Crohn's disease severity in familial and sporadic cases

BACKGROUND

Having a relative with inflammatory bowel disease increases the risk for Crohn's disease but may also increase its severity in affected patients.

AIMS

To evaluate the influence of a family history on Crohn's disease course and severity.

METHODS

1316 patients followed in the same unit were studied retrospectively. Age at onset, duration of illness, site, and extent of disease were determined in patients with and without a family history. Additionally, disease severity was estimated by the need for medical therapy (steroid and immunosuppressive requirement) and the frequency and extent of excisional surgery.

RESULTS

152 (12%) patients had a family history of inflammatory bowel disease. Duration of follow up was longer in patients with a family history and there were more operations for perforating complications in familial cases. However, the importance of medical therapy, and the incidence and extent of excisional surgery were similar in familial and and sporadic cases. Kaplan-Meier estimated time to prescription of immunosuppressive drugs and first intestinal resection were similar in familial and sporadic cases. When the 152 patients with familial Crohn's disease were paired for sex, location of disease at onset, date of birth, and date of diagnosis with 152 patients sporadic Crohn's disease, the disease severity remained similar in the two groups of paired patients.

CONCLUSION

Patients with Crohn's disease and a family history of inflammatory bowel disease do not have a more severe course.

Are complicated forms of celiac disease cryptic T-cell lymphomas?

We assessed the clonality of duodenal mucosal T cells in patients with celiac disease and controls. Fifteen adult patients were studied. Four patients had a complicated celiac disease, 3 did not respond to a gluten-free diet, and 2 had an ulcerative jejunitis (including 1 patient with nonresponsive celiac disease). Seven patients had an untreated celiac disease responsive to a gluten-free diet. Histological examination of duodenal biopsies of these 11 patients showed benign-appearing celiac disease without evidence of lymphoma. Four patients with nonulcer dyspepsia and normal duodenal biopsies served as controls. TCRgamma gene rearrangements were analyzed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction on DNA extracted from duodenal biopsies. Major clonal rearrangements of the T-cell receptor were found in 4 cases, all with complicated celiac disease. Monoclonality was confirmed by DNA sequencing of the junctional region in 3 cases and by hybridization with clone-specific oligoprobes. Patients with celiac disease responsive to gluten-free diet had mainly a polyclonal pattern, with 1 of them having an oligoclonal rearrangement. An oligoclonal pattern was also observed in 2 control patients. Three patients with complicated celiac disease evolved to T-cell lymphoma with liver (n = 2) or bone marrow (n = 1) invasion. Identical clones were found in the enteropathic duodenojejunum and peripheral blood in the patient with large-cell lymphoma with bone marrow invasion. This study suggests that complicated celiac disease is a cryptic T-cell lymphoma.

[Effect of smoking on the long-term course of ulcerative colitis]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of smoking on the long term clinical course in patients with ulcerative colitis.

METHODS

The medical charts of 556 patients with ulcerative colitis were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were classified as smokers (n = 85) or nonsmokers (n = 471) according to their smoking status during the course of the disease. Extent of colonic lesions, complications, medical requirements, and actuarial rate of colectomy were compared in smokers and nonsmokers.

RESULTS

Mean follow-up (+/- SD) was longer in smokers than in nonsmokers (116 +/- 107 mo, vs 87 +/- 94 mo.). Less smokers than nonsmokers required oral steroids (52 vs 63%, P = 0.05). No difference between the groups was observed regarding the use of salicylates, the need for intravenous steroids, for immunosuppressive drugs, for colectomy, and the occurrence of complications. The actuarial rate of colectomy was less in smokers than in nonsmokers (32 +/- 12% and 42 +/- 6% at 10 years respectively. P = 0.04). Initial and cumulative extent of the disease process did not differ between the groups. However, in the subgroup of patients with limited disease at onset, development of pancolitis was less frequent in smokers than in nonsmokers (14 and 26%, respectively, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

The lesser need for oral steroids and the lower actuarial rate of colectomy in smokers suggest that ulcerative colitis in smokers is characterized by a less severe clinical presentation and a better long term prognosis than in nonsmokers.

