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IgG, albumin, and sCD44 in whole-gut lavage fluid are useful clinical markers for assessing the presence and activity of pouchitis.

Pouchitis is the most significant long-term complication in patients with ileoanal pouch anastomosis (IAP) and is especially frequent in patients with ulcerative colitis. There is an urgent need for simple and objective parameters to assess the presence and activity of pouchitis. Whole-gut lavage fluid (WGLF) was collected from 34 patients [8 with pouchitis (PDAI > or = 7 points) and 26 without pouchitis (Pouchitis Disease Activity Index, PDAI, < 7)]. Patients with active ulcerative colitis (n = 8) served as controls. Concentrations of IgG and sCD44 in WGLF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and those of albumin by immunoturbidimetry. Similar to the case in active ulcerative colitis, concentrations of IgG, albumin, and sCD44 in WGLF were significantly increased in acute pouchitis and reached high specificity (IgG 96%, albumin 96%, sCD44 100%) and acceptable sensitivity (75%) for the diagnosis of acute pouchitis. These parameters were also closely correlated with disease activity as determined by PDAI and endoscopic scoring indices. Assay of protein concentrations in WGLF is thus a simple and objective means for grading inflammation of the pouch and may be useful as a quantitative index of disease activity in clinical studies.

Adult↗

Long-term efficacy of bismuth carbomer enemas in patients with treatment-resistant chronic pouchitis.

BACKGROUND: Mucosal inflammation of the ileal pouch (pouchitis) is the major long-term complication after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are the mainstay of treatment, however, 15% of patients with pouchitis have a chronic, treatment-resistant disease. AIM: To determine the safety and efficacy of bismuth carbomer enemas in achieving and maintaining remission in treatment-resistant chronic pouchitis. METHODS: Twelve patients with treatment-resistant chronic pouchitis were treated nightly for 45 days with enemas containing elemental bismuth complexed with carbomer. Diagnosis of pouchitis and response to treatment were evaluated with the Pouchitis Disease Activity Index (PDAI), which includes clinical, sigmoidoscopic and histological criteria. Serum bismuth concentrations were determined by atomic absorption. RESULTS: Ten of 12 patients (83%) went into remission, with a significant decrease of mean total PDAI score from 12 (range 9-15) to 6 (4-15) (P < 0.002), and were continued on bismuth carbomer enemas administered every third night for 12 months. Patients were monitored clinically, sigmoidoscopically and histologically every 2 months for evidence of recurrence (increase > or = 2 in the clinical symptom portion of the PDAI). Six of 10 patients (60%) were able to maintain remission throughout the 12-month trial; 4/10 had an exacerbation, two of which occurred soon after discontinuing daily treatment. Serum bismuth levels were negligible in all patients and no side-effects were registered. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that bismuth carbomer enemas are safe and effective in achieving and maintaining remission in patients with treatment-resistant chronic pouchitis.

Acrylic Resins↗

Diagnosis and treatment of pouchitis.

Total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is the surgical procedure of choice for the management of ulcerative colitis. Pouchitis, a non-specific inflammation of the ileal reservoir, is the most frequent complication that patients experience in the long-term. Diagnosis should be made on the basis of clinical, endoscopic and histological aspects. The Pouchitis Disease Activity Index (PDAI) represents an objective and reproducible scoring system for pouchitis: active pouchitis is defined as a score > or = 7 and remission as a score < 7. About 15% of patients develop a chronic disease. Treatment of pouchitis is empirical, and very few controlled studies have been carried out. Antibiotics, particularly metronidazole and ciprofloxacin, are the treatment of choice. Chronic pouchitis may benefit from a prolonged course of a combination of antibiotics. Highly concentrated probiotics are effective for both prevention of relapses and prevention of pouchitis onset. There is no convincing evidence of the efficacy of other therapeutic agents.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Expression of inducible and endothelial nitric oxide synthases in pouchitis.

