Evaluation of the transition from intravenous to subcutaneous vedolizumab in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. / Valoración de la transición de vedolizumab intravenoso a subcutáneo en pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal.

AIMS: The aim of the study is to evaluate the clinical and biochemical response of inflammatory bowel disease patients treated with vedolizumab, 16 weeks after transitioning from intravenous (iv) to subcutaneous (sc). METHODS: An observational, prospective, single-center cohort study was performed. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease and maintenance treatment with vedolizumab, stable for at least 4 months, were offered to switch to sc formulation. At the same time of treatment administration a blood test was performed, with vedolizumab levels and fecal calprotectin. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were included, 12 of them (27.9%) chose to transition to sc formulation. All included patients remained in remission during follow-up. At week 16 no significant differences were found in terms of calprotectin levels in patients on iv treatment (mean 146.6±SD 45.9) vs. sc (159.26±53.9) (p=0.9). Vedolizumab serum levels at week 16 were higher in the sc group (22,364.3±5141.6) vs. iv (11,425.9±1514.2) (p=0.009). At week 16, 9 (75%) of the patients in the sc group were highly satisfied with the medication and 11 (91.7%) considered it easy to administer. Four patients (12.9%) in the iv group and 2 (16.6%) in the sc group presented mild adverse effects. The 2 cases (100%) of the sc group the adverse event was local inflammation at the injection site. CONCLUSION: In our experience, vedolizumab sc is a convenient alternative to iv administration. Vedolizumab serum levels in patients who transitioned to sc were higher than iv formulation.

Gastrointestinal bleeding due to disseminated histoplasmosis in a patient under anti-TNF treatment.

A 62-year-old woman, originally from Peru, with rheumatoid arthritis under treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy, was admitted due to constitutional syndrome and suspicion of neoplasia. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed involvement of three segments of the colon, ascites, and likely peritoneal implants. Ascitic fluid analysis showed elevated adenosine deaminase (ADA) levels and lymphocytosis. The patient presented with hematemesis and hematochezia with hemodynamic instability. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy identified an extensive ulcer in the middle esophagus with a granular base, elevated and defined edges, indeterminate for malignancy and without blood residues. Colonoscopy also revealed multiple extensive ulcers in the transverse colon, with whitish bases and thickened and necrotic-looking surrounding mucosal edges. Histology showed granulomas and yeast-like fungal structures with methenamine silver staining in both tissues, consistent with disseminated histoplasmosis. Antifungal treatment was initiated with good clinical evolution.

Incidence and Course of Joint Inflammation Associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Patients Undergoing Treatment with Vedolizumab/Ustekinumab: The VEDUSTAR Study.

BACKGROUND: The role of ustekinumab (UST) and vedolizumab (VDZ) in the extraintestinal joint manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remain unclear, and most existing studies are retrospective. The aim of this prospective study was to analyze the incidence of new-onset joint disease or the worsening of pre-existing IBD-associated joint disease in patients treated with UST and VDZ. METHODS: The study population comprised IBD patients with previous spondyloarthritis (SpA) or new-onset arthropathy undergoing treatment with VDZ or UST. RESULTS: Eighty patients were referred to rheumatology because of previous SpA or onset of symptoms. Most patients (90%) were anti-TNF experienced. Two patients with previous SpA (2/22; 9%) experienced a flare-up (one with UST and one with VDZ), and two patients with VDZ developed SpA during follow-up (2/58; 3%). Only one of these four patients did not have gastrointestinal symptoms, and VDZ was discontinued because of joint symptoms. The other three patients had concomitant intestinal activity, and treatment was not discontinued. CONCLUSION: Our experience shows that treatment with UST and VDZ did not worsen joint disease in patients with SpA. Most remained stable or improved. In addition, poor control of IBD in patients with joint flare-ups could be the main cause of worsening SpA.

Effectiveness of ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of ileitis detected by computed tomography.

