This study examined whether fecal calprotectin can be used in daily practice as a marker to monitor patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) receiving infliximab maintenance therapy.This prospective multicenter study enrolled adult patients with UC in clinical remission under infliximab maintenance therapy. Fecal calprotectin levels were measured every 4 weeks. Sigmoidoscopies were performed at inclusion and at study end. Relapse was defined as a clinical need for change in treatment or an endoscopic Mayo subscore of ≥2 at week 52. Sustained deep remission was defined as a partial Mayo score <3 at all points and an endoscopic Mayo score 0 at week 52.Full analysis was possible for 87 of 113 included patients with UC (77%). Of these patients, 30 (34.4%) were considered to be in sustained deep remission and 13 (14.9%) to have relapsed. Calprotectin levels in patients with sustained deep remission remained very low (median < 40 mg/kg at all time points). Patients who flared had significantly higher calprotectin levels (median > 300 mg/kg) already 3 months before the flare. Further receiver operator curve analysis suggested that a calprotectin level >300 mg/kg had a reasonable sensitivity (58.3%) and specificity (93.3%) to model flare. Two consecutive calprotectin measurements of >300 mg/kg with 1-month interval were identified as the best predictor of flare (61.5% sensitivity and 100% specificity).Fecal calprotectin can be used in daily practice to monitor patients with UC receiving infliximab maintenance therapy. Two consecutive measurements >300 mg/kg is more specific than a single measurement for predicting relapse.
Objectives: Identifying ulcerative colitis (UC) patients with increased risk of colectomy is essential for appropriate treatment. We aimed to develop a prediction model assessing the risk of having colectomy within the first 10 years after diagnosis. Material and methods. A population-based inception cohort of UC patients diagnosed in south-eastern Norway between 1990 and 1994 has been followed for 10 years. Altogether 519 patients were recruited including 49 patients who were colectomized. Based on the best-fitted multivariate model, the probabilities of colectomy were computed for selected levels of baseline covariates, and the results arranged in a prediction matrix. The following risk factors at diagnosis were analyzed: age, smoking, sex, disease extent, weight loss and fever and need for systemic steroids. Biochemical markers included C-reactive protein (CRP, <30 or ≥30 mg/l); erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR, <30 or ≥30 mm/h) and hemoglobin (Hgb, <10.5 or ≥ 10.5 g/dL). Results. Extent of disease, age (<40 years, ≥40 years), need for systemic steroids and CRP or ESR (<30 or ≥30) at diagnosis were independently associated with colectomy and were combined in a prediction matrix. The probabilities of colectomy during the follow-up period ranged from 2.6% to 40.1% depending on the combination of predictors at diagnosis. Conclusions. Our prediction model revealed significant differences in the probability of undergoing colectomy during a 10-years course of disease, which supports an early individualized treatment approach in UC.
Ulcerative colitis (UC) negatively affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but population-based and long-term data on this topic are scarce. Our aim was to determine the HRQoL in UC patients after a 10-year disease duration. UC patients from a population-based inception cohort met at a prescheduled 10-year follow-up visit. In addition to a clinical examination, interview, and blood samples, the patients completed the Short Form 36 (SF-36) and the Norwegian Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (N-IBDQ). The SF-36 scores were compared to scores from a general population sample using one-sample t-tests. Standardized scores were calculated and interpreted according to Cohen's effect size index. The associations between relevant clinical and demographic factors and HRQoL were examined through linear regression analyses. A total of 196 patients completed the HRQoL questionnaires (response rate: 80%), of whom 54% were women; the mean age of all patients was 48 years (range: 22–86). The SF-36 scores were comparable to those of the general population except for lower scores in the General Health dimension. The SF-36 scores were significantly lower in the presence of current symptoms, in patients who had used corticosteroids, and in patients who reported not working. Overall N-IBDQ scores were equivalent to scores of patients in remission. Female gender, work status (not working), current symptoms, and smoking were associated with significantly lower N-IBDQ scores. SF-36 scores were not reduced compared to the general population sample. The presence of current symptoms, the use of corticosteroids, work status (not working), female gender, and smoking had a negative impact on HRQoL. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2012)
Abstract Background & Aims The strongest genetic risk factors in primary sclerosing cholangitis ( PSC ) are encoded in the HLA complex. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies ( ANCA ) have been reported in up to 94% of PSC patients, but their clinical significance and immunogenetic basis are ill defined. We aimed to characterize clinical and genetic associations of ANCA in PSC . Methods Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were analysed with indirect immunofluorescence in 241 Norwegian PSC patients. HLA ‐B and HLA ‐ DRB 1 genotyping was performed in the patients and in 368 healthy controls. Data on perinuclear ANCA ( pANCA ) and HLA ‐ DRB 1 were available from 274 ulcerative colitis ( UC ) patients without known liver disease. Results Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were found in 193 (80%) of the PSC patients, with pANCA in 169 (70%). ANCA ‐positive patients were younger than ANCA negative at diagnosis of PSC and had a lower frequency of biliary cancer (9% vs 19%, P =.047). There were no differences between PSC patients with and without inflammatory bowel disease. Genetically, the strong PSC risk factors HLA ‐B*08 (frequency in healthy 13%) and DRB 1*03 (14%) were more prevalent in ANCA ‐positive than ‐negative patients (43% vs 25%, P =.0012 and 43% vs 25%, P =.0015 respectively). The results were similar when restricting the analysis to pANCA ‐positive patients. In UC patients without liver disease, HLA ‐ DRB 1*03 was more prevalent in pANCA ‐positive compared with ‐negative patients ( P =.03). Conclusions Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies identified PSC patients with particular clinical and genetic characteristics, suggesting that ANCA may mark a clinically relevant pathogenetic subgroup in the PSC ‐ UC disease spectrum.
