The burden and management of anemia in Greek patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a retrospective, multicenter, observational study.

BACKGROUND: Anemia is a common extraintestinal manifestation of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) affecting negatively the patients' quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and real-life management of anemia in IBD patients in Greece. METHODS: This study was conducted in 17 Greek IBD referral centers. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, IBD and anemia treatment data were collected and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 1394 IBD patients [560 ulcerative colitis (UC), 834 Crohn's disease (CD)] were enrolled. Anemia at any time was reported in 687 (49.3%) patients of whom 413 (29.6%) had episodic and 274 (19.7%) had recurrent/persistent anemia. Anemia was diagnosed before IBD in 45 (6.5%), along with IBD in 269 (39.2%) and after IBD in 373 (54.3%) patients. In the multivariate analysis the presence of extraintestinal manifestations (p = 0.0008), IBD duration (p = 0.026), IBD related surgeries and hospitalizations (p = 0.026 and p = 0.004 accordingly) were risk factors of recurrent/persistent anemia. Serum ferritin was measured in 839 (60.2%) IBD patients. Among anemic patients, 535 (77.9%) received treatment. Iron supplementation was administered in 485 (90.6%) patients, oral in 142 (29.3%) and intravenous in 393 (81%). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of anemia in IBD patients, followed at Greek referral centers, is approximately 50%. Development of recurrent/persistent anemia may be observed in 20% of cases and is independently associated with the presence of extraintestinal manifestations, IBD duration, IBD related surgeries and hospitalizations. Anemia treatment is administered in up to [Formula: see text] of anemia IBD patients with the majority of them receiving iron intravenously.

Surgical Excision of a Laimer's Diverticulum: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

A pharyngoesophageal diverticulum (PED) is a rare clinical entity. This paper reports on a 79-year-old male patient with PED and symptoms of dysphagia, regurgitation and chronic cough. The diverticulum was located on the dorsal side of the cervical esophagus, midline, inferior to the cricopharyngeal muscle. These findings were consistent with Laimer's diverticulum (LD), the rarest type of PED. This case proposes a surgical treatment of LD via an external transcervical approach.

The Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Disk Tool for Assessing Disability in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: Validation of the Greek Version.

BACKGROUND: The Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Disk (IBD-Disk) is a physician-administered tool that evaluates the functional status of patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The aim of our study was to validate the content of the IBD-Disk in a Greek cohort of IBD patients. METHODS: Two questionnaires [the IBD Disk and the IBD-Disability Index (IBD-DI)] were translated into Greek and administered to IBD patients at baseline visit, after 4 weeks and 6 months. Validation of the IBD Disk included measuring of concurrent validity, reproducibility, and internal consistency. RESULTS: A total of 300 patients were included at baseline and 269 at follow-up. There was a good correlation between the total scores of the IBD-Disk and IBD-DI at baseline (Pearson correlation 0.87, p < 0.001). Reproducibility of the total IBD-Disk score was very good [intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.89 (0.86-0.91)]. Cronbach's coefficient alpha for all items achieved 0.90 (95%CI 0.88-0.92), demonstrating a very good homogeneity of the IBD-Disk items. Female gender and extraintestinal manifestations were significantly associated with a higher IBD-Disk total score. CONCLUSIONS: The Greek version of the IBD-Disk proved to be a reliable and valid tool in detecting and assessing IBD-related disability in a Greek cohort of IBD patients.

Early viraemia clearance during antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis C improves dendritic cell functions.

Plasma and cellular HCV RNA and core antigen were tested in monocyte-derived DC (MDDC) from chronic hepatitis C patients undergoing treatment with peg-interferon alpha2b/ribavirin. DC allostimulatory capacity, HCV-specific T-cell reactivity and IL-12 production were measured at baseline and treatment week (TW)12. Using DC and autologous CD4(+)T-cells, obtained at baseline and TW12, we performed cross-over experiments to determine the relative role of DC and/or T-cells for impaired immune reactivity to HCV. HCV RNA and HCV core plasma levels had an impact on DC phenotype and allostimulatory capacity. In contrast, HCV genome/core protein, although detectable in DC from some patients had no effect on DC function. Antiviral immunity at TW12 was not improved in patients who remained HCV RNA positive, while early viraemia clearance (TW12) improved antiviral responses. The cross-over experiment revealed that changes in DC, rather than CD4(+)T cells have a major role for enhanced anti-HCV responses.

