Disease Phenotype, Activity and Clinical Course Prediction Based on C-Reactive Protein Levels at Diagnosis in Patients with Crohn's Disease: Results from the CONNECT Study

BACKGROUND/AIMS: C-reactive protein (CRP) is an easily measured index of disease activity, but its ability to predict clinical course is controversial. We therefore designed a study to determine whether the CRP level at Crohn's disease (CD) diagnosis is a valuable indicator of the disease phenotype, activity, and clinical course. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 705 CD patients from 32 institutions. The patients were classified into two groups according to CRP level. The patients' demographic and clinical characteristics and their use of immunosuppressive or biological agents were recorded. Disease location and behavior, hospitalization, and surgery were analyzed. RESULTS: A high CRP was associated with younger age, steroid use, colonic or ileocolonic location, high CD activity index, and active inflammation at colonoscopy (p<0.001). As the disease progressed, patients with high CRP were more likely to exhibit strictures (p=0.027). There were significant differences in the use of 5-aminosalicylic acid, antibiotics, corticosteroids, azathioprine, and infliximab (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, and p=0.023, respectively). Hospitalization was also more frequent in patients with high CRP. CONCLUSIONS: The CRP level at diagnosis is useful for evaluating the phenotype, activity, and clinical course of CD. Closer follow-up strategies, with early aggressive treatment, could be considered for patients with high CRP.

A Case of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura Associated with Preexisting Ulcerative Colitis Treated with Colectomy and Splenectomy

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease of unknown etiology, associated with extraintestinal manifestations, including the rarely reported immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Here, we present a case of immune thrombocytopenic purpura associated with preexisting ulcerative colitis. The patient was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis 13 years ago. Two years after diagnosis, he presented with hematochezia and active ulcerative colitis. Despite steroid use, the platelet count gradually decreased to 21,000/mm3. Hematochezia and the platelet count recovered after the administration of cyclosporine, and ulcerative colitis was in near complete remission for 11 years. However, the patient was re-admitted for hematochezia and thrombocytopenia persisting over a month. Medical management including increased doses of steroids in combination with cyclosporin failed to control hematochezia and thrombocytopenia. Immune thrombocytopenic purpura was suspected on the basis of normocellular marrow with a normal number of megakaryocytes. To treat uncontrolled colitis and steroid-refractory thrombocytopenia, total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis and splenectomy were performed. The patient was followed up for 10 months after surgery and was found to be in good health with a normal platelet count. Therefore, colectomy alone or in combination with splenectomy should be considered in cases of life-threatening ulcerative colitis complicated with steroid-refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

A Case of Gastroduodenal Mucosa-associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma Regression after Eradication of Helicobacter pylori

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a neoplasm with low-grade malignancy that arises from the MALT of various organs. Among the various MALT lymphomas, gastric MALT lymphoma is the most frequently reported, and it has been correlated with Helicobacter pylori infection. In contrast, duodenal MALT lymphoma is very rare, and a relationship with H. pylori has not been established. This case report describes a very rare case of MALT lymphoma arising in both the stomach and duodenum that regressed after eradication of H. pylori.