Effect of indinavir on HIV-related wasting

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of the protease inhibitor indinavir on body weight and body composition of subjects with HIV-related wasting.

DESIGN

Prospective measurement of body weight in patients who had wasting and were treated with indinavir. A subgroup of 16 representative patients also underwent a metabolic study that included measurements of body composition (skinfolds and bioelectrical impedance) and food intake. Seven from this subgroup who did not have chronic diarrhoea also underwent indirect calorimetry for measurement of resting energy expenditure; the nine patients with wasting and chronic diarrhoea had measurements of faecal losses and intestinal permeability using the lactulose-mannitol test.

SETTING

A tertiary care university hospital.

PATIENTS

Two hundred and fourteen HIV-infected patients with wasting (less than 95% of usual body weight) had their body weight measured at day 0; 186 patients had a second body weight measurement within the first 100 days of treatment, and 160 patients were weighed a third time, at a median of 176 days.

RESULTS

Body weight increased significantly (P < 0.0001) during treatment, whatever the degree of weight loss at baseline. After a median of 176 days on treatment, body weight had increased in 119 out of the 160 patients followed (74.4%; mean weight gain, 6.3+/-SD 3.8 kg; range, 1-18 kg), had not changed in 13 (8.1%) and had fallen in 28 (17.5%; mean weight loss, 4.2+/-3.0 kg; range, 1-12 kg), relative to baseline. Overall, 119 out of the 214 patients (55.6%) from the initial population gained weight. Fat mass, fat-free mass and body cell mass increased significantly in the 16 patients who underwent metabolic studies, together with energy, protein and lipid intake. In the patients with chronic diarrhoea, intestinal permeability improved but there was no change in intestinal losses. In patients who had wasting but not chronic diarrhoea, resting energy expenditure did not change significantly. Body weight changes correlated with changes in the CD4+ cell count (r = 0.882; P = 0.00001) and, to a lesser extent, with changes in the viral load (r = -0.466; P = 0.047).

CONCLUSION

Indinavir significantly improved the nutritional status of these patients with HIV-related wasting.

Factors of weight loss in patients with HIV and chronic diarrhea

Weight loss is significant in patients with HIV and chronic diarrhea. The aim of our study was to test for the links between weight loss, the level of food intake, and the severity of diarrhea and nutrient malabsorption. One hundred and sixteen patients with HIV and chronic diarrhea underwent a standardized gastrointestinal and nutritional evaluation, which included a questionnaire on diarrhea, a prospective estimation of food intake, a measurement of blood parameters and fecal lipid and nitrogen outputs, a stool examination for bacteria and parasites, and upper and lower digestive tract endoscopy. Diarrhea resulted from an infection by Cryptosporidia, Microsporida, or other pathogens in 22%, 20%, and 13% of the patients, respectively. Diarrhea appeared idiopathic in 45% of the patients. A significant negative correlation existed between the severity of weight loss and the levels of nutrient intake (p < .005), and a significant positive correlation between the severity of weight loss and stool frequency (p < .01). Multiple linear regression identified low caloric intake and high stool frequency as predictive of weight loss. No significant correlation was found between weight loss and the parameters of malabsorption, either by bivariate study or multiple regression. These results suggest that, in patients with HIV and chronic diarrhea, the degree of wasting is significantly related to the levels of dietary intake and the clinical severity of diarrhea, but not to the extent of nutrient malabsorption.

Mycobacterium paratuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium subsp. silvaticum DNA cannot be detected by PCR in Crohn's disease tissue

BACKGROUND

The etiology of Crohn's disease remains unknown. A putative mycobacterial cause of the disease is still controversial.

AIMS

To assess the mycobacterial hypothesis in Crohn's disease using a polymerase chain reaction technique.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Nested polymerase chain reaction with primers on the 16S-rRNA coding region (16S-rDNA) and with primers specific both to the insertion sequences (IS) 900, and IS 901/902 were used to amplify Mycobacterium paratuberculosis or Mycobacterium avium subsp. silvaticum DNA in frozen endoscopic intestinal biopsies or surgical resection specimens from patients with Crohn's disease (n = 47: 25 endoscopic biopsies and 22 surgical resection samples, +/- lymph nodes), ulcerative colitis (n = 27), and non inflammatory bowel diseases (n = 20: colonic tumors and diverticulitis). Positive as well as negative controls were used throughout the study.

