Lifelong physical training prevents the age-related impairment of heart rate variability and exercise capacity in elderly people.

AIM: Aging is associated with a reduction on heart rate variability (HRV) and working capacity. Aim of this study was to evaluate in a group of elite master athletes the effect of a lifelong history of endurance running on HRV and exercise working capacity. METHODS: Twenty athletes (males, age 68.5+/-4.5 years) who practiced endurance running for at least 40 years, and 20 age-sex-matched control subjects with sedentary lifestyle were studied. All the participants underwent a maximal stepwise electrocardiogram (ECG) on effort (work-rate increments of 25 Watts every 2 min) and a 24-hour ECG monitoring. RESULTS: All the time domain measures of HRV and the LF and HF powers were significantly higher in elderly athletes than in sedentary subjects (P<0.001), while the LF/HF ratio was comparable between the 2 groups. Athletes exhibited significantly higher workload than controls (1610+/-489 vs 687+/-236 W, P<0.0001). Both the groups achieved, at maximum workload, similar heart rate (142+/-10 vs 138+/-18 bpm, ns), systolic blood pressure (226+/-18 vs 220+/-16 mmHg, ns), and rate-pressure product (32,596+/-2952 vs 30,838+/-3675, ns). Maximum work-rate attained in athletes was 225 W. By contrast, none of the controls reached a work-rate higher than 150 W. In the whole group we also showed a positive correlation between the time domain HRV parameter SDNN and maximum workload (r=0.58, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Long-term endurance training induces in elderly subjects an increased HRV and a higher exercise working capacity, which are well-established predictors of cardiovascular and overall mortality.

Effect of chronic aerobic exercise on cutaneous microcirculatory flow response to insulin iontophoresis and to ischemia in elderly males.

The aim of this study was to assess whether chronic aerobic exercise can favourably influence the vascular activity of insulin in elderly subjects. We measured in arbitrary units (A. U.) the cutaneous blood flow basally and in response to iontophoresis of insulin, by the means of a Laser Doppler flowmeter, on the right arm of 10 elderly athletes (10 males, aged 65 +/- 6 years) and of 10 sex- and age-matched sedentary subjects. The cutaneous blood flow response to ischemia was also explored in the right leg of the same subjects by means of the same instrument. No significant differences in cutaneous arm and leg blood flow were observed basally between athletes and sedentary subjects (7.25 +/- 2.65 A. U. versus 6.35 +/- 4.04 A. U. and 9.74 +/- 5.11 A. U. versus 9.41 +/- 6.40 A. U., respectively). Cathodal iontophoresis (six poulses of 0.1 mA each for 20 s, with 40-s interval between stimulations) of regular insulin (0.1 ml Humulin R 100 IU/ml diluted 1/10 with 0.9 % saline) induced a significant increase of cutaneous blood flow in both groups (p < 0.01 in athletes, p < 0.01 in sedentary subjects). However the maximal cutaneous blood flow response to insulin was higher in athletes than in sedentary subjects (24.69 +/- 13.34 A. U. versus 14.33 +/- 7.73 A. U., respectively, p < 0.05) as well as the curve of the net blood flux response to insulin iontophoresis (% change from baseline in response to insulin minus % change from baseline in response to saline iontophoresis) (p < 0.001 ANOVA for repeated measures). After ischemia there was a significant increase of leg cutaneous blood flow in both groups (p < 0.001 in athletes and in sedentary subjects) with higher blood flow response in athletes than in sedentary subjects (38.18 +/- 17.08 A. U. versus 26.01 +/- 6.39 A. U., respectively, p < 0.05). The time reached from the release of ischemia to peak-flow was significantly longer in sedentary subjects than in athletes (43.5 +/- 28.5 s versus 20.0 +/- 9.3 s, p < 0.05, respectively). These results suggest that chronic aerobic exercise increases insulin vasodilatory activity and improves endothelial function in elderly subjects.

Effect of nebivolol on QT dispersion in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy.

Hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) have increased QT dispersion, which is considered an early indicator of end-organ damage and a non-invasive marker of risk for clinically important ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac mortality. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of nebivolol antihypertensive therapy on QT dispersion in hypertensive subjects. Twenty-five subjects (15 men and 10 women, mean age 53.6 +/- 4.5 years) with essential arterial hypertension and mild-to-moderate LVH (blood pressure: 147.2 +/- 6.2/90.6 +/- 3.8 mmHg; left ventricular mass indexed: 149.1 +/- 10.7 g/m(2)) were compared with 25 age-matched healthy control subjects. All the participants underwent a complete clinical examination, including electrocardiogram for QT interval measurements. The QT dispersion was defined as the difference between the longest and the shortest QT interval occurring in the 12-lead electrocardiogram. The QT dispersion was corrected (QTc) with Bazett's formula. Hypertensive subjects were treated with 5 mg daily of nebivolol. The ECG and echocardiogram were repeated after four weeks of treatment. At baseline, hypertensive patients showed QT dispersion (56.9 +/- 6.4 vs. 31.7 +/- 8.4 ms, P < 0.001) and QTc dispersion (58.3 +/- 6.2 vs. 33.2 +/- 7.8 ms, P < 0.001) significantly higher than control subjects. Four-week nebivolol treatment reduced blood pressure from 147.2 +/- 6.2/90.6 +/- 3.6 mmHg to 136.3 +/- 3.1/83.3 +/- 2.5 mmHg (P < 0.0001), and resting heart rate from 75.3 +/- 4.7 to 64.2 +/- 3.0 bpm (P < 0.001), without significant change in left ventricular mass (LVMi: 149.1 +/- 10.7 vs. 151.4 +/- 9.8 g/m(2), ns). Nebivolol-based treatment improved QT dispersion (56.9 +/- 6.4 vs. 40.5 +/- 5.8 ms, P < 0.001) and QTc dispersion (58.3 +/- 6.2 vs. 42.2 +/- 5.6 ms, P < 0.001), which remained higher than in control subjects (P < 0.001 in both cases). The reduction of QT dispersion did not correlate with arterial BP reduction. In conclusion, nebivolol reduced increased QT dispersion in hypertensive subjects after four weeks. This effect, occurred without any change in LVM, did not seem to be related to the blood pressure lowering and could contribute to reduce arrhythmias as well as sudden cardiac death in at-risk hypertensive patients.

Ultrasonic backscatter of the carotid wall in young and older athletes.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of habitual exercise on the age-related changes of carotid wall composition defining its acoustic reflectivity by the quantitative approach of integrated backscatter (IBS) analysis. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: University Hospital. SUBJECTS: Fifty-four competitive long-distance runners (males, age range 22-72 years) and 50 healthy sedentary controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All the subjects underwent both 2-D conventional ultrasonography and IBS analysis. IBS values were sampled from a region of interest (ROI) placed within five consecutive regions of the common carotid intima-media, and then corrected (C-IBS) for the IBS value of the adventitia. RESULTS: Athletes showed a lower C-IBS (-27.07 +/- 2.9 dB vs. -24.57 +/- 4 dB, P < 0.0001) and a smaller intima-media thickness (IMT: 0.64 +/- 0.16 mm vs. 0.78 +/- 0.21 mm, P < 0.001) respect to sedentary controls. By selecting the lowest (<30 years of age) and the highest (>60 years of age) tertile of age, we assess the influence of age on IMT and IBS. Sedentary older individuals exhibited an IMT higher respect to young controls and to the both trained subgroups (P < 0.0001). C-IBS was lower in both subgroups of athletes, independently of age, and lower in sedentary young people respect to sedentary older subgroup (P < 0.0001). Endurance chronic exercise blunted the difference of C-IBS observed between young and older sedentary individuals. Moreover, C-IBS was positively related to age (r = 0.77, P < 0.0001) and IMT (r = 0.52, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The age-related changes of the arterial wall are attenuated by physical training. These modifications can be quantitatively discriminated by ultrasonic backscatter method.

QT dispersion in elderly athletes with left ventricular hypertrophy.

The purpose of this study was to examine the QT dispersion in elderly endurance athletes with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. Sixteen athletes (males, mean age 67.6 +/- 4.5 years) with mild to moderate LV hypertrophy, were compared with 16 age-matched hypertensive patients with similar degree of LV hypertrophy and 16 age-matched healthy sedentary controls. All the participants underwent echocardiogram and 12-lead electrocardiogram. QT dispersion was defined as the difference between maximum and minimum QT intervals in the different leads. QT dispersion was corrected (QTc) for heart rate according to Bazett's formula. The results showed in athletes and hypertensive patients comparable LV mass (258.2 +/- 14.2 vs. 262.4 +/- 16.8 g, ns), which was significantly higher than that of controls (p < 0.001). Trained subjects had QT dispersion (38.6 +/- 10.2 ms) and QTc dispersion (39.4 +/- 11.3 ms) significantly lower than hypertensive patients (QT dispersion: 68.4 +/- 11.4 ms; QTc dispersion: 72.2 +/- 8.4, p < 0.001) and comparable with controls (QT dispersion: 44.3 +/- 8.4 ms; QTc dispersion: 46.2 +/- 6.2 ms, ns). In conclusion, in elderly athletes training-induced myocardial hypertrophy was characterized by a QT dispersion significantly lower than hypertensive myocardial hypertrophy. This could provide a simple and inexpensive screening method for differentiating physiologic from pathologic myocardial hypertrophy in elderly subjects.

