Abordagem diagnóstica e de manuseio da pouchite em doença inflamatória intestinal / Diagnostic and management approach to pouchitis in inflammatory bowel disease

ABSTRACT In patients with ulcerative colitis refractory to medical therapy, total proctocolectomy and posterior ileal-anal pouch anastomosis is the standard surgical therapy. One of the possible complications is pouchitis. Depending on the duration of the symptoms, it can be classified as acute, recurrent, or chronic. The latter, according to the response to therapy, can be defined as antibiotic-dependent or refractory. The treatment of pouchitis is based on the use of antibiotics and probiotics. Thiopurine and biological therapy have been suggested in patients with refractory pouchitis. Special care should be taken in the endoscopic surveillance of these patients, especially if they present risk factors such as dysplasia or previous colorectal cancer, primary sclerosing cholangitis or ulcerative colitis for more than 10 years.

RESUMO Em pacientes com colite ulcerativa refratária à terapia médica, a proctocolectomia total e anastomose de bolsa ileal-anal posterior é a terapia cirúrgica padrão. Uma das possíveis complicações é a pouchite. Dependendo da duração dos sintomas, pode ser classificado como aguda, recorrente ou crônica. Esta última, de acordo com a resposta à terapia, pode ser definida como dependente de antibióticos ou refratária a eles. O tratamento da pouchite baseia-se no uso de antibióticos e probióticos. A thiopurina e a terapia biológica têm sido sugeridas em pacientes com pouchite refratária. Um cuidado especial deve ser tomado na vigilância endoscópica desses pacientes, especialmente se apresentarem fatores de risco, como displasia ou câncer colorretal anterior, colangite esclerosante primária ou colite ulcerativa por mais de 10 anos.

Histopathological evaluation and risk factors related to the development of pouchitis in patients with ileal pouches for ulcerative colitis

OBJECTIVE: Many changes in mucosal morphology are observed following ileal pouch construction, including colonic metaplasia and dysplasia. Additionally, one rare but potential complication is the development of adenocarcinoma of the reservoir. The aim of this study was to evaluate the most frequently observed histopathological changes in ileal pouches and to correlate these changes with potential risk factors for complications. METHODS: A total of 41 patients were enrolled in the study and divided into the following three groups: a non-pouchitis group (group 1) (n = 20; 8 males; mean age: 47.5 years) demonstrating optimal outcome; a pouchitis without antibiotics group (group 2) (n = 14; 4 males; mean age: 47 years), containing individuals with pouchitis who did not receive treatment with antibiotics; and a pouchitis plus antibiotics group (group 3) (n = 7; 3 males; mean age: 41 years), containing those patients with pouchitis who were administered antibiotics. Ileal pouch endoscopy was performed, and tissue biopsy samples were collected for histopathological analysis. RESULTS: Colonic metaplasia was found in 15 (36.6%) of the 41 patients evaluated; of these, five (25%) were from group 1, eight (57.1%) were from group 2, and two (28.6%) were from group 3. However, no correlation was established between the presence of metaplasia and pouchitis (p = 0.17). and no differences in mucosal atrophy or the degree of chronic or acute inflammation were observed between groups 1, 2, and 3 (p>0.45). Moreover, no dysplasia or neoplastic changes were detected. However, the degree of mucosal atrophy correlated well with the time of postoperative follow-up (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The degree of mucosal atrophy, the presence of colonic metaplasia, and the degree of acute or chronic inflammation do not appear to constitute risk factors for the development of pouchitis. Moreover, we observed that longer postoperative follow-up times were associated with greater degrees of mucosal atrophy.