ABSTRACT
Background: Disease clearance defined by the absence of symptoms and intestinal inflammation at endoscopic and histological examination, is proposed as a target in the evaluation of the ulcerative colitis (UC) course. The purpose of this study was to evaluate disease remission on the UC evolution according to disease clearance concept. Method(s): Between January 2020 - March 2022, 79 patients with UC were evaluated clinically, laboratory testing, endoscopically and histologically. Patients positive for COVID and CDI were not included in the study. Disease remission, in accordance with the concept of disease clearance it is defined as clinical (partial Mayo score <=2), endoscopic (endoscopic Mayo score <=1) and histological (Nancy Index) remission. Disease clearance was measured at inclusion in the study and during follow-up after 12 months. Results were compared in patients who did or did not achieve disease clearance. Result(s): The patients were divided into 2 groups according to disease clearence: Group 1: 35 out of 79 patients with UC evaluated, were considered with disease clearance at the initial moment of the evaluation. Group 1 did not present complications and did not require surgical interventions during the follow-up period, compared to group 2: Nondisease clearence patients, 44 out of 79 patients (0.0% vs. 31.8%, p=0.03, OR=23.1). During follow-up, 38.6% patients (N=17 pts, Incidence Rate=0.3864) from group 2 obtained clinical remission, of which 15.9% patients obtained endoscopic remission, 6.81% patients obtained histological remission (p=0.025) and 27.2% patients were under biological therapy. A total of 27 patients from both groups required hospitalization, significantly shorter for patients with initial values of fecal calprotectin below 200 mug/mg, and without endoscopic and/or histological activity (8.57% vs. 54.54%, p=0.002, OR=0.57, RR=0.224). 51.8% patients presented severe forms of disease with surgical and non-surgical complications (35.7% vs. 64.2%, p=0.91, OR=1.07). Surgical complications include toxic megacolon (N=2 pts, 14.2%), colonic perforation (N=1 pts, 7.1%), gastrointestinal hemorrhage (N=1 pts, 7.1%) and stricture with bowel obstruction (N=1 pts, 7.1%). Non-surgical complications include gastrointestinal hemorrhage (N=6 pts, 42.8%), venous thrombosis (N=1 pts, 7.1%) and colorectal cancer (N=2 pts, 14.2%). No deaths were reported. Conclusion(s): According to the concept of disease clearance, our data indicate that UC patients in clinical, endoscopic and histological remission present a significantly lower risk of hospitalization, complications and surgical intervention.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP), is a self-limiting vasculitis involving the small vessels of the skin, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, joints, and rarely the lungs and central nervous system (CNS). The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (Sars-CoV-2) infection may be a condition associated with the development of vasculitis sustained by an exacerbated IgA-mediated immune response. Case Description/Methods: In the context of the current pandemic, we report the case of a 32-yearold patient who showed clinical features of HSP that appeared in a few days after the diagnosis of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) mild form, confirmed by PCR test. He presented an acute onset with marked asthenia, edema and painful bilateral swelling of the knee, associated with difficulty walking. Small flat lesions distributed on the upper and lower extremity and on the posteriorchest have been identified, one day later. He needed hospitalization in a medical center where he received corticosteroid therapy, anticoagulant, antiviral with regression of skin lesions and joint swelling. After five days the skin lesions expand and after 48 hours there is intense abdominal pain accompanied by accelerated intestinal transit with blood. The objective examination reveals a rash on both lower extremity, which extends from the soles to the ankles (Figure 1). Examination of the knee joints shows no local erythema, but a painful limitation of passive movements is noted. Laboratory data indicate a biological inflammatory syndrome, proteinuria and hematuria. The immunological profile does not indicate the presence of non-COVID-19 reactive arthritis. Upper gastrointestinal examination performed at 4 days reveals gastric vascular spots. There are no evidence of suggestive lesions for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) observed both on colonoscopy and abdominal CT based on 7 mm parietal thickening of the descending colon and sigmoid. Clinical, laboratory, imaging and endoscopic data establish the diagnosis of HSP with nephritic syndrome and reactive arthritis in the context of Sars-CoV-2 infection. Under cortisone treatment, purpura disappears completely after 10 days. Discussion: In our patient the presence of purpura in the absence of thrombocytopenia, as a mandatory criterion, in association with other criteria, namely arthritis reactive at onset, renal and digestive impairment, support according to EULAR / PRINTO / PRES criteria, the diagnosis of Henoch-Schonlein purpura..