Successful remission of ulcerative colitis flare-up during pregnancy with adsorptive granulomonocytapheresis plus tacrolimus.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is 1 of the 2 major phenotypes of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which afflicts millions of individuals throughout the world with debilitating symptoms that impair function and quality of life. Further, IBD often affects women during childbearing age. Indeed, UC activity frequently increases during pregnancy, and the medications used to induce remission may adversely affect the health of the mother and the unborn child. We report successful induction of a remission in a UC case who experienced a flare-up in the first trimester of pregnancy. Upon relapse, she was treated with steroids and adsorptive granulomonocytapheresis (GMA) with the Adacolumn plus tacrolimus. This combination therapy induced a stable remission that was maintained during her entire pregnancy. She gave birth to a healthy child at 36 weeks of pregnancy with no maternal or fetal complications. Our experience indicates that GMA, as a non-drug therapeutic intervention with a favorable safety profile, plus tacrolimus might be a relevant treatment option for patients with active IBD during pregnancy. A future study of a large cohort of pregnant patients should strengthen our findings.

Efficacy and Acceptability of 1 Liter of Polyethylene Glycol with Ascorbic Acid vs. 2 Liters of Polyethylene Glycol Plus Mosapride and Sennoside for Colonoscopy Preparation.

BACKGROUND [color=black]Bowel preparation is an important factor for an optimal outcome of colonoscopy. Recently, polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution has been in common use for bowel cleansing for colonoscopy, but some patients are intolerant of PEG because of taste or volume. A low-volume PEG administered with ascorbic acid solution (PEG-Asc) was designed to improve tolerability, but the administration of this method is more complex than that with PEG alone. This study aimed to compare bowel cleansing efficacy, safety, and tolerability of 1 L PEG-Asc with a 2 L PEG preparation with use of sennosides and mosapride.[/color] MATERIAL AND METHODS [color=black]This was a prospective, single-center, non-inferiority trial that included 112 patients (PEG-Asc group, 68; PEG group, 44). The primary endpoint was the efficacy of colon cleansing assessed by endoscopists using a validated 4-point scale according to the Aronchick scale and was verified by a blinded investigator. Acceptability, tolerability, and adenoma detection rate (ADR) of these 2 regimens were secondary endpoints.[/color][color=black] [/color] RESULTS [color=black]We found no statistically significant differences between the groups in colon-cleansing efficacy or in the adenoma detection rate (ADR). Moreover, overall, patients significantly favored PEG-Asc over PEG, reflecting better acceptance of PEG-Asc. Additionally, more patients favored PEG-Asc over PEG for a hypothetical future colonoscopy. [/color] CONCLUSIONS [color=black]The alternate 1 L PEG-Asc regimen and standard 2 L PEG regimen were clinically equivalent with respect to cleansing efficacy, safety, and ADR, and more patients favored PEG-Asc than PEG. This alternate regimen may improve patient compliance and acceptance of surveillance colonoscopy.[/color].

A Randomized Prospective Study of Bowel Preparation for Colonoscopy with Low-Dose Sodium Phosphate Tablets versus Polyethylene Glycol Electrolyte Solution.

Optimal bowel preparation is essential for the safety and outcome of colonoscopy. A solution containing polyethylene glycol (PEG) is often used as a bowel cleansing agent, but some patients are intolerant of PEG, and this may lead to discontinuation of colonoscopy. Sodium phosphates (NaP) tablets are designed to improve patient acceptance and compliance. The objective of this study was to compare bowel preparation efficiency and patient acceptance of a 30 NaP tablet preparation (L-NaP) and a 2 L PEG preparation. Patients were randomized into either the L-NaP or PEG group. The primary endpoint was the efficiency of colon cleansing as assessed by a validated four-point scale according to the Aronchick scale by endoscopists and was verified by blinded investigators. The secondary endpoints were patients' tolerability and acceptance. Colon-cleansing efficiency was not significantly different between the two preparations. However, patients' overall judgment was significantly in favor of L-NaP, reflecting better acceptance of L-NaP than PEG. Additionally, more patients favored L-NaP over PEG in a hypothetical future occasion requiring colonoscopy.