Summary Background : The herbal preparation, aloe vera, has been claimed to have anti‐inflammatory effects and, despite a lack of evidence of its therapeutic efficacy, is widely used by patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Aim : To perform a double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial of the efficacy and safety of aloe vera gel for the treatment of mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis. Methods : Forty‐four evaluable hospital out‐patients were randomly given oral aloe vera gel or placebo, 100 mL twice daily for 4 weeks, in a 2 : 1 ratio. The primary outcome measures were clinical remission (Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index ≤ 2), sigmoidoscopic remission (Baron score ≤ 1) and histological remission (Saverymuttu score ≤ 1). Secondary outcome measures included changes in the Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index (improvement was defined as a decrease of ≥ 3 points; response was defined as remission or improvement), Baron score, histology score, haemoglobin, platelet count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C‐reactive protein and albumin. Results : Clinical remission, improvement and response occurred in nine (30%), 11 (37%) and 14 (47%), respectively, of 30 patients given aloe vera, compared with one (7%) [P = 0.09; odds ratio, 5.6 (0.6–49)], one (7%) [P = 0.06; odds ratio, 7.5 (0.9–66)] and two (14%) [P < 0.05; odds ratio, 5.3 (1.0–27)], respectively, of 14 patients taking placebo. The Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index and histological scores decreased significantly during treatment with aloe vera (P = 0.01 and P = 0.03, respectively), but not with placebo. Sigmoidoscopic scores and laboratory variables showed no significant differences between aloe vera and placebo. Adverse events were minor and similar in both groups of patients. Conclusion : Oral aloe vera taken for 4 weeks produced a clinical response more often than placebo; it also reduced the histological disease activity and appeared to be safe. Further evaluation of the therapeutic potential of aloe vera gel in inflammatory bowel disease is needed.

SUMMARYBackground: In patients with inflammatory bowel disease, oral iron is anecdotally reported to be less effective and less well tolerated than in those without inflammatory bowel disease, and to increase disease activity. Aim: To study prospectively the effects of oral iron in patients with and without inflammatory bowel disease. Methods: Patients with ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and non-inflammatory bowel disease controls, all with iron deficiency anaemia, were assessed with symptom diaries, a quality of life questionnaire (Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire; inflammatory bowel disease patients only) and blood tests to measure iron repletion, disease activity and antioxidant capacity before and after starting 4 weeks of oral iron. In patients with ulcerative colitis, sigmoidoscopic scoring and rectal biopsies for reactive oxygen metabolite production were performed before and after iron therapy.

In Bangladeshis in East London, the incidence of IBD has increased and of abdominal TB has fallen over the last decade; CD has become a more likely diagnosis than abdominal TB. Clinicians in the Western world need to be aware of the changing incidences of IBD and abdominal TB in South Asians.

Background Endoscopic-post-operative-recurrence (ePOR) in Crohn’s disease (CD) after ileocecal resection (ICR) is a major concern. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of early prophylaxis with biologics and to compare anti-TNF therapy to vedolizumab (VDZ) and ustekinumab (UST) in a real-world setting. Methods A retrospective multicenter study of CD-adults after curative ICR on early prophylaxis. ePOR was defined as a Rutgeerts score [RS]≥i2 or colonic-segmental-SES-CD≥6. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate risk factors, and inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) was applied to compare the effectiveness between agents. Results Included 297 patients (53.9% males, age at diagnosis 24y[19-32], age at ICR-34y[26-43], 18.5% smokers, 27.6% biologic-naïve, 65.7% anti-TNF experienced, 28.6%≥2 biologics, and 17.2% previous surgery). Overall, 224, 39 and 34 patients received anti-TNF, VDZ or UST, respectively. Patients treated with VDZ and UST were more biologic experienced with higher rates of previous surgery. ePOR rates within 1-year were: 41.8%. ePOR rates by treatment groups: anti-TNF 40.2%, VDZ 33% and UST 61.8%. Risk factors for ePOR at 1-year: past-infliximab (adj.OR=1.73[95%CI:1.01-2.97]), past-adalimumab (adj.OR=2.32[95% CI:1.35-4.01) and surgical aspects. After IPTW, the risk of ePOR within 1-year of VDZ vs. anti-TNF or UST vs. anti-TNF was comparable (OR=0.55[95%CI:0.25-1.19], OR=1.86[95%CI:0.79-4.38]), respectively. Conclusion Prevention of ePOR within 1-year after surgery was successful in ~60% of patients. Patients treated with VDZ or UST consisted of a more refractory group. After controlling for confounders, no differences in ePOR risk were seen between anti-TNF prophylaxis and other groups.

Background Anemia is a common extraintestinal manifestation of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) affecting negatively the patients’ quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and real-life management of anemia in IBD patients in Greece. Methods This study was conducted in 17 Greek IBD referral centers. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, IBD and anemia treatment data were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Results A total of 1394 IBD patients [560 ulcerative colitis (UC), 834 Crohn’s disease (CD)] were enrolled. Anemia at any time was reported in 687 (49.3%) patients of whom 413 (29.6%) had episodic and 274 (19.7%) had recurrent/persistent anemia. Anemia was diagnosed before IBD in 45 (6.5%), along with IBD in 269 (39.2%) and after IBD in 373 (54.3%) patients. In the multivariate analysis the presence of extraintestinal manifestations (p = 0.0008), IBD duration (p = 0.026), IBD related surgeries and hospitalizations (p = 0.026 and p = 0.004 accordingly) were risk factors of recurrent/persistent anemia. Serum ferritin was measured in 839 (60.2%) IBD patients. Among anemic patients, 535 (77.9%) received treatment. Iron supplementation was administered in 485 (90.6%) patients, oral in 142 (29.3%) and intravenous in 393 (81%). Conclusions The frequency of anemia in IBD patients, followed at Greek referral centers, is approximately 50%. Development of recurrent/persistent anemia may be observed in 20% of cases and is independently associated with the presence of extraintestinal manifestations, IBD duration, IBD related surgeries and hospitalizations. Anemia treatment is administered in up to $$4/5$$ 4 / 5 of anemia IBD patients with the majority of them receiving iron intravenously.