ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: A temporal relationship between vedolizumab and new-onset spondyloarthritis (SpA) has been suggested. AIMS: We evaluated the relationship between vedolizumab initiation and development of new-onset SpA in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) through serial clinical evaluation and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: A single-centre prospective observational study of 24 patients with IBD. Patients were eligible if they had active ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease (CD), were initiating vedolizumab, had no prior history of arthritis or SpA and were suitable for serial MRI. A rheumatologist performed clinical evaluation prior to the first dose and 8 and 24 weeks. Axial MRI was evaluated by a blinded central reader and performed at baseline 8 and 24 weeks. RESULTS: Nine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor-naïve patients (4 male; mean age 53.2 years; 6 UC; 3 CD) and eight TNF inhibitor-experienced patients (7 male; mean age 48 years; 3 UC; 5 CD) completed all assessments. No patients developed new features of axial arthritis or features of peripheral SpA (inflammatory oligoarthritis, enthesitis, dactylitis, or psoriasis (nail, body, or scalp)). Both groups demonstrated a good intestinal response. CONCLUSION: Vedolizumab initiation did not induce new features of axial or peripheral SpA after 24 weeks of treatment in TNF inhibitor-experienced or TNF inhibitor-naive patients with IBD.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Multidisciplinary conference presentation may provide recommendations for diagnosis, monitoring and treatment for patients with inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS: A prospective observational study was completed evaluating if case presentation resulted in a direct change in management for patients presented over a 2-year period in a tertiary Canadian centre. Change in management was defined as hospital admission, surgery or surgical referral, start/change in biologic therapy or other medication or initiation of parenteral nutrition. Secondary outcomes included the involvement of specialists and other referrals. Data were analyzed using frequencies and means with standard deviations. RESULTS: In 63 multidisciplinary conferences, 181 patients were presented, of whom 136 patients met the inclusion criteria of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's n = 45, ulcerative colitis n = 88, undifferentiated n = 3). The majority were outpatient cases 110 (81%). Indications included 71 (52%) patients presented for IBD management with diagnosis > 1 year, 37 (27%) with an acute IBD flare in a chronic patient (>1 year since diagnosis) and 24 (18%) with new diagnosis of IBD. Change in management was recommended in 35 (26%) patients. The most common change was referral to surgery in 17 (13%), surgery in 12 (9%) or change in biologic therapy 11 (8%). Compliance with the recommendations was 85%. There was frequent specialist involvement in case discussions (gastroenterologist 100%, surgeon 60%, radiologist 68% and pathologist 32%). CONCLUSIONS: Presentation of complex inflammatory bowel disease cases at multidisciplinary conference leads to a direct change in treatment in one quarter of cases, with surgical referral as the most frequent outcome.
ABSTRACT
Chagas disease, an infection caused by a protozoan parasite and previously endemic to Mexico and Central and South America, is becoming more prevalent in the United States and Canada. Because nurses and physicians in health care settings may be the first to encounter undiagnosed cases of Chagas disease, it is essential that public health personnel and health care providers in general become more familiar with the disease, including its incidence and prevalence, clinical manifestations, diagnostic criteria, treatment options, and implications for nursing.
