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A Van Gossum

Publications and source records attributed to A Van Gossum.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Association between polymorphism in IgG Fc receptor IIIa coding gene and biological response to infliximab in Crohn's disease.

AIM: To test the hypothesis of an association between polymorphism in FCGR3A (the gene coding for FcgammaRIIIa, which is expressed on macrophages and natural killer cells, is involved in antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and has recently been associated with a positive response to rituximab, a recombinant immunoglobulin G1 antibody used in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas) and response to infliximab in Crohn's disease. METHODS: FCGR3A-158 polymorphism was determined using an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction assay in 200 Crohn's disease patients who had received infliximab for either refractory luminal (n = 142) or fistulizing (n = 58) Crohn's disease. Clinical and biological responses (according to C-reactive protein levels) were assessed in 200 and 145 patients, respectively. RESULTS: There were 82.9% clinical responders in V/V patients vs. 72.7% in V/F and F/F patients (N.S.). Globally, the decrease in C-reactive protein was significantly higher in V/V patients than in F carriers (P = 0.0078). A biological response was observed in 100% of V/V patients, compared with 69.8% of F carriers (P = 0.0002; relative risk, 1.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.27-1.61). In the sub-group of patients with elevated C-reactive protein before treatment, the multivariate analysis selected the use of immunosuppressive drugs and FCGR3A genotype as independent factors influencing the clinical response to infliximab (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Crohn's disease patients with FCGR3A-158 V/V genotype have a better biological and, possibly, clinical response to infliximab.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Deficient host-bacteria interactions in inflammatory bowel disease? The toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 Asp299gly polymorphism is associated with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Elicitation of an innate immune response to bacterial products is mediated through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) such as the toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the NODs. The recently characterised Asp299Gly polymorphism in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor TLR4 is associated with impaired LPS signalling and increased susceptibility to Gram negative infections. We sought to determine whether this polymorphism was associated with Crohn's disease (CD) and/or ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: Allele frequencies of the TLR4 Asp299Gly polymorphism and the three NOD2/CARD15 polymorphisms (Arg702Trp, Gly908Arg, and Leu1007fsinsC) were assessed in two independent cohorts of CD patients (cohort 1, n = 334; cohort 2, n = 114), in 163 UC patients, and in 140 controls. A transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) was then performed on 318 inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) trios. RESULTS: The allele frequency of the TLR4 Asp299Gly polymorphism was significantly higher in CD (cohort 1: 11% v 5%, odds ratio (OR) 2.31 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.28-4.17), p = 0.004; and cohort 2: 12% v 5%, OR 2.45 (95% CI 1.24-4.81), p = 0.007) and UC patients (10% v 5%, OR 2.05 (95% CI 1.07-3.93), p = 0.027) compared with the control population. A TDT on 318 IBD trios demonstrated preferential transmission of the TLR4 Asp299Gly polymorphism from heterozygous parents to affected children (T/U: 68/34, p = 0.01). Carrying polymorphisms in both TLR4 and NOD2 was associated with a genotype relative risk (RR) of 4.7 compared with a RR of 2.6 and 2.5 for TLR4 and NOD2 variants separately. CONCLUSION: We have reported on a novel association of the TLR4 Asp299Gly polymorphism with both CD and UC. This finding further supports the genetic influence of PRRs in triggering IBD.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Home enteral nutrition in adults: a European multicentre survey.

