Incidence of inflammatory bowel disease across Europe: is there a difference between north and south? Results of the European Collaborative Study on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (EC-IBD)

Extraintestinal manifestations in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis: results from a prospective, population-based European inception cohort

BACKGROUND

In chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (Crohn's disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC]), symptoms from outside the gastrointestinal tract are frequently seen, and the joints, skin, eyes, and hepatobiliary area are the most usually affected sites (called extraintestinal manifestations [EIM]). The reported prevalence varies, explained by difference in study design and populations under investigation. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of EIM in a population-based inception cohort in Europe and Israel.

METHODS

IBD patients were incepted into a cohort that was prospectively followed from 1991 to 2004. A total of 1145 patients were followed for 10 years.

RESULTS

The cumulative prevalence of first EIM was 16.9% (193/1145 patients) over a median follow-up time of 10.1 years. Patients with CD were more likely than UC patients to have immune-mediated (arthritis, eye, skin, and liver) manifestations: 20.1% versus 10.4% (p < 0.001). Most frequently seen was arthritis which was significantly more common in CD (12.9%) than in UC (8.1%), p = 0.01. Pan-colitis compared to proctitis in UC increased the risk of EIM.

CONCLUSION

In a European inception cohort, EIMs in IBD were consistent with that seen in comparable studies. Patients with CD are twice as likely as UC patients to experience EIM, and more extensive distribution of inflammation in UC increases the risk of EIM.

Burden of digestive diseases in Portugal: trends in hospitalizations between 2000 and 2010

OBJECTIVE

Data on the burden of gastrointestinal diseases are incomplete, particularly in Southern European countries. The aim of this study was to estimate the burden of digestive diseases in Portugal.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective observational study based on the national hospitalizations database that identified all consecutive episodes with a first diagnosis of a digestive disease between 2000 and 2010 using ICD-9-CM codes. Comparative analyses were carried out to assess hospitalization trends of major indicators over time and across regions.

RESULTS

More than 75,000 deaths attributable to digestive diseases were observed, representing 16% of the overall in-hospital mortality. Over half of these (59%) were premature deaths (in patients <75 years of age). Biliary tract disease was the most common digestive disorder leading to hospitalization (249,817 episodes, 5210 episodes of acute stone-related cholecystitis in 2010, with an 11% increase compared with 2000). Gastric cancer was responsible for the highest number of in-hospital deaths (10,278) and alcohol-related liver disorders accounted for the highest in-hospital premature deaths (7572). Both costs and the in-hospital mortality rate for major digestive diseases showed a significant positive relation with progression of time (β=0.195, P<0.001); however, when adjusted for age, this was not significant. Significant positive associations were found between age and in-hospital mortality (odds ratio=1.032, P<0.001) and between costs and in-hospital mortality (odds ratio=1.054, P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

In Portugal, digestive diseases represent a major burden, with evidence of an increasing trend. An ageing population contributes strongly towards this increase, placing further demands on healthcare organizations. Diseases such as gastric cancer, biliary tract disease and alcohol-related liver disorders may require particular attention.

Health-related quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease in a European-wide population-based cohort 10 years after diagnosis

BACKGROUND

Chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) negatively affects the patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Only a few population-based studies have compared the HRQoL of patients with the background population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the HRQoL in a European cohort of patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease 10 years after diagnosis (European Collaborative study group of Inflammatory Bowel Disease) compared with the national background population in each country and to assess possible country-specific differences.

METHODS

Patients with IBD from 7 European countries were invited to a follow-up visit 10 years after their diagnosis of IBD. We assessed their clinical and demographic data, including the generic HRQoL questionnaire short form health survey-36. Countrywise comparison with the background population was performed with z-scores using the Cohen's effect size index.

RESULTS

Seven hundred sixty-nine patients were eligible for the study. We registered statistically significant and clinically relevant decreases in the short form health survey-36 dimensional scores in patients with symptoms at the time of follow-up and for patients reporting sick leave during the previous year or having received disablement pension. In the Netherlands and Norway, there was a moderate difference between the patients with IBD and the background population for the general health dimension.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the HRQoL was not reduced in the IBD cohort compared with the background populations. However, in addition to older age and female gender, current symptoms at follow-up, disablement pension, and sick leave during the previous year were significantly associated with a reduced HRQoL in patients with IBD.

The second European evidenced-based consensus on reproduction and pregnancy in inflammatory bowel disease

Trying to conceive and being pregnant is an emotional period for those involved. In the majority of patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease, maintenance therapy is required during pregnancy to control the disease, and disease control might necessitate introduction of new drugs during a vulnerable period. In this updated consensus on the reproduction and pregnancy in inflammatory bowel disease reproductive issues including fertility, the safety of drugs during pregnancy and lactation are discussed.

Surgical management of ulcerative colitis in the era of biologicals

PURPOSE

Proctocolectomy has been a curative option for patients with severe ulcerative colitis. In recent years, there has been a growing use of medical salvage therapy in the management of patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. We aimed at reviewing the role of surgical management in a time of intensified medical management on the basis of published trial data. The aim was to determine the efficacy of aggressive medical versus surgical management in achieving multifaceted treatment goals.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of Pubmed, Medline, the Cochrane database was performed. Abstracts were evaluated for relevance. Selected articles were then reviewed in detail, including references. Recommendations were then drafted based on evidence and conclusions in the selected articles.

RESULTS

The majority of patients with UC will not need surgery. However, steroid-refractoriness and steroid-dependence signal a subset of patients with more challenging disease. Biological therapy has been shown to achieve short-term improvement and temporarily reduce the need for a colectomy. However, there is a substantial financial and medical price to pay because a high fraction of these salvaged patients will still need a curative colectomy but may be exposed to the negative impact of prolonged immunosuppression, chronic illness, and a higher probability to require 3 rather than 2 operations. Proctocolectomy with ileo-anal pouch anastomosis-performed in 1, 2, or 3 steps depending on the patient's condition-remains the surgical procedure of choice. Even though it has its share of possible complications, it has been associated with excellent long-term outcomes and high levels of satisfaction, such that in the majority of patients they become indistinguishable from unaffected normal individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

The current data demonstrate that use of medical salvage therapy in the treatment of UC will likely continue to grow and evolve. Consensus is being developed to better define and predict failure of medical therapy and clarify the role of the different treatment modalities. For many patients, sacrificing the nonresponsive diseased colon is an underused or unnecessarily delayed chance to normalize their health and life. Biologicals in many instances may have to be considered the bridge to that end.

Characterization of inflammatory bowel disease in elderly patients: A review of epidemiology, current practices and outcomes of current management strategies

The authors review and summarize the current literature regarding the epidemiology, clinical presentation and management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in elderly patients. Among elderly patients, the incidence of ulcerative colitis (UC) is higher than that of Crohn disease (CD). Elderly patients with a new diagnosis of UC are more likely to be male and have left-sided colitis. Elderly patients with a new diagnosis of CD are more likely to be female and have colonic disease. Conversely, increasing age at diagnosis has been associated with a lower likelihood of having any of a family history of IBD, perianal disease in CD and extraintestinal manifestations. Although response to drug therapies appears to be similar in elderly patients and younger individuals, the elderly are more likely to receive 5-aminosalicylic acid agents, and less likely to receive immunomodulators and biologics. Corticosteroid use in the elderly is comparable with use in younger individuals. The rates of surgical intervention appear to be lower for elderly CD patients but not elderly UC patients. Elderly individuals with UC are more likely to need urgent colectomy, which is associated with an increased mortality rate. Elective surgery is associated with similar outcomes among the elderly and young patients with IBD. Therefore, the use of immunomodulators and biologics, and earlier consideration of elective surgery for medically refractory disease in elderly patients with IBD, should be emphasized and further evaluated to prevent complications of chronic corticosteroid(s) use and to prevent emergency surgery.

