IBD Serology and Disease Outcomes in African Americans With Crohn's Disease.

Backgrounds: Recent studies have identified the role of serologic markers in characterizing disease phenotype, location, complications, and severity among Northern Europeans (NE) with Crohn's disease (CD). However, very little is known about the role of serology in CD among African Americans (AA). Our study explored the relationship between serology and disease phenotype in AA with CD, while controlling for genetic ancestry.

Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies African-Specific Susceptibility Loci in African Americans With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background & Aims: The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) cause significant morbidity and are increasing in prevalence among all populations, including African Americans. More than 200 susceptibility loci have been identified in populations of predominantly European ancestry, but few loci have been associated with IBD in other ethnicities.

Methods: We performed 2 high-density, genome-wide scans comprising 2345 cases of African Americans with IBD (1646 with CD, 583 with UC, and 116 inflammatory bowel disease unclassified) and 5002 individuals without IBD (controls, identified from the Health Retirement Study and Kaiser Permanente database).

Characterization of genetic loci that affect susceptibility to inflammatory bowel diseases in African Americans.

Background & Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has familial aggregation in African Americans (AAs), but little is known about the molecular genetic susceptibility. Mapping studies using the Immunochip genotyping array expand the number of susceptibility loci for IBD in Caucasians to 163, but the contribution of the 163 loci and European admixture to IBD risk in AAs is unclear. We performed a genetic mapping study using the Immunochip to determine whether IBD susceptibility loci in Caucasians also affect risk in AAs and identify new associated loci.

High- and low-dose oral delayed-release mesalamine in children with mild-to-moderately active ulcerative colitis.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the safety and efficacy of high- and low-dose oral, delayed-release mesalamine in a randomized, double-blind, active control study of children with mild-to-moderately active ulcerative colitis.

Methods: Patients ages 5 to 17 years, with a Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (PUCAI) score of ≥ 10 to ≤ 55 and a truncated Mayo Score of ≥ 1 for both rectal bleeding and stool frequency, were enrolled. They received body weight-dependent doses of oral, delayed-release mesalamine for 6 weeks in a low- (27-71 mg · g(-1) · day(-1)) or high-dose group (53-118 mg · g(-1) · day(-1)).

A randomized controlled trial of growth hormone in active pediatric Crohn disease.

Objectives: Growth hormone (GH) may reduce symptoms and improve growth in Crohn disease (CD). The effect on mucosal inflammation is not known. We hypothesized that GH would improve both clinical and mucosal disease activity and stimulate linear growth in pediatric CD.