CMV disease in UC only affects seropositive, steroid-refractory UC patients. Steroid/cyclosporine treatment together with disease activity may predispose to latent colonic CMV reactivation. The impact of antiviral therapy on the clinical outcome of these patients remains to be elucidated.
SummaryBackgroundMagnetic resonance enterography (MRE) and ultrasound are used to image Crohn's disease, but their comparative accuracy for assessing disease extent and activity is not known with certainty. Therefore, we did a multicentre trial to address this issue.MethodsWe recruited patients from eight UK hospitals. Eligible patients were 16 years or older, with newly diagnosed Crohn's disease or with established disease and suspected relapse. Consecutive patients had MRE and ultrasound in addition to standard investigations. Discrepancy between MRE and ultrasound for the presence of small bowel disease triggered an additional investigation, if not already available. The primary outcome was difference in per-patient sensitivity for small bowel disease extent (correct identification and segmental localisation) against a construct reference standard (panel diagnosis). This trial is registered with the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial, number ISRCTN03982913, and has been completed.Findings284 patients completed the trial (133 in the newly diagnosed group, 151 in the relapse group). Based on the reference standard, 233 (82%) patients had small bowel Crohn's disease. The sensitivity of MRE for small bowel disease extent (80% [95% CI 72–86]) and presence (97% [91–99]) were significantly greater than that of ultrasound (70% [62–78] for disease extent, 92% [84–96] for disease presence); a 10% (95% CI 1–18; p=0·027) difference for extent, and 5% (1–9; p=0·025) difference for presence. The specificity of MRE for small bowel disease extent (95% [85–98]) was significantly greater than that of ultrasound (81% [64–91]); a difference of 14% (1–27; p=0·039). The specificity for small bowel disease presence was 96% (95% CI 86–99) with MRE and 84% (65–94) with ultrasound (difference 12% [0–25]; p=0·054). There were no serious adverse events.InterpretationBoth MRE and ultrasound have high sensitivity for detecting small bowel disease presence and both are valid first-line investigations, and viable alternatives to ileocolonoscopy. However, in a national health service setting, MRE is generally the preferred radiological investigation when available because its sensitivity and specificity exceed ultrasound significantly.FundingNational Institute of Health and Research Health Technology Assessment.
Evolutionary genomic analysis revealed precancer clones bearing extensive SNAs and CNAs, with progression to cancer involving a dramatic accrual of CNAs at HGD. Detection of the cancerised field is an encouraging prospect for surveillance, but punctuated evolution may limit the window for early detection.
Cytomegalovirus infection may play a role in the natural history of refractory inflammatory bowel disease and in some of its complications. The clearance of cytomegalovirus in colonic mucosa may lead some of these patients to remission.
Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) offers a promising solution to reduce variation in colonoscopy performance. Pooled miss rates as high as 22% for polyps and associated interval colorectal cancers following colonoscopy are concerning. Meanwhile, the concept of 'optical biopsy' where in vivo classification of polyps based on enhanced imaging replaces histopathology has not been incorporated into routine practice, largely limited by inter-observer variability and generally meeting accepted standards only in expert settings. Real-time decision support software has been developed to detect and characterise polyps, whilst also offering feedback on the technical quality of inspection. Some of the current algorithms, particularly with recent advances in artificial intelligence techniques, now match human expert performance for optical biopsy. This article will review the current evidence in relation to the clinical applications of CAD and artificial intelligence in colonoscopy.
Summary
Background
Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) can measure small bowel motility, reduction in which reflects inflammatory burden in Crohn's Disease (CD). However, it is unknown if motility improves with successful treatment.
Aim
To determine if changes in segmental small bowel motility reflect response to anti‐TNFα therapy after induction and longer term.
Methods
A total of 46 patients (median 29 years, 19 females) underwent MRE before anti‐TNFα treatment; 35 identified retrospectively underwent repeat MRE after median 55 weeks of treatment and 11 recruited prospectively after median 12 weeks. Therapeutic response was defined by physician global assessment (retrospective group) or a ≥3 point drop in the Harvey–Bradshaw Index (prospective group), C‐reactive protein (CRP) and the MaRIA score. Two independent radiologists measured motility using an MRE image‐registration algorithm. We compared motility changes in responders and nonresponders using the Mann–Whitney test.
Results
Anti‐TNFα responders had significantly greater improvements in motility (median = 73.4% increase from baseline) than nonresponders (median = 25% reduction, P < 0.001). Improved MRI‐measured motility was 93.1% sensitive (95%CI: 78.0–98.1%) and 76.5% specific (95% CI: 52.7–90.4%) for anti‐TNFα response. Patients with CRP normalisation (<5 mg/L) had significantly greater improvements in motility (median = 73.4% increase) than those with persistently elevated CRP (median = 5.1%, P = 0.035). Individuals with post‐treatment MaRIA scores of <11 had greater motility improvements (median = 94.7% increase) than those with post‐treatment MaRIA score >11 (median 15.2% increase, P = 0.017).
Conclusions
Improved MRI‐measured small bowel motility accurately detects response to anti‐TNFα therapy for Crohn's disease, even as early as 12 weeks. Motility MRI may permit early identification of nonresponse to anti‐TNFα agents, allowing personalised treatment.
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition largely affecting the terminal ileum and large bowel. A contributing cause is the failure of an adequate acute inflammatory response as a result of impaired secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by macrophages. This defective secretion arises from aberrant vesicle trafficking, misdirecting the cytokines to lysosomal degradation. Aberrant intestinal permeability is also well-established in Crohn's disease. Both the disordered vesicle trafficking and increased bowel permeability could result from abnormal lipid composition. We thus measured the sphingo- and phospholipid composition of macrophages, using mass spectrometry and stable isotope labelling approaches. Stimulation of macrophages with heat-killed Escherichia coli resulted in three main changes; a significant reduction in the amount of individual ceramide species, an altered composition of phosphatidylcholine, and an increased rate of phosphatidylcholine synthesis in macrophages. These changes were observed in macrophages from both healthy control individuals and patients with Crohn's disease. The only difference detected between control and Crohn's disease macrophages was a reduced proportion of newly-synthesised phosphatidylinositol 16:0/18:1 over a defined time period. Shotgun lipidomics analysis of macroscopically non-inflamed ileal biopsies showed a significant decrease in this same lipid species with overall preservation of sphingolipid, phospholipid and cholesterol composition.
PI is less common and more treatment refractory than pouchitis alone. Once PI is diagnosed, clinicians should be aware that response to antibiotic therapy is less likely than in pouchitis alone. Immunomodulatory therapy and escalation to anti-tumor necrosis factor agents should be considered early in cases of nonresponse. The suggestion that PI represents misdiagnosed Crohn's disease could not be substantiated in our cohort.
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