Influence of familial forms of inflammatory bowel disease on the use of immunosuppressants, biological agents, and surgery in the era of biological therapies. Results from the ENEIDA project.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Familial inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) history is a controversial prognostic factor in IBD. We aimed to evaluate the impact of a familial history of IBD on the use of medical and surgical treatments in the biological era. METHODS: Patients included in the prospectively maintained ENEIDA database and diagnosed with IBD after 2005 were included. Familial forms were defined as those cases with at least one first-degree relative diagnosed with IBD. Disease phenotype, the use of biological agents, or surgical treatments were the main outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 5263 patients [2627 Crohn's disease (CD); 2636 ulcerative colitis (UC)] were included, with a median follow-up of 31 months. Of these, 507 (10%) corresponded to familial forms. No clinical differences were observed between familial and sporadic IBD forms except a lower age at IBD diagnosis and a higher rate of males in familial forms of UC. In CD, the proportions of patients treated with thiopurines (54.4% vs 46.7%; P = .015) and survival time free of thiopurines (P = .009) were lower in familial forms. No differences were found regarding the use of biological agents. Concerning surgery, a higher rate of intestinal resections was observed in sporadic CD (14.8% vs 9.9%, P = .027). No differences were observed in UC. CONCLUSIONS: In the era of biological therapies, familial and sporadic forms of IBD show similar phenotypes and are managed medically in a similar way; whether these is due to lack of phenotypical differences or an effect of biological therapies is uncertain. What is already known on this topic: IBD's etiopathogenesis points to an interaction between environmental and genetic factors, being familial history a controversial prognostic factor. Biological agents use and need for surgery regarding familial or sporadic forms of IBDs present conflicting results. What this study adds: Familial and sporadic forms of IBD have similar phenotypes and are managed medically and surgically in a similar way. How this study might affect research, practice or policy: Familial aggregation should not be considered a factor associated with more aggressive disease.

Metabolic and Nutritional Issues after Lower Digestive Tract Surgery: The Important Role of the Dietitian in a Multidisciplinary Setting.

Many patients undergo small bowel and colon surgery for reasons related to malignancy, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), mesenteric ischemia, and other benign conditions, including post-operative adhesions, hernias, trauma, volvulus, or diverticula. Some patients arrive in the operating theatre severely malnourished due to an underlying disease, while others develop complications (e.g., anastomotic leaks, abscesses, or strictures) that induce a systemic inflammatory response that can increase their energy and protein requirements. Finally, anatomical and functional changes resulting from surgery can affect either nutritional status due to malabsorption or nutritional support (NS) pathways. The dietitian providing NS to these patients needs to understand the pathophysiology underlying these sequelae and collaborate with other professionals, including surgeons, internists, nurses, and pharmacists. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the nutritional and metabolic consequences of different types of lower gastrointestinal surgery and the role of the dietitian in providing comprehensive patient care. This article reviews the effects of small bowel resection on macronutrient and micronutrient absorption, the effects of colectomies (e.g., ileocolectomy, low anterior resection, abdominoperineal resection, and proctocolectomy) that require special dietary considerations, nutritional considerations specific to ostomized patients, and clinical practice guidelines for caregivers of patients who have undergone a surgery for local and systemic complications of IBD. Finally, we highlight the valuable contribution of the dietitian in the challenging management of short bowel syndrome and intestinal failure.

The Gluten-Free Diet for Celiac Disease: Critical Insights to Better Understand Clinical Outcomes.

