Mycophenolate mofetil for Crohn's disease: short-term efficacy and long-term outcome.

Aim: To assess the long-term efficacy of the antimetabolite agent mycophenolate mofetil in patients with Crohn's disease.

Methods: Twenty patients with complicated Crohn's disease were treated with mycophenolate mofetil, 1 g b.d.

Effect of octreotide on fluid absorption and secretion by the normal human jejunum and ileum in vivo.

Background: We hypothesized that part of the non-specific antidiarrhoeal effect of octreotide is mediated by a proabsorptive or antisecretory effect on small intestinal active electrolyte transport.

Methods: To measure the effect of octreotide on net absorption, the jejunum and ileum of normal human subjects were perfused with a balanced electrolyte solution; to measure the effect of octreotide on normal active chloride secretion, the jejunum was perfused with a bicarbonate-free solution.

Results: During perfusion of a balanced electrolyte solution, octreotide increased basal net fluid absorption in the jejunum and ileum by about 40 mL/h per 30 cm.

Gastric adenocarcinoma mimicking achalasia in a 15-year-old patient: a case report and review of the literature.

Although adenocarcinoma of the cardia is extremely rare in adolescent patients, the endoscopist should be alert to this disease in patients of any age with dysphagia, even if symptoms, and results of a barium study, upper endoscopy, and esophageal manometry are suggestive of primary achalasia, especially if family history is negative for achalasia. In addition, secondary achalasia should be suspected in patients who do not respond to therapy with botulinum toxin within 2 months. Because none of the mentioned tests can distinguish between primary achalasia and secondary forms due to carcinoma of the cardia, biopsy specimens should be obtained.

Anti-cardiolipin antibodies in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Elevated levels of anti-cardiolipin antibodies are associated with an increased risk for venous and arterial thrombosis. In patients with inflammatory bowel disease thrombosis is a well known complication. We determined the prevalence of elevated anti-cardiolipin antibodies in 136 patients with inflammatory bowel disease compared with 136 healthy controls and analyzed thromboembolic complications in patients with increased anti-cardiolipin antibody levels.

Mycophenolate mofetil in patients with Crohn's disease.

Objective: Intolerance to azathioprine is a rare but important problem in treating chronically active Crohn's disease. We performed this study to evaluate mycophenolate mofetil as an alternative immunosuppressive therapy for patients with Crohn's disease who did not tolerate azathioprine.

Methods: Four patients with highly active perianal Crohn's disease and two patients with chronically active, steroid-dependent Crohn's disease were included.