RESULTS

All strains of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium subsp. silvaticum tested were positive for both primer systems. Of the 94 biopsies tested, 5 (2 Crohn's disease, 1 ulcerative colitis and 2 controls) were positive with the 16S-rDNA primers but did not correspond to Mycobacterium paratuberculosis or Mycobacterium avium subsp. silvaticum. None of the specimens was positive with the IS primers.

CONCLUSION

These results do not support the hypothesis that Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, or Mycobacterium avium subsp. silvaticum play a role in Crohn's disease.

[Colonic involvement in ileal Crohn's disease]

OBJECTIVES

To determine the risk and predictive factors for colonic extension in patients with ileal Crohn's disease.

METHODS

One hundred and fifty patients with ileal Crohn's disease and no specific colonic lesions on initial colonoscopy were studied retrospectively (median follow-up: 51 months).

RESULTS

Twelve patients (8%) developed colonic lesions. Ten-year cumulated risks (95% confidence interval) for colonic extension were 17.2% (range: 5.8-28.6) in the whole group, and 22.4% (range: 8.7-36.1) in the group of 86 patients with repeated colonoscopy. Young age at diagnosis was the only factor predicting colonic extension. Seven patients with colonic extension required immunosuppressive therapy but none underwent surgery.

CONCLUSION

Ileal Crohn's disease has a low tendency for colonic extension. Colonic extension has no major prognostic implications.

[Comparison of long-term course of perforating and non-perforating Crohn disease]

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the influence of the indication of the first surgical procedure on the prognosis of Crohn's disease.

METHODS

We compared retrospectively the long-term course of 179 patients operated on for a perforating disease and 322 patients operated on for a nonperforating disease. Mean follow-up was 11 years and 2 months in the two groups.

RESULTS

Forty of 179 (25%) and 106 of 322 (33%) patients with perforating and nonperforating diseases underwent a second intestinal resection, respectively. The patients who had been operated on for a perforating disease were significantly more often reoperated on for the same indication, and conversely. Patients with perforating diseases experienced less second resections (actuarial rates: 37 +/- 11% vs 51 +/- 8% at ten years respectively), less post-surgical handicaps (mean index 24.9 vs 27.9), and fewer patients required immunosuppressive drugs (25 vs 35%).

CONCLUSION

Long-term prognosis of perforating Crohn's disease does not appear to be more severe than that of nonperforating disease.

Macronutrient intake and malabsorption in HIV infection: a comparison with other malabsorptive states

BACKGROUND

Wasting is a major complication of HIV infection. The role of malabsorption in wasting is controversial.

AIMS

To assess oral intake and malabsorption in a cohort of weight losing HIV infected patients, with or without chronic diarrhoea.

METHODS

A prospective study using a predefined protocol for HIV infected patients was performed in a gastroenterology and nutrition unit in a university hospital. A retrospective comparison was made with HIV negative patients with malabsorption due either to small bowel disease or resection. Body weight and height, serum albumin, oral intake of macronutrients, faecal weight, and faecal fat were measured.

RESULTS

Seventy nine weight losing HIV infected patients were studied. Among the 66 patients with more than 5% lipid malabsorption, wasting was significantly greater in patients with cryptosporidiosis (n = 22) than in patients with microsporidiosis (n = 18) who exhibited significantly more wasting than patients with no identified enteropathogen (n = 26) (body mass index 16.8 (14.0-20.7), 18.9 (16.5-21.3), 19.7 (15.9-23), respectively). When controlling for the level of lipid malabsorption, HIV infected patients had a significantly lower energy intake than HIV negative patients with chronic malabsorption. In HIV infected patients, but not in other categories of malabsorbers, body mass index correlated significantly with energy intake (r = 0.33, 95% confidence intervals 0.12 to 0.51).