CASE REPORT A 86-year-old man with a recent history of stent placement for infrarenal aortic aneurysm arrives to the emergency department with abdominal pain. Computed tomography (CT) is performed to rule out complications of the endovascular procedure. The CT showed a loop of ileum with decreased caliber, fat trabeculation and hypervascularity causing proximal dilatation. No signs of ischemia or complications related to the prosthesis were observed. He was admitted to our service due to findings of non-specific ileitis. An intestinal ultrasound was performed and revealed a short segment of proximal ileum with pathological wall thickening with an intraluminal birefringent filamentary hyperechoic material (foreign body), which crossed all the layers of the wall. In the following days serial ultrasounds were performed showing that the foreign body remained in the same location and it was decided to perform surgery. During surgery the foreign body turned out to be a blister which conditioned an ileitis. Finally, intestinal resection was performed and the patient presented good clinical evolution. DISCUSSION The most validated technique for the diagnosis of foreign bodies is CT (1). However, intestinal ultrasound could help in its identification, especially for the non-radiopaque ingested material. On the other hand, it is especially useful in the pediatric age, where exposure to ionizing radiation should be avoided (2,3). In our case, it allowed not only to establish the diagnosis immediately but also to evaluate the evolutionary behavior of the same in terms of its mobilization or detection of local complications.

Influence of biologic therapy on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. / Influencia del tratamiento biológico en los factores de riesgo cardiovascular de los pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic immune-mediated diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), present an increased risk of developing early atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events (CVE) at early age. OBJECTIVE: To describe the baseline and 1-year cardiovascular profile of patients with IBD according to the biologic treatment received, taking into account the inflammatory activity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It is a retrospective, observational study that included 374 patients. Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) and CVE were collected at the baseline visit and at one-year follow-up to describe the cardiovascular risk according to the biological treatment received, also assessing clinical and biological remission. RESULTS: A total of 374 patients were included: 146 (38.73%) were treated with Infliximab, 128 (33.95%) with adalimumab, 61 (16.18%) with ustekinumab and 42 (11.14%) with vedolizumab. The changes in blood glucose levels are [86.31mg/dL (84.57-88.06) vs. 89.25mg/dL (87.54-90.96), P=.001] for those treated with antiTNFα and [86.52mg/dL (83.48-89.55) vs. 89.44mg/dL (85.77-93.11), P=.11] in the other group. In the group treated with antiTNFα total cholesterol values at baseline visit are [169.40mg/dL (164.97-173.83) vs. 177.40mg/dL (172.75-182.05) at one year of treatment, P=<.001], those of HDL [50.22mg/dL (48.39-52.04) vs. 54.26mg/dL (52.46-56.07), P=<.001] and those of triglycerides [114.77mg/dL (106.36-123.18) vs. 121.83mg/dL (112.11-131.54), P=.054]. Regarding weight, an increase was observed, both in those patients treated with antiTNFα [71.39kg (69.53-73.25) vs. 72.87kg (71.05-74.70), P<.001], and in the group treated with ustekinumab and vedolizumab [67.59kg (64.10-71.08) vs. 69.43kg (65.65-73.04), P=.003]. Concerning CVE, no significant differences were observed neither according to the drug used (p=0.36), nor according to personal history of CVE (P=.23) nor according to inflammatory activity (P=.46). CONCLUSIONS: Our results on a real cohort of patients with IBD treated with biologic drugs show a better control of certain cardiovascular parameters such as CRP or HDL, but a worsening of others such as total cholesterol or triglycerides, regardless of the treatment. Therefore, it is possibly the disease control and not the therapeutic target used, the one that affect the cardiovascular risk of these patients.

Black esophagus.

A 76-year-old man with multiple cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, DM2, LD, smoker) and severe peripheral arterial disease (iliofemoral bypass, supracondylar amputation) came to the emergency with coffee ground emesis and mild anemia. Urgent gastroscopy showed diffuse circumferential black mucosa covered by fibrin affecting the middle and distal esophageal third. Acute esophageal necrosis is a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding that should be suspected in patients with cardiovascular risk factors with an image of a black esophagus that is abruptly interrupted at the EGJ.