Optimal vitamin D levels in Crohn's disease: a review

Vitamin D deficiency is common among patients with Crohn's disease. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) is the best measure of an individual's vitamin D status and current cut-off ranges for sufficiency are debatable. Several factors contribute to vitamin D deficiency in Crohn's disease. These include inadequate exposure to sunlight, inadequate dietary intake, impaired conversion of vitamin D to its active metabolite, increased catabolism, increased excretion and genetic variants in vitamin D hydroxylation and transport. The effects of low 25(OH)D on outcomes other than bone health are understudied in Crohn's disease. The aim of the present review is to discuss the potential roles of vitamin D and the possible levels required to achieve them. Emerging evidence suggests that vitamin D may have roles in innate and adaptive immunity, in the immune-pathogenesis of Crohn's disease, prevention of Crohn's disease-related hospitalisations and surgery, in reducing disease severity and in colon cancer prevention. The present literature appears to suggest that 25(OH)D concentrations of ≥75 nmol/l may be required for non-skeletal effects; however, further research on optimal levels is required.

Vitamin D as a novel therapy in inflammatory bowel disease: new hope or false dawn?

There is increasing scientific interest in the field of vitamin D research, moving the focus beyond bone health to other disease processes. Low circulating vitamin D levels have been reported as a risk factor for several pathophysiologically divergent diseases, including cancers, diabetes, CVD, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). But, therein, remains the challenge: can any single nutrient contribute to multiple complex disease mechanisms and, ultimately, have therapeutic potential? The aim of this review is to critically evaluate several strands of scientific evidence surrounding vitamin D and inflammation, primarily focusing on IBD. Epidemiological studies suggest an increased incidence of IBD and rheumatoid arthritis in countries of more northern latitudes, mirroring sunlight patterns. A considerable body of evidence supports the anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin D, at least in animal models of IBD. Although it is accepted that suboptimal vitamin D status is common in IBD, some studies suggest that this associates with more severe disease. With regard to treatment, the data are only beginning to emerge from randomised controlled trials to suggest that people with IBD may remain in remission longer when treated with oral vitamin D. In conclusion, several strands of evidence suggest that vitamin D may modify the immune response in IBD. There is a continued need for large well-designed clinical trials and mechanistic studies to determine if, and how, this emerging promise translates into tangible clinical benefits for people with chronic debilitating diseases such as IBD.

Inflammatory bowel disease: the classic gastrointestinal autoimmune disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an idiopathic disease thought to be caused by a dysregulated immune response to host intestinal microflora. The role of genetic factors is indicated by familial clustering of cases and higher incidence in monozygotic twins. An interaction between genetic and environmental factors is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of these disorders. Changes in diet, antibiotic use and intestinal colonization have likely contributed to increased prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease in the past century. Environmental factors or infections are thought to alter the barrier function of the epithelium, leading to loss of immune tolerance to intestinal antigens. This loss of tolerance activates dendritic cells, triggering their transport to mesenteric lymph nodes, where they promote differentiation of naïve T cells to TH-1, TH-2, TH-17 cells or T regulatory cells. Production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines then follows. Circulating effector and regulatory cells enter the intestine through a highly selective mechanism that involves interaction with the vascular endothelium, diapedesis through the vessel wall and migration to the lamina propria. There are several genes implicated in IBD. Mutations in certain genes can cause defective down regulation of the innate immune response, ineffective clearance of intracellular bacteria and proliferation of both luminal and mucosal-adherent commensal bacteria. IBD is a chronic relapsing inflammatory condition that is immune mediated. Results from research in animal models, human genetics, basic science and clinical trials provide evidence that it is heterogeneous, characterized by various genetic abnormalities, leading to a dysregulated and overly aggressive T cell response to commensal enteric bacteria. Different genetic abnormalities can be characterized as causing defects in mucosal barrier function, immunoregulation or bacterial clearance. Advances in our understanding of the interplay between components of innate and adaptive immune response will be central to future progress.

INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE IN HISPANIC COMMUNITIES: a concerted South American approach could identify the aetiology of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

Despite intensive research we remain ignorant of the cause of both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The dramatic rise in incidence, particularly of Crohn’s disease, points towards environmental factors as playing a significant role. A major purpose of this review is to stimulate a co-ordinated international effort to establish an on-going data base in Central and South America in which new cases are registered and through which investigations into aetiology can be conducted. In both Brazil and Mexico there is evidence that the incidence of ulcerative colitis is increasing, as also is the case for Crohn’s disease in Brazil. The pattern of disease is, therefore, directly comparable to that reported from Europe and the USA during the 1970s and 1980s, but much lower than contemporary data from Spain. Although the incidence is similar to that reported from Portugal, the studies from Almada and Braga were conducted a decade before that from Sao Paulo. The situation in Brazil compares dramatically with Uruguay and Argentina where the reported incidence of inflammatory bowel disease is significantly less. However, with growing industrialisation it is likely that there will be an explosion of inflammatory bowel disease in some areas of Central and South America over the next 20 years. The creation of a network of researchers across South and Central America is a real possibility and through a Concerted Action there is the possibility that major strides could be made towards understanding the cause of inflammatory bowel disease and so develop preventive strategies.

Epidemiology and temporal trends (2000-2012) of inflammatory bowel disease in adult patients in a central region of Spain

BACKGROUND AND AIM

A growing incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been reported recently in southern Europe, with records of pediatric cases confirming these tendencies in Spain. Data on adult populations, however, have not been provided for over 10 years and need to be updated.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A multicenter retrospective registry of all adult patients with a diagnosis of IBD, including both Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), attending five public hospitals covering a population of 514 368 inhabitants, was assessed.

RESULTS

In 2012, the prevalence of CD and UC in adults was 137.17/100 000 inhabitants (95% confidence interval 114-160) and 99.84/100 000 inhabitants (95% confidence interval 79-119), respectively. The mean incidence rate during the period 2000-2012 of CD and UC was 8.9 and 5.6/100 000 inhabitants per year, respectively. Most of our patients (75.55%) had been diagnosed during the last 13 years. CD affected both sexes equally; a trend toward a progressive increase in the age at diagnosis, ileal location, and inflammatory behavior was documented for CD patients. In contrast, UC affected male patients with a higher frequency (57.8%; P=0.015), specifically those older than 40 years of age. Age at UC onset tended to increase progressively from 2000 to 2012 (P<0.001), but the extension on the disease remained unchanged.

CONCLUSION

IBD is a highly prevalent disorder in our region, reaching the incidence of CD similar to the figures provided for Northern Europe. Changes in IBD localization, behavior, and age at diagnosis were documented during the period 2000-2012.

Demography and clinical course of ulcerative colitis in Arabs - a study based on the Montreal classification

OBJECTIVE

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is generally considered a disease of the Caucasian populations in developed countries, but its incidence is increasing rapidly in many developing countries, including the Middle East. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical epidemiology of UC in Arabs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This cross-sectional medical record-based descriptive study collected sociodemographic and clinical information on 182 Arab patients with UC in Kuwait. Age at diagnosis, extent and severity of disease were determined according to the Montreal classification. results: Among the 182 patients, 91 (50.0%) were males. The median age at diagnosis was 28.5 years. Family history of UC was reported by 26 (14.3%) patients. The extent of the disease was limited to the rectum in 34 (18.7%) patients, left sided in 67 (36.8%) and pan colitis in 81 (44.5%). At the time of inclusion in the study, 127 (69.8%) patients were in clinical remission, 53 (29.1%) had mild-to-moderate disease and 2 (1.1%) had severe colitis. Younger age at diagnosis and non-smoking were associated with more extensive colitis. The majority of patients were treated with mesalamine, steroids and immunomodulators, while biologic therapy and surgery were needed in 5% and 4% of the patients, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

UC presents more commonly at younger age among Arabs in Kuwait. Extensive disease at presentation is associated with younger age at diagnosis and absence of tobacco smoking. There also appears to be less need for surgery and biologic therapy for the disease in this population.

