Azathioprine is more effective than mesalazine at preventing recurrent bowel obstruction in patients with ileocecal Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND: Patients with subocclusive Crohn's disease (CD) who received azathioprine (AZA) therapy had lower re-hospitalization rates due to all causes and for surgical management of CD compared to those treated with mesalazine during a 3-year period. We investigated whether AZA also was effective for prevention of recurrent bowel obstruction. MATERIAL/METHODS: Rates of recurrent bowel occlusion were compared between patients treated with AZA and those treated with mesalazine. We assessed the time interval-off intestinal obstruction as well as the occlusion-free survival for both groups. RESULTS: There was a significantly lower cumulative rate of patients with recurrent subocclusion in the AZA group (56%) compared with the mesalazine group (79%; OR 3.34, 95% CI 1.67-8.6; P=0.003), with the number needed to treat in order to prevent 1 subocclusion episode of 3.7 favoring AZA. The occlusion-free time interval was longer in the AZA group compared with the mesalazine group (28.8 vs. 18.3 months; P=0.000). The occlusion-free survival at 12, 24, and 36 months was significantly higher in the AZA group (91%, 81%, and 72%, respectively) than in the mesalazine group (64.7%, 35.3%, and 23.5%, respectively; P<0.05 for all comparisons). CONCLUSIONS: In an exploratory analysis of patients with subocclusive ileocecal CD, maintenance therapy with AZA is more effective than mesalazine for eliminating or postponing recurrent intestinal obstruction during 3 years of therapy.

[Non-adherence to the therapy in Crohn's disease patients: prevalence and risk factors]. / Não-adesão ao tratamento em pacientes com doença de Crohn: prevalência e fatores de risco.

CONTEXT: Non-adherence to therapy, in any degree is a common event and occurs in several circumstances. It is one of most common cause of fail in therapy of chronic diseases and Crohn's disease is not an exception. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in patients with Crohn's disease the prevalence and the risk factors to non-adherence to therapy. METHODS: From July 2006, for 12 months, were included prospectively, for non-adhesion to therapy 100 patients with Crohn's disease that were assisted in a Center for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases of University Hospital of Federal University of Juiz de Fora, MG, in Brazil. A modified Morisky & Green Test for Measure of Adherence to Therapy was answered by all of them. According to test the patients were classified in two groups defined as adherence and non-adherence, respectively, and the last one was separated in intentional and non-intentional adhesion. Clinical, psychological and pharmacotherapeutics variables were sought to find the factors related to non-adherence. RESULTS: Sixty four percent of total group were noticed to have a score of non-adherence to therapy according to used test and non-intentional was the most common type of behavior in such patients, and they demonstrated to be conscious of therapy. The comparison of adherent and non-adherent patients displayed a significant tendency to occurrence of non-adherence in younger (P = 0.07) and in non-white patients (P = 0.06). No correlation was observed in comparison of psychological and pharmacotherapeutics variables and non-adherence. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with Crohn's disease the prevalence of non-adherence to therapy is high (64%). The younger and non-white patients have higher propensity to non-adherence. In such circumstances efforts should be made to look for strategies to deal with this sort of people suffering from Crohn's disease, trying to increase the degree of adherence in this sort of patients.

Não-adesão ao tratamento em pacientes com doença de Crohn: prevalência e fatores de risco / Non-adherence to the therapy in Crohn's disease patients: prevalence and risk factors

