The Prevalence of Celiac Disease in a Fracture Liaison Service Population.

Celiac disease (CD) is a known risk factor for osteoporosis and fractures. The prevalence of CD in patients with a recent fracture is unknown. We therefore systematically screened patients at a fracture liaison service (FLS) to study the prevalence of CD.

Higher quality of life after metal stent placement compared with plastic stent placement for malignant extrahepatic bile duct obstruction: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: For palliation of extrahepatic bile duct obstruction, self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) are superior to plastic stents in terms of stent patency and occurrence of stent dysfunction. We assessed health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after stent placement to investigate whether this also results in a difference in HRQoL between patients treated with a plastic stent or SEMS.

Patients And Methods: This randomized multicenter trial included 219 patients who were randomized to receive plastic stent (n=73) or SEMS [uncovered (n=75) and covered (n=71); n=146] placement.

Cost Efficacy of Metal Stents for Palliation of Extrahepatic Bile Duct Obstruction in a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background & Aims: Endoscopic stents are placed for palliation of extrahepatic bile duct obstruction. Although self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) remain patent longer than plastic stents, they are more expensive. We aimed to evaluate which type of stent (plastic, uncovered SEMS [uSEMS], or partially covered SEMS [pcSEMS]) is the most effective and we assessed costs.

Benefits of a well-structured diagnostic process in colon cancer.

Introduction: Preoperative work-up in colorectal cancer is comprehensive and can be time consuming. In our institution, the preoperative track for colorectal patients was reorganized in order to reduce the therapeutic delay and the number of outpatient clinic visits. We assessed the impact upon the patient outcomes.

Appropriateness of early management of newly diagnosed Crohn's disease in a European population-based cohort.

Objective: The European Panel on the Appropriateness of Crohn's disease Therapy (EPACT) has developed appropriateness criteria. We have applied these criteria retrospectively to the population-based inception cohort of Crohn's disease (CD) patients of the European Collaborative Study Group on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (EC-IBD).

Material And Methods: A total of 426 diagnosed CD patients from 13 European centers were enrolled at the time of diagnosis (first flare, naive patients).

Inflammatory Bowel Disease in South Limburg (the Netherlands) 1991-2002: Incidence, diagnostic delay, and seasonal variations in onset of symptoms.

Background And Aims: Increasing incidence in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) has been suggested. Recent data on population based incidence rates within Europe are however scarce. Primary aim was to investigate prospectively the incidence of IBD within a well-defined geographical and administrative area of the Netherlands, the South Limburg IBD registry.

Serological markers are associated with disease course in ulcerative colitis. A study in an unselected population-based cohort followed for 10 years.

Objectives: Perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (p-ANCA) and anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody (ASCA) have been proposed as markers for diagnosis and for subtyping of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to investigate the association of p-ANCA and ASCA with a 10-year disease outcome in terms of cumulative rate of colectomy and relapse in a population-based European inception cohort of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients.

Methods: Serum samples from 432 consenting patients were analysed for p-ANCA and ASCA.

Treatment inferred disease severity in Crohn's disease: evidence for a European gradient of disease course.

Objective: Geographic differences in disease course of Crohn's disease (CD) might possibly be related to differences in genetic and environmental factors encountered in different parts of the world. The aim of this study was to assess differences in treatment regimens within a European cohort of CD patients as a reflection of disease course, and to identify associated phenotypic risk factors at diagnosis.

Material And Methods: A prospective European population-based inception cohort of 380 CD patients was studied.

Low colectomy rates in ulcerative colitis in an unselected European cohort followed for 10 years.

Background & Aims: The colectomy rate in ulcerative colitis (UC) is related to morbidity and to treatment decisions made during disease course. The aims of this study were to determine the colectomy risk in UC in the first decade after diagnosis and to identify factors that may influence the choice of surgical treatment.

Methods: In 1991-1993, 781 UC patients from 9 centers located in 7 countries in northern and southern Europe and in Israel were included in a prospective inception cohort study.

Disease outcome of inflammatory bowel disease patients: general outline of a Europe-wide population-based 10-year clinical follow-up study.

Objective: To give a general outline of a 10-year clinical follow-up study of a population-based European cohort of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients and to present the first results in terms of clinical outcome parameters and risk factors.

Materials And Methods: A population-based cohort of newly, prospectively, diagnosed cases was initiated between 1991 and 1993. The 2201 patients with IBD (706 had Crohn's disease (CD), 1379 had ulcerative colitis (UC) and 116 had indeterminate colitis) originated from 20 different areas in 11 different European countries and Israel.

Internet-based data inclusion in a population-based European collaborative follow-up study of inflammatory bowel disease patients: description of methods used and analysis of factors influencing response rates.

Aim: To describe an Internet-based data acquisition facility for a European 10-year clinical follow-up study project of a population-based cohort of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients and to investigate the influence of demographic and disease related patient characteristics on response rates.

Methods: Thirteen years ago, the European Collaborative study group of IBD (EC-IBD) initiated a population-based prospective inception cohort of 2 201 uniformly diagnosed IBD patients within 20 well-described geographical areas in 11 European countries and Israel. For the 10-year follow-up of this cohort, an electronic patient questionnaire (ePQ) and electronic physician per patient follow-up form (ePpPFU) were designed as two separate data collecting instruments and made available through an Internet-based website.