Short- and long-term follow-up of treatment for lymphocytic and collagenous colitis.

Collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis cause chronic watery diarrhea. Multiple therapies have been found to improve symptoms but there have been few long-term follow-up studies. Our goal was to obtain long-term clinical follow-up on a cohort of patients with independently confirmed typical histopathologic changes. Pathology slides from 32 cases of collagenous or lymphocytic colitis patients from 1988-1992 were independently reviewed. Twenty-five cases were confirmed by both groups of pathologist as collagenous or lymphocytic colitis. For these 25 patients, charts were reviewed and telephone follow-up interviews were performed in 1992 and 1995. Seven of 32 (22%) of the original cases were not confirmed on independent pathologic interpretation. A 15.8% discordance rate was found between the different groups of pathologists. Patient demographics were similar to previously published reports except one-half of our patients had diarrhea of only 6 months or less. Eighty-one percent of patients receiving 5-ASA agents reported improvement as well as 100% of those receiving prednisone. At 23 month follow-up 86% of patients reported improvement in diarrhea and only 32% required routine medications. At 47 month follow-up all patients reported improved diarrhea and only 29% required routine medications. Collagenous and lymphocytic colitis can sometimes be identified in patients with relatively brief duration diarrhea. Clinical parameters and response to therapy are similar for collagenous or lymphocytic colitis. Most patients with lymphocytic and collagenous colitis improve with therapy such as 5-ASA preparations or steroids. Over a follow-up period of several years, most patients have improvement in diarrhea and generally do not require maintenance medications. Independent pathologic confirmation of the diagnosis should be obtained in patients not responding to therapy.

ZnGeP2 optical parametric oscillator with 3.8-12.4-mum tunability.

A ZnGeP>(2) (ZGP) optical parametric oscillator (OPO) with wide mid-IR tunability has been demonstrated. The singly resonant angle-tuned ZGP OPO was pumped by 100-ns erbium laser pulses at lambda =2.93mum and yielded output that was continuously tunable from 3.8 to 12.4 mum (type I phase matching) and from 4 to 10 mum (type II phase matching). An OPO pump threshold was less than 1 mJ in the whole 4-12 mum range of the output, and the quantum conversion efficiency reached 35%. An OPO linewidth was typically a few wave numbers; however, with a single intracavity etalon (uncoated Si plate) in a type II OPO it was narrowed to <0.5cm(-1). We demonstrate the sensitive detection of N(2)O gas with the narrow-linewidth OPO.

Prospective, randomized, endoscopic-blinded trial comparing precolonoscopy bowel cleansing methods.

PURPOSE: Recent reports have suggested that precolonoscopy bowel preparation is easier to tolerate if a small volume solution is used. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare three oral solutions for colonoscopy to determine any changes in either patient compliance or cleansing ability. METHODS: Four hundred fifty patients were prospectively randomized to receive either a standard 4-liter polyethylene glycol solution, a newer sulfate-free 4-liter polyethylene glycol solution, or a 90-ml oral sodium phosphate preparation. Before and after bowel preparation all patients were weighed, and serum electrolytes as well as phosphate, magnesium, calcium, and osmolarity were measured. In addition, a detailed questionnaire was used to assess side effects and patient satisfaction. Endoscopists blinded to the type and quantity of preparation used scored the type of residual stool and the percentage of bowel wall visualized for each segment of colon and for the overall examination. Nurses recorded all procedure times as well as the quantity of irrigation and aspiration. RESULTS: Four hundred twenty-two age-matched and sex-matched patients completed all phases of the trial. There were no clinically significant changes in weight or in any biochemical parameters. There was, however, asymptomatic hyperphosphatemia in the sodium phosphate group (P < 0.01). The length of time to the cecum was similar for all three groups, with a higher volume of fluid suctioned for sodium phosphate (P < 0.01). Overall, endoscopists scored sodium phosphate as "excellent" or "good" in 90 percent vs. 70 percent and 73 percent after the polyethylene glycol or sulfate-free lavage, respectively (P < 0.01). Particulate or solid stool was found in all segments of the colon more frequently after both large volume preparations than after sodium phosphate (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the frequency or intensity of any of the 11 side effects questioned. Eighty-three percent of the patients who received the sodium phosphate preparation stated they would take this same preparation again, vs. only 19 percent and 33 percent for polyethylene glycol and the sulfate-free lavage, respectively (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The smaller volume oral sodium phosphate was not associated with any clinically significant problem, caused no increase in the incidence of side effects, was preferred by patients, and was more effective in colonic cleansing. However, the hyperphosphatemia seen may limit its use in patients with impaired renal function.

Newer pharmacologic agents for the therapy of inflammatory bowel disease.

