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Barbara Schneider

Publications and source records attributed to Barbara Schneider.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor and the risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism.

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) regulates factor X activation. Low TFPI is a risk factor for a first venous thrombosis. We evaluated whether low TFPI confers an increased risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE). TFPI-free antigen was measured in 611 patients with a first spontaneous VTE, and who were prospectively followed after withdrawal of anticoagulation. The endpoint was symptomatic recurrent VTE. The relative risk (RR) of recurrence increased from 1.0 (95% CI 0.4-2.6) in patients with TFPI levels < or = 5th percentile to 2.7 (95% CI 1.0-7.4) in patients with levels < or = 2nd percentile as compared with higher levels. At five years, the probability of recurrence was 48.6% (95th CI 19.0-78.1) among patients with TFPI < or = 2nd percentile and 16.8% (95th CI 13.8-19.8) among those with higher levels (p=0.04). Compared to patients with wild type factor V and high TFPI, the RR of recurrence was 1.1 (95% CI 0.7-1.7) in patients with factor V Leiden and high TFPI, 2.3 (95% CI 0.6-9.5) in patients with wild type factor V and low TFPI and 3.5 (95% CI 0.9-14.3) in patients with factor V Leiden and low TFPI. In a multivariate analysis,the high risk of recurrence in carriers of factor V Leiden and low TFPI slightly decreased [RR 2.8 (95% CI 0.6-9.5)]. We conclude that thrombosis patients with low levels of free TFPI are at an increased risk of recurrent VTE.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed2004

Detection of alcohol consumption in suicides.

Screening instruments for detection of alcohol consumption, abuse, and dependence for use in psychological autopsy studies with case control design are not validated. Therefore, interrater and test-retest reliability of the Luebeck Alcohol Dependence and Abuse Screening Test (LAST) and the usability of this test for the psychological autopsy method were investigated. Alcohol consumption was evaluated by a semi-structured interview including the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I (SCID-I) and the LAST in 163 completed suicides (mean age 49.6 +/- 19.3 years; 64.4% men) and by personal interview in 396 population-based controls (mean age 51.6 +/- 17.0 years; 55.8% men). Of the controls, 35 were additionally assessed by interviewing informants; these results were compared with those generated by personal interview. Comparison of LAST scores by personal and informant's interview of controls generated a Spearman correlation coefficient of 0.74 (P < 0.0001). The LAST (7 item-version, cut-off of 2) revealed high sensitivity and specificity for alcohol abuse and dependence, in both controls and suicides. LAST scores were significantly associated with high, frequent, and hazardous alcohol consumption (P < 0.001) in suicides. Our findings provide support for reliability and validity of identifying individuals with alcohol dependence and abuse obtained through the best-estimate method using the LAST. This 7-item questionnaire can be recommended as a useful tool for the psychological autopsy procedure in postmortem research.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Concordance of DSM-IV Axis I and II diagnoses by personal and informant's interview.

The validity and reliability of using psychological autopsies to diagnose a psychiatric disorder is a critical issue. Therefore, interrater and test-retest reliability of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I and Personality Disorders and the usefulness of these instruments for the psychological autopsy method were investigated. Diagnoses by informant's interview were compared with diagnoses generated by a personal interview of 35 persons. Interrater reliability and test-retest reliability were assessed in 33 and 29 persons, respectively. Chi-square analysis, kappa and intraclass correlation coefficients, and Kendall's tau were used to determine agreement of diagnoses. Kappa coefficients were above 0.84 for substance-related disorders, mood disorders, and anxiety and adjustment disorders, and above 0.65 for Axis II disorders for interrater and test-retest reliability. Agreement by personal and relative's interview generated kappa coefficients above 0.79 for most Axis I and above 0.65 for most personality disorder diagnoses; Kendall's tau for dimensional individual personality disorder scores ranged from 0.22 to 0.72. Despite of a small number of psychiatric disorders in the selected population, the present results provide support for the validity of most diagnoses obtained through the best-estimate method using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I and Personality Disorders. This instrument can be recommended as a tool for the psychological autopsy procedure in post-mortem research.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed2004

