Evaluation of the transition from intravenous to subcutaneous vedolizumab in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Aims: The aim of the study is to evaluate the clinical and biochemical response of inflammatory bowel disease patients treated with vedolizumab, 16 weeks after transitioning from intravenous (iv) to subcutaneous (sc).

Methods: An observational, prospective, single-center cohort study was performed. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease and maintenance treatment with vedolizumab, stable for at least 4 months, were offered to switch to sc formulation.

Intensification with Intravenous Ustekinumab in Refractory Crohn's Disease.

Background: The rates of clinical and biochemical responses in Crohn's disease (CD) patients treated with intravenous (IV) ustekinumab (UST) intensification are scarcely described.

Methods: Patients with diagnosis of CD who were under intensified IV ustekinumab treatment (130 mg every 4 weeks) were retrospectively included, evaluating the clinical and biochemical response 12 weeks after the change in treatment regimen (switch from SC to IV), as well as the serum levels of the drug.

Results: Twenty-seven patients, all of whom had transitioned to intensified intravenous ustekinumab treatment due to a secondary loss of response to the drug, were included in the retrospective analysis.

Urgent endoscopy versus early endoscopy: Does urgent endoscopy play a role in acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding?

Introduction: The main clinical practice guidelines recommend endoscopy within 24hours after admission to the Emergency Department in patients with non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding. However, it is a wide time frame and the role of urgent endoscopy (<6hours) is controversial.

Material And Methods: Prospective observational study carried out at La Paz University Hospital, where all patients were selected, from January 1, 2015 to April 30, 2020, who attended the Emergency Room and underwent endoscopy for suspected upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Serologic response to COVID-19 vaccines in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a prospective study.

Background And Aims: response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine can be altered in patients with immune-mediated diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, and in patients under immunosuppressive treatment. The aims of this study were to evaluate the serologic response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, to analyze the influence of immunosuppressive drugs on response, and to describe any adverse events in this population.

Methods: this was a prospective study that included adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Randomized clinical trial evaluating three low-volume preparations for colonoscopy in outpatients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: the EII-PREP trial.

Background: Data regarding bowel preparation in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are scarce.

Aim: To compare efficacy, safety, and tolerability of low-volume preparations in patients with IBD.

Methods: Single-center, randomized, prescriber, and colonoscopist-blinded clinical trial.

Effectiveness of ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of ileitis detected by computed tomography.

CASE REPORT A 86-year-old man with a recent history of stent placement for infrarenal aortic aneurysm arrives to the emergency department with abdominal pain. Computed tomography (CT) is performed to rule out complications of the endovascular procedure. The CT showed a loop of ileum with decreased caliber, fat trabeculation and hypervascularity causing proximal dilatation.

Correlation between endoscopy and intestinal ultrasound for the evaluation of postoperative recurrence of Crohn's disease.

Objective: Intestinal ultrasound is considered to be a valid alternative for the evaluation of post-operative recurrence (POR) of Crohn's disease. The aim of this study is to assess the correlation between ultrasound and endoscopic findings.

Methods: Patients with Crohn's disease were retrospectively recruited who had undergone ileocecal resection, and for whom a colonoscopy and intestinal ultrasound had been performed for the detection of POR.

Recommendations of the Spanish Working Group on Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (GETECCU) on the use of abdominal ultrasound in inflammatory bowel disease.

Ultrasound has an excellent diagnostic performance when Crohn's disease is suspected, when performing an activity assessment, or determining the extension and location of Crohn's disease, very similar to other examinations such as MRI or CT. It has a good correlation with endoscopic lesions and allows the detection of complications such as strictures, fistulas or abscesses. It complements colonoscopy in the diagnosis and, given its tolerance, cost and immediacy, it can be considered as a good tool for disease monitoring.

Optimization of azathioprine dose in combined treatment with anti-TNF-alpha in inflammatory bowel disease.

Introduction: The dose of thiopurine drugs in combined treatments with anti-TNF in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not been clearly established. The purpose of this study is to assess whether the dose of azathioprine influences clinical and biochemical response/remission rates, and anti-TNF drug levels/antibody formation.

Material And Methods: Patients with IBD on combined maintenance treatment with azathioprine and infliximab or adalimumab were selected.

Prognostic value of ultrasound activity and parietal healing in patients with Crohn's disease.

Introduction: the "treat to target" strategy for the management of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) requires simple, reliable and non-invasive tools for continuous monitoring of the disease. Intestinal ultrasound has been proposed as an emerging technique that could be very useful in this field.