Topical 5-ASA Agents. Observations that 5-ASA may be the clinically active component of sulfasalazine have stimulated extensive pharmaceutical efforts to develop a new class of agents for the treatment of the inflammatory bowel diseases. Both oral and rectal forms of 5-ASA have been designed, tested, and released for use in Europe and Canada. Only one rectal 5-ASA formulation is now commercially available in the United States. Studies with topical 5-ASA have demonstrated that this formulation is safe and effective for distal colitis, even in patients with disease refractory to standard therapy. Adverse effects of topical 5-ASA are minimal. However, optimal treatment doses have not been defined, relapse is common after withdrawal of therapy, and issues regarding maintenance regimens are not yet resolved. Other disadvantages include the expense and inconvenience of enema therapy. However, rectally administered 5-ASA is an appropriate initial therapy for the treatment of distal ulcerative colitis, or as a therapeutic option for refractory distal colitis. Data are insufficient to make recommendations regarding the use of topical 5-ASA in Crohn's disease. Whether this class of agents will be of benefit for Crohn's proctitis or for perineal disease must await further clinical trials. Oral 5-ASA Agents. There appears to be a well-substantiated benefit equivalent to that of sulfasalazine achieved by the new oral formulations of 5-ASA when used for the treatment of acute mild to moderate ulcerative colitis, and as maintenance treatment of ulcerative colitis in remission. Adverse reactions to these agents are uncommon, usually mild, and infrequently require withdrawal of therapy. The major problem reported with these agents is watery diarrhea, most commonly associated with olsalazine, but the practical importance of this adverse effect is disputed. Rare occurrences of reversible pericarditis and acute pancreatitis have been encountered during clinical application of these agents. As more experience is obtained, these agents may become the initial therapy of choice for the treatment of mild to moderate ulcerative colitis and for maintenance in inactive disease. Currently available data have defined a role for these agents as an important alternative for the treatment of patients intolerant or allergic to sulfasalazine. As with sulfasalazine, these agents should not be used as the sole treatment for severely active ulcerative colitis. Many unanswered questions remain regarding therapy with these agents for ulcerative colitis. Still undefined are optimal drug dosages, appropriate dosing intervals, and the necessary duration of therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Pouch ileitis.

Pouch ileitis is the most poorly understood complication of ileal reservoir surgery. Variability in definition of this syndrome may account for differences in incidence rate, associated symptoms, and response rate to therapy present in the literature. Outcomes of 19 episodes of pouch ileitis in patients having undergone prior colectomy and continent ileostomy construction for presumed ulcerative colitis were analyzed. An episode of pouch ileitis was characterized by: (1) abdominal pain, (2) increased ileal output, (3) mucosal inflammation within the continent ileostomy, and (4) absence of other recognized concurrent postoperative complications. The mean time of occurrence after construction of the continent ileostomy was 25 months (range 3-54 months). The mean length of follow-up of patients included in this analysis was 49 months from the time of continent ileostomy construction (range 22-101 months). Associated clinical symptoms included bloody effluent (53%), nausea or emesis (47%), and fever (42%). Endoscopic features were often nonspecific, with mucosal erythema (84%), edema (79%), friability (58%), and mucosal ulceration (53%) the most common. In those episodes of pouch ileitis where ileoscopy revealed no evidence of mucosal ulceration, complete resolution of the episode occurred 89% of the time, with 78% treated with antibiotics alone. In those episodes where mucosal ulceration was described on ileoscopy, 40% of episodes completely resolved after medical treatment, 20% with antibiotics alone. The varied clinical symptoms, endoscopic findings, and response to treatment raises the possibility that what has previously been described in the literature as pouch ileitis may be a heterogeneous group not of single etiology.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Perforating and nonperforating Crohn's disease. An unpredictable guide to recurrence after surgery.

Four hundred eighty-six patients who have had resections for Crohn's disease at the Cleveland Clinic were reviewed. The patients were categorized by indication for surgery into three groups: perforating (P) (135 patients), nonperforating (NP) (278 patients), and miscellaneous (M) (77) patients. One hundred ninety-four patients had two or more resections and 56 underwent a third resection. Patients were no more likely to have the same indication for surgery at the time of the second resection (P = 25 percent; NP = 44 percent; M = 57 percent) or the third resection (P = 11 percent; NP = 65 percent; M = 55 percent). There was also no difference in the interval between resections for the P and NP groups. The lack of agreement between resections suggests that the categorization of patients into P and NP groups does not facilitate prediction of the nature of recurrent disease. The concept of aggressive perforating and indolent nonperforating Crohn's is not substantiated by this study.

Current management of inflammatory bowel disease.

Since the etiology and cure for inflammatory bowel disease remain elusive, treatment is still largely empiric. The major goals of therapy include control of bowel inflammation and alleviation of symptoms. Careful attention must be directed toward special problems when appropriate, such as short bowel syndrome, perianal disease, extraintestinal disease manifestations, and cancer surveillance. Standard and new forms of medical therapy and the approach to special problems will be discussed.