Integrating the Patient Perspective to Validate a Measure of Disease Severity in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Online Survey of Patients and Their Physicians.

Background: The patient perspective is essential for assessing disease severity, but it is not always adequately considered. We describe how a comprehensive clinical disease severity index (DSI) for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) correlates with patient global self-assessment (PGSA).

Methods: In an individually linked parallel online survey, physicians provided the DSI, and patients provided self-assessed severity using a global question and visual analog scale (0-100) (PGSA).

Prospective Evaluation of the Prediction Score for a Mild Course of Crohn's Disease (PreMiCC) in Newly Diagnosed Patients With Crohn's Disease: The PROGNOS Study.

Background And Aims: The course of Crohn's disease (CD) is highly variable. The Prospektive Evaluation eines Score zur Vorhersage eines milden Verlaufsbei neu diagnostizierten Morbus Crohn-Patienten in gastroenterologischen Fachpraxen (PROGNOS) study aimed to determine the frequency of a mild disease course and validate a proposed prediction score.

Methods: The PROGNOS study is a prospective study of CD patients who were newly diagnosed and, except for 1 course of 5-aminosalicylic acid or steroids for ≤10 days, therapy-naïve.

Prevalence of abnormal Pap smear results in inflammatory bowel disease: a prospective study.

Purpose: Development of malignancy is a pending threat for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Aim of this study was to analyze cervical dysplasia and infection with human papilloma virus (HPV) in patients with IBD.

Methods: This was a prospective, single center cohort study in Germany.

Perianal Fistula-Associated Carcinoma in Crohn's Disease: A Multicentre Retrospective Case Control Study.

Background And Aims: Carcinoma associated with perianal fistula in Crohn's disease is a pending threat for patients. This study aimed to improve understanding and facilitate development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted at four German hospitals.

Novel Leucocyte/Thrombocyte Apheresis for Induction of Steroid-Free Remission in Ulcerative Colitis: A Controlled Randomized Pilot Study.

Background And Aims: In active ulcerative colitis [UC] refractory to mesalazine, escalation to either steroids or immunosuppression is common practice. The efficacy and safety of alternative escalation therapy with a novel leukocyte apheresis device were studied.

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, controlled multicentre pilot study comparing leukocyte apheresis with prednisolone in refractory UC (disease activity index [DAI] ≥ 4 and ≤8).

Promises and Dangers of Combination Therapy.

The efficiency of the existing methods of treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is limited. There are 2 ways to address this problem - either create new treatment modalities or optimize current therapies. Optimisation may be accomplished by using combinations of established therapeutic strategies.

Granulocyte/Monocyte Adsorptive Apheresis in Moderate to Severe Ulcerative Colitis--Effective or Not?

Background And Aims: Adsorptive granulocyte/monocyte apheresis (GMA) has shown promising efficacy in the treatment of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). But a sham-controlled study was negative. A post-hoc analysis of this trial may haul out patients responding to GMA.

The effect of body weight on the severity and clinical course of ulcerative colitis.

Purpose: Obesity is a risk factor for inflammatory diseases such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, pancreatitis, and Crohn's disease. The effect of being overweight or obese on the severity and clinical course of ulcerative colitis (UC) was assessed in a retrospective analysis of data from 2000-2006.

Methods: Two hundred and two consecutive UC patients were categorized according to body mass index (BMI).

Appendicitis/diverticulitis: diagnostics and conservative treatment.

Appendicitis and diverticulitis are very common entities that show some similarities in diagnosis and course of disease. Both are widely believed to be simple clinical diagnoses, which is in contrast to scientific evidence. An accurate diagnosis has to describe not only the initial detection, but particularly the severity of the disease.

The effect of third-party reporting on adoption of evidence-based mesalazine regimens in ulcerative colitis: an observational study.

Background And Aims: The optimal mesalazine dosing strategy for ulcerative colitis (UC) continues to evolve. The current study aimed to explore whether documenting drug use could prompt changes in prescribing habits.

Methods: In a multicenter, prospective, observational study, outpatients with active or quiescent UC were enrolled if they were receiving, or were planned to receive, sustained release mesalazine microgranules (Pentasa).

Open label trial of granulocyte apheresis suggests therapeutic efficacy in chronically active steroid refractory ulcerative colitis.

Aim: To study the efficacy, safety, and feasibility of a granulocyte adsorptive type apheresis system for the treatment of patients with chronically active ulcerative colitis despite standard therapy.

Methods: An open label multicenter study was carried out in 39 patients with active ulcerative colitis (CAI 6-8) despite continuous use of steroids (a minimum total dose of 400 mg prednisone within the last 4 wk). Patients received a total of five aphereses using a granulocyte adsorptive technique (Adacolumn (reg), Otsuka Pharmaceutical Europe, UK).