Malabsorción de ácidos biliares en pacientes con diarrea crónica y enfermedad de Crohn / Bile acid malabsorption in patients with chronic diarrhea and Crohn's disease

Introducción y objetivo: la enfermedad de Crohn (EC) es una de las entidades que constituyen la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal. Sus síntomas principales son la diarrea y el dolor abdominal. El objetivo de nuestro estudio es analizar la utilidad de 75SeHCAT en pacientes con EC que presentan diarrea crónica, con sospecha de malabsorción de ácidos biliares (MAB), y establecer si existe relación con las características de la enfermedad y la resección intestinal. Pacientes y método: se realizó un estudio observacional transversal a 39 pacientes con diagnóstico de EC y diarrea crónica. A todos se les realizó una gammagrafía con 75SeHCAT para el diagnóstico de MAB, tras descartar actividad de la enfermedad. Resultados: se analizó un total de 19 mujeres y 20 hombres con una mediana de edad de 44 años y con una clasificación de Montreal A2 L1 B1 en el mayor porcentaje. El 84,6% de los pacientes presentaban antecedentes de resección intestinal. El porcentaje global de MAB fue del 97,4% (el 100% de los pacientes intervenidos y el 83,3% de los pacientes no intervenidos), y esta fue grave en el 92,1% de los casos. Se estableció tratamiento con quelantes de ácidos biliares, que obtuvo una respuesta del 72,7%. Se analizó la existencia de una posible relación entre las características de la enfermedad y de la cirugía intestinal y la respuesta al tratamiento con quelantes con el grado de MAB que presentaban los pacientes (moderada o grave). El resultado obtenido fue no significativo. Conclusión: la MAB es una causa muy frecuente de diarrea en pacientes con EC en remisión endoscópica o radiológica, estando presente en todos los pacientes analizados con resección intestinal previa. La respuesta al tratamiento con quelantes de ácidos biliares estuvo presente en el 73% de los pacientes

Introduction and aim: Crohn's disease (CD) is a form of inflammatory bowel disease and is mainly characterized by diarrhea and abdominal pain. The aim of our study was to analyze the usefulness of performing a 75SeHCAT scan in CD patients with chronic diarrhea and suspected bile acid malabsorption (BAM). In addition, we aimed to determine whether there was a relationship with the clinical features of the disease and a previous bowel resection. Patients and methods: this was an observational cross-sectional study of 39 patients with a diagnosis of CD and chronic diarrhea. All cases underwent a 75SeHCAT scan for BAM diagnosis, after discarding disease activity. Results: the study cohort included 19 females and 20 males. The median age was 44 years and the majority of patients were A2 L1 B1 according to the Montreal classification; 84.6% of patients had undergone a previous bowel resection. BAM was present in 97.4% of patients (100% and 83.3% of patients with and without previous surgery, respectively), which was severe in 92.1% of cases. Treatment with bile acid sequestrants was initiated and a favorable response was obtained in 72.2% of patients. The relationship between BAM degree (moderate or severe), bowel surgery and the response to bile acid sequestrant treatment was also analyzed but not statistically significant. Conclusion: BAM is a frequent cause of diarrhea in CD patients in endoscopic or radiological remission. This condition was present in all patients with a history of a bowel resection. A response to bile acid sequestrants treatment was observed in 73% of patients

Bile acid malabsorption in patients with chronic diarrhea and Crohn's disease.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Crohn's disease (CD) is a form of inflammatory bowel disease and is mainly characterized by diarrhea and abdominal pain. The aim of our study was to analyze the usefulness of performing a 75SeHCAT scan in CD patients with chronic diarrhea and suspected bile acid malabsorption (BAM). In addition, we aimed to determine whether there was a relationship with the clinical features of the disease and a previous bowel resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: this was an observational cross-sectional study of 39 patients with a diagnosis of CD and chronic diarrhea. All cases underwent a 75SeHCAT scan for BAM diagnosis, after discarding disease activity. RESULTS: the study cohort included 19 females and 20 males. The median age was 44 years and the majority of patients were A2 L1 B1 according to the Montreal classification; 84.6% of patients had undergone a previous bowel resection. BAM was present in 97.4% of patients (100% and 83.3% of patients with and without previous surgery, respectively), which was severe in 92.1% of cases. Treatment with bile acid sequestrants was initiated and a favorable response was obtained in 72.2% of patients. The relationship between BAM degree (moderate or severe), bowel surgery and the response to bile acid sequestrant treatment was also analyzed but not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: BAM is a frequent cause of diarrhea in CD patients in endoscopic or radiological remission. This condition was present in all patients with a history of a bowel resection. A response to bile acid sequestrants treatment was observed in 73% of patients.