Ultrasonic tissue characterization of the myocardium in anorexia nervosa.

AIM: To determine the systodiastolic variations in the integrated backscatter (IBS) signal of the myocardium in patients with anorexia nervosa. METHODS: 25 young women (aged 22.4 +/- 4.3 y) with overt anorexia nervosa, compared with 25 age-matched thin and 25 age-matched control women with body mass index >20 kg m(-2), underwent either conventional two-dimensional echocardiography or analysis of IBS cyclic variations. RESULTS: Compared with thin and control subjects, anorectic patients showed reduced left ventricular mass (LVM: 82.9 +/- 17.1 vs 119.9 +/- 13.8 and vs 126.12 +/- 16.4 g, p < 0.0001; LVM indexed 21.4 +/- 3.3 vs 29.4 +/- 2.5 and vs 31.2 +/- 3.1 g m(-2.7), p < 0.0001), and IBS cyclic variations (septum: -0.49 +/- 2.18 vs 6.86 +/- 1.3 and vs 6.61 +/- 1.74 dB p < 0.0001; posterior wall: 2.77 +/- 2.12 vs 7.15 +/- 2.12 and vs 7.48 +/- 2.23 dB, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Anorexia nervosa is associated with a significant reduction in the cyclic variation in IBS, which is also related to left ventricular hypotrophy. Ultrasonic tissue characterization could give an objective approach for the detection of myocardial structural properties and represent a preclinical index of myocardial dysfunction in anorexia nervosa.

Spontaneous regression and recurrence of primary low-grade B-cell gastric lymphoma on the gastric stump 15 and 20 years after gastroresection.

The recurrence of primary gastric lymphoma (PGL) on the gastric stump after gastroresection is rare. We describe the case of an 84-year-old man who had recurrences 15 and 20 years after a Billroth I gastrectomy. The concordance of the three gastric biopsies showing a low grade B-cell lymphocytic lymphoma of the mucosa-associated tissue, demonstrated the recurrence of the disease. The patient has serological evidence of Helicobacter pylori infection but the eradication therapy had no effect on the evolution of the disease. The case suggests that PGL is really a particular entity in the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma group, characterized by a long spontaneous natural history, with long lasting spontaneous remissions and recurrences.

Blood reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations in healthy and ill subjects.

BACKGROUND: Recently blood reduced glutathione (GSH), an important cellular antioxidant, has been proposed as an indicator of health, particularly in the elderly. To date, a gold standard unit for the expression of GSH concentrations is not known. The aim of the study is to define the most sensitive laboratory expression of GSH. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: a comparative study among some laboratory expressions of GSH. SETTING: Geriatric and Internal Medicine Units; General Community. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: forty-eight inpatients from Geriatric and Internal Medicine Units and 82 healthy subjects recruited among medical students and residents, people from preventive medicine services and from local senior centres. EXCLUSION CRITERIA FOR HEALTHY SUBJECTS: use of drugs in the year prior to the study. INTERVENTIONS: neither treatment nor interventions. MEASURES: the laboratory expression of GSH, compared in this study, were mg/dl, packed cell volume (PCV), mg/1010 RBC, mM/gHb. RESULTS: We noted statistically significant differences only if GSH was calculated as mg/1010 RBC; higher values were found in healthy subjects than in inpatients, apart from age. This modality of expression is minimally affected by haematological parameters; the low sensibility of the other modalities may be due to variations of MCV and Hb. Instead, the ratio GSH mg/1010 RBC expresses the true GSH concentrations inside each erythrocyte. This modality of expression is minimally affected by haematological parameters; the low sensibility of the other modalities may be due to variations of MCV and Hb.

New hematological indices in the healthy elderly.

