AIM: To assess the aetiological role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in adult patients with ironrefractory or iron-dependent anaemia of previously unknown origin. METHODS: Consecutive patients with chroni...AIM: To assess the aetiological role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in adult patients with ironrefractory or iron-dependent anaemia of previously unknown origin. METHODS: Consecutive patients with chronic irondeficient anaemia (IDA) with H. pylori infection and a negative standard work-up were prospectively evaluated. All of them had either iron refractoriness or iron dependency. Response to H. pylori eradication was assessed at 6 and 12 mo from follow-up. H. pylori infection was considered to be the cause of the anaemia when a complete anaemia resolution without iron supplements was observed after eradication. RESULTS: H. pylori was eradicated in 88 of the 89 patients. In the non-eradicated patient the four eradicating regimens failed. There were violations of protocol in 4 patients, for whom it was not possible to ascertain the cause of the anaemia. Thus, 84 H. pylori eradicated patients (10 men; 74 women) were available to assess the effect of eradication on IDA. H. pylori infection was considered to be the aetiology of IDA in 32 patients (38.1%; 95%CI: 28.4%-48.8%). This was more frequent in men/postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women (75% vs 23.3%; P < 0.0001) with an OR of 9.8 (95%CI: 3.3-29.6). In these patients, anaemia resolution occurred in the first follow-up visit at 6 mo, and no anaemia or iron deficiency relapse was observed after a mean follow-up of 21 ± 2 mo. CONCLUSION: Gastric H. pylori infection is a frequent cause of iron-refractory or iron-dependent anaemia of previously unknown origin in adult patients.展开更多
AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of 5 compared to :tO granulocyteaphaeresis sessions in patients with active steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis. METHODS: In this pilot, prospective, multicenter randomized trial, 20 ...AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of 5 compared to :tO granulocyteaphaeresis sessions in patients with active steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis. METHODS: In this pilot, prospective, multicenter randomized trial, 20 patients with moderately active steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis were randomized to 5 or 10 granulocyteaphaeresis sessions. The primary objective was clinical remission at wk 17. Secondary measures included endoscopic remission and steroid consumption.RESULTS: Nine patients were randomized to 5 granulocyteaphaeresis sessions (group 1) and 11 patients to 10 granulocyteaphaeresis sessions (group 2). At wk 17, 37.5% of patients in group 1 and 45.45% of patients in group 2 were in clinical remission. Clinical remission was accompanied by endoscopic remission in all cases. Eighty-six percent of patients achieving remission were steroid-free at wk 17. Daily steroid requirements were significantly lower in group 2. Eighty-nine per cent of patients remained in remission during a one year follow-up. One serious adverse event, not related to the study therapy, was reported. CONCLUSION: Granulocyteaphaeresis is safe and effective for the treatment of steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis. In this population, increasing the number of aphaeresis sessions is not associated with higher remission rates, but affords a significant steroid-sparing effect.展开更多
Corticoesteroids are still the first-line treatment for active ulcerative colitis more than 50 years after the publication of trials assessing their beneficial effect, with about a 50% remission rate in cases of sever...Corticoesteroids are still the first-line treatment for active ulcerative colitis more than 50 years after the publication of trials assessing their beneficial effect, with about a 50% remission rate in cases of severe disease. The mortality related to severe attacks of ulcerative colitis has decreased dramatically, to less than 1%, in experienced centers, due to the appropriate use of intensive therapeutic measures (intravenous steroids, fluids and electrolytes, artificial nutritional support, antibiotics, etc), along with timely decision-making about second-line medical therapy and early identification of patients requiring colectomy. One of the most difficult decisions in the management of severe ulcerative colitis is knowing for how long corticosteroids should be administered before deciding that a patient is a non-responder. Studies assessing the outcome of acute attacks after steroid initiation have demonstrated that, in steroid-sensitive patients, the response generally occurs early on, in the first days of treatment. Different indexes to predict treatment failure, when applied on the third day of treatment, have demonstrated a high positive predictive value for colectomy. In contrast to this resolute approach, which is the most widely accepted, other authors have suggested that in some patients a completeand prolonged response to steroids may take longer. Either way, physicians taking care of these patients need to recognize that severe ulcerative colitis may be life-threatening, and they need to be careful with excessively prolonged medical treatment and delayed surgery.展开更多
