Upadacitinib for Induction of Remission in Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis: An International Multi‑center Study.

Background And Aims: Data on upadacitinib therapy in children with ulcerative colitis (UC) or unclassified inflammatory bowel disease (IBD-U) are scarce. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of upadacitinib as an induction therapy in pediatric UC or IBD-U.

Methods: In this multicenter retrospective study, children treated with upadacitinib for induction of remission of active UC or IBD-U from 30 centers worldwide were enrolled.

Effectiveness and Safety of Ustekinumab in Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis: A Multi-center Retrospective Study from the Pediatric IBD Porto Group of ESPGHAN.

Background And Objectives: Current data on ustekinumab therapy in children with ulcerative colitis (UC) or unclassified inflammatory bowel disease (IBDU) are limited. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ustekinumab in pediatric UC and IBDU.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included 16 centers affiliated with the IBD Interest and Porto groups of ESPGHAN.

Treatment of Active Crohn's Disease in Children Using Partial Enteral Nutrition Combined with a Modified Crohn's Disease Exclusion Diet: A Pilot Prospective Cohort Trial on Clinical and Endoscopic Outcomes.

Background: Partial enteral nutrition (PEN) coupled with the Crohn's disease (CD) exclusion diet (CDED) was shown to be effective in inducing clinical remission in paediatric CD. There are currently no robust data on the endoscopic outcomes of PEN. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and endoscopic rates of remission after PEN combined with a modified CDED (mCDED) adjusted to the local cuisine in comparison with exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) for the induction of remission.

Endoscopic Balloon Dilatation in Pediatric Crohn Disease: An IBD Porto Group Study.

Objective/background: Endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) has been shown to be effective and safe in adults with stricturing Crohn disease (CD) yet pediatric data is sparse. We aimed to assess efficacy and safety of EBD in stricturing pediatric CD.

Methods: International collaboration included 11 centers from Europe, Canada, and Israel.

Outcomes, dosing, and predictors of vedolizumab treatment in children with inflammatory bowel disease (VEDOKIDS): a prospective, multicentre cohort study.

Background: Scarce data are available on the use of vedolizumab in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to evaluate the safety, effectiveness, and dosing of vedolizumab to induce remission of IBD.

Methods: VEDOKIDS was a paediatric, multicentre, prospective cohort study done in 17 centres in six countries.

Diagnostic Value of Quantitative Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in Comparison to Endoscopy in Children With Crohn's Disease.

Objective: Quantitative contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) provides objective evaluation of bowel wall perfusion and has been reported as a useful method for evaluating Crohn's disease (CD) activity in children. We tested its' diagnostic accuracy in comparison to endoscopy and evaluated its' usefulness in comparison to Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index (PCDAI) and fecal Calprotectin (FC).

Materials And Methods: Children with CD and thickened bowel wall on abdominal US were prospectively enrolled.

Clinical Features and Outcomes of Paediatric Patients With Isolated Colonic Crohn Disease.

Objectives: Adult studies suggest that patients with isolated colonic Crohn disease (L2 CD) exhibit unique characteristics differentiating them from patients with ileo-caecal (L1) CD and ulcerative colitis (UC). We aimed to characterize clinical features and outcomes of paediatric patients with L2.

Methods: Retrospective data was collected through the Porto Inflammatory Bowel Disease group of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) on Paediatric patients with L2, L1 or UC at different time-points.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in the evaluation of Crohn disease activity in children: comparison with histopathology.

Background: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (US) of the bowel wall has been suggested as an alternative imaging modality for the follow-up of children with Crohn disease.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced US in the estimation of Crohn disease activity in children with histopathology as the reference standard.

Materials And Methods: In 24 children with Crohn disease confirmed on histopathology, disease activity was evaluated on 40 bowel segments using US score and subjective and quantitative contrast-enhanced US evaluation.

Partial enteral nutrition induces clinical and endoscopic remission in active pediatric Crohn's disease: results of a prospective cohort study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate rates of clinical remission, endoscopic remission, and mucosal healing after a 6-week treatment period with partial enteral nutrition (PEN) and to compare them to those obtained by standard exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) treatment in children with active Crohn's disease (CD). Twenty-five patients with active CD (median age 13.6 years, range 3.

Long-term Outcomes of Paediatric Patients Admitted With Acute Severe Colitis- A Multicentre Study From the Paediatric IBD Porto Group of ESPGHAN.

Background And Aim: Acute severe colitis [ASC] is associated with significant morbidity in paediatric patients with ulcerative colitis [UC]. Most outcome studies in ASC since tumour necrosis factor alpha [TNFα] antagonists became available have focused on the first year after admission. The aim of this study was to characterise the longer-term outcomes of paediatric patients admitted with ASC.

Success and safety of high infliximab trough levels in inflammatory bowel disease.

Objective: A prospective trial suggests target infliximab trough levels of 3-7 μg/mL, yet data on additional therapeutic benefits and safety of higher trough levels are scarce.

Aim: To explore whether high infliximab trough levels (≥7 μg/mL) are more effective and still safe.

Material And Methods: In this cohort study of 183 patients (109 Crohn's disease and 74 ulcerative colitis) on infliximab maintenance treatment at a tertiary referral center we correlated fecal calprotectin and C-reactive protein to trough levels (426 samples) at different time points during treatment.

Premalignant Gastric Lesions in Patients Included in National Colorectal Cancer Screening.

Background: Gastric cancer is the fifth most common malignancy in the world with almost one million new cases annually. Helicobacter pylori infection causes 89% of all gastric cancers. Premalignant lesions (atrophy and intestinal metaplasia) develop after several decades of inflammation.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound of the bowel wall with quantitative assessment of Crohn's disease activity in childhood.

Background: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has become an established non-invasive, patient-friendly imaging technique which improves the characterization of lesions. In addition, dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (DCE-US) provides valuable information concerning perfusion of examined organs. This review addresses current applications of CEUS in children, focused on DCE-US of the bowel wall in patients with Crohn disease, which enables realtime assessment of the bowel wall vascularity with semi-quantitative and quantitative assessment of disease activity and response to medical treatment.

Incidence Trends and Geographical Variability of Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Slovenia: A Nationwide Study.

Background: The aims of the study were to determine the incidence rate of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) and its trends for the period of 2002-2010 and to assess the geographical distribution of PIBD in Slovenia.

Materials And Methods: Medical records of patients (0-18 years) with newly diagnosed IBD during the study period were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: The mean incidence rate for IBD in 2002-2010 was 7.

Incidence and phenotypic characteristics of pediatric IBD in northeastern Slovenia, 2002-2010.

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to determine the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and its subgroups in children in northeastern Slovenia (NE Slovenia) during the period 2002-2010, and to assess the phenotypic characteristics at the diagnosis and during the follow-up.

Methods: A retrospective investigation was conducted on a cohort of newly diagnosed children and adolescents with IBD ages 0 to 18 years between 2002 and 2010 and residing in NE Slovenia. The phenotypic characteristics were determined at presentation and during follow-up.

Extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) predominantly affects the gastrointestinal system but it is associated with a large number of extraintestinal manifestations (EIM). These extraintestinal disorders can significantly contribute to morbidity and impair the overall life quality. EIM may be diagnosed before, concurrently with, or after the diagnosis of IBD is made.

The prevalence of celiac disease among family members of celiac disease patients.

Introduction: Celiac disease (CD) is more common in certain risk groups. Family members of known celiac patients represent the most important group. Serological screening enables us to detect patients before they develop serious complications.