AIMS: This study was undertaken to report indications and practice of home enteral nutrition (HEN) in Europe. METHODS: A questionnaire on HEN practice was sent to 23 centres from Belgium (B), Denmark (D), France (F), Germany (G), Italy (I), Poland (P), Spain (S) and the United Kingdom (UK). This involved adult patients newly registered in HEN programme from 1 January 1998 to 31 December 1998. RESULTS: A total of 1397 patients (532 women, 865 men) were registered. The median incidence of HEN was 163 patients/million inhabitants/year (range: 62-457). Age distribution was 7.5%, 16-40 years; 37.1%, 41-65 years; 34.5%, 66-80 years and 20.9% >80 years. The chief underlying diseases were a neurological disorder (49.1%), or head and neck cancer (26.5%); the main reason for HEN was dysphagia (84.6%). A percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (58.2%) or a naso-gastric tube (29.3%) were used to infuse commercial standard or high energy diets (65.3%), or fibre diets (24.5%); infusion was cyclical (61.5%) or bolus (34.1%). Indications and feeds were quite similar throughout the different centres but some differences exist concerning the underlying disease. There was greater variation in the choice of tubes and mode of infusion. In F, G, I, S, and UK, costs of HEN are fully funded. In B, D, and P patients have to pay part or all of the charges. CONCLUSIONS: In Europe, HEN was utilised mainly in dysphagic patients with neurological disorders or cancer, using a standard feed via a PEG. However, there were important differences among the countries in the underlying diseases treated, the routes used, the mode of administration and the funding.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Effect of a protein and energy dense N-3 fatty acid enriched oral supplement on loss of weight and lean tissue in cancer cachexia: a randomised double blind trial.

AIM: N-3 fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), may possess anticachectic properties. This trial compared a protein and energy dense supplement enriched with n-3 fatty acids and antioxidants (experimental: E) with an isocaloric isonitrogenous control supplement (C) for their effects on weight, lean body mass (LBM), dietary intake, and quality of life in cachectic patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. METHODS: A total of 200 patients (95 E; 105 C) were randomised to consume two cans/day of the E or C supplement (480 ml, 620 kcal, 32 g protein +/- 2.2 g EPA) for eight weeks in a multicentre, randomised, double blind trial. RESULTS: At enrolment, patients' mean rate of weight loss was 3.3 kg/month. Intake of the supplements (E or C) was below the recommended dose (2 cans/day) and averaged 1.4 cans/day. Over eight weeks, patients in both groups stopped losing weight (delta weight E: -0.25 kg/month versus C: -0.37 kg/month; p = 0.74) and LBM (Delta LBM E: +0.27 kg/month versus C: +0.12 kg/month; p = 0.88) to an equal degree (change from baseline E and C, p<0.001). In view of evident non-compliance in both E and C groups, correlation analyses were undertaken to examine for potential dose-response relationships. E patients demonstrated significant correlations between their supplement intake and weight gain (r = 0.50, p<0.001) and increase in LBM (r = 0.33, p = 0.036). Such correlations were not statistically significant in C patients. The relationship of supplement intake with change in LBM was significantly different between E and C patients (p = 0.043). Increased plasma EPA levels in the E group were associated with weight and LBM gain (r = 0.50, p<0.001; r = 0.51, p = 0.001). Weight gain was associated with improved quality of life (p<0.01) only in the E group. CONCLUSION: Intention to treat group comparisons indicated that at the mean dose taken, enrichment with n-3 fatty acids did not provide a therapeutic advantage and that both supplements were equally effective in arresting weight loss. Post hoc dose-response analysis suggests that if taken in sufficient quantity, only the n-3 fatty acid enriched energy and protein dense supplement results in net gain of weight, lean tissue, and improved quality of life. Further trials are required to examine the potential role of n-3 enriched supplements in the treatment of cancer cachexia.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

[Endoscopic percutaneous gastrostomy].

Enteral nutrition is indicated in patients with a functional bowel who are unable to orally ingest sufficient amounts of food. Nasogastric tube feeding is commonly used, but for patients requiring long-term tube feeding, percutaneous gastrostomy must be considered. Indeed, this technique is safe and well-tolerated. The decision of placing a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy should take into account medical, nutritional, and ethical considerations.

Gastroscopy↗
PubMed2002

Serological markers for prediction of response to anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment in Crohn's disease.