The majority of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) achieve good control of the inflammatory activity using available therapies. When remission is achieved and quality of life recovered, a considerable prop...The majority of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) achieve good control of the inflammatory activity using available therapies. When remission is achieved and quality of life recovered, a considerable proportion of IBD patients express their desire to travel abroad, be it for business, academic or leisure purposes. Their physicians should help and encourage them whenever possible. However, preventive measures are warranted to minimize the risk, since IBD patients are exposed to the same infections affecting the general population, plus opportunistic infections (OI) related to the immunosuppression. There are a large number of potential OI that might affect patients with IBD. The true prevalence of these infections is unknown, and can vary from country to country. Therefore, reactivation or de novo acquisition of infections such as tuberculosis, malaria, and viral hepatitis will be much more frequent in endemic areas. Therefore, physicians should beaware of these aspects when planning specific preventive measures for patients traveling to a particular country. This includes good control of environmental exposure, chemoprophylaxis when indicated, and the use of a specific vaccination program to prevent endemic infections. In addition, it should be noted that, though the risk of acquiring an infectious disease is probably greater for IBD patients traveling from a developed to a developing country, the inverse situation can also occur; it depends on the previous acquired immunity of the host against infections in any particular environment.展开更多
AIM:To assess:(1)frequency and clinical relevanceof gluten sensitive enteropathy(GSE)detected by serology in a mass screening program;(2)sensitivity of antitransglutaminase(tTGA)and antiendomysium antibodies(EmA);and(...AIM:To assess:(1)frequency and clinical relevanceof gluten sensitive enteropathy(GSE)detected by serology in a mass screening program;(2)sensitivity of antitransglutaminase(tTGA)and antiendomysium antibodies(EmA);and(3)adherence to gluten-free diet(GFD)and follow-up. METHODS:One thousand,eight hundred and sixtyeight subjects recruited from an occupational health department underwent analysis for tTGA and EmA and, if positive,duodenal biopsy,DQ2/DQ8 genotyping, clinical feature recording,blood tests,and densitometry were performed.Since>98%of individuals had tTGA <2 U/mL,this value was established as the cut-off limit of normality and was considered positive when confirmed twice in the same sample.Adherence to a GFD and follow up were registered. RESULTS:Twenty-six(1.39%)subjects had positive tTGA and/or EmA,and 21 underwent biopsy:six Marsh Ⅲ(oneⅢa,fourⅢb,oneⅢc),nine MarshⅠand six Marsh 0(frequency of GSE 1:125).The sensitivity of EmA for GSE was 46.6%(11.1%for MarshⅠ,100% for MarshⅢ),while for tTGA,it was 93.3%(88.8% for MarshⅠ,100%for MarshⅢ).All 15 patients with abnormal histology had clinical features related to GSE.MarshⅠandⅢsubjects had more abdominal pain than Marsh 0(P=0.029),and a similar trend was observed for distension and diarrhea.No differences in the percentage of osteopenia were found between MarshⅠandⅢ(P=0.608).Adherence to follow-up was 69.2%.Of 15 GSE patients,66.7%followed a GFD with 80%responding to it. CONCLUSION:GSE in the general population is frequent and clinically relevant,irrespective of histological severity.tTGA is the marker of choice.Mass screening programs are useful in identifying patients who can benefit from GFD and follow-up.展开更多
基金Supported by Grant from the Instituto de Salud Carlos Ⅲ,Spain, PI07/0748A Grant from the "Fundación Mutua Madrilea", Spain
文摘AIM: To assess the aetiological role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in adult patients with ironrefractory or iron-dependent anaemia of previously unknown origin. METHODS: Consecutive patients with chronic irondeficient anaemia (IDA) with H. pylori infection and a negative standard work-up were prospectively evaluated. All of them had either iron refractoriness or iron dependency. Response to H. pylori eradication was assessed at 6 and 12 mo from follow-up. H. pylori infection was considered to be the cause of the anaemia when a complete anaemia resolution without iron supplements was observed after eradication. RESULTS: H. pylori was eradicated in 88 of the 89 patients. In the non-eradicated patient the four eradicating regimens failed. There were violations of protocol in 4 patients, for whom it was not possible to ascertain the cause of the anaemia. Thus, 84 H. pylori eradicated patients (10 men; 74 women) were available to assess the effect of eradication on IDA. H. pylori infection was considered to be the aetiology of IDA in 32 patients (38.1%; 95%CI: 28.4%-48.8%). This was more frequent in men/postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women (75% vs 23.3%; P < 0.0001) with an OR of 9.8 (95%CI: 3.3-29.6). In these patients, anaemia resolution occurred in the first follow-up visit at 6 mo, and no anaemia or iron deficiency relapse was observed after a mean follow-up of 21 ± 2 mo. CONCLUSION: Gastric H. pylori infection is a frequent cause of iron-refractory or iron-dependent anaemia of previously unknown origin in adult patients.