Perspectives for core and skin surface temperature guided extubation in patients after normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between changes in core and skin surface temperature and extubation time in patients following normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital. PATIENTS: Patients admitted to the ICU after cardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Thirty-two patients undergoing cardiac surgery with the use of normothermic CPB were studied. In the ICU, urinary bladder temperature and skin surface temperature gradient (forearm temperature minus fingertip temperature) were measured at 30-min intervals for 10 h postoperatively. Every half-hour an anaesthesiologist, blinded to temperature measurements, checked the possibility of extubation. On arrival in the ICU the mean skin surface temperature gradient of the patients was 1.9+/-1.6 degrees C, indicating vasoconstriction of the dermal vessels (>0 degrees C = vasoconstriction, <0 degrees C = vasodilation) while the mean urinary bladder temperature was 36.8+/-0.4 degrees C. The change from thermoregulatory vasoconstriction to vasodilation (skin surface temperature gradient of 0 degrees C) was 137+/-49 min after arrival in the ICU. The mean time until extubation was 135+/-55 min after arrival in the ICU. There was a linear relation between a temperature gradient of 0 degrees C and extubation time, r(2)=0.49. Later, 181+/-67 min after arrival in the ICU, the urinary bladder temperature reached its maximum of 38.2+/-0.6 degrees C. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the transition period from peripheral vasoconstriction to vasodilation provides an opportunity for postoperative extubation.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor and the risk for recurrent venous thromboembolism.

The impact of fibrinolysis for predicting the risk for recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) is low. We prospectively followed up 600 patients with a first VTE and evaluated the thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) as a risk factor for recurrence. A high TAFI level (75th or higher percentile in thrombosis patients) was associated with a 2-fold higher risk for recurrence compared with lower levels. The probability of recurrence 2 years after anticoagulation was 14.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.6-20.4) among patients with high TAFI levels and 6.8% (95% CI, 4.3-9.3) among patients with lower levels (P =.006). Our data also support the concept of a linkage between fibrinolysis and the coagulation system. Patients with high TAFI levels had significantly higher levels of factors XI, VIII, and IX, and a high risk of recurrence was seen among patients with high TAFI levels and high levels of one of these factors. The relative risk (RR) for recurrence was highest among patients with high TAFI and high factor XI (RR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.3-6.9), high factor VIII (RR, 6.5; 95% CI, 2.9-14.8), or high factor IX (RR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.0-3.9) levels compared with patients with low levels of TAFI and one of these factors.

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed2004

Symptomatic pulmonary embolism and the risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism.

BACKGROUND: In patients with a first symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE), the risk of recurrence is unknown. We therefore investigated the risk of recurrence among patients with spontaneous symptomatic PE and among those with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) without symptoms of PE. METHODS: After discontinuation of secondary thromboprophylaxis for a first venous thromboembolism (VTE), we prospectively observed 436 patients for an average of 30 months. Patients with secondary VTE, natural inhibitor deficiencies, lupus anticoagulant, cancer, long-term antithrombotic therapy, vena cava filters, or pregnancy were excluded. The study outcome was objectively documented recurrent symptomatic VTE. RESULTS: Recurrent VTE was seen among 28 (17.3%) of 162 patients with symptomatic PE and among 26 (9.5%) of 274 patients with DVT without symptoms of PE. Compared with patients with DVT, the relative risk of recurrent VTE among patients with symptomatic PE was 2.2 (95% confidence interval, 1.3-3.7; P =.005). The relative risk was not affected by age, sex, presence of factor V Leiden or prothrombin G20210A, hyperhomocysteinemia, or high factor VIII levels. Compared with patients with DVT without symptoms of PE, patients with symptomatic PE had an adjusted relative risk of PE at recurrence of 4.0 (95% confidence interval, 1.3-12.3; P =.03). CONCLUSION: Patients with a first symptomatic PE not only have a higher risk of recurrent VTE than those with DVT without symptoms of PE, but are also at high risk of symptomatic PE at recurrence.

