Low prevalence of colonoscopic surveillance of inflammatory bowel disease patients with longstanding extensive colitis: a clinical practice survey nested in the CESAME cohort

BACKGROUND

Surveillance colonoscopy is recommended for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients with longstanding extensive colitis (LEC).

AIMS

To assess modalities and results of colonoscopic surveillance in a subset of CESAME cohort patients at high risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and followed in university French hospitals.

METHODS

Among 910 eligible patients with more than a 7-year history of extensive colitis at CESAME enrolment, 685 patients completed a questionnaire on surveillance colonoscopy and 102 were excluded because of prior proctocolectomy. Finally, 583 patients provided information spanning a median period of 41months (IQR 38-43) between cohort enrolment and the end of follow-up. Details of the colonoscopic procedures and histological findings were obtained for 440 colonoscopies in 270 patients.

RESULTS

Only 54% (n=312) of the patients with LEC had at least one surveillance colonoscopy during the study period, with marked variations across the nine participating centres (27% to 70%, P≤0.0001). Surveillance rate was significantly lower in Crohn's colitis than in ulcerative colitis (UC) (48% vs. 69%, P≤0.0001). Independent predictors of colonoscopic surveillance were male gender, UC IBD subtype, longer disease duration, previous history of CRC and disease management in a centre with large IBD population. Random biopsies, targeted biopsies and chromoendoscopy were performed during respectively 71%, 27 and 30% of surveillance colonoscopies. Two cases of high-grade dysplasia were detected in patients undergoing colonoscopic surveillance. Two advanced-stage CRC were diagnosed in patients who did not have colonosocopic surveillance.

CONCLUSIONS

Colonoscopic surveillance rate is low in IBD patients with longstanding extensive colitis.

Ineffectiveness of Lactobacillus johnsonii LA1 for prophylaxis of postoperative recurrence in Crohn's disease: a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled GETAID trial

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Early endoscopic recurrence is frequent after intestinal resection for Crohn's disease. Bacteria are involved, and probiotics may modulate immune responses to the intestinal flora. Here we tested the probiotic strain Lactobacillus johnsonii LA1 in this setting.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study. Patients were eligible if they had undergone surgical resection of <1 m, removing all macroscopic lesions within the past 21 days. Patients were randomised to receive two packets per day of lyophilised LA1 (2 x 10(9) cfu) or placebo for six months; no other treatment was allowed. The primary endpoint was endoscopic recurrence at six months, with grade >1 in Rutgeerts' classification or an adapted classification for colonic lesions. Endoscopic score was the maximal grade of ileal and colonic lesions. Analyses were performed primarily on an intent to treat basis.

RESULTS

Ninety eight patients were enrolled (48 in the LA1 group). At six months, endoscopic recurrence was observed in 30/47 patients (64%) in the placebo group and in 21/43 (49%) in the LA1 group (p = 0.15). Per protocol analysis confirmed this result. Endoscopic score distribution did not differ significantly between the LA1 and placebo groups. There were four clinical recurrences in the LA1 group and three in the placebo group.

CONCLUSION

L johnsonii LA1 (4 x 10(9) cfu/day) did not have a sufficient effect, if any, to prevent endoscopic recurrence of Crohn's disease.

Osteoporosis in inflammatory bowel disease: effect of calcium and vitamin D with or without fluoride

BACKGROUND

Previous data have indicated low bone formation as a mechanism of osteoporosis in inflammatory bowel disease. Fluoride can stimulate bone formation.

AIM

To assess the effect of fluoride supplementation on lumbar spine bone mineral density in osteoporotic patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated in parallel with calcium and vitamin D.

METHODS

In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, parallel and placebo-controlled study, 94 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (lumbar spine T score below - 2 standard deviations, normal serum 25OH vitamin D), with a median age of 35 years, were included. Bone mineral density was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Patients were randomized to receive daily either sodium monofluorophosphate (150 mg, n=45) or placebo (n=49) for 1 year, and all received calcium (1 g) and vitamin D (800 IU). The relative change in bone mineral density from 0 to 12 months was tested in each group (fluoride or placebo) and compared between the groups.

