Background: Esophageal manometry utilizes water swallows to evaluate esophageal motor abnormalities in patients with dysphagia, chest pain, or reflux symptoms. Although manometry is the gold standard for evaluation of these symptoms, patients with dysphagia often have normal results in manometry studies.
Aim: The objective of this work was to test the hypothesis that challenging the esophagus with viscous apple sauce boluses uncovers motor abnormalities in patients with dysphagia not seen when using water swallows.
Objective: 6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP) and azathioprine (AZA) are effective in the treatment of IBD; however, drug-induced hepatotoxicity has been reported in 10-15% of pediatric patients and has been associated with the 6-MP metabolite 6-methylmercaptopurine ribonucleotide (6-MMPR) at levels >5,700 pmol/8 x 10(8) RBC. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of 6-MP/AZA hepatotoxicity and its correlation with serum 6-MMPR levels in adult IBD patients.
Methods: Aminotransferases, bilirubin, and 6-MP metabolite levels were measured in 173 adult IBD patients treated with 6-MP or AZA from November 2002 to December 2003.
Objectives: Although infliximab is highly effective in the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD), attenuated response to infliximab may develop over time in a subgroup of patients. The aim of our study was to examine the safety and efficacy of adalimumab (D2E7), a fully humanized anti-TNF-alpha Ab, in CD patients who had experienced an attenuated response to infliximab.
Methods: Fifteen patients with active CD who experienced an attenuated response to infliximab were treated with adalimumab over a 6-month period.