Austria↗
PubMed2004

Mortality and rate of stroke or embolism in atrial fibrillation during long-term follow-up in the embolism in left atrial thrombi (ELAT) study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) have a higher mortality and risk of stroke/embolism than patients with sinus rhythm. HYPOTHESIS: The aim of the study was to assess the association of clinical and echocardiographic characteristics with mortality and stroke/embolism and the use of antithrombotic medication in the year 2000 in patients who participated 1990-1995 in the Embolism in Left Atrial Thrombi (ELAT) study. METHODS: The study included 409 outpatients with nonrheumatic AF (62 +/- 12 years, 36% women, 39% intermittent AF). Patients with thrombi received anticoagulation, patients without thrombi aspirin until follow-up in 1995; thereafter, anticoagulation according to clinical risk factors was recommended. Primary events were death and secondary events were stroke/embolism. All patients were contacted during the year 2000. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 102 months. Mortality was 4%/year; the cause of death was cardiac (n = 84), fatal stroke (n = 26), malignancy (n = 23), sepsis (n = 5), and unknown (n = 24). Multivariate analysis identified age (p < 0.0001), heart failure (p = 0.0013), and reduced left ventricular systolic function (p = 0.0353) as predictors of mortality. Stroke/embolism occurred in 83 patients, with a rate of 3%/year. Multivariate analysis identified age (p = 0.0006) and previous stroke (p = 0.0454) as predictors of stroke/embolism. In the year 2000, 51 (21%) of the 247 surviving patients received no antithrombotic medication, 88 received (36%) oral anticoagulants, 102 (41%) acetylsalicylic acid, and 6 (2%) low-molecular heparin. CONCLUSIONS: Therapy for heart failure and oral anticoagulation in AF should be seriously considered, especially in elderly patients and in those with previous stroke.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2004

Acceptance rate of palatal implants: a questionnaire study.

Implants have gained popularity in orthodontics because they facilitate maximum anchorage with minimum patient cooperation. However, some orthodontists avoid using implants because psychological aspects of the anchorage systems have not been fully reported. In this study, 85 patients who received orthodontic treatment with palatal implants in 2 clinics in Austria completed questionnaires. The results show that most patients got used to their implants in about 2 weeks; 95% were satisfied with the treatment, and 86% would recommend the treatment to other patients. In addition, 75% of the patients found the orthodontic construction between the anchor teeth and the palatal implant less comfortable than the implant itself, whereas 7% found the palatal implant less comfortable. Approximately 24 months of treatment with the palatal implant is tolerable for patients; this is the average orthodontic treatment time.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2004

Allocation of training posts to applicants for postgraduate medical education in austria: survey and analysis.

PURPOSE: To analyze the consequences of the current procedure for allocating training posts to medical graduates in Austria. METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was sent in two mailings to 8,127 licensed general practitioners and specialists based on the register of the Vienna Medical Chamber in June 2000. The main outcome measures were the percentage of licensed male and female physicians who did not obtain training in their originally preferred medical specialty and the percentage of physicians who were working in a medical specialty other than their originally preferred specialty. RESULTS: A total of 2,736 respondents (34%) completed the questionnaire in the two mailings: 50.3% of physicians--43.2% of male physicians and 58.6% of female physicians--were not practicing in their originally preferred specialty. An average 9% of physicians changed their minds about their preferred specialty during their training. Twenty-one percent of all physicians completed training in an additional specialty. An average of 11 months of additional training was spent at official training posts in specialties other than those finally practiced. CONCLUSIONS: The Austrian allocation procedure is ineffective, uneconomical, and unfair for the applicants. Many medical graduates accept training in a specialty other than the one preferred, not because it is their wish but because Austria's allocation process leaves them no alternative. The authors call the way in which the Austrian training post allocation system governs specialty choice the "musical-chairs effect." This allocation process requires review and the incorporation of recruitment guidelines to ensure equal rights and fair opportunities.