RESULTS

Lumbar spine bone mineral density increased significantly in both groups after 1 year: 4.8 +/- 5.6% (n=29) and 3.2 +/- 3.8% (n=31) in the calcium-vitamin D-fluoride and calcium-vitamin D-placebo groups, respectively (P < 0.001 for each group). There was no difference between the groups (P=0.403). Similar results were observed according to corticosteroid intake or disease activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Calcium and vitamin D seem to increase lumbar spine density in osteoporotic patients with inflammatory bowel disease; fluoride does not provide further benefit.

Can laparoscopy reduce hospital stay in the treatment of Crohn's disease?

PURPOSE

The aim of this article was to investigate the safety, outcome, length of stay, and cost of hospital admission in patients with Crohn's disease who underwent laparoscopy compared with open surgery.

METHODS

Among 51 consecutive patients with inflammatory bowel disease (1996-2000), 46 with Crohn's disease were included in this nonrandomized prospective study. Of these, 20 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery and 26 underwent open surgery. Data collected included the following information: age, gender, body mass index, diagnosis, duration of disease, preoperative medical treatment, previous abdominal surgery, present indication for surgery, and procedure performed (comparability measures), as well as conversion to open surgery, operating time, time to resolution of ileus, morbidity, duration of hospital stay, and cost of hospital admission (outcome measures).

RESULTS

There was no significant difference with respect to comparability measures between the laparoscopic and the open-surgery groups. There was no mortality. There was no intraoperative complication in either group and no conversion in the laparoscopic group. Operating time was significantly longer in the laparoscopic group (302 minutes) vs. the open group (244.7 minutes) (P < 0.05), but this difference disappeared when data were adjusted for the extra time required to perform the laparoscopic hand-sewn anastomoses (288.2 minutes vs. 244.7 minutes). Bowel function returned more quickly in the laparoscopic group vs. the open group in terms of passage of flatus (3.7 vs. 4.7 days) (P < 0.05) and resumption of oral intake (4.2 vs. 6.3 day) (P < 0.01). There were significantly fewer postoperative complications in the laparoscopic group (9.5 percent) vs. the open group (18.5 percent) (P < 0.05); the length of stay was significantly shorter in the laparoscopic group (8.3 days) vs. the open group (13.2 days) (P < 0.01); and the cost of hospital admission was significantly lower in the laparoscopic group ($6106, United States dollars) vs. the open group ($9829, United States dollars) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

There is a reduction in the postoperative ileus, length of stay, cost of hospital admission, and postoperative complication rate in the laparoscopic group. Laparoscopic surgery for Crohn's disease is safe, and it is potentially more cost-effective than traditional open surgery.

[Clinical and biological syndrome of intestinal malabsorption: diagnostic tests]

Malabsorption has miscellaneous clinical and biological presentations. They may vary according to the site of the absorption abnormality (luminal, parietal, vascular transport), its type and severity. The problem of the physician is to become alerted to the possibility of malabsorption in patients who present with signs and symptoms which may be the concern of almost any specialist beside gastroenterologists. Patient history, type of signs and symptoms, physical examination and simple biochemical and haematological parameters may be of major interest in this regard and will help in the choice of the functional tests to perform. They will confirm the presumed malabsorption, precise its type and severity and may guide towards its aetiology, the precise diagnosis of which will usually require other investigations.

Amantadine for chronic hepatitis C: pilot study in 14 patients

BACKGROUND

Amantadine, a widely available antiviral drug, has been previously reported to be effective in patients with chronic hepatitis C who failed to respond to interferon-alpha therapy. Nevertheless, its efficacy has not been fully studied, particularly in naive patients.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN

We conducted a pilot study to determine the efficacy and the safety of amantadine as initial therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

METHODS AND PARTICIPANTS

Fourteen consecutive patients (mean age, 40 years; M/F ratio, 9/5) with chronic hepatitis C, elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and without cirrhosis were treated with a 6-month course of amantadine, 100 mg orally twice daily. Main outcome measures were ALT concentrations and serum hepatitis C virus-RNA (HCV-RNA) levels at the end of therapy.

RESULTS

All adverse events were mild or moderate and were not treatment limiting. At the end of treatment, all patients had detectable serum HCV-RNA and only one patient had a normal ALT level. The serum HCV-RNA median level and the ALT median level were not significantly different at the end of treatment as compared to baseline levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that amantadine alone cannot be recommended as an alternative therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with acute hepatic porphyria: frequency of occurrence and related factors

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Previous retrospective studies have suggested an association between hepatocellular carcinoma and acute hepatic porphyrias. The incidence, the relative risk, the characteristics and the outcome of primary liver cancer were prospectively evaluated in patients with acute hepatic porphyrias; the molecular mechanism of carcinogenesis in these patients was also pointed out.

