C-reactive protein: informative or misleading marker of Crohn's disease?

Assessment of Comorbid Depression and Anxiety in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Using Adaptive Testing Technology

Background

Depression and anxiety are comorbidities of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and it is now recommended to screen IBD patients for these conditions. We screened patients using a novel computerized adaptive testing technology and compared the screening results to measures of disease activity.

Methods

Consecutive patients at our tertiary IBD clinic were asked to complete the validated CAT-MH™ survey (Adaptive Testing Technologies, Chicago, IL); we then reviewed disease and patient characteristics. Clinical remission status was determined based on clinical, laboratory, endoscopy and imaging results. Statistical methods included Fisher's exact test and Pearson Chi-square tests to assess association. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed.

Results

We included 134 patients, of which 34 (25.3%) screened positive for depression and 18 (13.4%) screened positive for anxiety. We identified 19 (55.9 %) and 10 (55.5%) patients who were previously undiagnosed for depression and anxiety, respectively. Patients in clinical remission were less likely to screen positive for depression (OR 0.19; 95%CI 0.07-0.50) and for anxiety (OR 0.30; 95%CI 0.10-0.91). Compared to patients with negative CRP values, patients with positive CRP were more likely to also screen positive for depression (p=0.025) and anxiety (p=0.15).

Conclusions

We demonstrate the utility of a novel testing technology for screening patients with IBD for depression and anxiety. We found a large number of patients with previously undiagnosed anxiety or depression and a significant positive association between clinically active IBD and these mental health conditions. This work supports and informs recommendations for mental health screening in the IBD population.

Monitoring disease activity and progression in Crohn's disease. A Swiss perspective on the IBD ahead 'optimised monitoring' recommendations

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The structured IBD Ahead 'Optimised Monitoring' programme was designed to obtain the opinion, insight and advice of gastroenterologists on optimising the monitoring of Crohn's disease activity in four settings: (1) assessment at diagnosis, (2) monitoring in symptomatic patients, (3) monitoring in asymptomatic patients, and (4) the postoperative follow-up. For each of these settings, four monitoring methods were discussed: (a) symptom assessment, (b) endoscopy, (c) laboratory markers, and (d) imaging. Based on literature search and expert opinion compiled during an international consensus meeting, recommendations were given to answer the question 'which diagnostic method, when, and how often'. The International IBD Ahead Expert Panel advised to tailor this guidance to the healthcare system and the special prerequisites of each country. The IBD Ahead Swiss National Steering Committee proposes best-practice recommendations adapted for Switzerland.

METHODS

The IBD Ahead Steering Committee identified key questions and provided the Swiss Expert Panel with a structured literature research. The expert panel agreed on a set of statements. During an international expert meeting the consolidated outcome of the national meetings was merged into final statements agreed by the participating International and National Steering Committee members - the IBD Ahead 'Optimized Monitoring' Consensus.

RESULTS

A systematic assessment of symptoms, endoscopy findings, and laboratory markers with special emphasis on faecal calprotectin is deemed necessary even in symptom-free patients. The choice of recommended imaging methods is adapted to the specific situation in Switzerland and highlights the importance of ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging besides endoscopy.

CONCLUSION

The recommendations stress the importance of monitoring disease activity on a regular basis and by objective parameters, such as faecal calprotectin and endoscopy with detailed documentation of findings. Physicians should not rely on symptoms only and adapt the monitoring schedule and choice of options to individual situations.

Plasma soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 in Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

No definite conclusions can be drawn from available data on the accuracy of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) to assess disease activity in Crohn's disease.

AIMS

Plasma sTREM-1 levels were correlated with disease activity markers in Crohn's disease.

METHODS

191 consecutive patients from a single referral centre (Nancy IBD cohort) were prospectively enrolled between June 1, 2005 and December 12, 2008. Plasma sTREM-1 levels were also assessed amongst 20 healthy controls.

RESULTS

The sTREM-1 was detectable in 87 Crohn's disease patients (46%). Plasma sTREM-1 level was higher in Crohn's disease patients (interquartile range, 0-356) than in healthy controls (interquartile range, 0-15.1; P=0.01). It was neither correlated with Crohn's disease activity index (r=0.05, P=0.56), C-reactive protein (r=0.06, P=0.53), nor with albumin (r=-0.041, P=0.66). Crohn's disease activity index, C-reactive protein and albumin median levels were similar between patients with positive sTREM-1 levels and those with undetectable sTREM-1 levels. Azathioprine (P=0.06), infliximab (P=0.68) and methotrexate (P=0.56) did not influence sTREM-1 levels.

CONCLUSION

Plasma sTREM-1 does not appear to be an accurate marker of disease activity in Crohn's disease and cannot be recommended for assessing disease activity in these patients.

Abnormal glucose, lipid and protein metabolism in patients with Crohn's disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), consisting of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), poses a great threat to human health. It results from an inappropriate immune response, in genetically susceptible individuals, to microbial antigens of commensal microorganisms. This paper reviews abnormal glucose, lipid and protein metabolism in patients with CD and highlights the application of metabonomics in biomarker revelation for CD.