Austria↗
PubMed2004

Communication between people with schizophrenia and their medical professionals: a participatory research project.

The authors describe a participatory research project undertaken by a group of people with schizophrenia under the guidance of a university researcher. Participatory research involves members of the research group in meaningful participation in all stages of the research process. In this study, group members chose the topic-experiences with medical professionals-and method of data collection-in-depth interviews that they conducted with each other. They developed and performed a readers' theater presentation of the results and their recommendations for how they would like to be treated by medical professionals. The results indicate that good communication with medical professionals is essential to people with schizophrenia; it helps them accept the fact that they are ill and learn to live with the illness. The research offered a transformative experience to group members and is contributing to change in the practice of health care for people with severe mental illnesses.

Communication↗
PubMed2004

Plasma adiponectin, insulin sensitivity, and subclinical inflammation in women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: Women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus (pGDM) are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and associated vasculopathy. Because increased fat mass and inflammatory processes are angiopathic risk factors, the relationship between insulin sensitivity, parameters of subclinical inflammation, and plasma concentrations of adipocytokines was investigated in pGDM both at 3 months and 12 months after delivery. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Insulin sensitivity (through a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test) and plasma concentrations of ultrasensitive C-reactive protein (CRP), adiponectin, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, leptin, and interleukin-6 were measured in 89 pGDM (BMI 26.9 +/- 0.5 kg/m(2), age 32 +/- 0.5 years) and in 19 women with normal glucose tolerance during pregnancy (NGT) (23.7 +/- 0.9 kg/m(2), 31 +/- 1.3 years). RESULTS: pGDM showed lower (P < 0.0001) plasma adiponectin (6.7 +/- 0.2 microg/ml) than NGT (9.8 +/- 0.6 microg/ml) and a decreased (P < 0.003) insulin sensitivity index (S(i)) and disposition index (P < 0.03), but increased plasma leptin (P < 0.003), PAI-1 (P < 0.002), and CRP (P < 0.03). After adjustment for body fat mass, plasma adiponectin remained lower in pGDM (P < 0.004) and correlated positively with S(i) (P < 0.003) and HDL cholesterol (P < 0.0001) but negatively with plasma glucose (2-h oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT]) (P < 0.0001), leptin (P < 0.01), CRP (P < 0.007), and PAI-1 (P < 0.0001). On regression analysis, only HDL cholesterol, postload (2-h OGTT) plasma glucose, and S(i) remained significant predictors of plasma adiponectin, explaining 42% of its variability. Of note, adiponectin further decreased (P < 0.05) only in insulin-resistant pGDM despite unchanged body fat content and distribution after a 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Lower plasma adiponectin concentrations characterize women with previous GDM independently of the prevailing insulin sensitivity or the degree of obesity and are associated with subclinical inflammation and atherogenic parameters.

Adiponectin↗
PubMed2004

Haptoglobin phenotype and gestational diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Haptoglobin (Hp), an Hb-binding plasma protein, exists in two major allelic variants. Hp1 has higher Hb binding and antioxidant capacity compared with Hp2. Individuals with Hp1 exhibit a lower incidence of angiopathies. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an early manifestation of type 2 diabetes in pregnant women. It is usually confined to the time of gestation, but carries an increased risk to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: From consecutive Caucasian pregnant women (n = 250) referred for oral glucose tolerance testing, the Hp phenotype was determined. Significance of distribution and odds ratios (ORs) associated with Hp phenotype were calculated for women with GDM (n = 110) and women with normal glucose tolerance (n = 140). RESULTS: -Frequency of GDM in Hp phenotype classes increased with the number of Hp2 alleles (P < 0.001). ORs for GDM in women heterozygous and homozygous for Hp2 were 2.7 (95% CI 1.06-6.84) and 4.2 (1.67-10.55), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Hp phenotype is an apparent risk factor for the development of GDM in our study population. This might be due to the low antioxidative potential of Hp2 compared with Hp1.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

D-dimer levels and risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism.