Macrophages - sensors and effectors coordinating skin damage and repair

Restoration of skin integrity and homeostasis following injury is a vital process. Wound healing disorders, including chronic skin ulcers and pathological scarring, are of major clinical impact. The current therapeutic approaches are often not sufficient. The development of novel efficient therapies requires a thorough understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms. A cardinal feature of non-healing skin ulcers and excessive scarring is a prolonged inflammatory response at the wound site, which aborts the healing response. Modulation of the local immune response may be an effective therapeutic strategy to correct impaired healing conditions. Yet, the specific mechanisms of inflammation, particularly the role of the diverse leukocyte lineages attracted to the site of tissue damage, have not been resolved. Recent findings in diverse experimental model systems and clinical studies have refined the understanding of monocyte/macrophage biology and the role of cells of the monocytic lineage in tissue regeneration. Thus, monocytes/macrophages are emerging as novel and interesting therapeutic targets to interfere in wound healing pathologies. In this article we will review the role of monocytes/macrophages in skin repair in the light of the recent literature and findings from our own group. This article will provide a rationale for monocyte/macrophage-based therapies to facilitate the healing response.

The role of vitamin D in gastrointestinal inflammation

The emerging role of vitamin D as a regulator of both innate and adaptive immune responses has encouraged the investigation of its role in the pathogenesis of a variety of autoimmune conditions including the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Animal models consistently demonstrate that vitamin D significantly impacts on the modulation of astrointestinal inflammation, while epidemiological and observational data show an inverse relationship between vitamin D status and the onset/progression of Crohn's disease as well as the development of colorectal cancer. As vitamin D supplementation is readily available, at low cost, it is a very attractive potential therapeutic option. The biological plausibility for a role for vitamin D in inflammation modulation, the potential genetic links associated with vitamin D metabolism and the clinical aspects for it in IBD will be discussed.

A questionnaire survey of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease in India

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is not uncommon in children and is an important cause of morbidity. Since information on IBD in Indian children is sparse, the study aimed at highlighting the salient features in them.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A questionnaire survey was done among 221 children and adolescents with IBD [ulcerative colitis (UC) 93 (42.1 %); Crohn's disease (CD) 122 (55.2 %); unclassified (IBD-U) 6 (2.7 %)] across seven centers in India. The cut-off age was 18 years and below.

RESULTS

The mean age of presentation for UC and CD was 10.2 ± 4.4 and 11.0 ± 4.5 years, respectively, with no gender difference. Diarrhea (69.9 %, p = 0.001) and blood in the stools (90.3 %, p = 0.0001) were common in UC, whereas abdominal pain (73.8 %, p = 0.01), fever (39.3 %, p = 0.0001), anemia (64.7 %, p = 0.001), and growth failure (76.2 %, p = 0.0001) were common in CD. Extraintestinal manifestations (EIM) were a feature in 23.6 % and 36.1 % of UC and CD, respectively. Pancolitis (E3) was predominant in UC (70.9 %) and 88 % required steroids. Ileocolonic CD (L3) was common in 72.9 %; 76.2 % required azathioprine for maintenance. Of the children with UC, 11.8 % had complications like massive hemorrhage and toxic megacolon, while 27 % of CD had fistulae, perianal abscess, stricture, and perforation. Biologicals were used in 0.8 % of severe UC and in 12.2 % of CD. In UC, 4.3 % required surgical intervention.

CONCLUSION

Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (P-IBD) in India shares similarities with adult-onset IBD. Distinctive features were growth failure and more severe forms of the disease necessitating immunomodulators.

Carbohydrate intake in the etiology of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND

Diet may have a role in the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease. In previous studies, the associations between increased intakes of carbohydrates, sugar, starch, and inflammatory bowel disease are inconsistent. However, few prospective studies have investigated the associations between these macronutrients and incident Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODS

A total of 401,326 men and women were recruited between 1991 and 1998. At recruitment, dietary intakes of carbohydrate, sugar, and starch were measured using validated food frequency questionnaires. The cohort was monitored identifying participants who developed incident CD or UC. Cases were matched with 4 controls, and odds ratios were calculated for quintiles of total carbohydrate, sugar, and starch intakes adjusted for total energy intake, body mass index, and smoking.

RESULTS

One hundred ten participants developed CD, and 244 participants developed UC during follow-up. The adjusted odds ratio for the highest versus the lowest quintiles of total carbohydrate intake for CD was 0.87, 95% CI = 0.24 to 3.12 and for UC 1.46, 95% CI = 0.62 to 3.46, with no significant trends across quintiles for either (CD, P trend = 0.70; UC, P trend = 0.41). Similarly, no associations were observed with intakes of total sugar (CD, P trend = 0.50; UC, P trend = 0.71) or starch (CD, P trend = 0.69; UC, P trend = 0.17).

CONCLUSIONS

The lack of associations with these nutrients is in agreement with many case-control studies that have not identified associations with CD or UC. As there is biological plausibility for how specific carbohydrates could have an etiological role in inflammatory bowel disease, future epidemiological work should assess individual carbohydrates, although there does not seem to be a macronutrient effect.

Incidence and initial disease course of inflammatory bowel diseases in 2011 in Europe and Australia: results of the 2011 ECCO-EpiCom inception cohort

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The aim of the present study was to validate the IBD (inflammatory bowel diseases) incidence reported in the 2010 ECCO-EpiCom (European Crohn's and Colitis Organization-Epidemiological Committee) inception cohort by including a second independent inception cohort from participating centers in 2011 and an Australian center to investigate whether there is a difference in the incidence of IBD between Eastern and Western European countries and Australia.

METHODS

Fourteen centers from 5 Eastern and 9 Western European countries and one center from Australia participated in the ECCO-EpiCom 2011 inception cohort. Patients' data regarding disease type, socio-demographic factors, extraintestinal manifestations and therapy were entered into the Web-based EpiCom database, www.ecco-epicom.eu.

RESULTS

A total of 711 adult patients were diagnosed during the inclusion year 2011, 178 (25%) from Eastern, 461 (65%) from Western Europe and 72 (10%) from Australia; 259 (37%) patients were diagnosed with Crohn's disease, 380 (53%) with ulcerative colitis and 72 (10%) with IBD unclassified. The mean annual incidence rate for IBD was 11.3/100,000 in Eastern Europe, 14.0/100,000 in Western Europe and 30.3/100,000 in Australia. Significantly more patients were diagnosed with complicated disease at diagnosis in Eastern Europe compared to Western Europe (43% vs. 27%, p=0.02).

CONCLUSION

Incidence rates, disease phenotype and initial treatment characteristics in the 2011 ECCO-EpiCom cohort were not significantly different from that reported in the 2010 cohort.

Age-related differences in presentation and course of inflammatory bowel disease: an update on the population-based literature

Current data indicate a change in the epidemiology of inflammatory bowel diseases. The disease has become more widespread and the rise in the incidence has been reported in all age groups including early childhood and according to recent data also the elderly population. Some earlier studies have suggested that the phenotype and natural history of the disease may be different according to age of onset. Recently the importance of age at onset was reported in two population-based studies from France and Hungary including both paediatric and adult onset inception cohorts. Early onset disease was associated with more frequent disease extension in both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis and in most but not all studies with higher frequency of complicated disease behaviour. This is also accompanied by striking differences in the medical management with earlier and more prevalent (2-3-fold) use of immunosuppressives and to some extent biologicals in patients with early compared to elderly-onset disease, especially in Crohn's disease. However, the results of population-based studies on impact of age on surgery rates in Crohn´s disease as well as ulcerative colitis are conflicting. Furthermore, published data indicate that relative but not absolute risk of developing cancer and mortality is higher in patients with an early onset disease. Critical reviews that focus on the importance of age at onset in inflammatory bowel disease are rare. Therefore, the aim of this review is to describe the differences in epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and natural history of paediatric and elderly-onset inflammatory bowel disease based on studies performed in general population.

Drug therapies for ulcerative proctitis: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Patients with ulcerative colitis limited to the proctum are considered to have ulcerative proctitis (UP). In patients with more extensive ulcerative colitis, treatment occurs in a step-up fashion (5-ASA, corticosteroids, thiopurines, anti-TNF-α agents), a strategy which has proven effective. Although treatment of UP occurs using the same step-up design, the efficacy of these therapies in UP is scarcely studied. The objectives were to systematically review the literature for randomized controlled trials studying drug therapies for induction and maintenance of remission in patients with UP.

