Ulcerative Colitis: Melmed GY

Murrell ZA, Melmed GY, Ippoliti A, Vasiliauskas EA, Dubinsky M, Targan SR, Fleshner PR. · Department of Surgery, Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA. · Dis Colon Rectum. · Pubmed #19502850 No free full text.

Abstract: PURPOSE: The long-term outcome of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in patients with indeterminate colitis is controversial. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the long-term outcome of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in a closely monitored cohort of patients with ulcerative colitis or indeterminate colitis. METHODS: Prospectively generated clinical profiles on consecutive patients with ulcerative colitis or indeterminate colitis undergoing ileal pouch-anal anastomosis with close postoperative follow-up by one surgeon were reviewed. All patients were classified before surgery as either ulcerative colitis or inflammatory bowel disease-unclassified, and after surgery as either ulcerative colitis or indeterminate colitis. Long-term outcomes included acute pouchitis (antibiotic responsive), chronic pouchitis (antibiotic dependent or refractory), or de novo Crohn's disease (small inflammation above the pouch inlet or pouch fistula). RESULTS: The study cohort of 334 patients were classified before surgery as ulcerative colitis in 237 (71 percent) and inflammatory bowel disease-unclassified in 97 (29 percent). After surgery, patients were classified as ulcerative colitis in 236 (71 percent) and indeterminate colitis in 98 (29 percent). After a median follow-up after stoma closure of 26 months, 53 patients (16 percent) developed acute pouchitis, 37 patients (11 percent) developed chronic pouchitis, and 40 patients (12 percent) developed de novo Crohn's disease. There was no significant difference in the incidence of acute pouchitis, chronic pouchitis, or de novo Crohn's disease between the ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease-unclassified, and indeterminate colitis patient groups. CONCLUSION: The incidence of acute pouchitis, chronic pouchitis, and de novo Crohn's disease after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis do not differ significantly between patients with ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease-unclassified, or indeterminate colitis. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease-unclassified and indeterminate colitis can undergo ileal pouch-anal anastomosis and expect a long-term outcome equivalent to patients with ulcerative colitis.

Spiegel BM, Ho W, Esrailian E, Targan S, Higgins PD, Siegel CA, Dubinsky M, Melmed GY. · Veteran's Administration Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA. · Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. · Pubmed #18952199 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND & AIMS: Despite the development of consensus guidelines in ulcerative colitis (UC), there remain several areas of uncertainty in the everyday management of this incompletely understood disease. We performed a national vignette survey to measure variations in decision-making in areas of controversy. METHODS: We constructed a survey with 3 vignettes to measure decision-making in 4 areas of controversy in UC: (1) dysplasia management, (2) mesalamine dosing, (3) diagnostic testing for underlying Crohn's disease, and (4) treatment of steroid-refractory inpatient UC. We compared responses between a group of community gastroenterologists and UC experts. RESULTS: We received 192 responses (36% response). Compared with community gastroenterologists, UC experts were more likely to endorse colectomy for both unifocal and multifocal low-grade dysplasia, use narrow band imaging and chromoendoscopy for surveillance colonoscopy, use high-dose mesalamine for inducing remission, use long-term mesalamine for cancer chemoprevention, order computed tomography enterography to evaluate for Crohn's disease, and to have a lower threshold to call for surgery consultation in steroid-refractory UC. There was little agreement regarding the optimal frequency of surveillance colonoscopy, even among experts. Most respondents favored using infliximab over cyclosporine in steroid-refractory UC. CONCLUSIONS: Community gastroenterologists and UC experts vary dramatically in their approach to many areas of uncertainty in UC. The only area of consensus between groups is the use of infliximab over cyclosporine in steroid-refractory UC, itself a controversial decision. These data suggest that current practice patterns are highly disparate and focus attention on specific areas of disconnect that should be further investigated.

Melmed GY, Fleshner PR, Bardakcioglu O, Ippoliti A, Vasiliauskas EA, Papadakis KA, Dubinsky M, Landers C, Rotter JI, Targan SR. · Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA. · Dis Colon Rectum. · Pubmed #18085333 links to  free full text

Abstract: PURPOSE: Approximately 5 to 10 percent of patients undergoing ileal pouch-anal anastomosis with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis are subsequently diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Preoperative predictors for Crohn's disease post-ileal pouch-anal anastomosis have not been prospectively defined. METHODS: A total of 238 consecutive patients with ulcerative colitis or indeterminate colitis undergoing ileal pouch-anal anastomosis were prospectively enrolled into a longitudinal database. Clinical factors were assessed perioperatively. Serum drawn preoperatively was assayed for anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae, antiouter membrane porin-C, anti-CBir1, and perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Crohn's disease was defined by small bowel inflammation proximal to the ileal pouch or a perianal fistula identified at least three months after ileostomy closure. Predictors were assessed in a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model to predict the rate of Crohn's disease after ileostomy closure. RESULTS: Sixteen patients (7 percent) were diagnosed with Crohn's disease; median time to Crohn's disease was 19 (range, 1-41) months. Significant factors for postoperative Crohn's disease after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis included family history of Crohn's disease (hazard ratio, 8.4; 95 percent confidence interval, 2.96-24.1; P < 0.0001) and anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae immunoglobulin-A seropositivity (hazard ratio, 3.14; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.1-9.81; P = 0.04). Crohn's disease developed in only 8 of 198 patients (4 percent) without these predictors vs. 8 of 40 patients (20 percent) in those with at least one of these factors (P = 0.002). The cumulative risk of Crohn's disease among patients with two risk factors (67 percent) was higher than in patients with either risk factor (18 percent) or neither risk factor (4 percent, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ulcerative colitis and indeterminate colitis with a family history of Crohn's disease or preoperative anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae immunoglobulin-A seropositivity are more likely to be diagnosed with Crohn's disease after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.

Melmed GY, Elashoff R, Chen GC, Nastaskin I, Papadakis KA, Vasiliauskas EA, Liu W, Landers C, Ippoliti AF, Targan SR. · Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, California, USA. · Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. · Pubmed #17478347 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND & AIMS: Some patients diagnosed with UC undergo a change in diagnosis to CD. Identification of predictors of a diagnostic change could potentially impact the management of patients with colonic inflammation. Our aim was to characterize clinical and serologic predictors of a change in diagnosis from UC to CD. METHODS: A nested, case-controlled study was performed to compare individuals with a change in diagnosis from UC to CD (cases) with age-matched UC and CD controls; primary analysis compared cases with UC controls. Subjects underwent chart review for clinical "red flags" identified by gastroenterologists with expertise in IBD. Serum collected at the time of database enrollment was tested for antibodies to oligomannan (anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae), Pseudomonas fluorescens-related protein, Escherichia coli outer membrane porin C, CBir1 flagellin, and perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. RESULTS: Twenty-one cases, 52 UC controls, and 56 CD controls were assessed. Three red flags, but no serologic markers, differed between cases and UC controls. At initial colonoscopy, cases were more likely to have extensive colonic involvement than UC controls (P = .008). Multivariate regression identified non-bloody diarrhea at initial presentation (P = .01) and weight loss >10% at presentation (P = .007) as independent predictors of diagnostic change. Serologic markers did not add to the contribution of these 2 clinical factors in predicting a change in diagnosis from UC to CD. Diagnostic change was evident in 6 of 6 (100%) patients with both predictors, compared with 8 of 50 (16%) with neither of these factors (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a diagnosis of UC with initial non-bloody diarrhea or weight loss have an increased likelihood of subsequent change in diagnosis to CD and might thus warrant further diagnostic work-up.