METHODS

A cohort of 650 patients with acute hepatic porphyria was followed over 7 years. Standardized rate ratio was used to measure the relative risk of primary liver cancer after indirect standardization. Morphological and clinical aspects of primary liver cancer were investigated, and survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Common etiological factors involved in liver carcinogenesis were screened. Excretion rates of porphyrin precursors, serum melatonin levels and mutations in the genes encoding for heme biosynthetic enzymes were studied.

RESULTS

Hepatocellular carcinoma was found in four symptomatic and three asymptomatic patients (four female, three male). The overall standardized rate ratio was 36 (95% CI: 14-74). The 5-year disease-free survival was 43% in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Usual risk factors for primary liver cancer were not confounding factors. Hepatocellular carcinoma was not related to specific heme biosynthesis gene mutations. Heme precursors were significantly increased in porphyric patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, and serum melatonin levels were low.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute hepatic porphyrias are risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatic porphyrias should be sought in patients with hepatocellular cancer without obvious etiology, and a periodic screening for hepatocellular carcinoma should be evaluated in these patients. Genes encoding for heme biosynthetic pathway may not act as tumor suppressor genes. Chronic increased levels of delta aminolevulinic acid could lead to the generation of free radicals and subsequently to hepatic carcinogenesis.

Genotypic analysis of thiopurine S-methyltransferase in patients with Crohn's disease and severe myelosuppression during azathioprine therapy

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Myelosuppression in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) treated with azathioprine has been attributed to low activity of thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT). Allelic variants of the TPMT gene responsible for changes in the enzyme activity have been characterized. We investigated the distribution of mutant alleles associated with TPMT deficiency in patients with CD and myelosuppression during azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine therapy.

METHODS

Forty-one patients with CD were included. They developed leukopenia or thrombocytopenia during azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine treatment. Polymerase chain reaction-based methods were used to search for mutations associated with TPMT deficiency.

RESULTS

Four patients (10%) had 2 mutant alleles associated with TPMT deficiency, 7 (17%) had 1 mutant allele, and 30 (73%) had no known TPMT mutation. The delay between administration of the drug and occurrence of bone marrow toxicity was less than 1.5 months in the 4 patients with 2 mutant alleles, and ranged from 1 to 18 months in patients with 1 mutant allele and from 0.5 to 87 months in patients with normal genotype.

CONCLUSIONS

Twenty-seven percent of patients with CD and myelosuppression during azathioprine therapy had mutant alleles of the TPMT gene associated with enzyme deficiency. Myelosuppression is more often caused by other factors. Continued monitoring of blood cell counts remains mandatory in patients treated with azathioprine.

[Clinical course of symptomatic duodeno-jejunal Crohn's disease]

AIMS

To describe retrospectively the characteristics of inaugural, symptomatic Crohn's disease of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

METHODS

Eighteen patients (12 male and 6 female) with symptomatic Crohn's disease of the upper intestinal tract and without previous distal localisation were studied.

RESULTS

Mean age of patients at diagnosis (21.3 years) was less than that usually reported in Crohn's disease. The time elapsed from first symptoms to diagnosis (mean = 29.8 months) was remarkably long for some patients, mainly as a result of an unusual clinical presentation. Abdominal pain and weight loss were the most common presenting features; diarrhea was rarely the main symptom. Persistent anorexia and weight loss without digestive symptoms had led to a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa in 4 patients. Zollinger-Ellison syndrome was the initial diagnosis in 3 other patients. Sixteen patients were followed during at least 2 years. All were treated with steroids for their first attack and 75 % required immunosuppressive therapy for steroid dependence. At the end of follow-up, 6 patients only were in remission without treatment or under mesalamine.

CONCLUSION

Crohn's disease with initial symptomatic lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract occurs mainly in young male patients. The clinical presentation may be very unusual, leading to misdiagnosis. The clinical course is close to that of diffuse jejunoileitis.

