Combined features of low phospholipid-associated cholelithiasis and progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis 3.

Adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette, subfamily B, member 4 (ABCB4) gene alterations can cause two distinct clinical entities: progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 3 (PFIC3) and low phospholipid-associated cholelithiasis (LPAC). Based on the findings in two siblings and a review of the literature, we aimed to identify determinants of disease phenotypic traits associated with ABCB4 gene alterations. Two siblings presented, before the age of 30 years, recurrent symptomatic cholelithiasis and extensive biliary fibrosis that progressed towards portal hypertension and liver failure necessitating liver transplantation.

Diminution of Circulating CD4+CD25 high T cells in naïve Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease is considered to be caused either by an excess of T-cell effector functions and/or by a defective regulatory T-cell compartment. The aim of this study was to assess in Crohn's disease the frequency of circulating CD4(+)CD25(high) T cells that possess regulatory T-cell functions and CD4(+)CD25(low) T cells that contain activated T cells. Flow cytometry of peripheral blood was used to assess CD4(+)CD25(high) and CD4(+)CD25(low) T-cell frequencies in a cohort of 66 patients with Crohn's disease in comparison to 19 patients with ulcerative colitis and 31 healthy individuals enrolled as controls.

Diagnostic value of C-reactive protein for predicting activity level of Crohn's disease.

Background And Aims: Measuring Crohn's disease (CD) activity is useful in clinical trials as well as in clinical practice, but each available instrument to measure such activity has some limitations. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a sensitive marker for inflammation and tissue injury. The aims of the study were: to assess the diagnostic value of low level of CRP for predicting a low CD activity, and to calculate optimal CRP cutoff value for selecting patients with moderate or high CD activity.

Prolonged cholestasis associated with short-term use of celecoxib.

Drug-induced liver injury due to celecoxib, a first generation Cox-2 inhibitor, has been rarely reported. We describe one case of severe and prolonged cholestasis after treatment with celecoxib for 12 days in a young woman with no evidence of other causes of liver disease or allergy. Jaundice lasted for 3 months, pruritus and abnormal liver biochemistry persisted for 18 months after stopping the drug.

Circulating cell-derived microparticles in Crohn's disease.

Procoagulant membrane microparticles can be released from activated or apoptotic cells in response to various environmental stimuli. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of microparticles in Crohn's disease and to assess their variations after infliximab therapy. We compared the levels of circulating microparticles in 38 patients with Crohn's disease, 16 patients with ulcerative colitis, 7 patients with infectious colitis, and 17 control subjects.