Research published in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics found ulcerative colitis patients with higher BMIs had a greater likelihood of biologic treatment failure. Increases in BMI also were associated with a higher risk of surgery or hospitalization. The reasons might be related to endogenous steroid production, misuse of medical steroids, or underdosing of conventional
Vedolizumab is an anti-α4β7 monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A recent study finds that pretreatment α4β7 expression and α4β7 receptor saturation during maintenance therapy were identified as candidate biomarkers for vedolizumab response. This assay leads to promise that we will be able to identify good candidates for biologic therapies
Reduced mortality was seen in Crohn’s patients with comorbidities who have been treated with anti-TNF’s, but primarily compared to those treated with prolonged steroids. There was a trend to positive outcomes for UC patients, but it did not meet statistical significance. Among 1,879 Crohn’s patients initiating anti-TNF therapy, there was a significantly lower risk of
Neurologic involvement in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is uncommon but probably underreported, and gastroenterologists must be ready to recognize it. For example, peripheral neuropathy is reported to occur in up to 13% of IBD patients. Neurologic complications due to nutritional deficiencies are thought to be even more common. Complications may arise spontaneously from the systemic inflammation
A longitudinal study in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found that elevated peripheral blood eosinophils found in the white-cell differential of blood tests might better predict the severity of inflammatory bowel disease in a subgroup of patients. “These results are very important, as we are always searching for predictors of more severe disease in order
Preparation Crucial for Adolescents Transferring to Adult IBD Care
Psychological readiness, logistical barriers, appropriate selection of adult care providers is key. See the article on MedPage here.
Shared inflammatory pathways and genetics may predispose patients with respiratory conditions to developing IBD Ever-mounting evidence is strengthening the link between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and immune-mediated respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Research has suggested that IBD and airway illnesses likely share common inflammatory pathways as well as predisposing
Safe conception and pregnancy during treatment, but also at issue: body image, sexuality, cervical cancer risk Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), affecting approximately one in 500 people in the United States, occurs about equally in men and women. But gender-specific physiologic and psychological differences can have an impact on patient care and outcomes, especially in females
Delay in IBD diagnosis may be linked to stunted growth in children
Canadian researchers found an independent correlation between delay in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis and height impairment, with every one standard deviation decrease in height-to-age z-score tied to a nearly 70% higher diagnostic delay risk. The findings in the Archives of Disease in Childhood also showed an independent link between bloody diarrhea and a reduced
Clinical measures can predict risks in acute severe colitis A study in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology found evaluating clinical features in patients with acute severe colitis may help predict the long-term risk of colectomy and steroid dependence. The four measures included in the study were patient response on day seven of hospitalization, steroid