Epidemiology of hepatitis C and G in sporadic and familial porphyria cutanea tarda

From 1995 to 1997, we prospectively evaluated the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in 124 patients with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) from Northern France (83 sporadic and 41 familial PCT). Serum samples were analyzed for ferritin, transaminases, HCV antibodies, and HCV RNA. In addition, genotyping of HCV and searches for HCV infection risk factors (blood transfusion, iv drug abuse, and surgical intervention) were performed. Twenty-six of 124 patients (21%; 95% CI: 13.9-28) were positive for serum HCV antibodies. All of them were also positive for HCV RNA. The prevalence of HCV infection was higher in the sporadic PCT group (26.5%, 22 out of 83) than in the familial PCT group (9.7%, 4 out of 41). Risk factors for hepatitis C infection were found to be significantly increased in the HCV-positive group when compared with the HCV-negative PCT group. In all HCV-positive patients with a risk factor, the suspected date of exposure to the virus always preceded the clinical onset of PCT. The HCV genotype pattern in PCT patients was similar to that observed in nonporphyric HCV patients in western European countries. Serum ferritin level was increased in both HCV-positive and HCV-negative porphyric patients. Transaminase levels were significantly higher in HCV-infected PCT patients. Sixty-seven out of 124 patients were retrospectively studied for hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection. Six of these 67 patients (8.9%; 95% CI: 2.1-15.8) were positive for HGV RNA. None of the six HGV-infected patients were positive for HCV RNA. The HGV-infected patients did not differ statistically from those without HGV infection with regard to age, ferritin, transaminase levels, and PCT treatment. These results support the view that sporadic cases of HGV infection may occur frequently. This study of a large cohort of HCV and PCT patients further documents an increasing gradient in HCV prevalence from northern to southern Europe, and shows that HCV infection acts as a triggering factor of PCT. Finally, the HGV prevalence found in the PCT patients was comparable with that found in French blood donors, suggesting that HGV is not a PCT triggering factor.

Gastro-oesophageal reflux prevalence and relationship with bronchial reactivity in asthma

The relationship between asthma and gastro-oesophageal reflux (GER) is controversial. In an allergy department, GER prevalence was evaluated in asthmatics, with a view to judging the potential influence of GER on asthma. One hundred and five asthmatics were recruited and co-investigated for GER and lung function. Descriptive analysis was performed, patients with (GER+) and without (GER-) GER were then compared, and finally, stepwise regression analysis was used. GER prevalence was 32%. Lung parameters did not differ between GER+ and GER- patients. When restricting analysis to GER+ patients, bronchial reactivity was closely correlated to the number of reflux episodes (NRE) (r=0.983; p=0.001). When comparing patients with more than 15 reflux episodes x day(-1) (n=50), with those having less (n=43), no differences were found in lung function and GER parameters. However, there was a positive correlation between the provocative dose of methacholine causing forced expiration volume to fall 20% from the baseline and NRE in patients with NRE>15 (r=0.561; p=0.05). In conclusion, gastro-oesophageal reflux was observed in a third of the asthma patients studied. These data do not support a firm aetiological relationship between gastro-oesophageal reflux and asthma, but do suggest an association between the number of reflux episodes and bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

[Gastroesophageal reflux (II). Major medical therapeutics: efficacy and risks]

REFERENCE DATA FOR THE THERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT OF GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX (GOR): The natural history of the disease; the short- and long-term efficiency of the various therapies and their potential risks; patient-related factors (age, associated disorders, personal preference, duration and severity of his reflux disease). First line therapy will be medical in all cases. POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR SURGERY: Only patients with proven GOR, with or without esophagitis but who have required proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) are potential candidates for surgery; if their esophagitis is not healed after a 8-week PPI regimen, especially, if they remain symptomatic; if they relapse shortly after treatment withdrawal and require either frequent intermittent courses or long-term continuous treatment with PPI; moreover if they relapse while continuously taking PPI at usual dosage. LONG-TERM TREATMENT WITH PPI: It looks safe. However there still is some concern about the complete safety of extremely prolonged treatments started in young patients.

[Gastroesophageal reflux (II). Surgical interventions: results and indications]

ANTIREFLUX SURGERY: Peri and postoperative morbidity is higher with Nissen fundoplication than with a 180 degrees posterior fundoplasty (Toupet procedure) which carries the risk of a compromised result with time. Although a 270 degrees posterior gastric valve may be the best technique, the surgeon's skill looks more important than the procedure used, especially for laparoscopic surgery. Its advantages include reduced postoperative pain, shorter hospital stay and convalescent time.