To study the induction of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in different forms of pouchitis, we divided patients in five groups: 1) ulcerative colitis, no pouch; 2) no-pouchitis; 3) chronic asymptomatic pouchitis; 4) chronic active pouchitis; and 5) acute pouchitis. Ileal biopsies were scored for NOS-2 (inducible) and NOS-3 (endothelial) immunoreactivity and acute inflammation. In group 1, most specimens lacked NOS-2 immunoreactivity. In group 2, some specimens showed NOS-2 immunoreactive epithelium. In group 3, areas of NOS-2-immunoreactive epithelium were consistently observed in most specimens. In groups 4 and 5, most specimens showed moderate-to-extensive epithelial NOS-2 staining. NOS-2 immunoreactivity scores of groups 1-5 were 0.25 +/- 0.16, 0.67 +/- 0.19, 1.19 +/- 0.40, 2.0 +/- 0.23, and 2.18 +/- 0.12, respectively. Corresponding acute inflammation scores were 0, 0.53 + 0.17, 1.00 +/- 0.33, 1.80 +/- 0.20, and 1.64 +/- 0.15. NOS-2 score correlated with acute inflammation score (p < 0.0001), indicating that NOS-2 induction correlates with both the clinical degree of pouchitis and the severity of acute inflammation. NOS-3 immunoreactivity increased in all pouchitis groups.

Colitis, Ulcerative↗

An enema formulation of alicaforsen, an antisense inhibitor of intercellular adhesion molecule-1, in the treatment of chronic, unremitting pouchitis.

BACKGROUND: Pouchitis is the major long-term complication of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis. The incidence of pouchitis is as high as 50% several years after surgery. Two-thirds of pouchitis patients suffer recurrence. Of those who recur, one-quarter suffer from chronic, unremitting pouchitis. Current treatments for this disorder are disappointing. AIM: To determine whether a topically administered enema formulation of ISIS 2302 (alicaforsen), an antisense inhibitor of intercellular adhesion molecule-1, can improve the clinical symptoms, endoscopic mucosal appearance and mucosal histology in patients with chronic, unremitting pouchitis, a disorder in which this molecule is over-expressed. METHODS: In an open-label, uncontrolled study, 12 patients with chronic, unremitting pouchitis were treated with 240 mg alicaforsen antisense enema nightly for 6 weeks. Clinical evaluation and endoscopy were performed at baseline and at weeks 3, 6 and 10. Pouchoscopy with biopsy was carried out at baseline and at weeks 6 and 10. The primary end-point was the reduction from baseline of the Pouchitis Disease Activity Index (PDAI) at week 6. Secondary end-points included the PDAI at week 10. Safety was evaluated by analysing the adverse events, vital signs and laboratory parameters. RESULTS: After 6 weeks of nightly alicaforsen enema, a statistically significant (n = 12, P = 0.001) reduction in the PDAI from baseline (11.42) to week 6 (6.83) was observed. Mean reductions in the endoscopy sub-score from baseline (5.25) to week 3 (3.08) and week 6 (2.58) were statistically significant (P = 0.0039 and P = 0.0005, respectively). The mean reductions in clinical symptom sub-score from baseline (3.75) to week 3 (2.33) and week 6 (2.25) were also statistically significant (P = 0.0156 and P = 0.0117, respectively). Ten of the 12 patients achieved a mucosal appearance score of 0 or 1 at endoscopy. Five of the 12 patients (42%) had a non-statistically significant decrease in the histology component of their PDAI from baseline to week 6. By week 6, seven of the 12 patients (58%) were in remission, as defined by PDAI < 7, with a mean decrease from baseline in PDAI score of six points. The alicaforsen enemas were well tolerated and no serious side-effects were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Antisense enema to intercellular adhesion molecule-1 is safe and well tolerated. In an open-label trial, it appeared to improve the PDAI score, clinical symptoms and endoscopic mucosal appearance. It may also improve the histology. In the light of the responses observed in this trial, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial is warranted.

