Genetic factors conferring an increased susceptibility to develop Crohn's disease also influence disease phenotype: results from the IBDchip European Project.

Objective: Through genome-wide association scans and meta-analyses thereof, over 70 genetic loci (Crohn's disease (CD) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)) are significantly associated with CD. We aimed to investigate the influence of CD-SNPs and basic patient characteristics on CD clinical course, and develop statistical models to predict CD clinical course.

Design: This retrospective study included 1528 patients with CD with more than 10 years of follow-up from eight European referral hospitals.

Genetic analysis in a Dutch study sample identifies more ulcerative colitis susceptibility loci and shows their additive role in disease risk.

Objectives: Genetic susceptibility is known to make a major contribution to the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). Recently, three studies, including a genome-wide association study (GWAS), reported novel UC risk loci.

Methods: The top-20 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the first UC-GWAS were genotyped, as part of the study's replication phase, in 561 UC cases and 728 controls from our Dutch UC study sample.

CARD15 mutations in Dutch familial and sporadic inflammatory bowel disease and an overview of European studies.

Objectives: The single nucleotide variations R702W, G908R and L1007fs in the CARD15 gene have been found to be independently associated with Crohn's disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of these gene variations in Dutch multiple inflammatory bowel disease-affected families, in sporadic inflammatory bowel disease patients and in healthy controls.

Methods: Dutch Caucasians from multiple inflammatory bowel disease-affected families were recruited, including 78 probands with Crohn's disease, 34 probands with ulcerative colitis and 71 inflammatory bowel disease-affected and 100 non-affected family members.