This review will focus on the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and management of celiac disease (CD). Given an increasing awareness of gluten-related disorders, medical professionals of all varieties are encountering patients with a diagnosis of CD or who are thought to have food intolerance to gluten. The prevalence of CD among the general population is estimated to be 1% in Western nations, and there is growing evidence for underdiagnosis of the disease, especially in non-Western nations that were traditionally believed to be unaffected. The development of serologic markers specific to CD has revolutionized the ability both to diagnose and monitor patients with the disease. Additionally, understanding of the clinical presentations of CD has undergone a major shift over the past half century. Although it is well understood that CD develops in genetically predisposed subjects exposed to gluten, the extent of other environmental factors in the pathogenesis of the disease is an area of continued research. Currently, the main therapeutic intervention for CD is a gluten-free diet; however, novel nondietary agents are under active investigation. Future areas of research should also help us understand the relationship of CD to other gluten-related disorders.

Objective To investigate a recent association between use of the angiotensin receptor-blocker (ARB) olmesartan and a severe enteropathy resembling celiac disease. Patients and Methods We searched our endoscopy database for all outpatient esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) or colonoscopy examinations in patients at least 50 years of age during the dates January 1, 2007 to March 31, 2013. Cases were those whose examination indication was diarrhea, and controls were those whose examination indication was esophageal reflux (EGD) or colorectal cancer screening (colonoscopy). We compared cases to controls with regard to the proportion of those listing olmesartan among their medications. Secondary exposures were the proportion of those taking non-olmesartan ARBs or other anti-hypertensive medications. We also examined biopsy results to determine if there were histologic changes associated with olmesartan use. Results We identified 2088 patients undergoing EGD and 12428 patients undergoing colonoscopy meeting inclusion criteria. On multivariate analysis, there was no statistically-significant association between olmesartan and diarrhea among those undergoing EGD (OR 1.99 95% CI 0.79–5.00) or colonoscopy (OR 0.63 95% CI 0.23–1.74). Review of pathology reports of the EGD and colonoscopy groups showed no association between olmesartan use and the histologic diagnosis of celiac disease (p=0.61) or microscopic colitis (p=1.0), respectively. Conclusions Our findings suggest that neither olmesartan nor other ARBs were associated with diarrhea among patients undergoing endoscopy. The sprue-like enteropathy recently associated with olmesartan is likely a rare adverse effect and milder presentations are unlikely.

Background Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have elevated symptoms of anxiety and depression. The burden of such symptoms, accompanied by functional impairment in IBD, is not well documented, nor is utilization of mental health care in this population. Methods Adults ≥18 years were identified in the cross-sectional 2015–2016 National Health Interview Survey. Responses from the Kessler Index were used to estimate the national prevalence of psychological distress with impairment and mental health-care use in IBD. Factors associated with psychological distress with impairment in IBD were analyzed using logistic regression. Results The prevalence of psychological distress with impairment was significantly higher in IBD than non-IBD adults (7.69% vs. 3.50%, respectively; P < .01). Among those with IBD and psychological distress with impairment, only a third (36.29%) had seen or talked to a mental health provider in the preceding 12 months. About half of these found the cost of mental health care unaffordable. On multivariable analysis, factors associated with psychological distress in IBD included increasing emergency room visits and trouble finding a health provider. Conclusions A significant number of adults with IBD in the United States have psychological distress accompanied by functional impairment. However, mental health care is underutilized in this population. Many of these individuals find the cost of mental health care unaffordable, struggle to find a health provider, and experience repeated emergency room visits. Ongoing efforts to improve mental health care in IBD should address issues of access and cost. Additionally, these efforts should seek to understand other barriers to mental health-care use.