CONCLUSION

In weight losing HIV infected patients, reduced energy intake is superimposed on malabsorption and significantly contributes to wasting.

Effects of an isotonic oral rehydration solution, enriched with glutamine, on fluid and sodium absorption in patients with a short-bowel

AIM

To compare the effects of a standard oral rehydration solution with a polymeric glucose isotonic solution enriched with glutamine on water and sodium absorption in the short bowel.

METHODS

Six patients with high jejunostomy were tested in a random order on 2 consecutive days with the standard solution (20 g/L glucose, 94 mmol/L sodium, 292 mOsm/kg osmolality) and a solution containing maltodextrins (18 g/L Glucidex 12; hydrolysis of 18 g of Glucidex 12 yields 20 g glucose) enriched with 14.6 g/L of glutamine (94 mmol/L sodium, 282 mOsm/kg osmolality). Solutions were administered via a naso-gastric tube at a rate of 2 mL/min. Jejunal effluent for each solution was collected during an 8-h period, after a 14-h equilibrium period.

RESULTS

The net 8-h fluid absorption was not significantly different between the standard solution and the solution with glutamine (333 +/- 195 and 213 +/- 251 mL, respectively (mean +/- S.E.M.)). Net sodium absorption was higher for the standard solution than for the solution with glutamine (15 +/- 15 vs. 2 +/- 20 mmol, P < 0.05). The rate of glucose absorption was not different between the solutions.

CONCLUSION

The replacement of glucose by maltodextrins and the addition of glutamine to the standard oral rehydration solution, without changing its sodium content or osmolality, results in a reduction of sodium absorption in the short-bowel syndrome.

[Morbid associations in Crohn's disease. Study of a series of 832 patients]

OBJECTIVES

Depending its frequency, the association in the same subject of Crohn's disease and another pathology can be fortuitous or the expression of genetic or environmental interrelationships. The aim of our study was to identify among a series of patients with Crohn's disease preliminary data which would be suggestive of a significant association between Crohn's disease and other pathologies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Personal and familial histories were collected in 832 patients with Crohn's disease who were seen consecutively in the same hospital clinic from 1974 to 1994.

RESULTS

We found 4 cases (0.5%) of associated Crohn's disease-multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease-rheumatoid purpura in the same patient. Each of the following genetic diseases was associated with Crohn's disease in one patient (0.1%): Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, deuteroanopia, multiple exostosis, familial ichthyosis, periodic disease.

CONCLUSION

We describe for the first time sporadic cases of associated Crohn's disease and another rare disease, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, familial ichthyosis and periodic disease. We suggest that there is a significant interrelationship between personal and familial histories of Crohn's disease and multiple sclerosis which should be verified in prospective studies.

Definition and diagnosis of cytomegalovirus colitis in patients infected by human immunodeficiency virus

The definition and routine diagnosis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis in patients infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are controversial. In 100 consecutive HIV-infected patients who underwent colonoscopy for the investigation of diarrhea, we compared the yields of routine diagnostic tools for CMV infection and assessed the risk of further CMV organ disease in subgroups of patients with the following features: full evidence of CMV colitis (group 1), colonic CMV infection but no endoscopic lesions (group 2), and no evidence of colonic CMV infection (group 3). All biopsies taken during colonoscopy were examined immediately by routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and viral culture and then pooled for second-line H&E staining and immunohistology. Among the 15 diagnoses of CMV colitis (group 1), two were missed during initial H&E examination, and both patients developed further CMV organ disease during follow-up. Of the 12 group 2 patients 11 were not receiving anti-CMV drugs at the time of initial colonoscopy. CMV organ disease was not significantly more common in these patients than in group 3 during follow-up. We conclude that routine H&E staining of colonic biopsy specimens for CMV inclusions is not 100% sensitive for CMV colitis. The favorable outcome of colonic CMV infection without endoscopic lesions suggests that only patients with full evidence of CMV colitis warrant specific antiviral therapy.