METHODS

Electronic databases and reference lists of review articles were searched. The primary outcomes were clinical remission induction rate and the maintained clinical remission rate. Secondary outcomes were induction and maintenance of endoscopic and histological remission. Relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for were calculated.

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies (1834 patients) were included. Eighteen trials investigated induction and 5 studied maintenance of remission. Topical 5-ASA was significantly superior to placebo for induction (RR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.63-3.51) and maintenance (RR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.21-6.45) of clinical remission, regardless of dose or formulation. Subgroup analysis of 5-ASA suppositories also showed superiority over placebo for induction of clinical (RR, 3.07; 95% CI, 1.70-5.55) and endoscopic remission (RR, 2.64; 95% CI, 1.85-3.77).

CONCLUSIONS

Topical 5-ASA is superior to placebo for the induction and maintenance of clinical remission and for the induction of endoscopic remission. The efficacy of corticosteroids, thiopurines, and anti-TNFα has been insufficiently studied in patients with UP.

Ethnic variations in five lower gastrointestinal diseases: Scottish health and ethnicity linkage study

OBJECTIVES

Our objective was to augment the limited evidence mainly from local, clinical studies of ethnic differences in gastrointestinal disorders. Our question was: are there ethnic variations in hospitalisation/death for lower gastrointestinal disorders in Scotland?

SETTING

Scotland.

POPULATION

This retrospective-cohort linked 4.65 (of 4.9) million people in the 2001 census of Scotland (providing data on ethnicity, country of birth and indicators of socioeconomic deprivation) to 9 years of National Health Service hospitalisation and death records.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES AND ANALYSIS

For appendicitis, we studied all ages; for irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and diverticular disease, we included those ≥20 years. Using Poisson regression (robust variance) we calculated, by ethnic group and sex, first-hospitalisation/death age-adjusted rates per 100,000 person-years, and relative risks (RRs) with 95% CIs multiplied by 100, so the White Scottish reference population had an RR=100.

RESULTS

There were ethnic variations; for example, for irritable bowel syndrome, RRs (95% CIs) were comparatively high in Other White British women (128.4 (111.0 to 148.6)), and low in Pakistani women (75.1 (60.6 to 93.1)). For appendicitis, RRs were high in men in Other White British (145.2 (127.8 to 164.9)), and low in most non-White groups, for example, Pakistanis (73.8 (56.9 to 95.6)). For ulcerative colitis, RRs were high in Indian (169.8 (109.7 to 262.7)) and Pakistani (160.8 (104.2 to 248.2)) men. For Crohn's disease, the RR was high in Pakistani men (209.2 (149.6 to 292.6)). For diverticular disease, RRs were high in Irish men (176.0 (156.9 to 197.5)), and any Mixed background women (144.6 (107.4 to 194.8)), and low in most non-White groups, for example, Chinese men (47.1 (31.0 to 71.6) and women (46.0 (30.4 to 69.8)).

CONCLUSIONS

Appendicitis and diverticular disease were comparatively low in most non-White groups, while ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease were mostly higher in South Asians. Describing and understanding such patterns may help clinical practice and research internationally.

Epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease in Québec: recent trends

BACKGROUND

Among 10 provinces in Canada, Québec has the second highest incidence of Crohn's disease (CD), based on data collected more than a decade ago. To date, there are no reports on the occurrence of ulcerative colitis (UC) and no updates on the occurrence of CD in Québec. We sought to describe trends in the annual incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease in Québec during 2001 to 2008.

METHODS

A population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted using the administrative health databases of Québec. IBD cases were identified using a validated case definition requiring at least 1 hospitalization or 4 physician claims within a 2-year period. Incident cases were defined as individuals who had been free of inflammatory bowel disease for at least 2 years before the 2-year time span of the case definition.

RESULTS

We identified 24,377 CD and 15,346 UC cases. The mean age at diagnosis was 39 and 46 years for CD and UC, respectively. There was a significant decline in the annual incidence from 2001 to 2008 for both CD (P < 0.003) and UC (P < 0.001). No significant change with time was found in pediatric cases. The point prevalence in 2008 was 277 CD and 164 UC cases per 100,000 population. The average incidence was 17.4 CD cases per 100,000 person-years and 10.1 UC cases per 100,000 person-years. There was no predominance of urban or rural cases for either CD or UC.

CONCLUSIONS

During 2001 to 2008, annual incidence for both CD and UC declined in Québec. There was no significant change with time in incidence for pediatric cases.

The incidence of ulcerative colitis (1995-2011) and Crohn's disease (1995-2012) - based on nationwide Danish registry data

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The incidence of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) has increased during the 20th century in North America and Western Europe. However, there are conflicting reports whether the incidence has declined, stabilized or even continued to increase. No nationwide Danish data on the incidence of UC and CD exist after 1992, and therefore we studied the incidence of UC (1995 through 2011) and CD (1995 through 2012).

METHODS

Based on data from the Danish National Patient Registry we identified patients recorded with a first time diagnosis of UC or CD in the study periods. Among these - patients were only included in the study as incident cases if they had at least one more discharge diagnosis of UC/CD or at least three subsequent outpatient visits.

RESULTS

We identified 17,500 patients with UC and 7863 patients with CD. The mean incidence rate for UC in 1995-1998 was 14.4 per 100,000 per year for women and 13.8 for men, increasing to 23.2 per 100,000 per year for women and 23.4 for men in the period of 2009-2011. The mean incidence rate for CD in 1995-1998 was 7.8 per 100,000 per year for women and 5.6 for men, increasing to 10.3 per 100,000 per year for women and 8.9 for men in the period of 2009-2012.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on nationwide Danish data from the last two decades, the incidence rates of UC and CD have continued to increase.

Occurrence of inflammatory bowel disease in central Italy: a study based on health information systems

BACKGROUND

The burden of inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, has never been estimated in Italy using administrative data sources. Our objective was to measure the occurrence of inflammatory bowel diseases in the Lazio region (Italy) using administrative data and to test the sensitivity of the Crohn's disease case-finding algorithm with respect to clinical diagnosis.

METHODS

We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study identifying prevalent and incident cases. We estimated occurrence rates of inflammatory bowel diseases using hospital discharges or activation of copayment exemptions. Sensitivity was calculated from 2358 subjects with clinical diagnosis of Crohn's disease.

RESULTS

Exemptions identified more than 20% of the cases. Prevalence rates (per 100,000) on December 31, 2009 for males and females were 177 and 144 for ulcerative colitis and 91 and 81 for Crohn's disease, respectively. The incidence rates during the years 2008-2009 were 14.5 and 12.2 for ulcerative colitis and 7.4 and 6.5 for Crohn's disease for males and females, respectively. The sensitivity of the administrative sources was 82.2%.

CONCLUSIONS

Health and population data sources allow the estimation of inflammatory bowel diseases occurrence. The age-specific peaks of diagnosis were consistent with those reported in other studies. Sensitivity may be affected by temporal changes in the quality of the data sources.

Lower regional and temporal ultraviolet exposure is associated with increased rates and severity of inflammatory bowel disease hospitalisation

BACKGROUND

In the northern hemisphere, the incidence of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) has a north-south gradient, suggesting a link between ultraviolet (UV) exposure or vitamin D status and the pathogenesis of IBD.

AIM

To test the association of UV exposure with the rates and severity of IBD hospitalisation.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective nationwide analysis of 649 932 Crohn's disease (CD), 384 267 ulcerative colitis (UC), and 288 894 297 non-IBD hospitalisations in the US between 1998 and 2010. Mean UV exposure was assigned to each hospitalisation using surface measures from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Relative rates across UV exposures were estimated for IBD hospitalisations, prolonged hospitalisations, bowel surgeries and deaths.