Material And Methods: patients who had undergone an intestinal ultrasound in the clinical practice between February 2013 and October 2018 at our hospital were retrospectively included.

Is the degree of i2a recurrence in Crohn's disease secondary to ischemic phenomena?

Introduction: the Rutgeerts score is used to assess post-surgical recurrence of Crohn's disease (CD). The score initially consisted of four grades, with a subsequent sub-classification of grade 2, under which ulcers confined to the anastomosis (i2a) are considered to be of a probable ischemic origin. The aim of this study was to assess whether ulcers confined to the anastomosis appear at the same frequency in patients undergoing surgery for other causes and can therefore be attributed to post-surgical changes.

Doppler Activity and Ultrasonographic Detection of Intra-Abdominal Fistulas Are Predictors of Surgery in Crohn's Disease.

Unlabelled: Bakground and Aim: Predictors of the need for surgery in sticturing Crohn's disease (SCD) are lacking. Bowel ultrasound (US) is a harmless, noninvasive, and inexpensive diagnostic procedure that has proven to be a valuable tool in the management of Crohn's disease (CD). Our aim was to identify ultrasonographic findings in SCD that may associate with a higher risk of surgery, allowing us to make early choices regarding treatment election in this specific group of patients.

Early treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor agents improves long-term effectiveness in symptomatic stricturing Crohn's disease.

Background: There is limited evidence on the effectiveness of biological therapy in stricturing complications in patients with Crohn's disease.

Aim: The study aims to determine the effectiveness of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents in Crohn's disease complicated with symptomatic strictures.

Methods: In this multicentric and retrospective study, we included adult patients with symptomatic stricturing Crohn's disease receiving their first anti-TNF therapy, with no previous history of biological, endoscopic or surgical therapy.

Management of COVID-19 Pandemic in Spanish Inflammatory Bowel Disease Units: Results From a National Survey.

Background: The outbreak of COVID-19 has rapidly evolved into a pandemic that has represented a challenge to health systems worldwide. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) units have been forced to change their practices to address the disease and to ensure the quality of care.

Methods: We conducted a national survey among IBD gastroenterologist members of the Spanish Working Group on Crohn's Disease and Colitis regarding changes of practice, IBD treatments, and diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19.

Ultrasound findings in an abdominal crisis of a patient with hereditary angioedema.

ereditary Angioedema (HAE) is a rare autosomal-dominant disease caused by serum C1 inhibitor deficiency. This deficiency leads to an up-regulation of complement, activating the bradykinin pathway and causing vascular permeability and subsequent mucosal edema. Abdominal angioedema is a less recognized type of angioedema and the clinical signs may range from subtle, diffuse abdominal pain and nausea, to overt peritonitis.

The use of serum calprotectin as a biomarker for inflammatory activity in inflammatory bowel disease.

Introduction: simple, reliable and non-invasive biomarkers are needed to enable the early detection of inflammatory activity for the correct management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). One of these biomarkers may be serum calprotectin (SC).

Material And Methods: a prospective study was performed of patients with IBD due to undergo a colonoscopy as part of the common clinical practice.

Chilaiditi syndrome complicated by a sigmoid volvulus and hepatic displacement.

Chilaiditi's sign is an anatomical alteration consisting of the transposition of the small intestine or colon between the liver and diaphragm that is asymptomatic and is usually an accidental radiological finding. The onset of Chilaiditi syndrome is accompanied by clinical symptoms and is even rarer. Moreover, the combination of sigmoid volvulus and Chilaiditi syndrome is extremely rare, with only 17 previous published cases, one of which occurred in a female patient.

Multiseptate gallbladder: a rare ultrasonographic finding.

Multiseptate gallbladder is a congenital abnormality categorized as a gallbladder shape variant with some 20 cases reported thus far in the literature. Clinical presentation may be highly variable, ranging from asymptomatic to chronic pain in the right upper quadrant, cholecystitis, and even pancreatitis. It may be associated with other bile duct abnormalities such as choledochal cyst, ectopic gallbladder or anomalous biliopancreatic junction.

Utility of abdominal ultrasonography in the diagnosis and monitoring of inflammatory bowel disease.

Abdominal ultrasonography has been undervalued for years as technique used in examining the gastrointestinal tract. However, thanks to the technological advances that have been seen inultrasonography probes and the use of high frequency equipment, we are able to obtain high quality images of the intestinal wall.Moreover, due to the increased sensitivity of the colour Doppler, we can detect the parietal vascularization.