The gluten-free diet (GFD) remains a complex paradigm in managing celiac disease (CeD) in children and adults, and there are many reasons why GFD adherence should be strict to improve outcomes. However, this is a challenging task for patients, since they need to have access to quality healthcare resources that facilitate optimal GFD adherence. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the GFD, tackling coexisting nutritional deficiencies, and dealing with complex situations, such as seronegative CeD or non-responsive CeD, all require the involvement of a multidisciplinary team. The short- and long-term follow-up of CeD patients should preferably be performed by a combined Gastroenterology and Nutrition service with well-defined quality standards and the multidisciplinary involvement of physicians, nurses, dietitians, and psychologists. Nutritional advice and counseling by an experienced dietitian can reduce the costs associated with long-term follow-up of CeD patients. Likewise, psychological interventions may be essential in specific scenarios where implementing and sustaining a lifelong GFD can cause a significant psychological burden for patients. This manuscript aims to provide guidelines to improve clinical practice in the follow-up and monitoring of CeD patients and provide information on the nutritional risks of an ill-advised GFD. Clinicians, biochemists, food technologists, dietitians, and psychologists with a global view of the disease have been involved in its writing.

Dietary and Nutritional Support in Gastrointestinal Diseases of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract (I): Esophagus.

The esophagus is the centerpiece of the digestive system of individuals and plays an essential role in transporting swallowed nutrients to the stomach. Diseases of the esophagus can alter this mechanism either by causing anatomical damage that obstructs the lumen of the organ (e.g., peptic, or eosinophilic stricture) or by generating severe motility disorders that impair the progression of the alimentary bolus (e.g., severe dysphagia of neurological origin or achalasia). In all cases, nutrient assimilation may be compromised. In some cases (e.g., ingestion of corrosive agents), a hypercatabolic state is generated, which increases resting energy expenditure. This manuscript reviews current clinical guidelines on the dietary and nutritional management of esophageal disorders such as severe oropharyngeal dysphagia, achalasia, eosinophilic esophagitis, lesions by caustics, and gastroesophageal reflux disease and its complications (Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma). The importance of nutritional support in improving outcomes is also highlighted.

Performance of Screening Strategies for Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Results from the ENEIDA Registry of GETECCU.

(1) Aims: Patients receiving antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy are at risk of developing tuberculosis (TB), usually due to the reactivation of a latent TB infection (LTBI). LTBI screening and treatment decreases the risk of TB. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of different LTBI screening strategies in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). (2) Methods: Patients in the Spanish ENEIDA registry with IBD screened for LTBI between January 2003 and January 2018 were included. The diagnostic yield of different strategies (dual screening with tuberculin skin test [TST] and interferon-×¥-release assay [IGRA], two-step TST, and early screening performed at least 12 months before starting biological treatment) was analyzed. (3) Results: Out of 7594 screened patients, 1445 (19%; 95% CI 18−20%) had LTBI. Immunomodulator (IMM) treatment at screening decreased the probability of detecting LTBI (20% vs. 17%, p = 0.001). Regarding screening strategies, LTBI was more frequently diagnosed by dual screening than by a single screening strategy (IGRA, OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.50−0.73, p < 0.001; TST, OR 0.76; 95% CI 0.66−0.88, p < 0.001). Two-step TST increased the diagnostic yield of a single TST by 24%. More cases of LTBI were diagnosed by early screening than by routine screening before starting anti-TNF agents (21% [95% CI 20−22%] vs. 14% [95% CI 13−16%], p < 0.001). The highest diagnostic performance for LTBI (29%) was obtained by combining early and TST/IGRA dual screening strategies in patients without IMM. (4): Conclusions: Both early screening and TST/IGRA dual screening strategies significantly increased diagnostic performance for LTBI in patients with IBD, with optimal performance achieved when they are used together in the absence of IMM.

Malnutrition Screening and Assessment.

Malnutrition is a serious problem with a negative impact on the quality of life and the evolution of patients, contributing to an increase in morbidity, length of hospital stay, mortality, and health spending. Early identification is fundamental to implement the necessary therapeutic actions, involving adequate nutritional support to prevent or reverse malnutrition. This review presents two complementary methods of fighting malnutrition: nutritional screening and nutritional assessment. Nutritional risk screening is conducted using simple, quick-to-perform tools, and is the first line of action in detecting at-risk patients. It should be implemented systematically and periodically on admission to hospital or residential care, as well as on an outpatient basis for patients with chronic conditions. Once patients with a nutritional risk are detected, they should undergo a more detailed nutritional assessment to identify and quantify the type and degree of malnutrition. This should include health history and clinical examination, dietary history, anthropometric measurements, evaluation of the degree of aggression determined by the disease, functional assessment, and, whenever possible, some method of measuring body composition.