RESULTS

Among IBD patients, lower UV exposures had increased hospitalisation rates for CD (217.8 vs. 182.5 per 100 000 overall hospitalisations with low and very high UV, respectively; P trend <0.001) and UC (123.2 vs. 113.8 per 100 000; P trend = 0.033). Low UV groups had greater relative rates of prolonged hospitalisations [CD: 1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-1.19; UC: 1.21, 95% CI 1.13-1.30], bowel surgeries (CD: 1.24, 95% CI 1.16-1.32; UC: 1.21, 95% CI 1.09-1.33), and CD deaths (CD: 1.76, 95% CI 1.14-2.71; UC: 1.24, 95% CI 0.92-1.67). Among non-IBD patients, low UV was associated with prolonged hospitalisations (1.09; 95% CI 1.07-1.11) and deaths (1.13; 95% CI 1.09-1.17), but not bowel surgeries (1.01; 95% CI 0.99-1.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Lower ultraviolet exposure is associated with greater rates of hospitalisation, prolonged hospitalisation and the need for bowel surgery in IBD. This trend for bowel surgery was not seen with non-IBD encounters.

Thromboembolism in inflammatory bowel disease: results from a prospective, population-based European inception cohort

BACKGROUND

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have proven an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), particularly when hospitalized. The estimate of the true risk varies considerably between studies, primarily due to differences in methodology. We set out to determine the incidence of VTE in a population-based European inception cohort.

METHODS

IBD patients were incepted into a cohort that was prospectively followed from the early 1990s to the early 2000s. A total of 1145 patients were followed for a total of 10,634 patient-years (p.y.).

RESULTS

A total of 19 thromboembolic events were identified - 13 deep vein thrombosis and 6 with pulmonary embolism. The incidence rate of VTE was 1.8 per 1000 p.y.

CONCLUSION

The risk of VTE was elevated in this IBD cohort but lower than previously reported. The highest risk was seen in hospitalized patients, but corticosteroids-requiring disease in outpatients also conferred some risk.

Place of upbringing in early childhood as related to inflammatory bowel diseases in adulthood: a population-based cohort study in Northern Europe

Background The two inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, has increased rapidly during the twentieth century, but the aetiology is still poorly understood. Impaired immunological competence due to decreasing biodiversity and altered microbial stimulation is a suggested explanation. Objective Place of upbringing was used as a proxy for the level and diversity of microbial stimulation to investigate the effects on the prevalence of IBD in adulthood. Methods Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) III is a postal follow-up questionnaire of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) cohorts established in 1989–1992. The study population was 10,864 subjects born 1945–1971 in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Estonia, who responded to questionnaires in 2000–2002 and 2010–2012. Data were analysed in logistic and Cox regression models taking age, sex, smoking and body mass index into consideration. Results Being born and raised on a livestock farm the first 5 years of life was associated with a lower risk of IBD compared to city living in logistic (OR 0.54, 95 % CI 0.31; 0.94) and Cox regression models (HR 0.55, 95 % CI 0.31; 0.98). Random-effect meta-analysis did not identify geographical difference in this association. Furthermore, there was a significant trend comparing livestock farm living, village and city living (p < 0.01). Sub-analyses showed that the protective effect was only present among subjects born after 1952 (OR 0.25, 95 % CI 0.11; 0.61). Conclusion This study suggests a protective effect from livestock farm living in early childhood on the occurrence of IBD in adulthood, however only among subjects born after 1952. We speculate that lower microbial diversity is an explanation for the findings.

Epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease: focus on Asia

The epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is changing globally. Incidence and prevalence may have stabilized in high-incidence areas such as North America and Europe but they continue to rise in previously low-incidence areas such as Eastern Europe, Asia, and much of the developing world. This epidemiological shift likely relates to westernization of lifestyle, changes in diet, and improved hygiene as part of socioeconomic development in developing countries. In Asia, UC is more prevalent than CD, although the UC:CD ratio is narrowing in certain areas. Clinical manifestations of IBD in Asia resemble the Western population, but with some differences, including higher prevalence of males and ileo-colonic CD, less familial clustering, lower surgical rates and extra-intestinal manifestations. These differences may relate to time, genetics and environmental factors. Studying the epidemiology of IBD in an area of rapidly increasing incidence may lead to discovery of important etiologic factors associated with disease development.

Association between maternal inflammatory bowel disease and adverse perinatal outcomes

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with ischemic/inflammatory conditions during pregnancy.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study using the 2000 to 2012 Kaiser Permanente Southern California maternally-linked medical records (n=395 781). The two major subtypes of IBD, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's diseases were studied. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were used to quantify the associations.

RESULT

A pregnancy complicated by IBD was associated with increased incidence of small-for-gestational age birth (OR=1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.14 to 1.88), spontaneous preterm birth (OR=1.32, 95% CI=1.00 to 1.76) and preterm premature rupture of membranes (OR=1.95, 95% CI=1.26 to 3.02). Further stratifying by IBD subtypes, only ulcerative colitis was significantly associated with increased incidence of ischemic placental disease, spontaneous preterm birth and preterm premature rupture of membranes.

CONCLUSION

The findings underscore the potential impact of maternal IBD on adverse perinatal outcomes. Clinicians should be aware that the association between IBD and adverse perinatal outcome varies by IBD subtypes.

Genetic studies of Crohn's disease: past, present and future

The exact aetiology of Crohn's disease is unknown, though it is clear from early epidemiological studies that a combination of genetic and environmental risk factors contributes to an individual's disease susceptibility. Here, we review the history of gene-mapping studies of Crohn's disease, from the linkage-based studies that first implicated the NOD2 locus, through to modern-day genome-wide association studies that have discovered over 140 loci associated with Crohn's disease and yielded novel insights into the biological pathways underlying pathogenesis. We describe on-going and future gene-mapping studies that utilise next generation sequencing technology to pinpoint causal variants and identify rare genetic variation underlying Crohn's disease risk. We comment on the utility of genetic markers for predicting an individual's disease risk and discuss their potential for identifying novel drug targets and influencing disease management. Finally, we describe how these studies have shaped and continue to shape our understanding of the genetic architecture of Crohn's disease.

Efficacy and safety of adalimumab for the Crohn's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of published randomized placebo-controlled trials

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adalimumab (ADA) for Crohn's disease.

METHODS

Electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and the Science Citation Index, were searched to retrieve relevant trials. We estimated pooled estimates of the odds ratio (OR) and relevant 95% confidence interval (CI) using fixed effects model or random effects model as appropriate.

RESULTS

Six randomized placebo-controlled studies met the selection criteria. Short-term clinical response/remission and long-term remission were better in the ADA groups than in the control groups (P < 0.05), both in anti-TNF-naive patients and in subjects who lost their response and/or became intolerant to infliximab (IFX). And ADA was also effective for patients who were previously treated with IFX, and its efficacy in infliximab-exposed patients was probably less than in infliximab-naive patients. In patients with active Crohn's disease (CD), ADA therapy was more effective than placebo for obtaining complete fistula closure. In comparison with placebo, ADA does not increase the risk of serious adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

ADA appears to be effective in achieving short-term clinical response/remission, long-term remission, and complete fistula healing in CD, including patients not manageable with IFX, and appears to have a favorable safety profile. A longer duration of follow-up and a larger number of patients are required to better assess the safety profile of ADA in CD.

Latitude, sunshine, and human lactase phenotype distributions may contribute to geographic patterns of modern disease: the inflammatory bowel disease model

Countries with high lactase nonpersistence (LNP) or low lactase persistence (LP) populations have lower rates of some "western" diseases, mimicking the effects of sunshine and latitude. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ie, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is putatively also influenced by sunshine. Recent availability of worldwide IBD rates and lactase distributions allows more extensive comparisons. The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent to which modern day lactase distributions interact with latitude, sunshine exposure, and IBD rates. National IBD rates, national distributions of LP/LNP, and population-weighted average national annual ultraviolet B exposure were obtained, estimated, or calculated from the literature. Negative binomial analysis was used to assess the relationship between the three parameters and IBD rates. Analyses for 55 countries were grouped in three geographic domains, ie, global, Europe, and non-Europe. In Europe, both latitude and ultraviolet B exposure correlate well with LP/LNP and IBD. In non-Europe, latitude and ultraviolet B exposure correlate weakly with LP/LNP, but the latter retains a more robust correlation with IBD. In univariate analysis, latitude, ultraviolet B exposure, and LP/LNP all had significant relationships with IBD. Multivariate analysis showed that lactase distributions provided the best model of fit for IBD. The model of IBD reveals the evolutionary effects of the human lactase divide, and suggests that latitude, ultraviolet B exposure, and LP/LNP mimic each other because LP/LNP follows latitudinal directions toward the equator. However, on a large scale, lactase patterns also follow lateral polarity. The effects of LP/LNP in disease are likely to involve complex interactions.

