Subject(s)
Lasers, Solid-State , Lithotripsy, Laser , Lithotripsy , Humans , Holmium , Lasers, Solid-State/therapeutic use , EndoscopyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: It is difficult to definitively diagnose acute amebiasis, particularly when this condition is superimposed on inflammatory bowel disease. Our goals in this study were to determine the prevalence of amebiasis in individuals with active ulcerative colitis, and to identify clinical and laboratory parameters that are of value for diagnosing amebiasis in this patient group. METHODS: The subjects were 111 patients (76 women, 35 men) with confirmed active ulcerative colitis who attended our hospital's Inflammatory Bowel Disease Outpatient Clinic between May 2002 and March 2006. In each case, a detailed medical history was collected, blood samples were tested for inflammatory markers, and stool samples were evaluated for presence of amebae using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for detection of Entamoeba histolytica antigen. The clinical and laboratory variables for the ELISA-positive and ELISA-negative groups were compared. RESULTS: Amebiasis was detected in 35 (31.5%) of the subjects. Patient age, disease duration, endoscopic activity index, serum C-reactive protein level, and white blood cell count were not useful for diagnosing amebiasis in this patient group. CONCLUSIONS: Given the high rate of amebiasis observed in our patients with active ulcerative colitis, we recommend that, in Turkey any individual with ulcerative colitis who presents with symptoms of disease activation should be tested for ameba using antigen detection kits. A high index of suspicion is especially important in any region where E. histolytica is endemic.
Subject(s)
Colitis, Ulcerative/microbiology , Dysentery, Amebic/diagnosis , Dysentery, Amebic/epidemiology , Entamoeba histolytica , Adult , Antigens, Protozoan/isolation & purification , Cohort Studies , Entamoeba histolytica/immunology , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Feces/microbiology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Predictive Value of Tests , Prevalence , Risk Factors , TurkeyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study is aimed at determining the clinical and socio-demographic characteristics of Turkish patients with inflammatory bowel disease who have been treated in a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was conducted between 1993 and 2007 at Ankara Yuksek Ihtisas Hospital, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinics. The clinical and epidemiologic data from this clinic were gathered and analysed. RESULTS: During the study period, 702 patients were identified as having inflammatory bowel disease; among these, 507 with ulcerative colitis (72.2%) and 195 with Crohn's disease (27.8%). The mean age at diagnosis was 46.2 years in ulcerative colitis and 40 years in Crohn's disease (p < 0.001). The male to female ratio was 1.2 for ulcerative colitis and 1.6 for Crohn's disease (p = 0.12). Of the patients who were primarily diagnosed with ulcerative colitis 16.8% had their diagnoses changed to Crohn's disease after the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Peak age of onset for both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis were similar to other countries. A slight male predominance of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis were found for Turkish patients. Though it takes longer to diagnose, Crohn's disease may have a milder course in Turkish patients.
