The timing of colonoscopy in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC) lacks coherence. The published guidelines and recommendations advocate time-bound colonoscopy in patients with active UC to assess for mucosal healing. However, the practice of performing colonoscopies at fixed time frames lacks reasoning. The time to achieve mucosal healing in UC is not uniform across the patient populations and is influenced by the disease severity and efficacy and time to therapeutic response of the drugs being used. Additionally, with the availability of sensitive noninvasive inflammatory biomarkers such as fecal calprotectin, that parallel the disease activity and correlate with mucosal healing, the notion of performing colonoscopy at fixed intervals sounds unjustifiable. The authors express their view that a response-guided colonoscopy (driven by normalization of clinical symptoms and inflammatory biomarkers), rather than a time-bound colonoscopy, would be more logical, apart from being cost-effective and patient-friendly.

Background/Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), is increasingly being reported from India and other Asian countries. This study looks into the changing trends of IBD at a tertiary care center in north India over last two decades. Methods: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of patients diagnosed with IBD between January 1991 and December 2015 was conducted. The study period was divided into five times cohorts (1991–1995, 1996–2000, 2001–2005, 2006–2010, 2011–2015). Results: During the study period, 2,467 patients (UC [n = 2,137, 86.6%], CD [n = 330, 13.3%], mean age 38.5 ± 13.3 years; 55.9% males) were registered. The proportion of patients with CD increased (ratio of UC to CD declined from 15.7:1 to 4:1). The mean age at diagnosis decreased for UC (45.7 ± 12.1 years in 1991–1995 vs. 37.6 ± 13.0 years in 2011–2015; P= 0.001) and remained consistent for CD (41.3 ± 13.6 years in 1996–2000 vs. 41.3 ± 16.9 years in 2011–2015, P= 0.86). Patients with proctitis in UC and isolated ileal disease in CD increased over the study period (P= 0.001 and P= 0.007, respectively). Inflammatory CD increased (P= 0.009) whereas stricturing CD decreased (P= 0.01) across all cohorts. There was a trend towards less severe presentation of both UC and CD. The use of thiopurines (P= 0.02) and biologics increased (P= 0.001) with no significant change in trends for requirements of surgery (P= 0.9). Conclusions Increasing prevalence of CD, younger age at diagnosis, diagnosis at an earlier and milder stage, greater use of thiopurines and biologics were observed.

Background/Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), is increasingly being reported from India and other Asian countries. This study looks into the changing trends of IBD at a tertiary care center in north India over last two decades. Methods: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of patients diagnosed with IBD between January 1991 and December 2015 was conducted. The study period was divided into five times cohorts (1991–1995, 1996–2000, 2001–2005, 2006–2010, 2011–2015). Results: During the study period, 2,467 patients (UC [n = 2,137, 86.6%], CD [n = 330, 13.3%], mean age 38.5 ± 13.3 years; 55.9% males) were registered. The proportion of patients with CD increased (ratio of UC to CD declined from 15.7:1 to 4:1). The mean age at diagnosis decreased for UC (45.7 ± 12.1 years in 1991–1995 vs. 37.6 ± 13.0 years in 2011–2015; P= 0.001) and remained consistent for CD (41.3 ± 13.6 years in 1996–2000 vs. 41.3 ± 16.9 years in 2011–2015, P= 0.86). Patients with proctitis in UC and isolated ileal disease in CD increased over the study period (P= 0.001 and P= 0.007, respectively). Inflammatory CD increased (P= 0.009) whereas stricturing CD decreased (P= 0.01) across all cohorts. There was a trend towards less severe presentation of both UC and CD. The use of thiopurines (P= 0.02) and biologics increased (P= 0.001) with no significant change in trends for requirements of surgery (P= 0.9). Conclusions Increasing prevalence of CD, younger age at diagnosis, diagnosis at an earlier and milder stage, greater use of thiopurines and biologics were observed.

The inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-disk is a validated, visual, 10-item, self-administered questionnaire used to evaluate IBD-related disability. The present study aimed to evaluate IBD-disk in assessment of IBD daily life burden and its relation with disease activity. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2021 and December 2021. Patients with IBD were asked to complete the IBD-disk and a visual analogue scale of IBD daily-life burden (scored from 0–10, score >5 indicative of high burden). The internal consistency of IBD-disk, correlation with IBD daily life burden and disease activity (assessed by partial Mayo score and Harvey Bradshaw Index in patients with ulcerative colitis [UC] and Crohn’s disease [CD], respectively) and diagnostic performance of IBD-disk to detect high burden were analyzed. Results: Out of the 546 patients (mean age 40.33±13.74 years, 282 [51.6%] males) who completed the IBD-disk, 464 (84.98%) had UC and the remaining (n=82, 15.02%) had CD. A total of 311 patients (291 UC and 20 CD; 56.95%) had active disease. The mean IBD-disk total score and IBD daily life burden were 18.39±15.23 and 2.45±2.02, respectively. The IBD-disk total score correlated strongly with the IBD daily life burden (ρ=0.94, P<0.001), moderately with partial Mayo score (ρ=0.50) and weakly with Harvey Bradshaw Index (ρ=0.34). The IBD-disk total score >30 predicted high IBD daily-life burden. Conclusions: The IBD-disk accurately predicts the daily life burden and parallels disease activity in patients with IBD and can be applied in clinical practice. (Intest Res, Published online)