Iron Deficiency in Celiac Disease: Prevalence, Health Impact, and Clinical Management.

Iron is an essential nutrient to life and is required for erythropoiesis, oxidative, metabolism, and enzymatic activities. It is a cofactor for mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymes, the citric acid cycle, and DNA synthesis, and it promotes the growth of immune system cells. Thus, iron deficiency (ID) leads to deleterious effects on the overall health of individuals, causing significant morbidity. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most recognized type of anemia in patients with celiac disease (CD) and may be present in over half of patients at the time of diagnosis. Folate and vitamin B12 malabsorption, nutritional deficiencies, inflammation, blood loss, development of refractory CD, and concomitant Heliobacter pylori infection are other causes of anemia in such patients. The decision to replenish iron stores and the route of administration (oral or intravenous) are controversial due, in part, to questions surrounding the optimal formulation and route of administration. This paper provides an algorithm based on the severity of symptoms; its impact on the health-related quality of life (HRQL); the tolerance and efficiency of oral iron; and other factors that predict a poor response to oral iron, such as the severity of histological damage, poor adherence to GFD, and blood loss due to mucosal lesions.

Small and Large Intestine (I): Malabsorption of Nutrients.

Numerous disorders can alter the physiological mechanisms that guarantee proper digestion and absorption of nutrients (macro- and micronutrients), leading to a wide variety of symptoms and nutritional consequences. Malabsorption can be caused by many diseases of the small intestine, as well as by diseases of the pancreas, liver, biliary tract, and stomach. This article provides an overview of pathophysiologic mechanisms that lead to symptoms or complications of maldigestion (defined as the defective intraluminal hydrolysis of nutrients) or malabsorption (defined as defective mucosal absorption), as well as its clinical consequences, including both gastrointestinal symptoms and extraintestinal manifestations and/or laboratory abnormalities. The normal uptake of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals by the gastrointestinal tract (GI) requires several steps, each of which can be compromised in disease. This article will first describe the mechanisms that lead to poor assimilation of nutrients, and secondly discuss the symptoms and nutritional consequences of each specific disorder. The clinician must be aware that many malabsorptive disorders are manifested by subtle disorders, even without gastrointestinal symptoms (for example, anemia, osteoporosis, or infertility in celiac disease), so the index of suspicion must be high to recognize the underlying diseases in time.

Clinical response to linaclotide at week 4 predicts sustained response in irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and improvements in digestive and extra-digestive symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Linaclotide is approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with constipation (IBS-C) in adults. This study aimed to assess factors predictive of a clinical response and improvements in non-IBS symptoms with linaclotide treatment in a Spanish patient population. METHODS: In this open-label phase IIIb study, patients with moderate-to-severe IBS-C received linaclotide 290 µg once daily for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was clinical response at week 12, defined as >30% reduction in IBS symptom severity score (IBS-SSS) or IBS-SSS <75 plus self-reported response of feeling 'better' or 'much better' versus the baseline. Digestive nonintestinal and extra-digestive symptom scores were assessed. Baseline characteristics and week 4 clinical response were assessed as predictors of week 12 clinical response. RESULTS: A total of 96 patients were eligible; 91 were female and the mean age was 47.4 years. Mean (SD) baseline IBS-SSS was 371 (72.5). In the intention-to-treat and per-protocol populations, 22.9% and 31.7% were clinical responders at week 4, respectively, and 25.0% and 36.7% were clinical responders at week 12. Digestive nonintestinal and extra-digestive symptom scores were significantly improved at weeks 4 and 12. Baseline characteristic was not associated with week 12 clinical response; however, clinical response at week 4 was predictive of response at week 12 (OR: 6.5; 95%IC: 2.1-19.8). The most common adverse event was diarrhea inclusive of loose or watery stools (35.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Linaclotide improves IBS-C symptoms, including digestive nonintestinal and extra-digestive symptoms. A clinical response at week 4 may predict response at week 12.

