8) months. Median age was 50.6 (+/- 14.1) years for 22 women (75.9%) and 7 men (24.1%). Clinical response according to gender and clinical subtype of rosacea was evaluated. RESULTS: Complete improvement was observed in 10 patients (34.5%; 95% CI: 18.6-54.3%), relevant improvement in 9 (31.1%; 95% CI: 16-51%), poor improvement in 5 (17.2%; 95% CI: 6.5-36.4%), and absence of improvement in 5 cases (17.2%; 95% CI: 6.5-36.4%). No significant differences in dermatological evolution according to sex were observed. Regarding subtype of rosacea there was a relevant improvement in 83.3% (95% CI: 64.1-93.8%) of cases with papulopustular type as opposed to 36.5% (95% CI: 20-56.1%) of cases with erythematous predominance, p = 0.02. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, the relation between Helicobacter pylori and rosacea is supported, and infection should be investigated in these patients because an appreciable percentage of patients diagnosed with rosacea and Helicobacter pylori infection can benefit from eradication therapy, mainly in the papulopustular subtype.

Adherence to treatment in inflammatory bowel disease.

AIM: Adherence to therapy is important to ensure success. We wanted to explore this feature in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We explored adherence to treatment and its modifiers in 40 patients with inflammatory bowel disease using a battery of tests. RESULTS: A 67% of patients (95% CI: 51-81%) acknowledged a certain degree of involuntary nonadherence, and 35% (95% CI: 20-51%) of voluntary nonadherence. Overall, 72% (95% CI: 56-85%) of patients had some form of nonadherence. An objective correlation of these self-reported data was assessed by the determination of urine salicylate levels in the subset of patients treated with mesalazine or its derivatives (15 cases). Two of them (13%) had no detectable urinary drug levels, indicating complete nonadherence. Voluntary nonadherence was higher in patients with lower scores in the intestinal (p = 0.02) and social areas (p = 0.015) of IBDQ-32, as well as in those with less active Crohn s disease (p < 0.005), patients with high depression scores and high patient-physician discordance (p = 0.01), patients with long-standing disease (p = 0.057), patients who considered themselves not to be well informed about the treatment they were getting (p = 0.04) or who trusted their attending physicians less (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Intentional nonadherence to therapy is prevalent among patients with inflammatory bowel disease. A correction of factors associated to poor adherence could lead to higher therapeutic success.

Predictors of response to infliximab in patients with fistulizing Crohn's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of infliximab for the treatment of fistulizing Crohn's disease. METHODS: Consecutive patients with fistulizing Crohn's disease receiving infliximab were prospectively enrolled. Partial response was defined as a reduction of 50% or more from base-line in the number of draining fistulae. Complete response was defined as the closure of all fistulae. The influence of different variables on the efficacy of infliximab was evaluated. RESULTS: 108 patients were included. The disease was inflammatory plus fistulizing in 18% and only fistulizing in 82%. After the third infusion of infliximab the response was partial in 26% and complete in 57%. Response (%) rates (partial/complete) depending on fistula location were: enterocutaneous (25/68%), perianal (35/60%), rectovaginal (36/64%), and enterovesical (20/40%). None of the studied variables (including concomitant immunosuppressive therapy) correlated with efficacy of infliximab in the multivariate analysis. Incidence of adverse effects (21%) depending on the dose of infliximab was: first dose (5.6%), second (7.4%), and third (11.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Infliximab is an efficacious treatment for fistulizing Crohn's disease. Partial response was achieved in approximately one third of the patients, and complete response in more than half. No studied variable was predictive of response. Adverse effects were relatively infrequent and mild.

Pyoderma gangrenosum associated with ulcerative colitis: response to infliximab.

Pyoderma gangrenosum is an extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease that can be therapeutically troublesome. We comment on the case of a patient with clinically inactive ulcerative colitis who progressively developed necrotic lesions on both tibial aspects of his legs, which corresponded both clinically and histologically to pyoderma gangrenosum. Treatment with steroids and azathioprine could not control this complication. A single dose of infliximab 5 mg/kg was given, achieving an impressive response of the skin lesions followed by complete healing 3 months later. Infliximab can be useful in the management of refractory extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease.

Fibrin-glue sealed liver biopsy in patients with a liver transplantation or in liver transplantation waiting list: preliminary results.

Liver biopsy is frequently necessary for candidate evaluation or histologic follow-up of transplanted livers. Although generally considered to be safe, it carries a risk of complications in up to 0.5% of cases; hemorrhage being the most important. It can present as an asymptomatic intra- or perihepatic hematoma or result in overt hemorrhage of variable intensity. Patients with deranged hemostasis or on antiaggregant therapy are at high-risk for hemorrhagic complications. Percutaneous liver biopsy may be contraindicated if hemostasis is profoundly disordered. Safety values are not well defined: arbitrary limits are 60% prothrombin activity and 60,000 platelets per mm3. Patients with more altered values are candidates for alternative techniques, such as transjugular biopsy. Another option is the so-called plugged percutaneous liver biopsy, which uses direct injection of a plugging material into the biopsy tract. Different materials have been used: Tissucol, absorbable gelatin sponge, or hemostasis coils. We communicate our experience with Tissucol (fibrin glue) plugging in 30 percutaneous liver biopsies on 16 patients after liver transplantation with prothrombin activity <60%, platelet count <60,000 per mm3, or both. Only two complications were observed. Plugged liver biopsy is an efficient and relatively safe procedure in patients with impaired hemostasis; it can be performed even when transjugular biopsy is not available.