CONTEXTO: A não-adesão ao tratamento medicamentoso, em algum grau, ocorre universalmente. É uma das principais causas de insucesso no tratamento das doenças crônicas, tal como a doença de Crohn. OBJETIVO: Em doentes com doença de Crohn, avaliar a prevalência e os fatores de risco associados à baixa adesão ao tratamento medicamentoso. MÉTODOS: No período entre julho de 2006 e julho de 2007 foram incluídos prospectivamente, para avaliação da não-adesão ao tratamento, 100 doentes com doença de Crohn em seguimento clínico no ambulatório de doenças inflamatórias intestinais. Os pacientes responderam ao Teste de Medida de Adesão a Tratamentos de Morisky e Green, modificado. De acordo com este teste, os pacientes foram classificados em dois grupos, conforme o grau de adesão: adesão e não-adesão. A não-adesão foi subdividida em intencional e não-intencional. Variáveis clínicas, psicológicas e farmacoterapêuticas foram pesquisadas na busca de possíveis fatores associados à não-adesão. RESULTADOS: Entre os pacientes avaliados, 64 por cento apresentaram escore compatível com não-adesão. O perfil mais frequente de não-adesão foi o do tipo não-intencional, e os pacientes mostraram ter conhecimento e motivação para o tratamento. Na comparação entre os dois grupos observou-se somente uma tendência a não-adesão entre os pacientes mais jovens (P = 0,07) e de raça não-branca (P = 0,06). Não houve correlação significativa entre o grau de adesão e as variáveis psicológicas e farmacoterapêuticas. CONCLUSÕES: Em pacientes com doença de Crohn, a prevalência de não-adesão ao tratamento medicamentoso é elevada (64 por cento). Indivíduos jovens e aqueles não-brancos parecem ser os mais predispostos à não-adesão. Portanto, é preciso estar alerta para sua ocorrência e, caso necessário, implementar medidas que busquem aumentar o grau de adesão destes pacientes.

CONTEXT: Non-adherence to therapy, in any degree is a common event and occurs in several circumstances. It is one of most common cause of fail in therapy of chronic diseases and Crohn's disease is not an exception. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in patients with Crohn's disease the prevalence and the risk factors to non-adherence to therapy. METHODS: From July 2006, for 12 months, were included prospectively, for non-adhesion to therapy 100 patients with Crohn's disease that were assisted in a Center for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases of Universitary Hospital of Federal University of Juiz de Fora, MG, in Brazil. A modified Morisky & Green Test for Measure of Adherence to Therapy was answered by all of them. According to test the patients were classified in two groups defined as adherence and non-adherence, respectively, and the last one was separated in intentional and non-intentional adhesion. Clinical, psychological and pharmacotherapeutics variables were sought to find the factors related to non-adherence. RESULTS: Sixty four percent of total group were noticed to have a score of non-adherence to therapy according to used test and non-intentional was the most common type of behavior in such patients, and they demonstrated to be conscious of therapy. The comparison of adherent and non-adherent patients displayed a significant tendency to occurrence of non-adherence in younger (P = 0,07) and in non-white patients (P = 0,06). No correlation was observed in comparison of psychological and pharmacotherapeutics variables and non-adherence. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with Crohn's disease the prevalence of non-adherence to therapy is high (64 percent). The younger and non-white patients have higher propensity to non-adherence. In such circumstances efforts should be made to look for strategies to deal with this sort of people suffering from Crohn's disease, trying to increase the degree of adherence in this sort of patients.

[Azathioprine toxicity in Crohn's disease: incidence, approach and course]. / Toxicidade da azatioprina na doença de Crohn: incidência, abordagem e evolução.

OBJECTIVE: Azathioprine (AZA) is frequently used in Crohn's disease (CD) therapy. This paper aimed to evaluate the frequency, evolution and management of AZA side effects in CD patients. METHODS: One hundred and six CD patients under AZA therapy were evaluated prospectively from January 2002 to December 2006. Clinical and demographic data were recorded, together with a monthly laboratory control of hematological or other adverse reactions by means of clinical evaluation. Comparison was carried out between groups with and without side effects. RESULTS: At least one adverse reaction was found in 56 (52.7%) of the patients studied and required a transient drug reduction; 18 (17%) had to definitely stop use of AZA, often because of hypersensitivity reactions. Nausea, vomit, although slight, occurred in 29 (27.4%). The black race and those with co-morbidities had more gastric intolerance than Caucasians and those without other associated disease (p=0.04). Leucopoenia was the more frequent side effect observed, occurring in 36 (34%). The period of AZA use was longer for patients with leucopoenia than for those without (p=0.001), while the mean dose of AZA was lower for those with leucopoenia when compared to non-leucopoenics (p=0.005). No serious infections, malignancy or death was noticed as a consequence of AZA use. CONCLUSION: In this study use of AZA in therapy for Crohn's disease disclosed that the drug is satisfactorily safe as long as periodical clinical and laboratory supervision is carried out during treatment.