OBJECTIVES: The use of monoclonal anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antibodies (infliximab, Remicade) is a new therapeutic approach for severe refractory luminal or fistulizing, Crohn's disease (CD). However, up to 30% of patients do not respond to this treatment. So far, no parameters predictive of response to anti-TNF have been identified. Our aim was to determine whether serological markers ASCA (anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies) or pANCA (perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies) could identify Crohn's patients likely to benefit from anti-TNF therapy. METHODS: Serum samples of 279 CD patients were analyzed for ASCA and pANCA before anti-TNF therapy. A blinded physician determined clinical response at week 4 (refractory luminal CD) or week 10 (fistulizing CD) after the first infusion of infliximab (5 mg/kg). RESULTS: Overall, there was no relationship between ASCA or pANCA and response to therapy. However, lower response rates were observed for patients with refractory intestinal disease carrying the pANCA+/ASCA- combination, although this lacked significance (p = 0.067). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of infliximab-treated patients, neither ASCA nor pANCA could predict response to treatment. However, the combination pANCA+/ASCA- might warrant further investigation for its value in predicting nonresponse in patients with refractory luminal disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[Crohn's disease].

The etiology of Crohn's disease remains unclear. However, a better knowledge of the immune alterations at the intestinal mucosa level allowed to improve the therapeutic management of these patients. The alternatives to the usual corticotherapy are the use of budesonide (a topical form of steroids) in the mild to moderate diseases or the use of immunomodulators molecules such as the anti-TNF antibodies (infliximab) in the severe diseases, resistant to conventional medications. In the chronic active diseases that became steroid-dependent, it is recommended to initiate immunosuppressants such as azathioprine or methotrexate. The use of these molecules requires an optimal adaptation of doses and a regular clinical and biological follow-up to prevent drug-related complications. Surgery should be reserved for treating complications.

Combined Modality Therapy↗
PubMed2002

A positive response to infliximab in Crohn disease: association with a higher systemic inflammation before treatment but not with -308 TNF gene polymorphism.

BACKGROUND: Two-thirds to three-fourths of patients with either refractory luminal or fistulizing Crohn disease respond to infliximab treatment. The ability or inability to respond seems to persist over time. Biological characteristics and/or genetic background can influence the response to treatment. The aim was to assess the value of C-reactive protein and TNF-alpha serum levels before treatment as well as the TNF -308 gene polymorphism in the prediction of response to infliximab treatment in Crohn disease. METHODS: Two-hundred-and-twenty-six Crohn disease patients treated in the setting of an expanded access programme to infliximab in Belgium were studied. There were 136 refractory luminal diseases and 90 refractory fistulizing diseases. Luminal diseases were treated with one single infusion; fistulizing diseases with three infusions at weeks 0, 2 and 6. A clinical response to treatment was defined as either a Crohn disease activity index <150 (complete) or a drop of 70 points (partial) at week 4, for luminal disease, and as either complete fistula healing (complete) or a decrease of at least 50% of the number of draining fistulas on two consecutive visits between weeks 0 and 18, for fistulizing disease. CRP and serum TNF-alpha levels were measured at week 0 before treatment and were compared between responders and non-responders. Patients were genotyped for the -308 TNF gene polymorphism, and allelic as well as genotype frequencies were compared between responders and non-responders. RESULTS: There were 73.2% responders (46.4% complete and 26.8% partial) and 26.8% non-responders. Response rates were similar in luminal and fistulizing diseases. CRP level before treatment was significantly higher in responders than in non-responders (16.8 mg/l (5-160) versus 9.6 mg/l (5-143); P = 0.02). Furthermore, response rate was significantly higher in patients with elevated CRP (>5 mg/l) than in patients with a normal CRP value (<5 mg/l) before treatment (76% versus 46%; P=0.004; OR: 0.26 (0.11-0.63)). Allelic and genotype frequencies for -308 TNF gene polymorphism were not significantly different between responders and non-responders--with the exception of a slightly higher TNF2 frequency in non-responders in luminal disease (22.1 % versus 11.6%; P = 0.04). However, this was not associated with a significant difference in genotype frequencies. CONCLUSION: A positive clinical response to infliximab was associated with a higher CRP level before treatment in our population of Crohn disease patients, but there was no relevant association with -308 TNF gene polymorphism. We therefore suggest that CRP level may help to identify better candidates for infliximab treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[The medical gastroenterology department].