Results of culture form colonoscopically obtained specimens for bacteria and fungi in HIV-infected patients with diarrhea

BACKGROUND

The aim of our study was to determine the diagnostic yield of culture for bacteria and fungi from colonic biopsy specimens in 290 consecutive HIV-infected patients with diarrhea.

METHODS

During each colonoscopy, three biopsy specimens were homogenized and cultured on media for Salmonella and Shigella and for Campylobacter and Yersinia, on Loewenstein medium and on Sabouraud medium.

RESULTS

Cultures were found positive for one (n = 32) or two (n = 5) infectious agents in 37 cases, i.e., in 12.8% of the patients. Bacteria were isolated in 24 cases, and identified as Campylobacter jejunl-coli (n = 14), Salmonella (n = 2), Shigella (n = 1), or Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 7). Among the 14 patients with C. jejuni-coli intestinal infection, 11 had normal-appearing mucosa at colonoscopy, and 3 had a concomitant stool culture negative for Campylobacter. Mycobacterial cultures were positive for Mycobacterium avium intracellulare in 6 patients, who were already known as having a disseminated M. avium intracellulare infection from positive blood cultures. Fungal cultures were positive for Candida in 10 cases, without clear clinical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall yield of culture for bacterial pathogens from colonic tissue in HIV-infected patients with diarrhea is low, but some individual cases of C. jejuni-coli infections may be detected from colonic tissue culture and not diagnosed by concomitant stool culture.

Intravenous cyclosporine in attacks of ulcerative colitis: short-term and long-term responses

The present study reports the results of intravenous cyclosporine in 32 patients with refractory and/or severe attacks of ulcerative colitis (UC). Twenty of 32 patients responded to intravenous cyclosporine; cyclosporine was clinically effective and improved colonic lesions. However, one colonic perforation and one postoperative death were observed in two patients with severe endoscopic colitis who had failed to reach clinical remission with high-dose corticosteroids and cyclosporine. Moreover, after a median follow-up of 190 days, only one-third of the patients avoided colectomy. No predictive factor of response to cyclosporine was identified. This study confirms that cyclosporine is effective in severe UC but suggests that its use could be associated with serious complications in patients with severe lesions who had failed to settle with corticosteroids and cyclosporine.

Clinical characteristics of Crohn's disease in 72 families

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Familial aggregation argues for genetic susceptibility to Crohn's disease. The aim of this study was to compare the age of onset and the clinical features of Crohn's disease between patients with familial disease and those with sporadic disease and investigate the concordance for disease location and type among relatives with Crohn's disease.

METHODS

Seventy-two families with 2 (n = 55), 3 (n = 8), 4 (n = 6), and 5 or more (n = 3) affected first-degree relatives were selected for the study. A population of 1377 patients with sporadic nonfamilial Crohn's disease was used for comparison.

RESULTS

Clinical data were obtained from 176 patients with familial Crohn's disease (79 men and 97 women). Median age at onset was younger in familial Crohn's disease than in sporadic cases: 22 vs. 26.5 years (P < 0.01). In familial cases, fewer patients had exclusively colonic involvement and more patients had both small bowel and colonic involvement. Among relatives of families with 2 affected members, 56% were concordant for disease location and 49% for disease type. These percentages reached 83% and 76%, respectively, within families with more than 2 affected members.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with familial Crohn's disease are characterized by an early age at onset with more extensive disease and may represent a homogeneous clinical subgroup with a particularly strong genetic influence.

The role of anatomic factors in nutritional autonomy after extensive small bowel resection

BACKGROUND

It is difficult to predict which patients with a postsurgical short bowel will require long-term parenteral nutrition.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective prognostic study for the time to home parenteral nutrition or death from malnutrition (nonautonomy), on the basis of 103 patients with a residual short bowel of 17 to 150 cm. The influence of anatomic variables was summarized through the use of Cox regression model.

RESULTS

Of the 103 patients included, 24 lost nutritional autonomy. Three anatomic variables were identified as having independent predictive information; remaining small bowel length (measured on small bowel x-rays; p = .0001), and jejunoileal anastomosis (p = .01) promoted autonomy, whereas end jejunostomy (p = .002) increased the risk of losing nutritional autonomy.

CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of these results and on the relative weight of these variables, high-risk patients for loss of nutritional autonomy were defined as those with jejunoileal anastomosis and a remaining small bowel length < 35 cm, patients with jejunocolic anastomosis and remaining small bowel length < 60 cm, and patients with an end jejunostomy and remaining small bowel length < 115 cm. This classification was thereafter validated on a prospective series of 32 patients.

Methotrexate for the treatment of refractory Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

Previous studies suggested that methotrexate has beneficial effects in patients with Crohn's disease. We report our experience with this agent in patients with chronic active Crohn's disease who previously failed to improve with conventional treatment, including azathioprine in most cases.

METHODS

Between June 1988 and June 1992, 39 patients with refractory Crohn's disease were treated with methotrexate. In patients with active disease, clinical remission was defined by a Harvey-Bradshaw index of less than 4. For patients also taking corticosteroids, the dates of remission and complete steroid withdrawal were recorded. For patients who achieved clinical remission, and those in clinical remission when methotrexate was started, the relapse rate on methotrexate therapy was noted.

RESULTS

In the 37 patients with active disease at methotrexate initiation, the probability of remission was 72% at 3 months. The probability of remission and steroid withdrawal was 42% at 12 months. In patients on clinical remission, the probability of relapse on methotrexate was 58% at 12 months. Twenty-two patients experienced side-effects, but these only warranted methotrexate discontinuation in four cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Methotrexate appears effective in most patients with refractory Crohn's disease and its short-term toxicity is acceptable, but the long-term benefit seems more limited.

[Prognosis in pancolonic forms of hemorrhagic rectocolitis]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prognosis of pancolitis in ulcerative colitis including survival, colectomy rate, colon cancer risk, activity of disease, functional and socioprofessional impact.

METHODS

Retrospective study of 130 cases of ulcerative pancolitis referred consecutively to Rothschild Hospital from 1962 to 1993. They were 58 men and 72 women. The mean age at onset of ulcerative colitis was 30 years (range: 5-77). The extension to the right colon was secondary in 68% of patients. The period of observation ranged from 0.8 year to 46 years from the onset, with a median of 10.6 years. Three patients were lost to follow up.

RESULTS

Eight patients died, the survival rate being 93% at 10 years. Surgical treatment was performed in 85 patients. The cumulative colectomy rates were 61% and 77% at 10 and 20 years respectively. Colonic cancer developed in three patients, corresponding to a cumulative risk after 25 years of 6% in unoperated patients and 1.9% in the whole series. No cancer occurred after colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis. In the group of unoperated patients there was a decrease of activity of the disease during the first fifteen years. The quality of life of colectomized patients with reestablishment of intestinal continuity and of those treated conservatively did not differ significantly.

CONCLUSION

In this series, long term prognosis of ulcerative pancolitis was favourable. The high colectomy rate was balanced by a very low risk of colorectal cancer.

Mesalamine in Crohn's disease with steroid-induced remission: effect on steroid withdrawal and remission maintenance, Groupe d'Etudes Thérapeutiques des Affections Inflammatoires Digestives

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Steroid dependence and early relapse are frequent after a prednisolone-induces remission in Crohn's disease. The aim of this trial was to test whether mesalamine started at the onset of steroid tapering increases the rate of weaning from prednisolone and reduces the relapse rate after prednisolone cessation.

METHODS

One hundred fifty patients with active Crohn's disease were administered oral prednisolone (1 mg.kg(-1). day(-1)) x 3-7 weeks; 129 patients went into clinical remission and were randomized to Pentasa (4 g . day(-1)) or placebo, administered until weaning and for 1 year thereafter.

RESULTS

Groups were similar for clinical and biological items collected initially. Weaning failure rate was 30% and 12% in the placebo and mesalamine arms, respectively. At the end of the trial, 9 of 36 patients administered placebo and 14 of 48 administered mesalamine were in remission. Both groups had similar time to relapse curves in the postweaning year; after adjusting for risk factors (high Crohn's Disease Activity Index, white blood cell count of >9 x 10(9) /l-1 at weaning, and use of a medical treatment in the month before inclusion), Pentasa was found to be superior to placebo.

