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OBJECTIVES:Studies evaluating the correlation between the widely used Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's disease (SES-CD) and noninvasive markers are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the SES-CD and fecal calprotectin, C-reactive protein (CRP), blood leukocytes, and the Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI).METHODS:Crohn's disease patients undergoing complete ileocolonoscopy were prospectively enrolled and scored independently according to the SES-CD and the CDAI. SES-CD was defined as follows: inactive 0–3; mild 4–10; moderate 11–19; and high ≥20.RESULTS:Values in CD patients (n=140 ileocolonoscopies) compared with controls (n=43) are as follows: calprotectin, 334±322 vs. 18±5 μg/g; CRP, 26±29 vs. 3±2 mg/l; and blood leukocytes, 9.1±3.4 vs. 5.4±1.9 g/l (all P<0.001). The SES-CD correlated closest with calprotectin (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient r=0.75), followed by CRP (r=0.53), blood leukocytes (r=0.42), and the CDAI (r=0.38). Calprotectin was the only marker that could discriminate inactive endoscopic disease from mild activity (104±138 vs. 231±244 μg/g, P<0.001), mild from moderate activity (231±244 vs. 395±256 μg/g, P=0.008), and moderate from high activity (395±256 vs. 718±320 μg/g, P<0.001). The overall accuracy for the detection of endoscopically active disease was 87% for calprotectin (cutoff 70 μg/g), 66% for elevated CRP, 54% for blood leukocytosis, and 40% for the CDAI ≥150.CONCLUSIONS:Fecal calprotectin correlated closest with SES-CD, followed by CRP, blood leukocytes, and the CDAI. Furthermore, fecal calprotectin was the only marker that reliably discriminated inactive from mild, moderate, and highly active disease, which underlines its usefulness for activity monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES:Mannan-binding lectin (MBL) acts as a pattern-recognition molecule directed against oligomannan, which is part of the cell wall of yeasts and various bacteria. We have previously shown an association between MBL deficiency and anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae mannan antibody (ASCA) positivity. This study aims at evaluating whether MBL deficiency is associated with distinct Crohn's disease (CD) phenotypes.METHODS:Serum concentrations of MBL and ASCA were measured using ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) in 427 patients with CD, 70 with ulcerative colitis, and 76 healthy controls. CD phenotypes were grouped according to the Montreal Classification as follows: non-stricturing, non-penetrating (B1, n=182), stricturing (B2, n=113), penetrating (B3, n=67), and perianal disease (p, n=65). MBL was classified as deficient (<100 ng/ml), low (100–500 ng/ml), and normal (500 ng/ml).RESULTS:Mean MBL was lower in B2 and B3 CD patients (1,503±1,358 ng/ml) compared with that in B1 phenotypes (1,909±1,392 ng/ml, P=0.013). B2 and B3 patients more frequently had low or deficient MBL and ASCA positivity compared with B1 patients (P=0.004 and P<0.001). Mean MBL was lower in ASCA-positive CD patients (1,562±1,319 ng/ml) compared with that in ASCA-negative CD patients (1,871±1,320 ng/ml, P=0.038). In multivariate logistic regression modeling, low or deficient MBL was associated significantly with B1 (negative association), complicated disease (B2+B3), and ASCA. MBL levels did not correlate with disease duration.CONCLUSIONS:Low or deficient MBL serum levels are significantly associated with complicated (stricturing and penetrating) CD phenotypes but are negatively associated with the non-stricturing, non-penetrating group. Furthermore, CD patients with low or deficient MBL are significantly more often ASCA positive, possibly reflecting delayed clearance of oligomannan-containing microorganisms by the innate immune system in the absence of MBL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES:Data on the frequency of extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) and analyses of their risk factors are scarce. We evaluated their prevalence and risk factors in a large nationwide cohort of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients.METHODS:IBD patients from an adult clinical cohort in Switzerland (Swiss IBD cohort study) were prospectively included. Data from validated physician enrolment questionnaires were analyzed.RESULTS:A total of 950 patients were included, 580 (61%) with CD (mean age 41 years) and 370 (39%) with UC (mean age 42 years). Of these, 249 (43%) of CD and 113 (31%) of UC patients had one to five EIMs. The following EIMs were found: arthritis (CD 33%, UC 21%), aphthous stomatitis (CD 10%, UC 4%), uveitis (CD 6%, UC 4%), erythema nodosum (CD 6%, UC 3%), ankylosing spondylitis (CD 6%, UC 2%), psoriasis (CD 2%, UC 1%), pyoderma gangrenosum (CD and UC each 2%), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (CD 1%, UC 4%). Multiple logistic regression identified the following risk factors for ongoing EIM in CD: active disease (odds ratio (OR)=1.95, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.17-3.23, P=0.01), and positive IBD family history (OR=1.77, 95% CI=1.07-2.92, P=0.025). No risk factors were identified in UC patients.CONCLUSIONS:EIMs are a frequent problem in CD and UC patients. Active disease and positive IBD family history are associated with ongoing EIM in CD patients. Identification of EIM prevalence and associated risk factors may result in increased awareness for this problem and thereby facilitating their diagnosis and therapeutic management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]