Mirizzi syndrome type IV associated with cholecystocolic fistula: a very rare condition--report of a case.

BACKGROUND: Mirizzi syndrome is a rare complication of prolonged cholelithiasis with presence of large, impacted gallstone into the Hartman's pouch, causing chronic extrinsic compression of common bile duct (CBD). Fistula formation between the CBD and the gallbladder may represent an outcome of that condition. According to Mirizzi's classification and Csendes's subclassification, Mirizzi syndrome type IV represents the most uncommon type (4%). Spontaneous biliary-enteric fistulas have also been rarely reported (1.2-5%) in a large series of cholecystectomies. Cholecystocolic fistula is the most infrequent biliary enteric fistula, causing significant morbidity and representing a diagnostic challenge. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a very rare, to our knowledge, combination of Mirizzi syndrome type IV and cholecystocolic fistula. A 52 year old male, presented to our clinic complaining of episodic diarrhea (monthly episodes lasting 16 days), high temperature (38 degrees C-39 degrees C), right upper quadrant pain without jaundice. The definitive diagnosis was made intraoperatively. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) demonstrated the presence of Mirizzi syndrome with cholecystocolic fistula formation. The patient was operated upon, and cholecystectomy, cholecystocolic fistula excision and Roux-en-Y biliary-enteric anastomosis were undertaken with excellent post-operative course. CONCLUSION: Appropriate biliary tree imaging with ERCP and MRI/MRCP is essential for the diagnosis of Mirizzi syndrome and its complications. Cholecystectomy, fistula excision and biliary-enteric anastomosis with Roux-en-Y loop appears to be the most appropriate surgical intervention in order to avoid damage to Calot's triangle anatomic elements. Particularly in our case, ERCP was a valuable diagnostic tool that Mirizzi syndrome type IV and cholecystocolic fistula.

Is hepatitis C virus infection of dendritic cells a mechanism facilitating viral persistence?

More than 170 million people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is a major cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Impaired T-cell reactivity to HCV, a hallmark of inefficient adaptive immunity, is believed to be responsible for the high propensity of HCV to cause chronic infection. Dendritic cells are the most potent antigen-presenting cells and many viruses affect various dendritic cell functions. Data suggest that such changes induced by HCV may have an important role in viral persistence. HCV has been shown to bind to dendritic cells, although viral replication within these cells occurs at a very low level. Dendritic cells from people with chronic HCV infection are impaired in their capacity to stimulate T cells. This impairment may be a consequence of changes in the expression of major histocompatibility complex and costimulatory molecules on its surface, as well as in the production of cytokines such as interleukin 12. In addition, hepatic dendritic cells may be affected by the tolerogenic microenvironment of the liver, possibly generating dendritic cells that promote regulatory T cells, which suppress the cellular immune response mounted against HCV.

'Nipped in the Budd': hepatic venous outflow obstruction in evolution.

Hepatic venous thrombosis (Budd-Chiari) in evolution is a rare phenomenon and carries a high morbidity and mortality. We describe the case of a 39-year-old Bangladeshi lady who presented with severe abdominal pain secondary to a perforated duodenal ulcer and during her hospital admission developed an asymptomatic Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). Our report highlights the important role of an inflammatory focus, and how this process with an associated reactive thrombocytosis may act as a trigger for the development of BCS in an individual with predisposing risk factors. Our patient had been on the contraceptive pill, and was homozygous for the C677T mutation of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, which results in hyperhomocysteinaemia. These pro-thrombotic risk factors were compounded by the thrombogenic potential of subsequent laparoscopic surgery, and resulted in an evolving thrombus that progressed into the inferior vena cava causing hepatic infarction. A particular feature of this case was the radiological demonstration of complete regression of the thrombus and the hepatic parenchymal changes, upon resolution of the inflammation and normalization of the platelet count. These changes occurred with oral anticoagulation as the only treatment modality, since our patient declined systemic thrombolysis. The demonstration of complete radiological resolution raises the question of how long one should continue oral anticoagulants and, indeed, whether in some instances a conservative approach may be the best management strategy for evolving BCS.