The present paper summarizes the various themes of research which have been developed in the department of medical gastroenterology since it was created in 1977. These include: in pancreatology, the study of chronic pancreatitis pathogenesis, acute pancreatitis pathogenesis and immunomodulation, endoscopic treatment of chronic pancreatitis, the development of new imaging techniques of the bile ducts and the pancreas, as well as the treatment of pancreatic cancer and benign or malignant biliary diseases. in hepatology, the immunomodulation of liver cirrhosis, especially alcoholic liver disease, the modulation of experimental acute and chronic hepatitis, the study of liver ischemia-reperfusion. Clinical hepatology has focused on liver transplantation, prognosis factors of chronic liver disease and treatment of portal hypertension and viral hepatitis. in gut diseases, the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux and its complications, the therapeutic endoscopy of the upper and lower GI and the prevention, as well as the treatment, of colon cancer, the pathogenesis and the immunopharmacology of inflammatory bowel diseases and the clinical enteral and parenteral nutrition.

Belgium↗
PubMed2001

Obscure digestive bleeding.

Obscure digestive bleeding is defined as recurrent bleeding for which no definite source has been identified by routine endoscopic or barium studies. Mucosal vascular abnormality or 'angioectasia' is the most common course of obscure bleeding, especially in elderly patients. Small bowel tumours are more frequent in patients younger than 50 years. However, missed or underestimated upper and lower gastrointestinal lesions at the initial endoscopic investigation may be the source of a so-called obscure intestinal bleeding. The various radiological procedures, including enteroclysis, visceral angiography and CT scan as well as radioisotope bleeding scans have limitations in the case of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. Recent developments in magnetic resonance imaging are promising. The different methods of enteroscopy have a similar diagnostic yield, reaching approximately 40-65%. Endoscopic cauterization of small bowel angioectasias seems to be efficacious but randomized trials are needed. Efficacy of hormonal therapy is very controversial. The extent of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies must be based on a number of factors including the patient's parameters, bleeding characteristics and also the result of previous work-up.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2001

Inflammatory bowel disease in spouses and their offspring.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The rarity of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in both husband and wife is often given as an argument against an infectious origin. We registered conjugal instances of IBD in Northern France and in Belgium between 1989 and 2000. METHODS: Couples were assigned to group A if both partners had symptoms of IBD before cohabitation, to group B if one spouse had IBD before cohabitation and the other experienced first symptoms afterwards, and to group C if both partners got the disease after cohabitation. Risk of IBD was assessed in their offspring. RESULTS: Thirty conjugal instances were registered. Seventeen were concordant for Crohn's disease and 3 for ulcerative colitis; 10 were mixed. Two belonged to group A, 6 to group B, and 22 to group C. In group C, IBD occurred in the first affected spouse an average of 9 years after cohabitation and in the second spouse an average of 8.5 years later. Group C conjugal forms were more frequent than expected by chance (P < 0.02). Fifty-four children were born to 25 couples; among them 9, of whom 4 were siblings, developed Crohn's disease at a median age of 15 years. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of conjugal forms of IBD suggests an etiologic role for environmental factors. Offspring of 2 affected parents have a high risk of developing IBD.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Survey on legislation and funding of home artificial nutrition in different European countries.

RATIONALE: Home Artificial Nutrition (HAN) has been an expanding area over the last 30 years. HAN programs have been often developed prior to the regulation by the National Health Systems (NHS) leading to different policies within European countries. The aim of this study was to compare legislation regarding HAN in Europe. METHOD: The Group elaborated two structured questionnaires (one for Home Enteral Nutrition--HEN--and one for Home Parenteral Nutrition--HPN) which were presented to all the members of the HAN-Working group and to the 21 ESPEN Council members. RESULTS: Twelve questionnaires were returned, covering for more than 375 million inhabitants. HEN: regulated in seven countries, Italy and France being the first to implement reimbursement policy in 1988. Except in France, Croatia and the Czech Rep almost any physician can prescribe HEN. NHS totally or partially fund HEN, although in Austria and Israel expenses are paid for the patients. Provision of enteral diets and equipment varies widely within countries. As in HPN, most of the countries have written guidelines for health care workers and for patients. HPN: legislated in six countries, Denmark being the first in 1975. HPN programs are restricted to a few hospitals and patients are followed by Nutrition Support Teams (NST). The budget for HPN is 100% supported by NHS. Hospital pharmacy, private pharmacists and Home Care companies are involved in a different degree in providing and distributing solutions and disposables. CONCLUSIONS: HPN regulation preceded HEN regulation by 10-20 years. Due to this longer experience and high level of care, HPN patients are usually followed by NST. Despite different policies, funding is relatively uniform, NHS supporting most of the expenses for HAN. ESPEN could play a key role developing common standards for HAN all over Europe.