Gut dysbiosis can result in several diseases, including infections (Clostridium difficile infection and infectious gastroenteritis), autoimmune diseases (inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, and allergic disorders), behavioral disorders and other conditions like metabolic syndrome and functional gastrointestinal disorders. Amongst various therapies targeting gut microbiome, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is becoming a focus in the public media and peer reviewed literature. We have been using FMT for induction of remission in patients with moderate to severe active ulcerative colitis (UC) and also for subsequent maintenance of remission. Four cases reported incidental benefits while being treated with FMT for UC. These included weight loss (n=1), improvement in hair loss (n=1), amelioration of axial arthritis (n=1) and improvement in allergic rhinitis (n=1), thereby suggesting potential clinical applications of FMT in treating extraintestinal diseases associated with gut dysbiosis.

Background/Aims: Opioid-induced bowel dysfunction includes nausea, vomiting, constipation and abdominal distension. We describe patients presenting with gastrointestinal (GI) ulcers and ulcerated strictures secondary to opioid abuse, an entity not well described in literature. Methods: This retrospective observational study included patients with opioid abuse gastroenteropathy presenting to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, India between January 2013 and December 2018. Opioid abuse gastroenteropathy was defined as gastric or small bowel ulcers and ulcerated strictures in patients abusing opioids, where all other possible etiologies of GI ulcers/strictures were excluded. Clinical, biochemical, endoscopic, radiological and histological parameters as well as response to treatment were assessed. Results: During the study period, 20 patients (mean age, 38.5±14.2 years; 100% males) were diagnosed to have opioid induced GI ulcers and/or ulcerated strictures. The mean duration of opioid consumption was 6.2±3.4 years. The mean duration of symptoms at presentation was 222.1±392.3 days. Thirteen patients (65%) had gastroduodenal involvement, 6 (30%) had a jejunoileal disease and 1 (5%) had an ileocecal stricture. Two patients (10%) presented with upper GI bleeding, 11 (55%) had features of gastric outlet obstruction and 7 (35%) presented with small bowel obstruction. Abdominal pain and iron deficiency anemia were the most common presentations. Only 1 patient (5%) responded to proton pump inhibitors, 3 (15%) had a lasting response to endoscopic balloon dilatation, while all other (80%) required surgical intervention. Conclusions Opioid abuse gastroenteropathy presents as ulcers and ulcerated strictures which respond poorly to medical management and endoscopic balloon dilatation. A majority of these cases need surgical intervention.

Background/Aims: Exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) is recommended for induction of remission in pediatric Crohn’s disease (CD). However, it is not currently recommended for inducing remission in adults. This report describes the use of 12-week EEN for induction of remission in anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) refractory adult CD. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of adults with moderate to severe active (Crohn’s Disease Activity Index [CDAI] >220) anti-TNF refractory CD, who received EEN for 12 weeks between April 2018 and March 2019 at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, India. Primary outcomes included achievement of clinical remission and fistula healing at 12 weeks. Improvement in inflammatory markers and nutritional status were the secondary end points. Results: Out of 23 patients who received anti-TNF agents, 7 (30.4%) were refractory and were offered EEN as a salvage therapy. Six patients (66.7% females, mean age 25.6±6.5 years) consented. Four patients (66.6%) achieved clinical remission (CDAI <150). Mean CDAI of patients decreased significantly after 12 weeks of EEN (388.8±74.8 vs. 160.0±25.2, P<0.001). Perianal fistulas showed clinical response (drainage decreased by >50%), though none achieved remission. Entero-enteric fistulae showed complete healing. Mean body mass index improved from 15.6±3.1 to 18.9±1.9 kg/m2 at week 12 (P=0.003). Hemoglobin and serum albumin also improved from 8.2±1.1 g/dL and 2.8±0.3 g/dL at baseline to 12.6±0.6 g/dL and 3.6±0.5 g/dL post-EEN respectively (P<0.001 and P=0.006 respectively). Conclusions EEN appears to be an effective and well tolerated therapy for induction of remission in anti-TNF refractory adult CD. More data from prospective trials with larger number of patients is required.