文摘AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of 5 compared to :tO granulocyteaphaeresis sessions in patients with active steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis. METHODS: In this pilot, prospective, multicenter randomized trial, 20 patients with moderately active steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis were randomized to 5 or 10 granulocyteaphaeresis sessions. The primary objective was clinical remission at wk 17. Secondary measures included endoscopic remission and steroid consumption.RESULTS: Nine patients were randomized to 5 granulocyteaphaeresis sessions (group 1) and 11 patients to 10 granulocyteaphaeresis sessions (group 2). At wk 17, 37.5% of patients in group 1 and 45.45% of patients in group 2 were in clinical remission. Clinical remission was accompanied by endoscopic remission in all cases. Eighty-six percent of patients achieving remission were steroid-free at wk 17. Daily steroid requirements were significantly lower in group 2. Eighty-nine per cent of patients remained in remission during a one year follow-up. One serious adverse event, not related to the study therapy, was reported. CONCLUSION: Granulocyteaphaeresis is safe and effective for the treatment of steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis. In this population, increasing the number of aphaeresis sessions is not associated with higher remission rates, but affords a significant steroid-sparing effect.
文摘Corticoesteroids are still the first-line treatment for active ulcerative colitis more than 50 years after the publication of trials assessing their beneficial effect, with about a 50% remission rate in cases of severe disease. The mortality related to severe attacks of ulcerative colitis has decreased dramatically, to less than 1%, in experienced centers, due to the appropriate use of intensive therapeutic measures (intravenous steroids, fluids and electrolytes, artificial nutritional support, antibiotics, etc), along with timely decision-making about second-line medical therapy and early identification of patients requiring colectomy. One of the most difficult decisions in the management of severe ulcerative colitis is knowing for how long corticosteroids should be administered before deciding that a patient is a non-responder. Studies assessing the outcome of acute attacks after steroid initiation have demonstrated that, in steroid-sensitive patients, the response generally occurs early on, in the first days of treatment. Different indexes to predict treatment failure, when applied on the third day of treatment, have demonstrated a high positive predictive value for colectomy. In contrast to this resolute approach, which is the most widely accepted, other authors have suggested that in some patients a completeand prolonged response to steroids may take longer. Either way, physicians taking care of these patients need to recognize that severe ulcerative colitis may be life-threatening, and they need to be careful with excessively prolonged medical treatment and delayed surgery.
文摘The majority of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) achieve good control of the inflammatory activity using available therapies. When remission is achieved and quality of life recovered, a considerable proportion of IBD patients express their desire to travel abroad, be it for business, academic or leisure purposes. Their physicians should help and encourage them whenever possible. However, preventive measures are warranted to minimize the risk, since IBD patients are exposed to the same infections affecting the general population, plus opportunistic infections (OI) related to the immunosuppression. There are a large number of potential OI that might affect patients with IBD. The true prevalence of these infections is unknown, and can vary from country to country. Therefore, reactivation or de novo acquisition of infections such as tuberculosis, malaria, and viral hepatitis will be much more frequent in endemic areas. Therefore, physicians should beaware of these aspects when planning specific preventive measures for patients traveling to a particular country. This includes good control of environmental exposure, chemoprophylaxis when indicated, and the use of a specific vaccination program to prevent endemic infections. In addition, it should be noted that, though the risk of acquiring an infectious disease is probably greater for IBD patients traveling from a developed to a developing country, the inverse situation can also occur; it depends on the previous acquired immunity of the host against infections in any particular environment.
基金Supported by"FundacióBanc de Sabadell"(Barcelona,Spain)
文摘AIM:To assess:(1)frequency and clinical relevanceof gluten sensitive enteropathy(GSE)detected by serology in a mass screening program;(2)sensitivity of antitransglutaminase(tTGA)and antiendomysium antibodies(EmA);and(3)adherence to gluten-free diet(GFD)and follow-up. METHODS:One thousand,eight hundred and sixtyeight subjects recruited from an occupational health department underwent analysis for tTGA and EmA and, if positive,duodenal biopsy,DQ2/DQ8 genotyping, clinical feature recording,blood tests,and densitometry were performed.Since>98%of individuals had tTGA <2 U/mL,this value was established as the cut-off limit of normality and was considered positive when confirmed twice in the same sample.Adherence to a GFD and follow up were registered. RESULTS:Twenty-six(1.39%)subjects had positive tTGA and/or EmA,and 21 underwent biopsy:six Marsh Ⅲ(oneⅢa,fourⅢb,oneⅢc),nine MarshⅠand six Marsh 0(frequency of GSE 1:125).The sensitivity of EmA for GSE was 46.6%(11.1%for MarshⅠ,100% for MarshⅢ),while for tTGA,it was 93.3%(88.8% for MarshⅠ,100%for MarshⅢ).All 15 patients with abnormal histology had clinical features related to GSE.MarshⅠandⅢsubjects had more abdominal pain than Marsh 0(P=0.029),and a similar trend was observed for distension and diarrhea.No differences in the percentage of osteopenia were found between MarshⅠandⅢ(P=0.608).Adherence to follow-up was 69.2%.Of 15 GSE patients,66.7%followed a GFD with 80%responding to it. CONCLUSION:GSE in the general population is frequent and clinically relevant,irrespective of histological severity.tTGA is the marker of choice.Mass screening programs are useful in identifying patients who can benefit from GFD and follow-up.