Emerging therapeutic options in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease that requires chronic treatment throughout the evolution of the disease, with a complex physiopathology that entails great challenges for the development of new and specific treatments for ulcerative colitis and Crohn´s disease. The anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha therapy has impacted the clinical course of IBD in those patients who do not respond to conventional treatment, so there is a need to develop new therapies and markers of treatment response. Various pathways involved in the development of the disease are known and the new therapies have focused on blocking the inflammatory process at the gastrointestinal level by oral, intravenous, subcutaneous, and topical route. All these new therapies can lead to more personalized treatments with higher success rates and fewer relapses. These treatments have not only focused on clinical remission, but also on achieving macroscopic changes at the endoscopic level and microscopic changes by achieving mucosal healing. These treatments are mainly based on modifying signaling pathways, by blocking receptors or ligands, reducing cell migration and maintaining the integrity of the epithelial barrier. Therefore, this review presents the efficacy and safety of the new treatments that are currently under study and the advances that have been made in this area in recent years.     

Hirschsprung-associated inflammatory bowel disease: A multicenter study from the APSA Hirschsprung disease interest group

Background/PurposeA small number of Hirschsprung disease (HD) patients develop inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-like symptoms after pullthrough surgery. The etiology and pathophysiology of Hirschsprung-associated IBD (HD-IBD) remains unknown. This study aims to further characterize HD-IBD, to identify potential risk factors and to evaluate response to treatment in a large group of patients.MethodsRetrospective study of patients diagnosed with IBD after pullthrough surgery between 2000 and 2021 at 17 institutions. Data regarding clinical presentation and course of HD and IBD were reviewed. Effectiveness of medical therapy for IBD was recorded using a Likert scale.ResultsThere were 55 patients (78% male). 50% (n = 28) had long segment disease. Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC) was reported in 68% (n = 36). Ten patients (18%) had Trisomy 21. IBD was diagnosed after age 5 in 63% (n = 34). IBD presentation consisted of colonic or small bowel inflammation resembling IBD in 69% (n = 38), unexplained or persistent fistula in 18% (n = 10) and unexplained HAEC >5 years old or unresponsive to standard treatment in 13% (n = 7). Biological agents were the most effective (80%) medications. A third of patients required a surgical procedure for IBD.ConclusionMore than half of the patients were diagnosed with HD-IBD after 5 years old. Long segment disease, HAEC after pull through operation and trisomy 21 may represent risk factors for this condition. Investigation for possible IBD should be considered in children with unexplained fistulae, HAEC beyond the age of 5 or unresponsive to standard therapy, and symptoms suggestive of IBD. Biological agents were the most effective medical treatment.Level of EvidenceLevel 4     

翁连解毒汤治疗浊毒内蕴型溃疡性结肠炎的疗效观察

目的：探究翁连解毒汤治疗浊毒内蕴型溃疡性结肠炎（Ulcerative Colitis，UC）临床疗效及可能的作用机制。方法：选取2016年2月至2018年12月在攀枝花学院附属医院收治的浊毒内蕴型UC患者130例作为研究对象，按照入院先后顺序分为对照组和观察组，每组65例。对照组常规西医治疗，观察组加用翁连解毒汤，观察2组治疗前、完成治疗后T细胞、NK细胞、炎性反应因子、凝血功能、生命质量变化，完成治疗后总结疗效。结果：观察组患者在NK细胞、T淋巴细胞组成、CR、TNF-α、IL-1 β、ESR、内毒素、IL-10、FIB、PLT、APTT改善方面的效果较对照组更优，组间差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。观察组患者完成治疗后的生命质量量表各维度评分及总评分改善效果优于对照组患者（P<0.05），且临床总有效率和组织病理学疗效率均高于对照组患者（P<0.05）。结论：翁连解毒汤能抑制浊毒内蕴型UC炎性反应，改善高凝状态，提高机体免疫功能，从而提高疗效和生命质量。     

Diet and nutrition against inflammatory bowel disease: Trick or treat(ment)?

Even if the relationships between nutrition and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remain underexplored, the current literature is providing, day by day, much more evidence on the effects of various diets in both prevention and treatment of such illnesses. Wrong dietary habits, together with other environmental factors such as pollution, breastfeeding, smoke, and/or antibiotics, are among the theoretical pathogenetic causes of IBD, whose multifactorial aetiology has been already confirmed. While some of these risk factors are potentially reversible, some others cannot be avoided, and efficient treatments become necessary to prevent IBD spread or recurrence. Furthermore, the drugs currently available for treatment of such disease provide low-to-no effect against the symptoms, making the illnesses still strongly disabling. Whether nutrition and specific diets will prove to effectively interrupt the course of IBD has still to be clarified and, in this sense, further research concerning the applications of such dietary interventions is still needed.     

Magnesium lithospermate B acts against dextran sodiumsulfate-induced ulcerative colitis by inhibiting activation of the NRLP3/ASC/Caspase-1 pathway

This study aimed to observe the therapeutic effects of magnesium lithospermate B on acute and chronic colitis induced by dextran sodiumsulfate (DSS) and the role of inflammasome complex (NOD-like receptor protein, NLRP; apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing, ASC; caspase-1). Establishment of acute and chronic colitis models were by using 5% DSS oral administration in BALB/C male mice. Magnesium lithospermate B (240 mg/kg body weight) was given by subcutaneous injection. Samples were collected for biomarker assay, histological examination, immunohistochemical evaluation and western blot. There was obvious increase in TNF-α level and NLPR3, ASC, and caspase-1 expressions in acute and chronic colitis groups compared with the normal control. Significant decrease of the tumor necrosis factor-α level and the expressions of NLPR3, ASC, and caspase-1 were observed after treatment with magnesium lithospermate B. This study showed that magnesium lithospermate B could be used to treat acute and chronic colitis by inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 pathway.     