BACKGROUND: Recently, new indices related to erythrocytes and platelet counts have been provided by hematological analysers. The purpose of the study is to investigate these new parameters in the elderly to define their normal values and to compare them with the range provided by the manufacturer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: a comparative study. SETTING: general community, geriatric and internal medicine ambulatories. PATIENTS: sixty healthy free-living elderly (cut-off: 65 years) and 66 healthy young-adults, as a control group. MEASURES: we measured the common and the new hematological parameters by H.1 Bayer technology. The new hematological parameters are red diameter width-RDW, hemoglobin distribution width-HDW, mean platelet volume-MPV, platelet diameter width-PDW, platelet hematocrit-Pct. We then compared the values of our population with the Bayer range. RESULTS: The confidence interval width of the new indices define very faster limits than the Bayer range. Statistical differences were significant only in male groups: young-adults (Y) versus elderly (E) with higher values in Y than E in RBC p=0.002, in Platelet count p=0.050 and in MPV p=0.026; and higher values in E in MCV p=0.008, MCH p=0.006 and PDW p=0.004. CONCLUSIONS: In the literature a wide range of common hematological parameters are reported in the elderly, while the new hematological values have not been discussed till now. Our results may contribute to define the laboratory limits of the new hematological values in the healthy elderly.

Blood zinc, copper and magnesium in aging. A study in healthy home-living elderly.

BACKGROUND: Blood concentrations of copper, zinc and magnesium were determined in healthy elderly to assess whether aging interferes with mineral and micronutrient status. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: case series. SETTING: Internal Medicine and Geriatrics ambulatories in a University Hospital in Pisa, a city of Central Italy. PARTICIPANTS: 143 healthy outpatients of both sexes, who underwent a cardiological examination. INTERVENTION: no treatment and intervention were performed. MEASURES: copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and magnesium--both intraerythrocytic (iMg) and extracellular (eMg)--were measured. RESULTS: The concentrations of Cu and eMg were found significantly higher in the elderly: Cu 117.5 +/- 17.0 micrograms/dl in the elderly vs 102.5 +/- 19.6 micrograms/dl in the younger (p < 0.001); eMg 1.8 +/- 0.2 in the elderly vs 1.7 +/- 0.2 mEq/l in the younger (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the levels of Zn and iMg did not differ in the two groups: Zn 113.3 +/- 14.9 micrograms/dl in the elderly vs 118.0 +/- 17.3 micrograms/dl in the younger, p = n.s.; iMg 4.3 +/- 0.4 mEq/l in the elderly vs 4.2 +/- 0.4 mEq/l in the younger, p = n.s. No correlation was found between age and single elements. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the healthy free-living elderly have an adequate mineral intake. Nutrient supplements may by useful in the elderly with chronic diseases, comorbidities, and polypharmacy to prevent further age dysfunctions.

Congenital hypopituitarism in a 48-year old adult. Natural course, hormonal study and MRI evidence.

A case of Congenital Hypopituitarism (CH) in an untreated 48 yr-old-man is reported. The hormonal studies demonstrated a panhypopituitarism and MR imaging revealed absence of pituitary stalk, small anterior pituitary remnant on the sella floor and ectopic neurohypophysis at the tuber cinereum. The pattern of hormonal responsiveness suggests that CH encompasses findings typical of primary anterior pituitary disease and those of hypothalamic dysfunction.

Congenital hypopituitarism in a 48-year old adult. Natural course, hormonal study and MRI evidence.

A case of Congenital Hypopituitarism (CH) in an untreated 48 yr-old-man is reported. The hormonal studies demonstrated a panhypopituitarism and MR imaging revealed absence of pituitary stalk, small anterior pituitary remnant on the sella floor and ectopic neurohypophysis at the tuber cinereum. The pattern of hormonal responsiveness suggests that CH encompasses findings typical of primary anterior pituitary disease and those of hypothalamic dysfunction.

Takayasu's arteritis on steroid therapy. Seven years follow-up.