Citomegalovirus asociado a úlcera gástrica: caso clínico y revisión de la literatura / Cytomegalovirus associated with gastric ulcer: case report and literature review

No disponible

Enfermedad celiaca, dieta sin gluten y calidad de vida relacionada con la salud / Celiac disease, gluten-free diet and health-related quality of life

No disponible

Situación actual del manejo de la hemorragia digestiva alta no varicosa en España / Current management of nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Spain

Introducción La mortalidad en la hemorragia digestiva alta no varicosa (HDA-NV) no ha variado. Se necesita conocer más información para mejorar las estrategias de tratamiento. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron: a) describir el perfil de presentación de los episodios de HDA-NV; b) el manejo clínico según práctica clínica habitual, y c) establecer cuáles son los resultados clínicos asociados a los tratamientos endoscópicos y médicos en España. Métodos ENERGIB fue un estudio retrospectivo de cohortes que recogió información del manejo y forma de presentación de HDA-NV en Europa. Presentamos los datos relativos a España. Los pacientes se trataron según la práctica clínica habitual. Para las variables cuantitativas se calculó la media y la desviación estándar y para las categóricas se calcularon frecuencias absolutas y relativas. Resultados Los pacientes (n = 403) fueron hombres (71%), con edad media 65 años, asociaron comorbilidad (62,5%). Los equipos encargados de su manejo fueron gastroenterólogos (57,1%) o médicos internistas (25,1%). Los inhibidores de la bomba de protones se usaron de forma empírica preendoscopia en un 80% de los casos. El 6,4% presentó persistencia y el 6,7% resangrado después de la endoscopia. La tasa de mortalidad en los 30 días posteriores fue del 3,5%.ConclusionesEste estudio permite conocer el perfil de presentación de los episodios de HDA-NV en España y el manejo en práctica clínica habitual. Este se ajusta a los estándares propuestos por las recientes guías de práctica clínica. Entre otros datos destaca que los pacientes con hemorragia son cada vez de edad más avanzada y presentan un mayor número de enfermedades asociadas, lo que podría explicar que la mortalidad se haya mantenido estable a pesar de los evidentes avances en el manejo de esta entidad (AU)

Background Mortality related to nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) has not changed. More information is needed to improve the management of this entity. The aims of this study were: a) to determine the characteristics of bleeding episodes, b) to describe the clinical approaches routinely used in NVUGIB, and c) to identify adverse outcomes related to endoscopic or medical treatments in Spain. Methods The European survey of nonvariceal upper GI bleeding (ENERGiB) was an observational, retrospective cohort study on NVUGIB with endoscopic evaluation carried out across Europe. The present study focused on Spanish patients in the ENERGiB study. The patients were managed according to routine care. The mean and standard deviation were calculated for quantitative variables and absolute and relative frequencies were calculated for categorical variables. Results Patients (n=403) were mostly men (71%), with a mean age of 65 years, and co-morbidities (62.5%). Most of the patients were managed by gastroenterologists (57.1%) or internal medicine teams (25.1%). A proton pump inhibitor was used empirically in 80% before endoscopy. Bleeding persistence occurred in 6.4% and recurrence in 6.7%. The mortality rate at 30 days was 3.5%.ConclusionsThis study contributes to the characterization of Spanish patients and NVUGIB episodes in a real clinical setting and identifies the routine management of this entity, which is in line with the standards proposed by recent clinical practice guidelines. A notable finding was that age and the number of comorbidities in NVUGIB patients were increasing. These factors could explain the persistent mortality rate, despite the evident advances in the management of this entity (AU)

[Current management of nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Spain]. / Situación actual del manejo de la hemorragia digestiva alta no varicosa en España.