Administration, Rectal↗

Impairment of epithelial transport but not of barrier function in idiopathic pouchitis after ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Little is known of the permeability of ileoanal pouches. Hence the aim of the present study was to determine changes in permeability and mucosal function after ileo-pouchanal anastomosis (IPAA) in patients with ulcerative colitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Biopsies were taken from 43 patients (male:female ratio 28:15; mean age 35.2 (12.5) years) prior to colectomy (ileum prior to pouch), prior to closure of ileostomy (deviation), and after closure of ileostomy (intact pouch) in the case of pouchitis, and from 14 healthy controls. Tissues were mounted in a miniaturised Ussing chamber. Epithelial and subepithelial resistance was determined by transmural impedance analysis. Active Na(+)-glucose cotransport was measured as change in short circuit current after stepwise addition of glucose, and active Cl(-) secretion was measured after stimulation with theophylline and prostaglandin E(2). RESULTS: Neither epithelial resistance nor mannitol fluxes were significantly altered compared with intact controls, indicating no barrier defect in pouchitis. Subepithelial resistances of intact pouches and pouchitis were increased compared with deviation (18.2 (1.6) and 24.3 (1.5) v. 13.6 (1.0) Omegaxcm(2)) consistent with an adaptive thickening of the subepithelial layer. In contrast, active Cl(-) secretion of pouchitis tissues was reduced versus intact pouch and controls (1.4 (0.3) v. 4.3 (0.7) and 4.6 (0.7) micromol/h/cm(2)), and Na(+)-glucose cotransport of pouchitis was reduced compared with intact pouch and controls (1.8 (0.5) v. 4.2 (0.8) and 8.8 (1.3) micromol/h/cm(2)). CONCLUSIONS: Ileal mucosa in pouchitis and terminal ileum prior to IPAA exhibit impaired secretory and absorptive transport functions whereas the epithelial barrier function remains unchanged. This differs from findings in ulcerative colitis. Thus the hypothesis that pouchitis represents a remanifestation of ulcerative colitis has to be questioned.

Adult↗

Defensin expression in chronic pouchitis in patients with ulcerative colitis or familial adenomatous polyposis coli.

AIM: Pouchitis develops in ileoanal pouches in up to 50% of patients with ulcerative colitis during the first 10 years after pouch surgery while being rare in patients after proctocolectomy for familial adenomatous polyposis coli (FAP) syndrome. Defensins are major components of the innate immune system and play a significant role in gastrointestinal microbial homeostasis. Pouch defensin and cytokine expression were correlated with states of pouch inflammation to study their role in pouchitis. METHODS: Patients with ulcerative colitis and FAP syndrome were stratified into groups with pouches after surgery, pouches without or with pouchitis. Biopsies from terminal ileum from a healthy intestine or from normal terminal ileum of patients with ulcerative colitis served as controls. mRNA from pouches and controls was analysed for defensin and cytokine expression. RESULTS: Expression of defensins was increased in all pouches immediately after surgery, compared to ileum of controls. Initially, pouches in ulcerative colitis revealed higher defensin expression than FAP pouches. Defensin expression declined in both patient groups and increased again slightly in pouchitis in patients with ulcerative colitis. FAP pouches without pouchitis had strong expression of beta-defensin hBD-1, while all other defensins remained at low levels. Cytokine expression in ulcerative colitis pouches was high, while FAP pouches showed moderately elevated cytokines only after surgery. CONCLUSION: Development of pouchitis correlates with decreased defensin expression in ulcerative colitis in addition to high expression of cytokines. The low incidence of pouchitis in FAP pouches correlates with increased expression of hBD-1 beta-defensin in association with low cytokine levels.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗

[Changes in permeability after ileoanal pouch anastomosis and in pouchitis].

The aim of the present study was to determine the changes in permeability and mucosal function after ileo-pouchanal anastomosis (IPAA) in patients with ulcerative colitis. We examined 24 patients (m: f = 15:9; Age = 35.2 +/- 12.5) prior to colectomy (pre IPAA), prior to closure of ileostomy (pre CIS), after closure of ileostomy (post CIS), in case of pouchitis and 5 controls. With a miniaturizised Ussing-chamber electrophysiological parameters of permeability and resorptive isotope-fluxes for mannitol were measured. Total resistance could be differenciated into epithelial and subepithelial resistance by using alternating current impedance measurements. Active Na(+)-glucose-Cotransport was measured by detection of the maximal short-curcuit-current under stepwise addition of glucose and active Cl(-)-secretion was measured by the increase in short-curcuit-current after stimulation with Theophillin and PGE2. Epithelial resistance of pouchitis was slightly raised towards controls but did not differ from the others. Subepithelial resistance post CIS and pouchitis was significantly increased versus controls and pre CIS (21.2 +/- 22.4 vs. 10.7 +/- 13.3 omega cm2) Whereas Cl-secretion of pouchitis was significantly reduced vs. post CIS and controls (38.6 vs. 120.9 +/- 113.9 microA cm-2). In the same way Na(+)-glucose Cotransport of pouchitis was significantly reduced vs. post CIS and controls(41.8 vs. 138.4 +/- 264.4 microA cm-2). Increasing subepithelial resistance post CIS and in pouchitis is a hint for an adaptive thickening of the subepitheal layer. Concerning the functional analysis pouchitis and terminal ileum prior to IPAA show a reduced secretion and resorption whereas the mucosal barrier towards Mannitol remains unchanged.