The authors report a 7 year follow-up of Takayasu's arteritis (TA) type III, group 1, in a young Italian woman. At diagnosis, at the age of 25, the echotomographic and angiographic studies showed narrow subclavian arteries, narrow abdominal aorta (diameter of 0.6-0.8 cm) below the renal arteries, stenotic left common carotid and renal arteries, and occluded upper mesenteric artery. With steroid therapy, (prednisone 50 mg/day per os), the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) normalized within 12 days. With a maintenance dosage of 7.5 mg/day per os, the patient achieved remission as documented by the absence of symptoms, the persistent normalization of ESR, and the improving of the diameter of the abdominal aorta (1.3-1.4 cm). On steroid therapy, the patient had a normal pregnancy and delivered a healthy baby girl. The disease has been stable for seven years. Recently, diabetes mellitus occurred and it has been treated with insulin therapy. The rising of ESR after tapering of steroid therapy (prednisone 5 mg per os on alternate days) suggests an alternative treatment with a cytotoxic agent.

[Occult stromal tumour of the small intestine: a cause of chronic intestinal blood loss in a 70 year-old woman]. / Tumore stromale occulto del tenue causa di sanguinamento intestinale cronico in 70enne.

The case of a 70 year-old woman with a chronic gastrointestinal blood loss due to a stromal tumor located in the middle third of the small intestine is reported. The peculiarities of the case are the characteristic immunohistochemistry of the neoplasm and, particularly, the mimetic clinical presentation, a kind of ''phantom tumor'' confirmed only with celiotomy and surgical excision.

[Why regular physical activity favors longevity]. / Perché l'attività fisica abitudinaria favorisce la longevità.

Regular physical exercise is useful at all ages. In the elderly, even a gentle exercise programme consisting of walking, bicycling, playing golf if performed constantly increases longevity by preventing the onset of the main diseases or alleviating the handicaps they may have caused. Cardiovascular diseases, which represent the main cause of death in the elderly, and osteoporosis, a disabling disease potentially capable of shortening life expectancy, benefit from physical exercise which if performed regularly well before the start of old age may help to prevent them. Over the past few years there has been growing evidence of the concrete protection offered against neoplasia and even the ageing process itself.

Tortuosity, kinking, and coiling of the carotid artery: expression of atherosclerosis or aging?

The etiology of carotid abnormalities is both congenital than acquired. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of aging and atherosclerosis in the acquired cases, and the role of these abnormalities in hemodynamic alterations and neurologic symptoms. Over a 1-year period the authors studied all the subjects undergoing carotid examination by continuous-wave and color-coded Doppler sonography at an Angiology Unit. They evaluated neurologic symptoms; risk factors for atherosclerosis; number, sites, and kinds of carotid abnormalities; atherosclerotic lesions; stenosis; hemodynamic alterations of the carotid; and other localizations of atherosclerotic diseases. There were 469 subjects: 272 (58%) with abnormalities (group 1) and 197 (42%) without abnormalities (group 2). The total number of abnormalities was 479 (104 tortuosities, 262 kinkings, and 113 coilings). The abnormalities were more prevalent in the elderly (P<0.001) and in women (P<0.001). In group 1 they found significant prevalences of hyperlipemia (P<0.001), hypertension (P<0.01), chronic cigarette smoking (P<0.01), and ischemic heart disease (P<0.05). Carotid atherosclerotic lesions were more prevalent in group 1 than in group 2 (P<0.001); among the patients with atherosclerotic carotid lesions, those in group 1 were older than those in group 2 (P<0.001). Tortuosity seemed to be associated with fewer hemodynamic alterations. The authors conclude that atherosclerosis, hypertension, and aging may play an important role in producing carotid abnormalities. The aging seemed more important than atherosclerosis. Only a prospective study of patients with carotid abnormalities and no atherosclerotic lesion will clarify the role of hemodynamics and neurologic symptomatology.

[Fever of unknown origin in the elderly of the 90's]. / La febbre di origine sconosciuta nell'anziano degli anni '90.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen elderly patients (mean age 76.3 +/- 6.9 years) with fever of unknown origin (FUO) are studied sequentially and prospectively from January 1994 to December 1996. The classic Petersdori's criteria of FUO are no more valid for the elderly. The fever of more than 3-4 weeks duration is the only criterion to be considered, the fever is frequently under 38.5 degrees C and the elderly patient is often studied for more than 1 week outside the hospital. RESULTS: The most frequent underlying conditions were: malignancies in particular haematological diseases, followed by multisystem diseases and infections, tuberculosis "in primis". CONCLUSIONS: Selected investigations directed to the most frequent underlying conditions of FUO in the aged individuals overcome the financial cost and the patient discomfort of the tests since an identified curable disease can improve the life expectancy and quality.

