Early atherosclerosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an increased risk of thrombotic complications. Arterial and venous system may be involved. Moreover, mesenteric microvascular thrombosis has been hypothesised as a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of IBD. Early atherosclerosis is a clinical feature common to several inflammatory and immunological diseases in which atherothrombotic complication represents one of the most important cause of mortality and morbidity. We investigate the prevalence and the entity of the early stages of vascular disease in a population of IBD patients without the classical cardiovascular risk factors, by measuring the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery. We found that IBD patients have an increased risk of early atherosclerosis than healthy controls as showed by greater values of carotid IMT and that homocysteine levels and age were independently associated with the increased arterial wall thickness.

Increased carotid intima-media thickness in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease have an increased risk of thrombotic complications; moreover, mesenteric microvascular thrombosis has been hypothesized as a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. AIM: To assess the extent of subclinical atherosclerosis in inflammatory bowel disease by measuring the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery. METHODS: Fifty-two patients were enrolled in the study. Patients aged >45 years, with a history of cardiovascular disease and known risk factors for atherosclerosis were excluded from the study. Twenty healthy subjects were studied as controls. Carotid ultrasonography was performed in all patients and controls. intima-media thickness was measured proximal to the carotid bifurcation over both right and left common carotid arteries. The clinical characteristics and the laboratory parameters relevant to disease activity were recorded for all inflammatory bowel disease patients. In particular, plasma homocysteine, a well-known risk factor for thrombosis, was assessed. RESULTS: Common carotid artery intima-media thickness was significantly higher in inflammatory bowel disease patients (0.63 +/- 0.15 mm) compared with controls (0.53 +/- 0.08 mm). Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant association of carotid intima-media thickness with homocysteine levels and age. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammatory bowel disease patients have an increased risk of early atherosclerosis than healthy controls as showed by greater values of carotid intima-media thickness. Homocysteine levels and age resulted independently associated with the increased arterial wall thickness.

Pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of non-erosive reflux disease (NERD).

Up to 70% of patients with typical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have neither definite endoscopic oesophageal breaks nor Barrett's oesophagus at upper endoscopy. These patients suffer from non-erosive reflux disease (NERD), also termed endoscopy-negative reflux disease or symptomatic GERD. NERD patients appear as a heterogeneous population with multiple and substantially different mechanisms implicated in the genesis of symptoms. In fact, patients with NERD may be divided into 3 groups on the basis of 24-hour pH monitoring: 1) patients with an abnormal acid exposure time (AET); 2) patients who demonstrate a normal AET, but in whom symptoms and reflux events are significantly correlated (hypersensitive oesophagus) and 3) patients with typical reflux symptoms but in whom all parameters of the pH study are normal. There is no gold standard for the diagnosis of NERD but a well-taken history can be, usually, sufficient to confirm the diagnosis and begin therapy. Thus, the more sensitive tool for the diagnosis of NERD is proton pump-inhibitor (PPI) test. The aims of NERD treatment are: symptoms relieve, restore quality of life and maintain clinical remission. Proton pump-inhibitors (PPIs) in full doses represent the treatment of choice of NERD patients, even if overall, clinical trials showed a lower efficacy in symptoms control when compared to patients with erosive oesophagitis. Patients with NERD often need long-term therapy for symptoms control. ''On demand'' PPI therapy has been considered as the most cost-effective strategy for the long-term treatment of NERD. In conclusion, many data indicate that NERD is a disorder in its own right that shares symptoms with other GERD groups. However further studies are needed to better define the natural history and improve the treatment of this disorder.

Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 gene polymorphisms in inflammatory bowel disease.

Intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 is a single-chain cell surface glycoprotein that plays an important role in the recruitment of leukocytes at sites of inflammation and is up-regulated in intestinal mucosa of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). ICAM-1 gene lies on chromosome 19p13, implicated in determining susceptibility to IBD. The human ICAM-1 gene contains two polymorphic sites in codon 241 (G241R) and 469 (K469E) which have been implicated in the susceptibility to a range of degenerative and inflammatory diseases. Recently, several reports have shown discordant data regarding the association of these polymorphisms with IBD. In particular, we found an association of IBD with the E/E genotype while allele E469 was associated with a subgroup of patients with more extensive location of Crohn's disease and penetrating behaviour. However, other studies reached different conclusions. A possible explanation for the discrepancy of results is probably the influence of the different geographic distribution of the genetic mutations.

Clinical correlations of small bowel CT and contrast radiology findings in Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUNDS AND OBJECTIVE: Aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical correlates of small bowel CT patterns in patients with Crohn's disease (CD), as compared to barium studies and endoscopic findings, as far as parameters of disease activity are concerned. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty five patients with pathologically proven CD were studied by means of helical single detector CT (13) or multidetector CT (22), after administration of low density contrast by mouth (13) or by nasojeunal tube (22). Eight hours later, all patients were studied with barium administered by mouth (13) or with barium and methilcellulose administered by nasojeunal tube (22). Clinical activity was assessed by CDAI score, ESR, CRP, alpha1 glycoprotein and fibrinogen levels. In twenty one patients, colonoscopy was also performed. RESULTS: Sensitivity of small bowel CT versus endoscopy was of 88% while sensitivity of barium studies was of 77% versus endoscopic findings, and it reached 100% for the combination of both exams. We found positive correlations between the detection at CT of "target sign" and a CDAI score > 150 or abnormal values of CRP, ESR, alpha1 glycoprotein. Abnormal ESR or fibrinogen levels were correlated with the detection of fistulas at CT scans. The diameter of enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes was correlated with alpha1 glycoprotein values. No similar correlations were detected for contrast radiology findings. DISCUSSION: This study underscores the clinical usefulness of performing small bowel CT in adjunct to conventional diagnostic studies in Crohn's disease patients. CT findings (either by oral route or nasojeunal tube) correlate with parameters of disease activity.

[Passive microhemagglutination reaction to Treponema pallidum in the cerebrospinal fluid in the diagnosis of neurosyphilis]. / Contribuição da reação de micro-hemaglutinação passiva para o treponema pallidum (mha-tp) no líquido cefalorraqueano ao diagnóstico de neurossífilis.

A quantitative micro-hemagglutination test for antibodies to Treponema pallidum (MHA-TP) was evaluated in 25 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples obtained from patients with neurosyphilis (NS group) and in 7 CSF samples of patients with reactive serologic tests for syphilis (STS+). These data were compared to treponemal and nontreponemal tests. The MHA-TP was reactive in all of the 25 NS group samples, the FTA-Abs and the complement fixation of Wassermann (CFW) were in 24 and the VDRL in only 9. In the 7 STS+ samples (STS+ group), the MHA-TP was reactive in 6, the FTA-Abs in all of them and the nontreponemal tests were nonreactive. Results analyses support conclusion the clinical diagnosis of NS must be complemented by cytoproteic dual and immunological treponemal and nontreponemal assays in CSF. The MHA-TP test was as sensitive as FTA-Abs and required less technical and interpretative skills, contributing in association to CFW to NS diagnosis.