Biopsy↗

Pouchitis: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management.

The current treatment of choice for patients requiring colectomy for ulcerative colitis or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is ileoanal anastomosis with pouch creation. Symptomatic inflammation of this pouch, a condition known as pouchitis, will develop in up to 40% of patients who undergo this surgery. Patients will present with crampy abdominal pain, fever, rectal bleeding, and diarrhea, and they may have either acute intermittent attacks or a chronic pouchitis syndrome. Most reported cases of pouchitis have occurred in patients with a previous history of ulcerative colitis, whereas complications develop in only a handful of patients with FAP. The etiology of pouchitis is probably a multifactorial event involving genetic, immune, microbial, and toxic mediators. The initial medical management of pouchitis usually relies on metronidazole; however, other drugs that are useful for ulcerative colitis have been found to be beneficial for pouchitis. Studying the etiology and management of pouchitis may help elucidate the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease.

Humans↗

Pouchitis and gastric hyposecretion: cause or effect?

Pouchitis is a well recognized entity but its aetiology is still controversial. The aim of this study is to determine if gastric acidity has a role in the physiopathology of this problem. In a series of 70 consecutive patients with pelvic reservoir (65 mucosal ulcerative colitis (UC), 5 familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP], 15 patients developed pouchitis. Ten patients responded favourably to metronidazole. Five patients had several episodes of resistant pouchitis. Two of these (with FAP) developed recurrent bouts of pouchitis while on cimetidine therapy for severe peptic disease. Both patients were improved on sucralfate and symptoms did not recur after highly selective vagotomy. The other three patients began to complain of pouchitis one to six years after the fabrication of the reservoir. Gastric studies were undertaken to determine the fasting gastric pH. The values were high in all three cases despite normal stimulation tests and normal gastric biopsy. After pouch removal for toxic dilatation (without obstruction) in one of these patients, the gastric pH returned to normal. From these preliminary results, it seems that pouchitis might be associated with hypochlorhydria. It might also be possible that certain physiologic properties of the reservoir reduce gastric acidity and so create recurrent bouts of pouchitis. Further studies are needed to evaluate the physiologic consequences of the pelvic ileal reservoir on gastric physiology.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗

Double-blind crossover trial of metronidazole versus placebo in chronic unremitting pouchitis.

Metronidazole has been used to treat pouchitis, but there are no controlled data that show it is effective. Chronic unremitting pouchitis is a form of the disorder particularly difficult to manage. Diarrhea is the main symptom of pouchitis, which results from acute inflammation of the mucosa of an ileal reservoir. To test the hypothesis that metronidazole (400 mg thrice daily for seven days) is no better than placebo at reducing stool frequency in chronic unremitting pouchitis, a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study has been performed. Thirteen patients who had undergone restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis were studied. The diagnosis of pouchitis was based on clinical, endoscopic, and histological criteria. At entry all patients had symptomatic pouchitis and were passing more than six stools/24 hr or had consistently bloody stools with at least four of six endoscopic criteria of mucosal inflammation. The median frequency of defecation decreased by 3 bowel actions/24 hr (conservative 95% confidence intervals 0-4/24 hr) on metronidazole but increased by a median of 1/24 hr on placebo. The difference between the median number of bowel motions, when treatment with metronidazole was compared to placebo, was 4 motions/24 hr (P < 0.05) in favor of metronidazole. There was no significant change in the endoscopic or histological grade of inflammation, in the serum C-reactive protein level, or symptomatic scores. In a parallel study, metronidazole did not alter stool frequency in asymptomatic patients without pouchitis who had endoscopically normal reservoirs (six polyposis, six colitis).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