肠炎清合剂治疗慢性复发型溃疡性结肠炎大肠湿热证的临床观察

目的:观察肠炎清合剂对慢性复发型溃疡性结肠炎(UC)大肠湿热证患者诱导缓解效果及维持治疗对复发的影响,并从神经-内分泌-免疫炎症网络方面探讨了其作用机制。方法:将112例符合要求的患者随机分成对照组55例和观察组57例。对照组内服美沙拉嗪肠溶片,1.0 g/次,4次/d;Mayo评分系统≥7分者,加服醋酸泼尼松片,0.75 mg·kg^-1·d^-1;加用双歧杆菌活菌散剂,1包/次,2次/d,餐后温水冲服。观察组在对照组治疗的基础上服用肠炎清合剂,1包/次,分早晚2次服用。两组疗程均为连续治疗6周,再每周门诊复诊1次。进入缓解期后,两组患者均给予美沙拉嗪肠溶片,0.5 g/次,3次/d,维持治疗;观察组仍内服肠炎清合剂内服,至大肠湿热证评分减少≥90%以上。记录进入6周内缓解期的人数和缓解时间;进行治疗前后结肠镜检查,并进行Geboes指数和Baron法评价;进行治疗前后大肠湿热证评分和Mayo评分;检测治疗前后外周血白细胞介素-6(IL-6),IL-8,IL^-10,IL^-17,血管活性肠肽(VIP),胃动素(MTL)和神经肽Y(NPY);随访24周,记录复发情况。结果:经6周治疗后,观察组临床有效率为100%,黏膜愈合率为96.4%,均分别高于对照组的89.09%和81.82%(P<0.05),两组患者内镜应答率均为100%;经6周治疗后,观察组临床缓解率为91.23%,高于对照组的76.36%(χ2=4.581,P<0.05),观察组平均缓解时间短于对照组(P<0.01);治疗后观察组结肠黏膜评分,Geboes指数、大肠湿热证评分和Mayo评分均低于对照组(P<0.01);观察组患者外周血IL-6,IL-8和IL^-17水平均低于对照组(P<0.01),IL^-10水平高于对照组(P<0.01);观察组患者外周血VIP,MTL水平均低对照组(P<0.01),NPY水平高于对照组(P<0.01);观察组复发率为17.54%,低于对照组的38.18%(χ2=5.955,P<0.05);观察组平均复发时间长于对照组(P<0.01)。结论:在常规西医治疗的基础上,肠炎清合剂用于慢性复发型UC大肠湿热证的治疗,可诱导病情缓解,缩短病程,并能降低复发率,推迟复发时间,并对神经-内分泌-免疫炎症网络具有调节作用,从而可改善病情。     

The management of emergency hospital visits for inflammatory bowel diseases: A French national expert consensus report

BackgroundManagement of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in the emergency department is often suboptimal.AimsTo develop a national consensus checklist of indicators to facilitate decision-making in emergency departments concerning hospitalisation and referral for abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT).MethodsA Delphi survey was used to obtain consensus on a checklist of clinical and biological variables. 119 healthcare professionals experienced in treating IBD were invited to participate. Panellists were provided with a literature survey and invited to agree or disagree with items on a prototype checklist. Two successive rounds of voting were organised.ResultsThe prototype checklist included fifteen clinical or laboratory indicators for hospitalisation or CT. Four indicators were not retained in the Delphi process and four additional indicators added. The final indicators retained were: abdominal signs/symptoms of disease exacerbation, intravenous morphine titration, fever, vomiting, dehydration, recent intestinal surgery, ano-perineal abscess, bowel obstruction, haemodynamic instability, anaemia, acute kidney failure and elevated C-reactive protein. Consensus for the retained indicators was >88%.ConclusionsUse of this consensus checklist for the management of IBD in the emergency department may help improve standards of care and thus reduce the burden of these diseases.     

溃疡性结肠炎32例手术治疗分析

目的探讨溃疡性结肠炎(UC)手术治疗的指征、时机、方式及转归。方法回顾性分析32例接受手术治疗的UC患者的住院病历资料,记录患者的临床表现、诊疗过程、手术方式及转归,并对患者术后情况进行随访。结果 71.9%(23/32)手术病例为重型UC;初发型占21.9%(7/32),慢性复发型78.1%(25/32);广泛结肠病变占93.8%(30/32),其中全结肠受累占81.3%(26/32)。手术原因:药物治疗不能达到或维持缓解26例(81.3%);UC相关结直肠癌(UC-CRC)/上皮内瘤变(IEN)5例(15.6%);并发肠穿孔1例(3.1%)。手术方式:全结直肠切除、回肠储袋肛管吻合术(IPAA)19例(59.4%),回肠永久造瘘术或长期保留造瘘口7例(21.9%),全结肠或次全结肠切除、肠吻合术6例(18.8%)。术后并发症发生率69.6%(16/23),分别为肠梗阻9例、吻合口狭窄2例、盆腔感染2例、直肠阴道瘘1例、切口疝1例、储袋炎2例、残余直肠UC复发2例。25例(78.1%)患者接受随访2个月~22年,21例UC治愈,2例因残余直肠UC复发继续药物治疗,2例因UC-CRC广泛转移死亡。结论手术是药物难治性及出现并发症UC的治疗选择,多数患者手术效果满意,术后并发症发生率较高,手术时机、术式及术后并发症的预防及随访有待进一步规范。