Background/Aims: Infliximab (IFX) has been used to induce and maintain remission in patients with severe steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis (UC). Long-term use of biologics in developing countries is limited by high cost and frequent side effects. An optimal maintenance strategy in these patients needs to be established. Methods: A retrospective analysis of maintenance of clinical remission with combination of azathioprine (AZA) and 5-aminosalicylates (5-ASA) in patients with severe steroidrefractory UC where IFX (5 mg/kg intravenously at weeks 0, 2, 6) had been used only as an induction therapy was done at 2 centers in India. Primary outcome was the proportion of patients maintaining corticosteroid-free sustained clinical remission (SCR) at the end of study period. Rates of relapse and cost of therapy were also analyzed. Results: Of the 137 patients who received rescue IFX induction therapy, 77 (56.2%) achieved clinical remission (mean age 34.81 ± 13.32 years, 68.83% males, median follow-up 4 years, range 3 months to 6 years) and were included. Cumulative corticosteroid-free SCR was maintained in 68%, 59%, 42%, and 35% patients at 1, 2, 4, and 6 years respectively. Sixty-seven relapses were observed in 33 patients. Majority of the relapses (45/67, 67.16%) occurred within first 2 years of follow-up. Two relapses were managed with re-induction with IFX, one required colectomy, whereas all other responded to repeat course(s) of corticosteroids. Annual per capita maintenance therapy with 5-ASA and AZA was cheaper by US$ 4,526 compared to maintaining remission with IFX. Conclusions Clinical remission achieved with IFX induction therapy in severe steroid-refractory UC can be sustained over long time with a combination of AZA and 5-ASA.

Background/Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasingly being recognized in elderly patients. Data on clinical spectrum of elderly-onset IBD patients is lacking from India. Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of patients diagnosed with IBD was conducted at 2 centers in India. The clinical spectrum of elderly-onset IBD including demographic profile (age and sex), clinical presentation, disease characteristics (disease behavior and severity, extent of disease), and treatment were recorded and compared with adult-onset IBD. Results: During the study period, 3,922 (3,172 ulcerative colitis [UC] and 750 Crohn’s disease [CD]) patients with IBD were recorded in the database. A total of 186 patients (4.74%; 116 males [62.36%]) had elderly-onset IBD (69.35% UC and 30.64% CD). Diarrhea, blood in stools, nocturnal frequency and pain abdomen were the commonest presentations for UC, whereas pain abdomen, weight loss and diarrhea were the most frequent symptoms in CD. For both elderly onset UC and CD, majority of the patients had moderately severe disease. Left-sided colitis was the commonest disease location in UC. Isolated ileal disease and inflammatory behavior were the most common disease location and behavior, respectively in CD. 5-Aminosalicylates were the commonest prescribed drug for both elderly onset UC and CD. Thiopurines and biologics were used infrequently. Prevalence of colorectal cancer was higher in elderly onset IBD. Conclusions Elderly onset IBD is not uncommon in India. Both the elderly onset UC and CD were milder, with no significant differences in disease characteristics (disease extent, location and behavior) when compared to adult-onset IBD. Colorectal cancer was more common in elderly onset IBD.

Background/Aims: Accurate assessment of disease activity is crucial for effective management and treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). This study evaluated the correlation between clinical, endoscopic, and histologic measures of disease activity in UC. Methods: Clinical, biochemical, endoscopic, and histologic disease activity was studied in 347 patients with UC. Agreements among various histologic classification systems, namely the Geboes Score (GS), Continuous GS, Nancy Index (NI), and Robarts Histopathology Index (RHI), were analyzed. The predictive accuracy of fecal calprotectin (FC) for endoscopic and histologic remission was assessed. Results: We demonstrate a fair to moderate correlation between clinical, endoscopic, and histologic measures of disease activity in UC. There was a robust concordance among GS, Continuous GS, NI, and RHI in distinguishing between patients in histologic remission or activity. The NI detected 75% of patients who met the remission criteria according to the RHI, whereas the RHI identified all patients in remission as defined by the NI. FC levels below 150 μg/g had >70% accuracy in predicting endoscopic remission. FC levels below 150 μg/g showed ≥80% accuracy, and FC levels below 100 μg/g demonstrated ≥ 85% accuracy in predicting histologic remission, regardless of the scoring index applied. Elevated FC levels were associated with both acute and chronic inflammatory infiltrates in biopsy samples. Conclusions FC is a reliable predictor of histologic remission, with higher accuracy at lower thresholds. The GS, Continuous GS, NI, and RHI demonstrate comparable performance. FC could help stratify patients’ need for colonoscopy for the assessment of endoscopic and histologic remission.