INDICATIONS FOR SURGERY

Surgery must only be entertained in patients with severe GOR disease, especially those who require continuous PPI treatment. Excluding cases of esophagitis with deep ulcers and/or stenosis, severity criteria to be taken into account are mainly symptomatic and not anatomical. Age is an important decision-making factor.

IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

Patients over 60 years of age or with any surgical risk and patients with associated severe motor disorders such as sclerodermia should be given drug therapy unless high-dose PPI are unsuccessful. Conversely, laparoscopic surgery performed by a skilled surgeon should be preferred in younger subjects, especially under 40. In the intermediate age range, patients should be informed about the advantages and drawbacks of the various methods as patient participation is essential in the decision making process.

Occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in a case of hereditary coproporphyria

An association between two types of acute hepatic porphyria (porphyria variegata and acute intermittent porphyria) and hepatocellular carcinoma has previously been reported. In these studies, etiological factors for hepatocellular carcinoma were not completely sought. We report here the first case of an association between hepatocellular carcinoma and hereditary coproporphyria, the third type of acute hepatic porphyria. A 58-yr-old woman with hereditary coproporphyria presented with a 3.5-cm-diameter hepatocellular carcinoma. Results of exhaustive investigation of etiological factors for hepatocellular carcinoma were negative. Results of microscopic histological analysis of the nontumorous liver were normal. Five years after surgical resection, the patient had no evidence of tumor recurrence.

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.

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.

Treatment of Crohn's disease by lymphocyte apheresis: a randomized controlled trial. Groupe d'Etudes Thérapeutiques des Affections Inflammatoires Digestives

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Several uncontrolled trials suggest that lymphapheresis improves the clinical course of patients with Crohn's disease; this study was designed to assess the efficacy of lymphapheresis in preventing early relapses of Crohn's disease in patients in clinical remission after steroid treatment for an acute attack.

METHODS

Twenty-eight patients in clinical remission at the end of 3-7 weeks of steroid therapy were included in this randomized multicenter prospective trial. Before starting steroid tapering, patients were randomly assigned either to the lymphapheresis group (9 procedures within 4-5 weeks) or to the control group. The primary judgement criterion was the cumulated recurrence rate after steroid discontinuation.

RESULTS

All the patients treated by lymphapheresis (12 of 12) were successfully withdrawn from prednisolone and only 10 of 15 in the control group (NS). At the end of the 18-month follow-up period, the cumulated relapse rate was 83% in the lymphapheresis group and 62% in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there was a trend towards a diminished incidence of corticosteroid dependence, lymphapheresis did not prevent the occurrence of early relapses.

[Colonic lymphoma simulating cryptogenetic colitis associated with common variable hypogammaglobulinemia]

We report the case of a 72 year-old woman with late-onset common variable immunoglobulin deficiency who was hospitalized for diarrhoea and fever. Colonoscopy showed aphtoïd and deep ulcerations in the rectum, the sigmoid and transverse colon, suggestive of Crohn's disease. Histologic and immunohistochemical study revealed a low grade B cell mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. This is an unusual presentation for colonic lymphoma, and the second case of colonic lymphoma associated with late-onset common variable immunoglobulin deficiency.

[Maintenance treatment of Crohn's disease using orally administered mesalazine (Pentasa). A controlled multicenter study. The Study Groups on the Treatment of Inflammatory Digestive Disorders]

BACKGROUND

Mesalamine provides a new therapeutic approach in treating Crohn's disease.

METHODS

To assess the efficacy and safety of slow-release mesalamine (Pentasa) in maintaining remission in Crohn's disease, 161 patients with inactive disease were randomized to receive either Pentasa (2 g/day) or placebo in a 2-year double-blind, multicenter trial. Two strata were defined according to the duration of their remission: < 3 months (n = 64) or 3-24 months (n = 97), presumed to be high and low relapse risk strata, respectively.

RESULTS

The probability of relapse was higher in the short-remission placebo group than in the three other groups (p < 0.003), showing there was a significant benefit from Pentasa in the high relapse risk stratum. In this stratum, the 2-year on-going remission rate was of 29% +/- 9% and 45% +/- 11% (mean +/- SD) in the placebo and Pentasa groups, respectively. The incidences of side effects were similar in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Pentasa (2 g/day for 2 years) is a safe and effective maintenance treatment for Crohn's disease when given within 3 months of achieving remission.