Disease course and surgery rates in inflammatory bowel disease: a population-based, 7-year follow-up study in the era of immunomodulating therapy

OBJECTIVES

In this population-based 7-year follow-up of incident patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD), we aimed to describe disease progression and surgery rates in an era influenced by the increased use of immunosuppressants and the introduction of biological therapy.

METHODS

From 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2004, all incident cases (562) of patients diagnosed with UC, CD, or inflammatory bowel disease unclassified in a well-defined Copenhagen area were registered. Medical records were reviewed from 1 November 2011 to 30 November 2012, and clinical data were registered. Clinical data on surgery, cancer, and death were cross-checked with register data from national health administrative databases in order to include missed data.

RESULTS

In total, 513 patients (213 CD and 300 UC) entered the follow-up study. Twenty-six patients changed diagnosis during the follow-up. Changes in disease localization and behavior in CD according to the Vienna classification were observed in 23.9% and 15.0% of the patients, respectively, during follow-up. In total, 28.3% of the 300 UC patients had disease progression during the follow-up. The overall use of systemic steroids, immunomodulators, and anti-tumor necrosis factor agents in CD was 86.4%, 64.3%, and 23.5%, respectively. The rate of first-time intestinal resection in CD was 29.1% (n=62), and the 7-year cumulative risk was 28.5%. The cumulative risk of colectomy in UC was 12.5% at 7 years.

CONCLUSIONS

UC and CD are dynamic diseases that progress in extent and behavior over time. The resection rate in CD and the colectomy rate in UC are still relatively high, although the rates seem to have decreased compared with historic data, which could be due to an increase in the use of immunomodulating therapy.

Current overview of extrinsic and intrinsic factors in etiology and progression of inflammatory bowel diseases

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic, relapsing disorders affecting gastrointestinal (GI) tract and associated with intestinal mucosa damage and inflammation. The principal therapeutic goals in IBD include control of the intestinal inflammation and treatment of the major symptoms, mainly abdominal pain and diarrhea. Current therapeutic strategies for IBD rely on the use of non-specific anti-inflammatory agents and immunosuppressive drugs (e.g. aminosalicylates, monoclonal antibodies, and antibiotics), which cause severe side effects, and - in a significant number of patients - do not induce long-term benefits. In this review, we summarize the epidemiology and the most important risk factors of IBD, including genetic, immunological and environmental. Our main focus is to discuss pharmacological targets for current and future treatments of IBD.

Geographic mapping of Crohn's disease and its relation to affluence in jiangsu province, an eastern coastal province of china

Background. Geographical variation in the incidence of Crohn's disease (CD) has been reported in Europe and North American. However, there are no comparable data in mainland China. Methods. We retrospectively identified incident cases of CD patients registered in Jinling hospital during 2003 to 2012. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) was calculated for each area of Jiangsu province and a thematic map of CD was made according to the local SIR. The association between incidence and local economic status was revealed by correlation between SIR of CD and different local economic indicators. Results. A total of 653 CD patients (male-to-female ratio, 1.8 : 1) from Jiangsu province were included. A steady increase was observed in the number of CD patients over the period of observation. Disease map of SIR showed a pronounced geographic concentration of CD in the south part of Jiangsu province. Spearman correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between local SIR of CD and local economic indicators. Conclusions. There is a marked geographic variability in CD incidence across Jiangsu province. CD incidence in affluent areas seems to be higher than that in less affluent areas. Further multicenter population-based studies are needed to assess the real disease map of CD.

Association between high dietary intake of the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid and reduced risk of Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

There are plausible mechanisms for how dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, could prevent Crohn's disease (CD).

AIM

To conduct a prospective study to investigate the association between increased intake of DHA and risk of CD.

METHODS

Overall, 229 702 participants were recruited from nine European centres between 1991 and 1998. At recruitment, dietary intakes of DHA and fatty acids were measured using validated food frequency questionnaires. The cohort was monitored through to June 2004 to identify participants who developed incident CD. In a nested case-control analysis, each case was matched with four controls; odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for quintiles of DHA intake, adjusted for total energy intake, smoking, other dietary fatty acids, dietary vitamin D and body mass index.

RESULTS

Seventy-three participants developed incident CD. All higher quintiles of DHA intake were inversely associated with development of CD; the highest quintile had the greatest effect size (OR = 0.07; 95% CI = 0.02-0.81). The OR trend across quintiles of DHA was 0.54 (95% CI = 0.30-0.99, Ptrend  = 0.04). Including BMI in the multivariate analysis, due to its correlation with dietary fat showed similar associations. There were no associations with the other dietary fatty acids studied.

CONCLUSION

There were inverse associations, with a biological gradient between increasing dietary docosahexaenoic acid intakes and incident Crohn's disease. Further studies in other populations should measure docosahexaenoic acid to determine if the association is consistent and the hypothesis tested in randomised controlled trials of purely docosahexaenoic acid supplementation.

East-West gradient in the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in Europe: the ECCO-EpiCom inception cohort

OBJECTIVE

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing in Eastern Europe. The reasons for these changes remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether an East-West gradient in the incidence of IBD in Europe exists.

DESIGN

A prospective, uniformly diagnosed, population based inception cohort of IBD patients in 31 centres from 14 Western and eight Eastern European countries covering a total background population of approximately 10.1 million people was created. One-third of the centres had previous experience with inception cohorts. Patients were entered into a low cost, web based epidemiological database, making participation possible regardless of socioeconomic status and prior experience.

RESULTS

1515 patients aged 15 years or older were included, of whom 535 (35%) were diagnosed with Crohn's disease (CD), 813 (54%) with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 167 (11%) with IBD unclassified (IBDU). The overall incidence rate ratios in all Western European centres were 1.9 (95% CI 1.5 to 2.4) for CD and 2.1 (95% CI 1.8 to 2.6) for UC compared with Eastern European centres. The median crude annual incidence rates per 100,000 in 2010 for CD were 6.5 (range 0-10.7) in Western European centres and 3.1 (range 0.4-11.5) in Eastern European centres, for UC 10.8 (range 2.9-31.5) and 4.1 (range 2.4-10.3), respectively, and for IBDU 1.9 (range 0-39.4) and 0 (range 0-1.2), respectively. In Western Europe, 92% of CD, 78% of UC and 74% of IBDU patients had a colonoscopy performed as the diagnostic procedure compared with 90%, 100% and 96%, respectively, in Eastern Europe. 8% of CD and 1% of UC patients in both regions underwent surgery within the first 3 months of the onset of disease. 7% of CD patients and 3% of UC patients from Western Europe received biological treatment as rescue therapy. Of all European CD patients, 20% received only 5-aminosalicylates as induction therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

An East-West gradient in IBD incidence exists in Europe. Among this inception cohort--including indolent and aggressive cases--international guidelines for diagnosis and initial treatment are not being followed uniformly by physicians.

[Comparison of the results of laparotomy and laparoscopic surgery in patients with Crohn's disease]

INTRODUCTION

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease which may affect different parts of the gastrointestinal tract.

AIM

To compare retrospectively the results of laparotomy and laparoscopic surgery performed in patients with Crohn's disease between January 1, 2005 and October 31, 2012 in the Department of Surgery, University of Szeged, Hungary.

METHOD

Patients were divided into two groups based on the types of surgery; 103 patients underwent laparotomy and 30 patients had laparoscopic surgery programmed. 22 patients had 24 primary acute interventions.