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Goals: To investigate medical cannabis (MC) use patterns and adverse effects in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Background: MC is now legal in many states. Although previous studies suggest improvement in disease activity among IBD patients using MC, use patterns and adverse effects are unclear. Study: A cross-sectional anonymous survey was conducted (October 23, 2020 to January 24, 2021) among patients accessing MC dispensaries in New York and Minnesota. Eligibility criteria: age 18 years or older, selfreported IBD diagnosis, MC dispensary purchase. Survey questions included IBD characteristics, MC and healthcare utilization, and MC effects/adverse events. Participant characteristics were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Utilization patterns and symptoms before and after MC use were compared using the Stuart Maxwell test. Results: Of 236 respondents, overall IBD disease activity was mild-to-moderate. Most respondents (61.0%) took a biological. Median frequency of MC use was at least once within the past week. Most respondents used products with high Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol content (87.5%) through vape pens/cartridges (78.6%). Respondents reported fewer emergency room visits in the 12 months after versus before MC use (35.2 vs 41.5%, P<0.01) and less impact of symptoms on daily life. Most respondents reported euphoria with MC use (75.4%). The other common side effects were feeling drowsy, groggy, or with memory lapses (4.2%), dry mouth/eyes (3.4%), and anxiety/depression or paranoia (3.4%). Few respondents reported MC diversion (1.3%). Conclusions: MC users with IBD perceive symptom benefits and report decreased emergency room visits without serious adverse effects. Further studies are needed to confirm these results with objective measures of healthcare utilization and disease activity.

Background Observational studies suggest non-white patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have worse clinical outcomes.1 There are limited data on whether race impacts response to biologic therapy. We therefore aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist golimumab comparing white to non-white participants, using individual participant level data from phase 2/3 randomized clinical trials of TNF antagonist therapy in ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods We conducted a pooled analysis of individual-level data from the induction and maintenance trials of golimumab in UC accessible through Yale University Open Data Access Project (YODA). There were insufficient non-white participants in infliximab studies accessible through YODA, precluding meaningful analysis. We analyzed patients in the placebo and treatment arms separately. Our primary outcome was clinical response and secondary outcomes were clinical remission and endoscopic healing according to clinical trial definitions. We compared white and non-white (defined as Black, Asian, or Other race) participants using multivariable logistic regression a priori adjusting for age, sex, treatment group, baseline Mayo score, immunomodulator and corticosteroid use. Effect estimates were expressed as adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results A total of 1,006 participants were included in the induction trial (PURSUIT-SC; 18% non-white) and 783 participants in the maintenance trial (PURSUIT-M; 17% non-white). Non-white participants had significantly lower odds of week 6 clinical response (aOR 0.43, 95%CI 0.28–0.66), clinical remission (aOR 0.41, 95%CI 0.22–0.77) and endoscopic remission (aOR 0.48, 95%CI 0.30–0.74) compared to white participants (Figure). Non-white participants also had a lower adjusted odds of week 30 clinical response (aOR 0.64, 95%CI 0.40–1.01), clinical remission (aOR 0.45, 95%CI 0.28–0.74), and endoscopic remission (aOR 0.62, 95%CI 0.41–0.96). By week 54, the lower odds of these outcomes among non-whites were no longer statistically significant (Figure). Conclusion Non-white UC patients were less likely to achieve clinical response, clinical remission, and endoscopic healing with golimumab compared to white patients in these clinical trials. Further studies are needed to understand these differences and whether they are observed with other drugs or outside the context of clinical trials. Reference

Background Observational studies have described racial differences in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) genetics, clinical manifestations, and outcomes. Whether race impacts response to biologics in IBD is unclear. We conducted a post hoc analysis of phase 2 and 3 randomized clinical trials in ulcerative colitis to evaluate the effect of race on response to golimumab. Methods We analyzed pooled individual-level data from induction and maintenance trials of golimumab through the Yale Open Data Access Project. The primary outcome was clinical response. Secondary outcomes were clinical remission and endoscopic healing. Multivariable logistic regression was performed comparing White vs racial minority groups (Asian, Black, or other race), adjusting for potential confounders. Results There were 1006 participants in the induction (18% racial minority) and 783 participants in the maintenance (17% racial minority) trials. Compared with White participants, participants from racial minority groups had significantly lower clinical response (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28-0.66), clinical remission (aOR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.22-0.77), and endoscopic healing (aOR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.31-0.74) at week 6. Participants from racial minority groups also had significantly lower clinical remission (aOR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.28-0.74) and endoscopic healing (aOR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.41-0.96) at week 30. There were no racial differences in placebo response rates. Conclusions Ulcerative colitis participants from racial minority groups were less likely to achieve clinical response, clinical remission, and endoscopic healing with golimumab compared with White participants in induction and maintenance trials. Further studies are needed to understand the impact of race on therapeutic response in IBD.