Oral mesalamine (Pentasa) as maintenance treatment in Crohn's disease: a multicenter placebo-controlled study. The Groupe d'Etudes Thérapeutiques des Affections Inflammatoires Digestives (GETAID)

BACKGROUND

Mesalamine provides a new therapeutic approach in treating Crohn's disease.

METHODS

To assess the efficacy and safety of slow-release mesalamine (Pentasa; Ferring AS, Vanløse, Denmark) in maintaining remission in Crohn's disease, 161 patients with inactive disease were randomized to receive either Pentasa (2 g/day) or placebo in a 2-year double-blind, multicenter trial. Two strata were defined according to the duration of their remission: < 3 months (n = 64) or 3-24 months (n = 97), presumed to be high and a low relapse risk strata, respectively.

RESULTS

The probability of relapse was higher in the short-remission placebo group than in the three other groups (P < 0.003), showing there was a significant benefit from Pentasa in the high relapse risk stratum. In this stratum, the 2-year ongoing remission rate was of 29% +/- 9% and 45% +/- 11% (mean +/- SD) in the placebo and Pentasa groups, respectively. The incidences of side effects were similar in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Pentasa (2 g/day for 2 years) is a safe and effective maintenance treatment for Crohn's disease when given within 3 months of achieving remission.

Low grade B cell mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the stomach: clinical and endoscopic features, treatment, and outcome

A retrospective study of the clinical and endoscopic features of low grade gastric lymphomas of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) in 16 patients together with treatment and outcome was undertaken. Immunohistochemical studies of fresh tissue easily distinguished MALT lymphoma from benign reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (pseudolymphoma) and showed that tumour cells had the characteristic phenotype indicative of their origin from MALT. Persistent epigastric pain was the main presenting complaint, and was often associated with acute bleeding, anaemia, or weight loss. Eight patients had a past history of recurrent peptic ulcers or gastritis. The endoscopic appearance suggested malignancy in only half the cases and was compatible with gastritis or a benign peptic ulcer in the remainder. There was extragastric involvement of other mucosal sites in eight patients (mainly the lung, but also the parotid gland and small bowel), but rarely was bone marrow and never the spleen or peripheral lymph nodes affected. Conservative treatment with long term cyclophosphamide was effective in both stage I and stage IV disease, and all the patients are alive after a median follow up of 4.5 years. These findings confirm that low grade gastric MALT lymphomas are usually indolent tumours with non-specific endoscopic aspects and show that dissemination to other mucosal sites was more frequent than previously reported. Monochemotherapy could be an effective alternative treatment to surgery.

[Prevention of duodenal ulcer recurrence. A new prospect]

Prevention of recurrence is now the main therapeutic problem in the management of duodenal ulcer disease. It has been shown that in the absence of maintenance treatment the mean recurrence rate within 6 to 12 months from healing obtained with drugs other than H2-receptor antagonists (H2A) is lower than when healing is obtained with H2A. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are examined. When the recurrence rates observed with each of the non-H2A drugs were compared individually with those observed with H2A, the only important and constant difference was in favour of colloidal bismuth subcitrate (CBS). This beneficial effect of CBS is due to its bactericidal action on Helicobacter pylori. Unlike healing, prevention of recurrent ulcer is primarily, if not exclusively, related to eradication of this organism. Although the ideal treatment providing both healing of duodenal ulcers and eradication of Helicobacter pylori has not yet been determined (CBS administered alone eradicates this organism in only 10 to 25 percent of cases), it will soon be possible to modify dramatically the natural course of duodenal ulcer disease and even to obtain its cure.

[Collagenous colitis, IgA deficiency, Basedow's disease and atrophic gastritis]

In a 37-year-old woman with chronic watery diarrhea of three years duration, the diagnostic of collagenous colitis was established by optical and ultrastructural examination of rectal and colonic biopsies. No other cause of diarrhea could be found. Moreover, this patient had also selective IgA deficiency, Grave's disease and chronic atrophic gastritis of auto-immune type. Sequential treatments with loperamide, cholestyramine and antibiotics did not modified diarrhea which improved with salazosulfapyridine and betamethasone enemas. These observations suggest that collagenous colitis might be a part of the spectrum of enteropathies associated with immunoglobulin deficiencies.