RESULTS

The mean age was significantly lower in the laparoscopic surgery group (p = 0.042). The laparoscopic ileocecal resections have been found significantly shorter than laparotomies (p = 0.033). When ileocecal resection was performed the operation time was significantly longer (p = 0.033) while hospitalization time (p = 0.025) and intensive care unit treatment time (p<0.001) were shorter and the bowel passage also started earlier in the laparoscopic group as compared to the laparotomy group.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic surgery results in smaller surgical trauma, better cosmetic outcome, shorter hospitalization time and not higher complication- and morbidity-rate as well as shorter operation time in certain cases. However, it requires more qualified surgical team and the operation expenses are higher.

Incidence and paris classification of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease

New epidemiological data suggest that the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing. As a result the burden of disease accounts for more strains to the health care system. The clinical variability queries whether disease characteristics are related to clinical outcome. Our aim was to delineate the latest results of incidence trends in pediatric IBD and to compare the first experiences with Paris Classification. Incidence of pediatric IBD has been increasing in Western Europe and in Eastern Europe. To better characterize IBD, Paris Classification was introduced and validated recently. Ileocolonic involvement is the most characteristic disease location in Crohn's disease (CD) based on applying Paris Classification. The rate of perianal disease and complicated behaviour in CD was similar. It is of interest that CD patients with colonic involvement were less likely to have stricturing disease compared with patients with ileal involvement. In addition, pancolitis dominated in ulcerative colitis (UC). However, most countries lack prospective, nationwide epidemiological studies to estimate incidence trends. This review emphasizes the importance of nationwide registries that enroll all pediatric IBD cases serving reliable data for "everyday practice." These first reports have shown that Paris Classification is a useful tool to determine the pediatric IBD phenotype.

Intrauterine exposure and pharmacology of conventional thiopurine therapy in pregnant patients with inflammatory bowel disease

OBJECTIVE

Several studies have demonstrated a favourable safety profile for thiopurine use for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) during pregnancy. We performed a study in pregnant patients with IBD who were using thiopurines, in order to determine the influence of pregnancy on thiopurine metabolism and to assess intrauterine exposure of the fetus to thiopurines.

DESIGN

Female patients with IBD receiving steady-state thiopurines and planning a pregnancy were prospectively enrolled. 6-Thioguanine nucleotide (6-TGN) and 6-methylmercaptopurine (6-MMP) concentrations were determined, combined with routine laboratory tests, before, during and after pregnancy. Thiopurine metabolites were measured in umbilical cord blood immediately after delivery.

RESULTS

Thirty patients who were using azathioprine (28 patients, median dose 1.93 mg/kg) or mercaptopurine (two patients, doses 1.32 and 0.94 mg/kg) were included. During pregnancy, median 6-TGN decreased over time (p=0.001). while 6-MMP increased, without causing myelotoxicity or hepatotoxicity. After delivery, both 6-TGN and 6-MMP levels returned to preconception baseline levels. Fetal 6-TGN concentrations correlated positively with maternal 6-TGN levels (p<0.0001). No 6-MMP was detected in the newborns, except one born with pancytopenia and high alkaline phosphatase activity; the mother of this infant had severe pre-eclampsia. All infants had normal Apgar scores, but 60% had anaemia at birth. No major congenital abnormalities were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnancy has a major effect on maternal thiopurine metabolism. In utero the unborn child is exposed to 6-TGN, but not to 6-MMP. Sixty per cent of the infants were born with anaemia, which raises the question whether infants should be tested for possible anaemia immediately after birth.

Natural history of elderly-onset inflammatory bowel disease: a population-based cohort study

Data on the natural history of elderly-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are scarce.

METHODS

In a French population-based cohort we identified 841 IBD patients >60 years of age at diagnosis from 1988 to 2006, including 367 Crohn's disease (CD) and 472 ulcerative colitis (UC).

RESULTS

Median age at diagnosis was similar for CD (70 years (IQR: 65-76)) and UC (69 years (64-74)). Median follow-up was 6 years (2-11) for both diseases. At diagnosis, in CD, pure colonic disease (65%) and inflammatory behaviour (78%) were the most frequent phenotype. At maximal follow-up digestive extension and complicated behaviour occurred in 8% and 9%, respectively. In UC, 29% of patients had proctitis, 45% left-sided and 26% extensive colitis without extension during follow-up in 84%. In CD cumulative probabilities of receiving corticosteroids (CSs), immunosuppressants (ISs) and anti tumor necrosis factor therapy were respectively 47%, 27% and 9% at 10 years. In UC cumulative probabilities of receiving CS and IS were 40% and 15%, respectively at 10 years. Cumulative probabilities of surgery at 1 year and 10 years were 18% and 32%, respectively in CD and 4% and 8%, respectively in UC. In CD complicated behaviour at diagnosis (HR: 2.6; 95% CI 1.5 to 4.6) was associated with an increased risk for surgery while CS was associated with a decreased risk (HR: 0.5; 0.3 to 0.8). In UC CS was associated with an increased risk (HR: 2.2; 1.1 to 4.6) for colectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical course is mild in elderly-onset IBD patients. This information would need to be taken into account by physicians when therapeutic strategies are established.

Systematic review with meta-analysis: inflammatory bowel disease in the elderly

BACKGROUND

Elderly patients represent an increasing proportion of the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) population.

AIM

To critically review available data regarding the care of elderly IBD patients.

METHODS

Bibliographic searches (MEDLINE) up to June 2013.

RESULTS

Approximately 10-15% of cases of IBD are diagnosed in patients aged >60 years, and 10-30% of the IBD population are aged >60 years. In the elderly, IBD is easily confused with other more common diseases, mainly diverticular disease and ischaemic colitis. The clinical features of IBD in older patients are generally similar to those in younger patients. Crohn's disease (CD) in elderly patients is characterised by its predominantly colonic localisation and uncomplicated course. Proctitis and left-sided ulcerative colitis are more common in patients aged >60 years. Infections are associated with age and account for significant mortality in IBD patients. The treatment of IBD in the elderly is generally similar. However, the therapeutic approach in the elderly should be 'start low-go slow'. The benefit of thiopurines in older CD patients remains debatable. Although the indications for anti-tumour necrosis factors in the elderly are generally similar to those for younger patients, lower response and higher adverse events have been reported in the elderly. Surgery in elderly patients does not generally differ. Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis can be successful, provided the patient retains good anal sphincter function.

CONCLUSIONS

Management of the older IBD patient differs from that of younger patients; therefore, conventional practice algorithms may have to be modified to account for advanced age.

IBD across the age spectrum: is it the same disease?

IBD is a chronic disorder with disease onset ranging from early childhood to beyond the sixth decade of life. The factors that determine the age of onset currently remain unexplained. Is timing of occurrence a random event or is it indicative of different pathophysiological pathways leading to different phenotypes across the age spectrum? Over the past decade, several studies have suggested that the characteristics and natural history of IBD seem to be different according to age of onset. This heterogeneity suggests that the respective contributions of genetics, host immune system and environment to the aetiology and phenotype of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are different across ages. Critical reviews that focus on differences characterizing IBD between age groups are scarce. Therefore, this Review updates the knowledge of the differences in epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and natural history of paediatric, adult and elderly-onset IBD. In addition, potential differences in host-gene-microbial interactions according to age are highlighted.

Ustekinumab: moving the target from psoriasis to Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease (CD) is an inflammatory bowel disease whose precise etiology is still unknown, and therefore a causal therapy is not yet available. Studies showing the overexpression of IL-12 and IL-23, polymorphisms in genes encoding those cytokines and their receptors and genome-wide association studies have linked Crohn's pathogenesis with IL-12/23 pathway. Ustekinumab is a novel therapeutic IgG₁ kappa monoclonal antibody that modulates Th1 and Th17 function, by blocking the p40 subunit of both IL-12 and IL-23 and preventing the interaction with their receptors on T cells, natural killer cells and antigen-presenting cells with established efficacy in psoriasis. This review will mainly focus on the available evidence on the role of ustekinumab in moderate-to-severe CD. The potential role of this biologic in the armamentarium of CD therapy is discussed.

