Prognosis and molecular characteristics of IBD-associated colorectal cancer: Experience from a French tertiary-care center.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the prognosis of colorectal cancer associated with inflammatory bowel disease (CRC-IBD) in a real-world cohort in France. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study including all patients presenting CRC-IBD in a French tertiary center. RESULTS: Among 6510 patients, the rate of CRC was 0.8% with a median delay of 19.5 years after IBD diagnosis (median age 46 years, ulcerative colitis 59%, initially localized tumor 69%). There was a previous exposure to immunosuppressants (IS) in 57% and anti-TNF in 29% of the cases. A RAS mutation was observed in only 13% of metastatic patients. OS of the whole cohort was 45 months. OS and PFS of synchronous metastatic patients was 20.4 months and 8.5 months respectively. Among the patients with localized tumor those previously exposed to IS had a better PFS (39 months vs 23 months; p = 0.05) and OS (74 vs 44 months; p = 0.03). The IBD relapse rate was 4%. No unexpected chemotherapy side-effect was observed CONCLUSIONS: OS of CRC-IBD is poor in metastatic patients although IBD is not associated with under-exposure or increased toxicity to chemotherapy. Previous IS exposure may be associated with a better prognosis.

What do surgeons need to know about the digestive disorders and paraclinical abnormalities induced by COVID-19?

The symptoms associated with COVID-19 are mainly characterized by a triad composed of fever, dry cough and dyspnea. However, digestive symptoms have also been reported. At first considered as infrequent, they in fact seem to affect more than half of patients. The symptoms mainly include anorexia, diarrhea, nausea and/or vomiting and abdominal pain. Even though prognosis is associated with lung injury, digestive symptoms seem significantly more frequent in patients presenting with severe COVID-19 infection. Digestive presentations, which may be isolated or which can precede pulmonary symptoms, have indeed been reported, with diarrhea as a leading clinical sign. The main biological abnormalities that can suggest COVID-19 infection at an early stage are lymphopenia, elevated CRP and heightened ASAT transaminases. Thoraco-abdominal scan seems useful as a means of on the one hand ruling out digestive pathology not connected with coronavirus and on the other hand searching for pulmonary images consistent with COVID-19 infection. No data exist on the value of digestive endoscopy in cases of persistent digestive symptoms. Moreover, the endoscopists may themselves be at significant risk of contamination. Fecal-oral transmission of the infection is possible, especially insofar as viral shedding in stools seems frequent and of longer duration than at the ENT level, including in patients with negative throat swab and without digestive symptoms. In some doubtful cases, virologic assessment of stool samples can yield definitive diagnosis. In the event of prolonged viral shedding in stools, a patient's persistent contagiousness is conceivable but not conclusively established. Upcoming serology should enable identification of the patients having been infected by the COVID-19 epidemic, particularly among previously undetected pauci-symptomatic members of a health care staff. Resumption of medico-surgical activity should be the object of a dedicated strategy preceding deconfinement.

[What do surgeons need to know about the digestive disorders and paraclinical abnormalities induced by COVID-19?] / Que doivent savoir les chirurgiens à propos des troubles digestifs et des anomalies paracliniques induits par le COVID 19 ?

The symptoms associated with COVID-19 are mainly characterized by a triad composed of fever, dry cough and dyspnea. However, digestive symptoms have also been reportedAt first considered as infrequent, they in fact seem to affect more than half of patients. The symptoms are mainly manifested by anorexia, diarrhea, nausea and/or vomiting and abdominal pain. Even though prognosis is associated with lung injury, digestive symptoms seem significantly more frequent in patients presenting with severe COVID-19 infection. Digestive forms, which may be isolated or which can precede pulmonary symptoms, have indeed been reported, with diarrhea as a leading clinical sign. The main biological abnormalities that can suggest COVID-19 infection at an early stage are lymphopenia, elevated CRP and heightened ASAT transaminases. Thoraco-abdominal scan seems useful as a means of on the one hand ruling out digestive pathology unrelated to coronavirus and on the other hand searching for pulmonary images suggestive of COVID-19 infection. No data exist on the interest of digestive endoscopy in cases of persistent digestive symptoms. Moreover, the endoscopists may themselves be at significant risk of contamination. Fecal-oral transmission of the infection is possible, especially insofar as viral shedding in stools seems frequent and of longer duration than at the ENT level, including in patients with negative throat swab and without digestive symptoms. In some doubtful cases, virologic assessment of stool samples can yield definitive diagnosis. In the event of prolonged viral shedding in stools, a patient's persistent contagiousness is conceivable but not conclusively established. Upcoming serology should enable identification of the patients having been infected by the COVID-19 epidemic, particularly among previously undetected pauci-symptomatic members of a health care staff. Resumption of medico-surgical activity should be guided by dedicated strategy preceding deconfinement.

[Oesophageal bullous detachment with massive haemorrhage revealing acquired haemophilia A in autoimmune bullous dermatosis]. / Décollement bulleux de l'œsophage responsable d'une hémorragie massive révélant une hémophilie A acquise au cours d'une dermatose bulleuse auto-immune.

INTRODUCTION: Acquired haemophilia A (AHA) is a rare coagulopathy caused by the development of factor VIII antibodies. Various aetiologies have been established but a number of cases have been reported in association with autoimmune bullous dermatosis (AIBD). We report a new case of this type of association revealed by oesophageal involvement of AIBD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A male patient was treated for AIBD. Due to the inefficacy of local steroids and the emergence of oral and laryngeal blisters, the patient was treated with systemic steroids. He developed a gastrointestinal haemorrhage complicated by haemorrhagic shock. Endoscopy revealed complete peeling of the oesophagus. Laboratory tests showed lengthening of ACT, reduced factor VIII levels, and the presence of anti-factor VIII antibodies. A diagnosis was made of AHA associated with AIBD. Prolongation of systemic corticosteroids and initiation of rituximab resulted in normalisation of haemostasis. DISCUSSION: AIBD and AHA frequently develop concomitantly, as was the case with our patient. The haemorrhagic complications were severe. The aim of AHA treatment is to stop acute bleeding and eliminate antibodies, and for this reason rituximab was chosen. CONCLUSION: Oesophageal bullous detachment is rare in AIBD but, as seen here, it may be responsible for massive haemorrhage, especially in the event of associated AHA. This feature underscores the need for evaluation of haemostasis in the early stages and during relapses for all patients with AIBD.