Enteral Nutrition↗
PubMed2001

Clinical, social and rehabilitation status of long-term home parenteral nutrition patients: results of a European multicentre survey.

BACKGROUND: Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is a lifesaving treatment in patients with intestinal failure. Dependency of nutritional support becomes permanent for the majority of patients who had received HPN for at least 2 years. The alternative to long term HPN in selected patients is intestinal transplantation. AIMS: To study some of the clinical, social and rehabilitation aspects of long-term HPN treatment. METHODS: A survey was performed in nine European HPN centres. The questionnaire covered epidemiologic data, underlying diseases, intestinal anatomy, nutritional support and status, marital status, rehospitalization rate, HPN complications, rehabilitation score, drugs use, coexistent diseases and interest in intestinal transplantation. For some items, data were collected within 12 months prior to the evaluation. RESULTS: This survey included 228 patients with a median age of 49 years. The median duration of HPN was 7 years (range 2--24 years). Short bowel length less than 100 cm was reported in 65% of patients with a predominance of end-jejunostomy or jejuno-colonic anastomosis. Global subjective nutritional status was normal in 79% of the patients, who were supplied with a mean number of 5.6 bags of parenteral nutrition weekly. Rehospitalizations within the 12 months prior to evaluation accounted for a mean period of 23 days and were due to HPN complications in half of the cases. Catheter-related sepsis was the most frequent HPN-complication. Bone metabolism disorders, which seemed to be more common than liver diseases, were directly related to HPN duration. One-third of the HPN patients was regularly consuming analgesics or opiates. HPN impair complete rehabilitation status but may improve the status of patients who had a very low rehabilitation score before starting HPN. An interest of intestinal transplantation was noted in only 10% of medical teams and in 8% of HPN patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the largest European survey on long-term HPN patients with long standing or permanent intestinal failure. Data enlighten clinical, social and rehabilitation aspects of patients who could face the option of intestinal transplantation in the future.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Individual screening for colorectal cancer: which strategy for which patient?].

Currently, more than 4,000 newly colorectal cancer are diagnosed each year in Belgium. The individual average-risk for developing colorectal cancer is about 5%. 90% of colorectal cancer occurred after the age of 50, and in 70% of the cases in patients without particular risk factors (average-risk population). Personal and/or familial history of colorectal adenoma, colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease localised to the colon, familial polyposis syndrome or Hereditary Non Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC) increase the risk of colorectal cancer. An individual appropriate screening of high-risk patients and average-risk asymptomatic patients older than 50, together with endoscopic resection of adenoma decrease the incidence and the mortality of colorectal cancer. Usual screening methods are fecal occult blood testing which is not proven to be efficient alone for individual screening (but still recommended for general population's screening), sigmoidoscopy (which has to be completed by a colonoscopy, if lesions founded), and colonoscopy. Virtual colonoscopy and genetic testing need further evaluation. Currently, colonoscopy seems to be the goldstandard method providing complete examination of the whole colon and being the most cost-effective method. Screening strategy should be decided on an individual basis considering the patient's benefit with respect to the informed consent.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2001

[Screening for colorectal cancer by endoscopy: rectosigmoidoscopy or coloscopy?].

Screening for colorectal cancer is almost uniformly recommended for average-risk asymptomatic persons aged 50 years and older and it may substantially reduce its relative mortality. However, consensus is lacking about the type of screening test. Flexible sigmoidoscopy followed by colonoscopy in the presence of adenoma(s), detect 70% of the neoplasms and should be recommended for adults aged 50 years and older. Colonoscopy with polypectomy may ultimately become the preferred strategy after 60 years and certainly in the presence of alarm signs and personal or familial risks for colorectal cancer.

Age Distribution↗