Toxicidade da azatioprina na doença de Crohn: incidência, abordagem e evolução / Azathioprine toxicity in Crohn's disease: incidence, approach and course

OBJETIVO: A azatioprina (AZA) tem sido usada freqüentemente no tratamento da doença de Crohn (DC). O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a freqüência, evolução e abordagem dos efeitos adversos da AZA no tratamento de pacientes com DC. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos prospectivamente 106 pacientes portadores de DC em uso de AZA, de janeiro de 2002 a dezembro de 2006. Registraram-se dados clínicos e demográficos, com controle laboratorial mensal dos efeitos hematológicos e supervisão de reações adversas por meio de avaliação clínica. Realizou-se comparação entre os grupos com e sem efeitos adversos. RESULTADOS: Cinqüenta e seis (52,7 por cento) dos pacientes estudados apresentaram pelo menos um efeito adverso, requerendo redução transitória da dose da droga; 18 (17 por cento) necessitaram suspender definitivamente o uso de AZA, geralmente devido a reações de hipersensibilidade. Náuseas e vômitos, freqüentemente leves, ocorreram em 29 (27,4 por cento); a raça negra e aqueles com comorbidades apresentaram mais intolerância gástrica do que os brancos e aqueles sem outras doenças associadas (p=0,04). Leucopenia foi o efeito adverso mais freqüente, ocorrendo em 36 (34 por cento). O tempo de uso de AZA foi maior em pacientes com leucopenia do que nos não leucopênicos (p=0,001), enquanto a dose média de AZA foi menor naqueles com leucopenia comparados aos não leucopênicos (p=0,005). Não houve infecções graves, neoplasias ou óbitos durante o tratamento com AZA. CONCLUSÃO: A AZA mostrou ser uma droga relativamente segura no tratamento da DC, desde que seja mantida supervisão clínica e laboratorial periódica durante todo o tratamento.

OBJECTIVE: Azathioprine (AZA) is frequently used in Crohn's disease (CD) therapy. This paper aimed to evaluate the frequency, evolution and management of AZA side effects in CD patients. METHODS: One hundred and six CD patients under AZA therapy were evaluated prospectively from January 2002 to December 2006. Clinical and demographic data were recorded, together with a monthly laboratory control of hematological or other adverse reactions by means of clinical evaluation. Comparison was carried out between groups with and without side effects. RESULTS: At least one adverse reaction was found in 56 (52.7 percent) of the patients studied and required a transient drug reduction; 18 (17 percent) had to definitely stop use of AZA, often because of hypersensitivity reactions. Nausea, vomit, although slight, occurred in 29 (27.4 percent). The black race and those with co-morbidities had more gastric intolerance than Caucasians and those without other associated disease (p=0.04). Leucopoenia was the more frequent side effect observed, occurring in 36 (34 percent). The period of AZA use was longer for patients with leucopoenia than for those without (p=0.001), while the mean dose of AZA was lower for those with leucopoenia when compared to non-leucopoenics (p=0.005). No serious infections, malignancy or death was noticed as a consequence of AZA use. CONCLUSION: In this study use of AZA in therapy for Crohn's disease disclosed that the drug is satisfactorily safe as long as periodical clinical and laboratory supervision is carried out during treatment.

Febre de etiologia obscura: um caso de abscesso amebiano do fígado / Unknown fever: a case of amoebic liver abscess

Os autores apresentam um caso de febre de etiologia obscura, tendo como causa um abscesso amebiano do fígado. Foi feita uma breve revisäo sobre as manifestaçöes clínicas, laboratoriais, diagnóstico e tratamento da doença.