C-Reactive Protein↗

Pouchitis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis has become the preferred surgical procedure for ulcerative colitis. Although most patients report a good functional outcome and significant improvement in their quality of life after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, pouchitis remains the most common long-term complication. This review highlights significant reports on the diagnosis, treatment, and complications of pouchitis in former ulcerative colitis. RECENT FINDINGS: The diagnosis of pouchitis is based on clinical symptoms including increased stool frequency, urgency, rectal bleeding, abdominal cramping, or pelvic discomfort and should be verified by typical findings at endoscopy. Antibiotics such as metronidazole and ciprofloxacin are effective treatments for acute attacks of pouchitis, and for those patients with recurrent or chronic refractory pouchitis, prophylactic therapy with long-term use of the VSL#3 combination of probiotics has now been proved to be highly effective in controlled trials. Most patients with an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis experience a good quality of life, and the risk for removal of the pelvic pouch because of intractable pouchitis is low. Previous reports of neoplastic transformation in certain subgroups of pouch patients have not been substantiated. SUMMARY: Pouchitis is in important clinical entity among ulcerative colitis patients having undergone ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. Diagnosis has become more straightforward, and treatment modalities encompass a variety of remedies, including probiotics. The long-term prognosis is good, and the risk of malignant transformation appears to be very low.

Journal Article↗

Pouchitis after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis occurs with increased frequency in patients with associated primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), present in 5% of patients with ulcerative colitis, may be associated with pouchitis after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. The cumulative frequency of pouchitis in patients with and without PSC who underwent ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis was determined. A total of 1097 patients who had an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis, 54 with associated PSC, were studied. Pouchitis was defined by clinical criteria in all patients and by clinical, endoscopic, and histological criteria in 83% of PSC patients and 85% of their matched controls. PSC was defined by clinical, radiological, and pathological findings. One or more episodes of pouchitis occurred in 32% of patients without PSC and 63% of patients with PSC. The cumulative risk of pouchitis at one, two, five, and 10 years after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis was 15.5%, 22.5%, 36%, and 45.5% for the patients without PSC and 22%, 43%, 61%, and 79% for the patients with PSC. In the PSC group, the risk of pouchitis was not related to the severity of liver disease. In conclusion, the strong correlation between PSC and pouchitis suggest a common link in their pathogenesis.

Adolescent↗

Smoking may prevent pouchitis in patients with restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis.

Epidemiological studies have shown an increased risk of ulcerative colitis (UC) in non-smokers and particularly recent ex-smokers. Patients with UC have an increased risk of pouchitis following ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, which may be a manifestation of the original disease susceptibility. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that smoking habit may influence the incidence of pouchitis. All patients with a functioning pouch > or = 12 months at one centre were assessed. Patients were excluded if (a) the original indication was not UC (n = 5), (b) the excised pouch showed histology diagnostic of Crohn's disease (n = 2), and (c) data were inadequate (n = 4). Smoking data were collected by questionnaire, or direct interview, or both. Ex-smokers were those who had stopped smoking < 7 years before colectomy. Non-smokers included ex-smokers who had stopped > 7 years before colectomy. Pouchitis was defined as an increase in stool frequency > 8/day with acute inflammation on biopsy specimen histology. Each presentation requiring treatment was regarded as an episode. For comparison smoking habit was assessed with regard to three other adverse outcomes - haemorrhage, sepsis, and pouch excision. Of 72 non-smokers (mean follow up 3.5 years) 18 had 46 episodes of pouchitis. Of 12 ex-smokers (mean follow up 3.3 years) four patients have had 14 episodes of pouchitis. Only one smoker from 17 has had a single episode of pouchitis. This shows that smokers have significantly less episodes of pouchitis compared with non-smokers (p = 0.0005) and ex-smokers (p = 0.05). There was no association of smoking habit with other adverse outcomes.

Adult↗

Increased cytokine transcripts in pouchitis reflect the degree of inflammation but not the underlying entity.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: After ileopouch anal anastomosis (IPAA), 10-40% of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) but only 5% of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) develop pouchitis. Immunoregulatory abnormalities might be of importance in the pathogenesis of the disease. Therefore, we characterized cytokine and chemokine transcripts in inflamed and non-inflamed pouches in patients with UC compared to those with FAP and Crohn's disease (CD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Mucosal biopsies were taken from 87 patients with IPAA [UC (n=70), CD (n=8) or FAP (n=9)]. Patients with active ileal CD (n=14), active UC (n=17) and non-inflammatory conditions (n=12) served as controls. The expression of 20 gene transcripts was quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS AND FINDINGS: Pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines are significantly increased in IPAA patients with acute pouchitis. This increase is independent of the underlying disease (UC or CD) and reflects the degree of inflammation. A good correlation between pouchitis activity (using the Pouchitis Disease Activity Index) and the MRP-14, interleukin-8, macrophage inflammatory protein-2alpha and matrix metalloproteinase-1 transcripts was observed. INTERPRETATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS: Our data support the view that pouchitis reflects an inflammatory process that is different from that of underlying inflammatory bowel diseases, as the cytokine and chemokine patterns in pouchitis are neither typical of CD nor of UC, but maybe due to bacterial intestinal microflora overgrowth in the pouch lumen. Quantification of transcript levels allows an estimation of the extent of mucosal inflammation and may become helpful in the evaluation of the disease, especially in clinical trials.