Simultaneous occurrence of hyperthyroidism and fistulizing Crohn's disease complicated with intra-abdominal fistulas and abscess: a case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Fistula formation in patients with Crohn's disease is a common complication during the course of the disease. Perianal and enteroenteric are the most common forms of fistulas, whereas the involvement of the upper gastrointestinal tract with gastrocolic and duodenocolic fistulas represents an extremely unusual condition. Moreover, hyperthyroidism in association with Crohn's disease has been rarely described. CASE PRESENTATION: We present here a rare case of a 25-year-old male with simultaneous onset of hyperthyroidism and fistulizing Crohn's disease. Crohn's disease was complicated with intra-abdominal fistulas involving the upper gastrointestinal tract (duodenocolic, gastrocolic) and an intra-peritoneal abscess formation in the lesser sac. We describe the clinical presentation and therapeutic management of the patient including both medical treatment and surgical intervention. Despite intense medical treatment with total parenteral nutrition, antibiotics, aminosalicylates and corticosteroids the clinical course of the disease was suboptimal. Finally, the patient underwent laparotomy and right hemi-colectomy with ileo-transverse anastomosis performed, with simultaneous drainage of the abdominal abscess and primary closure of the upper gastrointestinal tract openings (gastric, duodenal and jejunal) at one stage operation. Although the surgical approach definitively cured the perforating complications of the disease (fistulas and abscess), the luminal disease in the colon remnant was still active and steroid-refractory. The subsequent successful treatment with infliximab, azathioprine and mesalazine resulted in the induction and maintenance of the disease remission. Thyrotoxicosis was successfully treated with methimazole and the hyperthyroidism has definitely subsided. CONCLUSION: The management of intra-abdominal fistulas in Crohn's disease is a complex issue, requiring a multi-disciplinary approach and 'tailoring' of the treatment to the individual patient's needs. Probably, a sensible approach involves early surgical intervention with prior optimization of the patient's general condition when feasible. Common autoimmune mechanisms are probably involved in thyroid dysfunction associated with Crohn's disease. Moreover, diagnosis and treatment of coexisting thyroid disorder in patients with Crohn's disease has a favorable impact in disease prognosis.

Co-existence of a giant splenic hemangioma and multiple hepatic hemangiomas and the potential association with the use of oral contraceptives: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatic and splenic hemangiomas are common benign tumors that mainly affect female patients. Giant splenic hemangiomas are extremely rare, especially when correlated with multiple hepatic hemangiomas. Pathogenetic mechanisms between hemangiomas and oral contraceptives, as well as therapeutic approaches, are analyzed in this case report, in particular for the management of synchronous splenic and hepatic hemangiomas. CASE PRESENTATION: We report here a 42-year-old woman with a giant splenic hemangioma, multiple hepatic hemangiomas and a history of oral estrogen intake for many years. At first it was difficult to determine the organ from which the giant hemangioma originated. Angiography proved extremely helpful in tracing its origin in the spleen. Hematomas in the giant hemangioma posed a significant threat of rupture and catastrophic hemorrhage. We left the small hepatic hemangiomas in place, and removed the spleen along with the giant splenic hemangioma. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic pitfalls in the determination of the origin of this giant hemangioma, attribution of its origin to the spleen angiographically, the unusual co-existence of the giant splenic hemangioma with multiple hepatic ones, and the potential threat of rupture of the giant hemangioma are some of the highlights of this case report. Estrogen administration represents a pathogenic factor that has been associated with hemangiomas in solid organs of the abdominal cavity. The therapeutic dilemma between resection and embolization of giant hemangiomas is another point of discussion in this case report. Splenectomy for the giant splenic hemangioma eliminates the risk of rupture and malignant degeneration, whereas observation for the small hepatic ones (<4 cm) was the preferable therapeutic strategy in our patient.