CONCLUSIONS

After a prednisolone-induces remission in Crohn's disease, mesalamine facilitates steroid withdrawal and, during the postweaning year, may reduce the relapse rate in certain patient subgroups.

Placebo-controlled clinical trial of mesalazine in the prevention of early endoscopic recurrences after resection for Crohn's disease. Groupe d'Etudes Thérapeutiques des Affections Inflammatoires Digestives (GETAID)

OBJECTIVE

Endoscopic postoperative recurrences occur early after 'curative' surgery for Crohn's disease. Pentasa has been shown to be effective in the maintenance treatment of quiescent Crohn's disease. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of a 12-week oral intake of Claversal in the prevention of endoscopic recurrences after 'curative' resection for ileal, colonic or ileocolonic Crohn's disease. We conducted a multicentre double-blind controlled trial comparing Claversal (1g tid) with placebo, starting within 15 days after surgery. The macroscopic normality of the two anastomotic segments was assessed at surgery. Patients were clinically and biologically evaluated twice (6-week interval), and colonoscopy was performed at 12 weeks. Endoscopic relapse was defined by any anastomotic ulcerations or stenosis and staged according to a four-grade score.

RESULTS

Between May 1989 and May 1991 12 centres included 126 patients, 70 women and 56 men, aged 33 +/- 12 years (range 16-70) in the study. Disease locations were ileal, colonic and ileocolonic in 45, 6 and 49%, respectively. Claversal and placebo groups were similar at inclusion, except for ESR (37 +/- 26 vs. 27 +/- 23 mm/h in the Claversal and placebo groups, respectively; P < 0.05). Nine patients were withdrawn from the study. Adverse reactions occurred only in six patients. Five patients were excluded for protocol violation. Finally, 106 patients could be evaluated at 12 weeks (55 Claversal and 51 placebo). An endoscopic relapse was observed in 50% and 63% of the Claversal and placebo groups, respectively (P = 0.16), with a similar grade distribution. Claversal was well tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirms that a large proportion of endoscopic recurrences occur within 3 months of resection in Crohn's disease. There was a slight trend towards greater efficacy of Claversal; it could be worthwhile trying higher dosages and/or 5-ASA compounds with different intestinal release profiles.

Effects of cigarette smoking on the long-term course of Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

In Crohn's disease, smoking increases the risk for surgical procedures. The influence of smoking on the overall severity of the disease remains controversial. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of smoking on the long-term course of Crohn's disease and the relationship between smoking and therapy.

METHODS

The medical charts of 400 consecutive patients whose smoking habits were specified by direct interview were reviewed.

RESULTS

Frequency and extent of excisional surgery were not significantly different in smokers and nonsmokers, but smokers required more glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive drugs. The effect of smoking on the need for immunosuppressive drugs was dose-dependent and was significant in women but not in men. For female smokers, the 10-year risk of immunosuppressive therapy was 52% +/- 11% compared with 24% +/- 10% for nonsmokers (P < 0.001). The risk of surgery increased only in patients who smoked and did not take immunosuppressive drugs. The surgical rate increased significantly during smoking in 19 patients who started smoking after diagnosis and decreased significantly in 34 patients who stopped compared with matched controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who smoke, particularly women and heavy smokers, run a high risk of developing severe disease. Immunosuppressive therapy neutralizes the influence of smoking on surgical rates.

Identifying patients with a high risk of relapse in quiescent Crohn's disease. The GETAID Group. The Groupe d'Etudes Thérapeutiques des Affections Inflammatoires Digestives

No reliable identification of quiescent Crohn's disease (CD) patients with a high risk of relapse is available. The aim of this study was to develop a prognostic index to identify those patients. Untreated adult patients with quiescent disease (not induced by surgery) included in three phase III clinical trials were analysed retrospectively with respect to time to relapse. Nineteen factors related to biology, disease history, and topography were investigated. A relapse was defined as either a CD Activity Index (CDAI) > or = 200, a CDAI > or = 150 but over the baseline value by more than 100, or acute complications requiring surgery. The inclusion criteria were fulfilled by 178 patients. The median follow up was 23 months. The Cox model retained the following bad prognostic factors: age < or = 25 years, interval since first symptoms > 5 years, interval since previous relapse < or = 6 months, and colonic involvement (p < 0.001). Bootstrapping confirmed the variable selection. Patients were classified into three groups with an increasing risk of relapse (p < 0.001). The worst risk group was composed of patients presenting at least three of the four bad prognostic factors. These results make possible the design of clinical trials in quiescent CD patients with a high risk of relapse.

