Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of inflammatory bowel disease in patients from Northwestern Iran

There are few reports from Iran about the epidemiology and clinical features of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. This study aims to determine the epidemiologic profile and clinical features of IBD in Northwest Iran referral centers. In a cross-sectional setting, we evaluated 200 patients with definitive diagnoses of IBD who referred to Tabriz educational hospitals during the period of 2005 to 2007. Demographic characteristics as well as patients' clinical profiles were evaluated. Disease activity and severity were determined by the Crohn's Disease Activity Index and Truelove and Witt's classification of ulcerative colitis [UC]. The related probable demographic factors were tested. Of the 200 IBD patients, 183 [91.5%] were diagnosed with UC and 17 [8.5%] with Crohn's disease [CD]. There was a positive first degree relative of IBD in 10.9% of UC and 11.8% of CD patients. Abdominal pain was the primary presenting symptom in 25.7% of UC patients and in 58.8% of those with CD. Among UC patients, left-sided colitis was the main feature [52.5%]; while in patients with CD, colon involvement was predominant [52.9%]. There was no significant contributor for activity or severity of disease noted among demographic factors. The occurrence of UC was much higher than CD. The onset of IBD occurred in younger ages with a predominance in males. Left-sided colitis in UC and colon involvement in CD was common. Mostly, the pattern of IBD was mild to moderate with good response to pharmacotherapy. Disease activity and severity were unaffected by demographic features

Red cell distribution width levels and disease activity in ulcerative colitis

The amount of literature concerning the implication of the red cell distribution width [RDW] in the assessment of ulcerative colitis [UC] activity is rather limited. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential role of RDW in the evaluation of UC disease activity. A total of 96 patients with UC and 51 age and sex-matched healthy volunteers were included in a cross-sectional study. Clinical disease activity was defined using the numerical Disease Activity Index [DAI]. In addition to RDW, serum C-reactive protein [CRP] levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rates [ESR], and platelet counts [PLT] were measured. AThere were 47 [about 49%] patients with that had active UC. The RDW was significantly higher in patients with UC than in controls [p=0.001] and active versus patients in remission [p<0.001]. RDW was significantly correlated with DAI scores, ESR, CRP and PLT in active patients. There was a significant correlation between RDW with DAI scores and CRP levels in patients who were in remission. RDW was elevated in UC patients in comparison with healthy controls and increased markedly in active disease. It was also strongly correlated with clinical disease activity scores and inflammatory parameters such as ESR and CRP. RDW, as a cost-effective tool, may be an additional parameter to assess disease activity in UC.