Switching from VEDOlizumab intravenous to subcutaneous formulation in ulcerative colitis patients in clinical remission: The SVEDO Study, an IG-IBD study.

Background: The administration of biological drugs in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) is increasingly moving from intravenous to subcutaneous formulations.

Aims: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of vedolizumab subcutaneous administration after switching from intravenous administration in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients in corticosteroid-free clinical remission.

Methods: An observational, multicentre, prospective study was conducted by the Italian Group for the study of IBD (IG-IBD).

Safety, hesitancy of coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination and pandemic burden in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: data of a national study (ESCAPE-IBD).

Background And Aims: The purpose of this study was to present data on the safety of anti- severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination in a cohort of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients of an ongoing multicenter study (ESCAPE-IBD) sponsored by the Italian Group for the study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04769258).

Methods: Anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was administrated to 809 IBD patients.

Activities related to inflammatory bowel disease management during and after the coronavirus disease 2019 lockdown in Italy: How to maintain standards of care.

Background And Aims: Restructuring activities have been necessary during the lockdown phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Few data are available on the post-lockdown phase in terms of health-care procedures in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care, and no data are available specifically from IBD units. We aimed to investigate how IBD management was restructured during the lockdown phase, the impact of the restructuring on standards of care and how Italian IBD units have managed post-lockdown activities.

Outcomes of COVID-19 in 79 patients with IBD in Italy: an IG-IBD study.

Objectives: COVID-19 has rapidly become a major health emergency worldwide. Patients with IBD are at increased risk of infection, especially when they have active disease and are taking immunosuppressive therapy. The characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with IBD remain unclear.

Post-operative recurrence of Crohn's disease: A prospective study at 5 years.

Background: We aimed to prospectively assess whether endoscopic recurrence severity at 1 year in Crohn's disease is predictive of clinical recurrence within 5 years.

Methods: Clinical recurrence (Crohn's Disease Activity Index>150) was assessed yearly for 5 years in Crohn's disease patients undergoing ileo-colonic resection. At 1 year, recurrence was assessed by colonoscopy (Rutgeerts' score ≥i1 or ≥2i) and small intestine contrast ultrasonography.

Impact of a multidisciplinary approach in enteropathic spondyloarthritis patients.

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are chronic autoinflammatory diseases that partially share the genetic predisposition and the unchecked inflammatory response linking the gut to the joints. The coexistence of both conditions in patients and the increased cross-risk ratios between SpA and IBD strongly suggest a shared pathophysiology. The prevalence of Enteropathic-related Spondyloarthritis (ESpA) in IBD patients shows a wide variation and may be underestimated.

Psoriasis Phenotype in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Case-Control Prospective Study.

Background And Aims: Whether inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] is associated with specific psoriasis phenotypes is undefined. In a case-control prospective study, we aimed to assess the severity and phenotype of psoriasis in IBD vs matched non-IBD controls with psoriasis [non-IBD].

Methods: From 2011 to 2013, dermatological assessment was performed in all IBD patients showing lesions requiring characterisation.

Colonic phenotype of the ileum in Crohn's disease: a prospective study before and after ileocolonic resection.

Background: Colonic metaplasia has been described in pouchitis. In a prospective study, we investigated whether colonic phenotype may develop in Crohn's disease (CD) ileum. The expression of sulfomucins (colonic mucin), sialomucins, and CD10 (small intestine mucin and phenotype) was evaluated before and after ileocolonic resection for CD.

High expression of the "A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease" 19 (ADAM19), a sheddase for TNF-α in the mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) plays a major role in the tissue-damaging immune response in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). The tissue concentration of TNF-α is related to the activity of "A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease" (ADAMs), enzymes that process membrane-bound TNF-α and liberate the TNF-α trimer into the extracellular environment. Although IBD-related inflammation is associated with high ADAM17 levels, the contribution of other members of the ADAMs family is not known.

Anti-TNF-alpha treatments and obstructive symptoms in Crohn's disease: a prospective study.

Background: The development of symptomatic strictures in Crohn's Disease after anti-Tumour Necrosis Factor-α antibodies is undefined.

Aim: To assess, in a prospective longitudinal study, the frequency of sub/obstructions in Crohn's Disease patients after treatment with Infliximab or Adalimumab. Changes of small bowel lesions after these biological therapies were searched by ultrasonography.

Small intestine contrast ultrasonography vs computed tomography enteroclysis for assessing ileal Crohn's disease.

Aim: To compare computed tomography enteroclysis (CTE) vs small intestine contrast ultrasonography (SICUS) for assessing small bowel lesions in Crohn's disease (CD), when using surgical pathology as gold standard.

Methods: From January 2007 to July 2008, 15 eligible patients undergoing elective resection of the distal ileum and coecum (or right colon) were prospectively enrolled. All patients were under follow-up.

"In vitro" azathioprine-induced changes in peripheral T cell apoptosis and IFN-γ production associate with drug response in patients with Crohn's Disease.

Background And Aim: The use of the highly effective thiopurines as early therapeutic option in Crohn's Disease (CD) may be discouraged by the long time interval required to obtain clinical efficacy as also by their potential side effects. The development of non-invasive markers of responsiveness to thiopurines represents a major attempt in the clinical management of CD patients. Azathioprine is able to induce apoptosis of T cells.

Fistulizing pattern in Crohn's disease and pancolitis in ulcerative colitis are independent risk factors for cancer: a single-center cohort study.

Background & Aims: The combined role of immunomodulators (IMM) and clinical characteristics of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in determining the cancer risk is undefined. The aim was to assess whether clinical characteristics of IBD are independent risk factors for cancer, when considering thiopurines and anti-TNFs use.

Methods: In a single-center cohort study, clinical characteristics of IBD patients with IBD duration ≥1 year and ≥2 visits from 2000 to 2009 were considered.

Small bowel capsule endoscopy vs conventional techniques in patients with symptoms highly compatible with Crohn's disease.

Background & Aims: The diagnostic role of Small Bowel Capsule Endoscopy (SBCE) in Crohn's Disease (CD) is under investigation. In a prospective study we investigated the diagnostic role of SBCE in patients with symptoms highly compatible with CD and undefined diagnosis after conventional techniques.

Methods: From September 2005 to May 2009, all patients with clinically suspected CD and not conclusive diagnosis after Ileocolonoscopy (IC), Small Bowel Follow Through (SBFT) and Small Intestine Contrast Ultrasonography (SICUS) were enrolled.

Wireless capsule endoscopy and proximal small bowel lesions in Crohn's disease.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of proximal small bowel (SB) lesions detected by wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) in Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: WCE was performed in 64 patients: 32 with CD of the distal ileum, and 32 controls with iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) or diarrhea. WCE was performed using the Given SB-WCE, followed by small intestine contrast ultrasonography (SICUS).