Diagnosis and prognosis of AIDS-related cholangitis

OBJECTIVE

To determine more precisely the clinical and biological characteristics of AIDS-related cholangitis, and to investigate prognostic variables of this disease.

DESIGN

Retrospective clinical and prognostic study.

SETTING

Biliary unit, Bicêtre Hospital, France.

PATIENTS

HIV-positive patients (n = 52) referred to the unit between December 1986 and June 1993 for biliary symptoms leading to the suspicion of AIDS-related cholangitis, (42 men; 10 women; mean age, 37 +/- 8 years).

INTERVENTION

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed in order to determine the cause of the biliary symptoms.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Clinical features and evolution of the cholangitis.

RESULTS

Among the 52 patients, 45 met the ERCP criteria of AIDS-related cholangitis (36 men; nine women). The diagnosis of cholangitis was strongly suggested by abdominal ultrasonography in 47% of the cases. ERCP showed papillary stenosis, diffuse cholangitis, extrahepatic cholangitis alone, and intrahepatic cholangitis alone in 60, 67, 7 and 27%, respectively. Endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed in 28 patients. Pain was relieved by sphincterotomy in nine patients, but the other clinical or biological features were not influenced. One-year and 2-year survival rates were 41 +/- 7% and 8 +/- 4%, respectively. Multidimensional analysis using a Cox model showed that a lymphocyte count > 500 x 10(6)/l was the only independent predictive factor of better survival.

CONCLUSION

AIDS-related cholangitis is a disease which leads preferentially to papillary stenosis or diffuse abnormalities of the biliary tract. Prognostic factors depend on the stage of the HIV infection. Another diagnosis of cholestasis was found in approximately 15% of the patients who showed biliary symptoms.

Intestinal histoplasmosis in AIDS patients: report of three cases observed in France and review of the literature

We report three cases of colonic histoplasmosis observed in a non-endemic area in patients with AIDS. The patients presented with fever, abdominal pain and an abdominal mass in the right lower quadrant. Diagnosis was obtained using Gomori-Crocott staining of endoscopic or surgical biopsies. One patient died without specific treatment and two patients had a complete remission when treated with intravenous amphotericin B but suffered a relapse when given oral itraconazole. Thus, physicians in areas where intestinal histoplasmosis is not endemic should be aware of the condition. Diagnosis can easily be obtained using Gomori-Crocott staining of colonoscopic biopsies; this should avoid unnecessary laparotomies and allow specific treatment to be instituted rapidly.

[The clinical activity of Crohn's disease in the Paris area is maximal in the spring]

The aim of this study was to look for seasonal fluctuations in the clinical course of Crohn's disease. Eighty-three patients residing in the Paris area were included in the study and they had all undergone continuous clinical monitoring throughout the first three years of the disease. During this period, the clinical activity of the disease was ranked monthly on a semi-qualitative scale ranging from 0 to 4. The dates of corticosteroid treatment and of resection surgery carried out during the first three years of the disease were also recorded. The mean clinical score varied significantly (P < 0.0001) for different months of the year, the three highest scores being recorded during the three months of Spring-time (April, May and June). The number of months of corticosteroid treatment differed significantly (P < 0.05) for the various seasons, the six highest values being reported during Spring and Summer months. The number of intestinal resections differed significantly (p < 0.05) during different seasons, the highest incidence again being reported during Spring. This study demonstrates seasonal variations in the clinical course of Crohn' disease in the Paris area, with a peak occurring in the Spring.