CONTEXT: Widespread screening of patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) for thrombophilic risk factors has become common clinical practice. Because of the increasing number of risk factors, assessing the risk of recurrence in an individual patient is intricate; therefore, a laboratory method that measures multifactorial thrombophilia is required. OBJECTIVE: To prospectively study the relationship between the risk of recurrent VTE and D-dimer, a global marker of coagulation activation and fibrinolysis. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Prospective cohort study of 610 patients older than 18 years who were treated with oral anticoagulants for at least 3 months with a first spontaneous VTE, in whom D-dimer levels were measured shortly after discontinuation of oral anticoagulation. The study was conducted at the Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, Vienna, Austria. Patients entered the study at time of discontinuation of oral anticoagulants and were observed at 3-month intervals during the first year and every 6 months thereafter from July 1992 to October 2002. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Objectively documented symptomatic recurrent VTE. RESULTS: A total of 79 (13%) of 610 patients had recurrent VTE with a mean observation time of 38 months. Patients with recurrence had significantly higher D-dimer levels compared with those without recurrence (553 ng/mL vs 427 ng/mL, P =.01). Compared with patients with D-dimer levels of 750 ng/mL or higher, the relative risk (RR) of recurrence was 0.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.3-1.4), 0.6 (95% CI, 0.3-1.2), and 0.3 (95% CI, 0.1-0.6) in patients with D-dimer levels of 500 to 749 ng/mL, 250 to 499 ng/mL, and less than 250 ng/mL, respectively. The cumulative probability of recurrent VTE at 2 years was 3.7% (95% CI, 0.9%-6.5%) among patients with D-dimer levels of less than 250 ng/mL compared with 11.5% (95% CI, 8.0%-15.0%) among patients with higher levels (P =.001). Patients with D-dimer levels of less than 250 ng/mL had a 60% lower RR of recurrence compared with patients with higher levels (RR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.8). CONCLUSION: Patients with a first spontaneous VTE and a D-dimer level of less than 250 ng/mL after withdrawal of oral anticoagulation have a low risk of VTE recurrence.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Quality of blood pressure control and risk of cerebral bleeding in patients with oral anticoagulation.

BACKGROUND: We assessed how many patients on long-term oral anticoagulation (OAC) (i) suffer from arterial hypertension (AH), (ii) are aware of AH, (iii) need improvement of their therapy and (iv) suffer from cerebral bleeding. METHODS: Outpatients on long-term OAC were asked to measure blood pressure at least 4 times. Blood pressure was classified as normotensive if at least 75 % of all measurements were < 139/89 mm Hg; as mild/moderate AH if > 25 % of all measurements were 140 - 179 mm Hg systolic or 90 - 109 mm Hg diastolic; and as severe AH if > 25 % of all measurements were > 180 mm Hg systolic or > 110 mm Hg diastolic. Bleeding complications were registered. RESULTS: Of the 235 patients (108 female, 67 +/- 12 years), 80 % suffered from AH. Severe AH was present in 5 %. Only 56 % were aware of suffering from AH. An improvement of antihypertensive therapy was needed in 64 %. Over 225 days, only one cerebral bleeding occurred. Blood pressure was normotensive in 30 % with known AH. CONCLUSIONS: Blood pressure control seems better in OAC patients than in normals, if the patient is aware of AH. Patients with AH on OAC are not aware of AH in > 50 %. Repeated blood pressure measurements in OAC are recommended, even if patients are not aware of AH.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2003

Superficial thrombophlebitis and risk for recurrent venous thromboembolism.