[Cardiac myxoma in the elderly. Clinical study]. / I mixomi cardiaci nell'anziano. Studio clinico.

Cardiac mixoma in the elderly. A clinical study. The clinical features of 13 cardiac myxomas surgically resected are presented. The mean age at presentation was 68 years. Ten were in the left atrium, 5 near the fossa ovalis, 3 at the base of the atrial septum, 1 at the inferior wall and 1 on the anterior leaflet of mitral valve, 3 were in the right atrium, 1 of these was accompanied with a myxoma at the apex of left ventricle. The ECG and the chest X-ray were normal in 9 and in 8 patients, respectively. In 3 patients, the diagnosis was occasionally made by routine 2-dimensional echocardiography. 5 patients presented with fever of unknown origin, arthralgias, weakness, weight loss. None had intracardiac or extracardiac recurrence in the 73 months follow-up. The presentation with constitutional symptoms only like fever of UO, may mimic collagen and neoplastic diseases, vasculitis, lymphomas: the 2-dimensional echocardiography is mandatory to esclude a cardiac myxoma in the elderly.

Age-related modifications in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis.

We studied the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid function in two groups of healthy elderly subjects: group A (n = 23, age range 65-80 years), and group B (n = 11, age range 81-92 years), and in 32 controls, aged 20-60. A TRH test for TSH and prolactin was performed in all subjects, while the TSH circadian modulation was evaluated in elderly subjects only. Group B showed significantly lower fT3 and TSH, and higher fT4 levels with respect to controls (fT3: 4.4 +/- 0.2 vs. 5.2 +/- 0.2 pmol/l, p < 0.05; fT4: 13.1 +/- 0.9 vs. 11.4 +/- 0.4 pmol/l, p < 0.05; TSH: 1.07 +/- 0.21 vs. 1.46 +/- 0.13 mIU/l, p < 0.05). Morning TSH showed an inverse correlation with age (r = -0.42; p < 0.02) among the 34 elderly subjects, but not among controls. Evidence for TSH circadian modulation was found only in group A (nighttime TSH: 1.60 +/- 0.17, vs. daytime: 1.25 +/- 0.13 mIU/l, p < 0.001). The TRH-stimulated TSH peak was reduced among all elderly subjects with respect to controls (A: 6.26 +/- 0.64 mIU/l, p = 0.01; B: 5.02 +/- 0.58 mIU/l, p < 0.01). The maximal PRL response was also blunted (A: 25.7 +/- 2.6 micrograms/l, B: 27.7 +/- 5.2 micrograms/l, p < 0.0005). In conclusion, a resetting of the pituitary threshold of the TSH feedback suppression, along with complex alterations in peripheral thyroid hormone levels, may progressively develop in older people, becoming apparent only with extreme senescence. Moreover, the TSH nocturnal surge may be lost with increasing age, thus providing evidence also for hypothalamic dysfunction.

[5-Aminosalicylic acid in the prevention of recurrences of Crohn's disease]. / 5-Aminosalicylsäure in der Rezidivprophylaxe des Morbus Crohn.

AIM OF STUDY: To evaluate the efficacy of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) in preventing recurrences of Crohn's disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1988 and December 1989 a total of 60 patients (37 men, 23 women, mean age 34.8 years) were selected in whom the diagnosis of Crohn's disease had been known for at least 2 years. A further criterion for inclusion was remission for at least one year in patients who had been operated or for one month in the nonoperated ones. Furthermore, the latter must have had at least one recurrence during the last year. They were in turn assigned to be treated with 5-ASA (2.4 g daily by mouth) or not treated (control). The activity and localization of Crohn's disease were defined according to the "Crohn's disease activity index" (CDAI) and the "laboratory index" (LI), as well as by endoscopy and (or) radiology. The patients were examined every 6 months for 4 years. A recurrence was diagnosed if the CDAI was more than 150 or had increased to at least 60 points above the initial value and the LI was above 100. RESULTS: 29 recurrences were noted, 72.4% within the first 2 years. 15 recurrences (46.9%) were in the treated patients and 14 (58.3%) among the untreated controls. The Kaplan-Meier curve (statistical comparison of the probability of recurrence) showed no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.23): the recurrence rate was the same in the two groups, among the patients with or without previous operation and for different primary localizations. There were no notable side effects. CONCLUSION: Treatment with 5-ASA was not found to influence the likelihood of recurrence. Age, duration of the disease, primary localization and previous operation were not prognostic factors.