[Treatment of duodenal ulcer outbreak with omeprazole. Results of a multicenter non-controlled study]

Sixty-one patients with symptomatic endoscopically confirmed duodenal ulcer, 5 mm or more in diameter, were treated with omeprazole 30 mg once daily in the morning for 4 weeks. Complete ulcer healing was assessed by endoscopy performed after 15 and, if necessary, 29 days of treatment. The healing rate as 83 p. 100 (49/59 patients) after 2 weeks, and 98 p. 100 (58/59 patients) after 4 weeks. Only 5 patients remained symptomatic on day 15. Fifty-six patients did not take any antacid during the course of treatment. There were few adverse effects. No clinically significant changes in laboratory parameters were observed. These results confirm: the remarkable efficiency of omeprazole in short-term treatment of duodenal ulcer, the good tolerance to this drug, at least in short duration treatment.

[Functional, morphological and biochemical study of the jejunal mucosa in cryptogenetic colitis]

The function of the jejunum has been assessed in patients with ulcerative colitis (n = 23) and Crohn's disease of the colon (n = 20) by measurement of serum folate levels, oral folic acid and D-xylose absorption. Forty-six normal subjects served as controls. The mean serum folate level was 4.5 +/- 2.0 ng/ml in patients with the disease and 7.8 +/- 1.7 ng/ml in controls (p less than 0.001) and was similarly decreased in both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease patients. It was lower in patients under sulphasalazine therapy (n = 15) than in those untreated: 3.5 +/- 1.5 vs. 4.8 +/- 2.1 ng/ml (p less than 0.05). Serum folate correlated with disease activity in the latter only. The peak serum folate obtained during the oral absorption test was decreased in patients: 38.9 +/- 12.9 vs. 60.8 +/- 19.3 ng/ml in controls (p less than 0.001); this decrease was similar in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, in treated and untreated patients and was independent of disease activity. Basal serum folate did not correlate with peak serum folate in any patient group. D-xylose absorption was normal in every case. Jejunal biopsies were performed in 23 patients, 13 of whom had folic acid malabsorption (13 with ulcerative colitis, 10 with Crohn's disease of the colon). The crypt height/villus height ratio was abnormal (greater than 0.6) in only 2 patients and borderline in 9 others. The fragility of enterocyte brush-borders and lysosomes, as assessed by biochemical methods, was normal in all cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Presence of anti-Yersinia pseudotuberculosis agglutinins during a flare-up of ileal Crohn's disease. Apropos of 3 cases]

Sera of 19 patients who had been admitted with an attack of Crohn's disease were tested for agglutinins against Yersinia. The localization and the extent of the disease were highly variable. Only three patients with a subacute obstruction syndrome due to ileitis had a high circulating antibody titer directed against Yersinia pseudotuberculosis type IV (greater than or equal to 1/500). Culture of the stools did not isolate any pathogenic organisms; particularly, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis failed to grow even though specific methods were used. In one case, a strain of Yersinia enterocolitica was identified which did not prove to be pathogenic. Under corticoid and antibiotic treatment, the course was favorable in every patient. Agglutinin titers progressively decreased and serology became negative within seven to ten months. A patient had a relapse of ileitis but agglutinin titers failed to rise again. In these three patients with unquestionable Crohn's disease, it may be concluded that there was serological evidence of superinfection with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis type IV. This organism might be responsible for acute ileitis mimicking an attack of Crohn's disease.

[Dermatitis herpetiformis (author's transl)]

Detailed investigations of 9 patients with dermatitis herpetiformis are presented. In all cases cutaneous lesions were controlled by dapsone alone or by dapsone and gluten free diet. Granular IgA deposits were found in 7 patients, linear IgA deposits in one, and C3 component of complement in one. 3 patients out of 8 tested, carried the specific HLA-B8 antigen. Despite an extensive investigation, no malabsorption was detected. Jejunal biopsies were performed in 8 cases. Jejunal villous flattening was observed in one patient. It improved after a 2 months gluten free diet on subsequent jejunal biopsies. D. H. seems peculiar in France as compared with case reports from other countries: low prevalence of gluten sensitive enteropathy; rare occurrence of the specific HLA-B8 antigen; incidence of D. H. seems to be low in France. It is noticeable that french incidence of coeliac disease is low as well. This suggests a genetic difference in the investigated population (low prevalence of HLA-B8 antigen) and/or different alimentary habits, particularly a low dietary gluten amount.