BACKGROUND: Mortality related to nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) has not changed. More information is needed to improve the management of this entity. The aims of this study were: a) to determine the characteristics of bleeding episodes, b) to describe the clinical approaches routinely used in NVUGIB, and c) to identify adverse outcomes related to endoscopic or medical treatments in Spain. METHODS: The European survey of nonvariceal upper GI bleeding (ENERGiB) was an observational, retrospective cohort study on NVUGIB with endoscopic evaluation carried out across Europe. The present study focused on Spanish patients in the ENERGiB study. The patients were managed according to routine care. The mean and standard deviation were calculated for quantitative variables and absolute and relative frequencies were calculated for categorical variables. RESULTS: Patients (n=403) were mostly men (71%), with a mean age of 65 years, and co-morbidities (62.5%). Most of the patients were managed by gastroenterologists (57.1%) or internal medicine teams (25.1%). A proton pump inhibitor was used empirically in 80% before endoscopy. Bleeding persistence occurred in 6.4% and recurrence in 6.7%. The mortality rate at 30 days was 3.5%. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to the characterization of Spanish patients and NVUGIB episodes in a real clinical setting and identifies the routine management of this entity, which is in line with the standards proposed by recent clinical practice guidelines. A notable finding was that age and the number of comorbidities in NVUGIB patients were increasing. These factors could explain the persistent mortality rate, despite the evident advances in the management of this entity.

Planteamiento diagnóstico de la colitis isquémica / Diagnostic approach to ischemic colitis

No disponibleLa colitis isquémica es la forma más frecuente de isquemia intestinal y surge cuando el colon se ve transitoriamente privado del flujo vascular. Su diagnóstico requiere un elevado índice de sospecha clínica. Para ello, es esencial considerar la cronología de los síntomas (dolor abdominal seguido de urgencia defecatoria y rectorragia) y el contexto clínico en el que éstos aparecen (más del 90% incide en personas especialmente vulnerables a accidentes vasculares). Aunque el diagnóstico requiere una colonoscopia precoz (< 48 h) ésta no debe realizarse en presencia de peritonitis. En las formas graves, hay otras pruebas de imagen, como la ultrasonografía-Doppler o la tomografía computarizada abdominal, que proporcionan información con valor diagnóstico e incluso pronóstico. La angiografía queda reservada para los casos en que se plantean dudas acerca de la existencia de una isquemia mesentérica aguda. Es necesario realizar un estudio de trombofilia en las personas de menos de 60 años

Ischemic colitis is the most frequent form of intestinal ischemia and arises when the colon is temporarily deprived of blood supply. Diagnosis of this entity requires a high index of clinical suspicion. To achieve this, the chronology of the symptoms (abdominal pain followed by defecatory urgency and rectorrhagia) and the clinical context in which these symptoms appear (> 90% affect persons especially at risk for vascular accidents) must be taken into account. Although diagnosis requires early colonoscopy (< 48 h), this procedure should not be performed if peritonitis is present. In severe forms, other imaging techniques, such as Doppler ultrasound or abdominal computed tomography, provide information with diagnostic ­and even prognostic­ value. Angiography is reserved for patients in whom there is doubt about the presence of acute mesenteric ischemia. Thrombophilia should be investigated in persons aged less than 60 years old

[Diagnostic approach to ischemic colitis]. / Planteamiento diagnóstico de la colitis isquémica.

Ischemic colitis is the most frequent form of intestinal ischemia and arises when the colon is temporarily deprived of blood supply. Diagnosis of this entity requires a high index of clinical suspicion. To achieve this, the chronology of the symptoms (abdominal pain followed by defecatory urgency and rectorrhagia) and the clinical context in which these symptoms appear (> 90% affect persons especially at risk for vascular accidents) must be taken into account. Although diagnosis requires early colonoscopy (< 48 h), this procedure should not be performed if peritonitis is present. In severe forms, other imaging techniques, such as Doppler ultrasound or abdominal computed tomography, provide information with diagnostic -and even prognostic- value. Angiography is reserved for patients in whom there is doubt about the presence of acute mesenteric ischemia. Thrombophilia should be investigated in persons aged less than 60 years old.