Peripheral arthritis and related musculoskeletal manifestations, often classified as peripheral spondyloarthritis, are frequently seen in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Few long-term studies have reported on the prevalence of these conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of IBD-related peripheral arthritis and peripheral spondyloarthritis in IBD patients during 20 years of disease course, and to assess whether these conditions were associated with the intestinal IBD severity and activity.In an inception cohort (the IBSEN study), IBD patients were followed prospectively for 20 years. At the 5 year follow-up the patients underwent a rheumatological examination and at the 20 year follow-up they completed a questionnaire with identical questions. When peripheral arthritis was characteristic and not explained by other specific diagnoses, it was defined as IBD-related peripheral arthritis. The Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society criteria were used to define peripheral spondyloarthritis, including patients with peripheral arthritis, enthesitis and/or dactylitis.After 20 years of follow-up, 441 patients were included (296 ulcerative colitis and 145 Crohn's disease). The prevalence of IBD-related peripheral arthritis was 17.2% and peripheral spondyloarthritis 27.9% during the disease course. IBD severity and activity were not different between those with a history of IBD-related peripheral arthritis or peripheral spondyloarthritis and those without. A higher proportion of women had IBD-related peripheral arthritis and peripheral spondyloarthritis.During 20 years of disease course, more than every sixth patient had suffered from IBD-related peripheral arthritis and every fourth from peripheral spondyloarthritis.
Population-based studies have shown a slightly decreased life expectancy in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). The primary aim of the present study was to evaluate mortality and causes of death 20 years after the diagnosis in a well defined population-based cohort of CD patients in Norway.The Inflammatory Bowel South-Eastern Norway study has prospectively followed all patients diagnosed with CD in the period between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 1993 in four geographically well-defined areas. All patients (n=237) were age and sex matched with 25 persons from the same county selected at random from the general population. Data on death and causes of deaths were collected from the Norwegian Causes of Death Register. All causes and cause-specific mortality (gastrointestinal cancer, cancer and heart disease) were modelled with Cox regression model stratified by matched sets. Results are expressed as HRs with 95% CIs.There was no significant difference between CD patients and controls in overall mortality (HR=1.35, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.94, p=0.10). Furthermore, there were no marked differences in deaths from gastrointestinal cancer, other cancers or cardiovascular diseases in the CD group compared with the controls. In the CD group, 13.9% had died compared with 12.7% in the control group (p=0.578).In our population-based inception cohort followed for 20 years, there was no increased mortality or more deaths from cancer compared with the general population.
The aims of this study were to explore the influences of familial, maternal, and paternal inflammatory disease (IBD) on perinatal outcomes in the offspring and the risk for development of IBD related to perinatal factors.Eighty-five patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and 86 with ulcerative colitis (UC) were included from a population-based incidence study enrolled 1990-1994. Family and birth records of these patients, as well as of their 207 infants, were drawn from the Norwegian Medical Birth Registry, established in 1967, and compared with the national birth cohort from the same period.Maternal (odds ratio [OR] = 2.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.36, 3.39) and paternal IBD (OR = 3.02, 95% CI: 1.82, 5.01) influenced the risk of preterm birth (<37 weeks), which further increased if the affected parents had a first-degree relative with IBD (OR = 4.29, 95% CI: 1.59, 11.63). Maternal CD was associated with lower birth weight in the offspring (crude difference: 271.79 g, 95% CI: 87.83, 455.77, versus controls). Maternal UC increased the risk of perinatal bacterial infection in the offspring (OR = 6.03, 95% CI: 2.03, 17.91). IBD patients (2.3%) were less likely to be delivered by cesarean section than controls (8.1%) (OR = 0.27, CI: 95%: 0.10, 0.73).Familial, maternal, and paternal IBD were linked to preterm birth, which might be explained by genetic mechanisms. The present protective effect of cesarean sections needs further clarification in future studies.