Adolescent↗

Pouchitis: pathophysiology and treatment.

Pouchitis is a potential complication after proctocolectomy and restorative ileoanal anastomosis. It is more frequent in UC than in familial polyposis. Little is known about the etiopathology of pouchitis. Risk factors include the presence of extraintestinal manifestations, primary sclerosing cholangitis, cessation of smoking, and previous course of disease. A host of pathophysiological pathways have been identified as potential mechanisms of pouchitis, which include inflammatory mediators, adhesion molecules, oxygen radical species, p-ANCA, and short-chain fatty acids. The microflora in the pouch may also be an important factor in causing inflammation. The risk of developing cancer in cases of pouchitis has not been established as clearly as in those of UC. Particular attention should be paid to patients who have remaining anorectal mucosa after pouch construction. Experience in the treatment of chronic relapsing and chronic refractory pouchitis is limited. The continuation of conventional anti-inflammatory treatment is successful only in a small percentage of patients. New biological response-modifying therapies which target novel immunoregulatory molecules in IBD will also have impact on the systemic and topical treatment of pouchitis.

Colitis, Ulcerative↗

Delay of the first onset of pouchitis by oral intake of the probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG.

PURPOSE: Proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is the operation of choice for patients with refractory or fulminant ulcerative colitis. The most common long-term complication in these patients is pouchitis. This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in long-term delaying the first onset of pouchitis. METHODS: Between 1989 and 2001, a consecutive series of 127 patients presenting with ulcerative colitis underwent an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis at the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam. Histopathologic investigation of the resected specimens revealed unsuspected Crohn's disease in five patients. Postoperative complications resulted in pouch excision in five patients. The remaining 117 patients were included in this study. All episodes of pouchitis occurring in this group were analyzed. Pouchitis was diagnosed on the basis of clinical symptoms and endoscopic and histologic features. The 39 patients, who underwent an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis between 1996 and 2001, started immediately after the operation with the daily intake of L. rhamnosus GG in a fermented product. The 78 patients, in whom an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis was performed between 1989 and 1996, received no L. rhamnosus GG. RESULTS: Except for the duration of follow-up, the patient characteristics, indications for proctocolectomy, number of postoperative complications, and functional outcome were similar in both groups. First episodes of pouchitis were observed less frequently in patients with a daily intake of L. rhamnosus GG (cumulative risk at 3 years: 7 vs. 29 percent; P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Daily intake of fermented products containing L. rhamnosus GG provides significant clinical benefit, without side effects. Based on the results of this study, we recommend a daily intake of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (dose 1-2 x 10(10) bacteria) to delay the first onset of pouchitis.

Administration, Oral↗

Clostridium difficile infection--an unusual cause of refractory pouchitis: report of a case.

PURPOSE: Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is the surgical procedure of choice for selected patients with severe ulcerative colitis. Pouchitis is a common complication of this procedure, with most cases responding to treatment with metronidazole, possibly with the addition of 5-aminosalicylic acid drugs and steroids. can frequently colonize the colon after treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics, giving rise to diarrhea or colitis. The aim of this report was to describe the first case of -associated diarrhea manifest as pouchitis. METHODS: The management of refractory pouchitis in a 35-year-old female with toxin in the stool is described followed by a literature review of small-intestinal infection. RESULTS: Assays for toxin on stool sent during an episode considered to be caused by idiopathic chronic pouchitis were positive, and treatment with oral vancomycin was initiated. The patient responded with a reduction in bowel frequency to twice daily, a successful discontinuation of her antidiarrheal medication, and a rapid increase in weight. A subsequent stool assay was negative for the toxin. CONCLUSIONS: infection can complicate pouchitis in patients with an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis and should be considered in patients who fail to respond to standard treatment, including metronidazole. In cases of refractory pouchitis, superadded infection with should be excluded before initiation of potent anti-inflammatory drugs.

Adult↗