Inflammatory bowel disease and risk of cholangiocarcinoma: evidence from a meta-analysis of population-based studies

OBJECTIVE

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an increased risk of extra-intestinal cancer, whereas its impact on cholangiocarcinoma (CC) remains unknown. The aim of this study was to obtain a reliable estimate of the risk of CC in IBD patients through a meta-analysis of clinical observational studies.

METHODS

Relevant studies were retrieved by searching PUBMED, EMBASE and Web of Science Databases up to Dec 2013. Four population-based case-control and two cohort studies with IBD were identified. Summary relative risk (RR) and its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model. Potential sources of heterogeneity were detected using subgroup analyses.

RESULTS

The pooled risk estimate indicated IBD patients were at increased risk of CC (RR = 2.63, 95%CI = 1.47-4.72). Moreover, the increased risk of CC was also associated with Crohn's disease (RR = 2.69, 95%CI = 1.59-4.55) and ulcerative colitis (RR = 3.40, 95%CI = 2.50-4.62). In addition, site-specific analyses revealed that IBD patients had an increased risk of intrahepatic CC (ICC) (RR = 2.61, 95%CI = 1.72-3.95) and extrahepatic CC (ECC) (RR = 1.47, 95%CI = 1.10- 1.97).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests the risk of CC is significantly increased among IBD patients, especially in ICC cases. Further studies are warranted to enable definite conclusions to be drawn.

High residential sun exposure is associated with a low risk of incident Crohn's disease in the prospective E3N cohort

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D insufficiency has been suggested to be associated with high risk of Crohn's disease (CD). In France, where food fortification is limited, the major source of vitamin D is through sun exposure. The aim of this work was to analyze the relationship between residential sun exposure and the risk of incident CD or ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODS

The E3N cohort consists of women living in France, aged 40 to 65 years and free of major diseases at inclusion in 1990. Among the 91,870 women included in the study, we identified 123 incident cases (45 CD, 71 UC, and 7 indeterminate colitis). To assess residential sun exposure, we used a database containing mean daily ultraviolet radiation (UVR) dose for each French county. The relationship between residential sun exposure and risk of incident inflammatory bowel diseases was explored using Cox models.

RESULTS

Higher levels of residential sun exposure were associated with a significant decreased risk of CD (hazard ratio [HR] for the third versus the first tertile of UVR dose, 0.49; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.23-1.01; P for trend = 0.04), but not of UC (HR, 1.21; CI, 0.61-2.11). In women with available data on dietary vitamin D intake, we observed a lower risk of CD with higher residential UVR (HR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.11-0.80; P for trend = 0.01). Dietary vitamin D intake was neither associated with the risk of CD (HR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.14-1.24; P for trend = 0.14) nor UC (HR, 1.61; CI, 0.61-4.23).

CONCLUSIONS

In this prospective cohort of women, high residential sunlight exposure was associated with decreased incidence of CD, but not UC.

Initial disease course and treatment in an inflammatory bowel disease inception cohort in Europe: the ECCO-EpiCom cohort

BACKGROUND

The EpiCom cohort is a prospective, population-based, inception cohort of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients from 31 European centers covering a background population of 10.1 million. The aim of this study was to assess the 1-year outcome in the EpiCom cohort.

METHODS

Patients were followed-up every third month during the first 12 (±3) months, and clinical data, demographics, disease activity, medical therapy, surgery, cancers, and deaths were collected and entered in a Web-based database (www.epicom-ecco.eu).

RESULTS

In total, 1367 patients were included in the 1-year follow-up. In western Europe, 65 Crohn's disease (CD) (16%), 20 ulcerative colitis (UC) (4%), and 4 IBD unclassified (4%) patients underwent surgery, and in eastern Europe, 12 CD (12%) and 2 UC (1%) patients underwent surgery. Eighty-one CD (20%), 80 UC (14%), and 13 (9%) IBD unclassified patients were hospitalized in western Europe compared with 17 CD (16%) and 12 UC (8%) patients in eastern Europe. The cumulative probability of receiving immunomodulators was 57% for CD in western (median time to treatment 2 months) and 44% (1 month) in eastern Europe, and 21% (5 months) and 5% (6 months) for biological therapy, respectively. For UC patients, the cumulative probability was 22% (4 months) and 15% (3 months) for immunomodulators and 6% (3 months) and 1% (12 months) for biological therapy, respectively in the western and eastern Europe.

DISCUSSION

In this cohort, immunological therapy was initiated within the first months of disease. Surgery and hospitalization rates did not differ between patients from eastern and western Europe, although more western European patients received biological agents and were comparable to previous population-based inception cohorts.

Dietary arachidonic and oleic acid intake in ulcerative colitis etiology: a prospective cohort study using 7-day food diaries

INTRODUCTION

Dietary fatty acids may be involved in the etiology of ulcerative colitis (UC). Arachidonic acid (AA), an n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, is a precursor of the proinflammatory cytokines prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4, and its metabolism is competitively inhibited by oleic acid (OA). This study aimed to prospectively investigate whether AA is positively and OA is negatively associated with incident UC development, using data from 7-day food diaries.

METHODS

A total of 25 639 men and women, aged between 40 and 79 years, from Norfolk, UK, were recruited into the prospective European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk cohort between 1993 and 1997. At baseline, participants completed 7-day food diaries, checked by nutritionists using a database containing 11 000 foods and 55 000 portion sizes. The cohort was monitored until June 2004 to identify participants who developed UC. Each patient was matched for age and sex with four controls, and conditional logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios for AA and OA intakes, and UC association.

RESULTS

Of the participants, 26 (58% men) developed incident UC (53% left sided) after a median follow-up time of 3.8 years (0.5-8.3 years). The highest AA tertile was positively associated with an odds ratio of 6.09 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-35.23], with a trend across tertiles [odds ratio (OR) 2.43, 95% CI 1.06-5.61, P=0.04]. The highest tertile of OA intake was inversely associated with a 0.03 OR for UC (95% CI 0.002-0.56) and an inverse trend (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.10-0.90, P=0.03).

CONCLUSION

Dietary AA was positively and OA was inversely associated with UC development, with large effect sizes in a dose-dependent manner. This supports roles for measuring these nutrients in future etiological studies and modifying intake in future interventional studies in patients with established disease.

Clinical features and predictors of clinical outcomes in Korean patients with Crohn's disease: a Korean association for the study of intestinal diseases multicenter study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Although differences in genetic susceptibility and the clinical features of Crohn's disease (CD) have been reported between Asian and Caucasian patients, the disease course and predictors of CD in Asians remains poorly defined. The study therefore aimed to investigate factors predictive of the clinical outcomes of patients with CD in a Korean population.

METHODS

This retrospective multicenter cohort study included 728 Korean CD patients from 13 university hospitals. The first CD-related surgery or need for immunosuppressive or biological agents were regarded as the clinical outcomes of interest.

RESULTS

A total of 126 (17.3%) CD patients underwent CD-related surgery, while 473 (65.0%) and 196 (26.9%) were prescribed thiopurine drugs and infliximab, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified current (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.86; P = 0.018) and former smoking habits (HR = 1.78; P = 0.049), stricturing (HR = 2.24; P < 0.001), and penetrating disease behavior at diagnosis (HR = 3.07; P < 0.001) as independent predictors associated with the first CD-related surgery. With respect to immunosuppressive and biological agents, younger age (< 40 years) (HR = 2.17; P < 0.001 and HR = 2.10; P = 0.006, respectively), ileal involvement (HR = 1.36; P = 0.035 and HR = 2.17; P = 0.006, respectively), and perianal disease (HR = 1.42; P = 0.001 and HR = 1.38; P = 0.038, respectively) at diagnosis were significant predictors for the need of these medications.

CONCLUSIONS

In Korean patients with CD, stricturing, penetrating disease behavior, and smoking habits at the time of diagnosis are independent predictors for CD-related surgery. It was also identified that younger age (< 40 years), ileal involvement, and perianal disease at diagnosis are predictive of a need for immunosuppressive or biological agents.