OBJECTIVE: Superficial thrombophlebitis (ST) is a frequent and potentially serious disease if complicated with venous thromboembolism (VTE). Data on risk factors and incidence rates for ST are scarce. It is also unknown whether ST is a risk factor for recurrence of VTE. METHODS: After discontinuation of secondary thromboprophylaxis for a first spontaneous VTE, we prospectively observed 615 patients on average for 30 +/- 26 months. Patients with natural coagulation inhibitor deficiency, lupus anticoagulant, or cancer, who were pregnant, or were receiving long-term antithrombotic therapy were excluded. The study outcomes were occurrence of symptomatic ST or objectively documented recurrent symptomatic VTE. RESULTS: ST developed in 45 patients (7.3%) with a first VTE. High factor VIII concentration emerged as an independent risk factor for ST (relative risk [RR], 2.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-5.2), compared with lower levels after adjustment for age and sex; factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A concentration; hyperhomocysteinemia; high body mass index; and duration of oral anticoagulation therapy. VTE recurred in 12 (27%) of 45 patients with ST and in 67 (12%) of 570 patients without ST. In patients with VTE, subsequent ST emerged as an independent risk factor for recurrent VTE. Patients with ST had twofold higher RR (2.1; 95% CI, 1.0-4.2) for recurrence than did patients without ST after adjustment for putative confounding variables. CONCLUSION: Patients with a first spontaneous VTE and subsequent ST are at increased risk for recurrent VTE. High factor VIII concentration is an independent risk factor for ST.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Do middle ear muscles trigger attacks of Menière's disease?

OBJECTIVE: Current surgical methods for treating Ménière's disease (MD), e.g. endolymphatic sac surgery, mastoidectomy or insertion of middle ear ventilation tubes, only improve vertigo and fail to influence the hearing threshold. In this retrospective study we examined the long-term effects of tenotomy on the symptoms of MD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 45 patients suffering from definite MD underwent middle ear muscle tenotomy, a treatment that is very rarely considered nowadays. Of these 45 patients, 20 were observed postoperatively for a period of > 2 years. The disease was scored pre- and postoperatively and the results were evaluated according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium guidelines for the diagnosis and evaluation of therapy for MD. RESULTS: Sectioning of the tensor tympani and stapedius muscle tendons significantly reduced the frequency and intensity of vertigo and improved both the functional profile and tinnitus. Pure-tone audiometry at frequencies between 500 and 3000 Hz substantiated the improvement in hearing threshold, as did the pure-tone average. The therapeutical outcome was stable in cases where both tendons remained persistently disconnected. Intratympanal inflammatory reactions were observed in most patients during surgery. CONCLUSION: Our results prove that tenotomy is a successful and enduring therapeutic approach for treating the auditory and vestibular symptoms of MD and strongly suggest that it should be reconsidered as a promising surgical treatment for the symptoms of MD.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies: a stable marker for Crohn's disease during steroid and 5-aminosalicylic acid treatment.

OBJECTIVES: An increased prevalence of elevated serum anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody (ASCA) levels in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) has been described. The aim of the present work was to investigate serum ASCA levels during the courses of prednisolone and mesalamine therapy in CD patients. METHODS: Serum samples of 25 patients with active CD were studied for ASCA levels before as well as 2 and 9 wk after initiation of a prednisolone tapering regimen. The influence of mesalamine (4 g o.d.) on serum ASCA levels compared to that of placebo was tested over 1 yr in 38 patients (20 mesalamine and 18 placebo) participating in a postoperative prophylaxis study. Serum IgG and IgA ASCA levels were measured by ELISA. Sera of 91 CD and 40 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients as well as 334 healthy donors were tested for ASCA to recalculate new cut-off values. RESULTS: For IgG ASCA cut-off values were determined to be 17.0 U and 25.0 U, and for IgA ASCA 9.3 U and 14.0 U. At baseline visit, 73.0% (46/63) of patients displayed serum ASCA positivity. During prednisolone therapy, a decrease in serum IgG and IgA ASCA levels from baseline to wk 2 (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.001, respectively) as well as to wk 9 (p < 0.001 and p = 0.01, respectively) was observed. A trend toward an association of ASCA positivity and steroid responsiveness was calculated (p = 0.07). During mesalamine treatment, no differences in changes of ASCA levels were observed compared to placebo at any time point. CONCLUSIONS: ASCA are stable markers during steroid and mesalamine treatment, highlighting their reliability for use in diagnosis of CD.

Adolescent↗