OBJECTIVETo investigated the involvement of pulmonary function impairment in ulcerative colitis (UC), to explore a scientific basis for the Chinese medicine (CM) theory of exterior-interior correlation between Lung (Fei) and Large intestine (Dachang).

METHODSTotally 120 patients with a diagnosis of UC were recruited and the demographics, clinical data, and blood samples were collected. C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) concentrations were measured. Every patient accepted pulmonary function test and took chest radiograph (CXR).> RESULTS: Pulmonary function abnormalities were present in 72 of 120 patients. The median (interquartile range) vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV), carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DL) of lung, total lung capacity (TLC) and functional residual volume (FRV) were decreased in distal UC and pancolitis compared with ulcerative prochitis (P <0.0005). Male patients had increased VC, FEV/FVC, and residual volume (RV)/TLC compared with female (P <0.0005), but decreased DLand carbon monoxide iffusion capacity (K) of lung/alveolar ventilation (P <0.0005). Age was strongly correlated with RV (Spearman rank correlation coefficient (rs)=-0.57,P <0.0001), and RV/TLC (rs=0.48,P<0.0001). Age was also correlated with FEV/FVC (rs=-0.29, P=0.001), forced expiratory flow in 75% vital capacity (FEF75%, rs=-0.20, P=0.03), DL(rs=-0.21, P=0.02), TLC (rs=-0.25, P=0.006), and FRV (rs=-0.28, P=0.002). The course of disease was correlated with FEF75% (rs=-0.18, P=0.049) and K(rs=-0.19, P=0.036). Chest radiograph abnormalities were presented in 38 of 120. Pulmonary symptoms were presented in 10 of 120. Other extraintestinal complications were presented in 21 of 120.

CONCLUSIONSPulmonary function impairment was more frequently than other extraintestinal complications in UC patients, which may be affected by sex, age, extent and course of disease. These results may be a scientific basis for the theory of exterior-interior correlation between Lung and Large intestine.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age of Onset ; Aged ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; complications ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Colon ; pathology ; Demography ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; complications ; pathology ; Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been increasing worldwide. The characteristics of pediatric-onset IBD have mainly been reported in Western countries. We investigated the clinical characteristics of pediatric IBD in Korea and compared these with the data from the 5-year European multicenter study of children with new-onset IBD (EUROKIDS registry). METHODS: Children who were diagnosed with IBD between July 1987 and January 2012 were investigated at five Korean university hospitals. Their clinical characteristics were retrospectively evaluated by medical record review. The results were compared with the EUROKIDS data. RESULTS: A total of 30 children with Crohn's disease (CD) and 33 children with ulcerative colitis (UC) were enrolled. In comparison with the EUROKIDS group, Korean pediatric IBD patients showed a male predominance (86.7% vs 59.2%, p=0.002 in CD; 75.8% vs 50%, p=0.003 in UC). Korean pediatric CD patients had a higher prevalence of terminal ileal disease (36.7% vs 16.3%, p=0.004) and perianal disease (33.3% vs 8.2%, p<0.001) than patients in the EUROKIDS group. Korean pediatric UC patients had a higher prevalence of proctitis than patients in the EUROKIDS group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the characteristics of Korean pediatric IBD patients and European pediatric IBD patients may be different.
Adolescent ; Anus Diseases/complications/epidemiology/pathology ; Child ; Colitis, Ulcerative/complications/epidemiology/*pathology ; Crohn Disease/complications/epidemiology/*pathology ; Europe/epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Ileal Diseases/complications/epidemiology/pathology ; Male ; Prevalence ; Proctitis/epidemiology/etiology ; Registries ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors

Ulcerative colitis is an idiopathic chronic inflammatory bowel disease and its incidence in Korea has rapidly increased over the past two decades. Since ulcerative colitis is associated with increased risk for colorectal cancer, annual or biannual colonoscopy with four quadrant random biopsies at every 10 cm segments has been recommended for surveillance of colitic cancer in patients with long standing left-sided or extensive colitis. Recent epidemiologic data and meta-analysis suggest that the increment of colorectal cancer risk in ulcerative colitis was not larger than that of previous studies. Moreover, in addition to the extent and duration of colitis, other risk factors such as family history of colorectal cancer, primary sclerosing cholangitis, stricture, pseudopolyps, and histologic severity of inflammation have been recognized. As a result, updated guidelines provide surveillance strategies adjusted to the individual patient's risk for colitic cancer. Regarding surveillance method, target biopsy under panchromoendoscopy is preferentially recommended rather than random biopsy.
Cholangitis, Sclerosing/complications ; Colitis, Ulcerative/*complications ; Colon/pathology ; Colorectal Neoplasms/epidemiology/*etiology ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/complications ; Polyps ; Risk Factors

No abstract available.
Amyloidosis/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Colitis, Ulcerative/diagnosis ; Colonoscopy ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/*etiology ; Heart Ventricles/radiography ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged

A 45-year-old-male who had underlying ulcerative colitis and presented with fever and dry cough. Initially, the patient was considered to have invasive aspergillosis due to a positive galactomannan assay. He was treated with amphotericin B followed by voriconazole. Nevertheless, the patient deteriorated clinically and radiographically. The lung biopsy revealed eosinophilic pneumonia, and ELISA for Toxocara antigen was positive, leading to a diagnosis of pulmonary toxocariasis. After a 10-day treatment course with albendazole and adjunctive steroids, the patient recovered completely without any sequelae. Pulmonary toxocariasis may be considered in patients with subacute or chronic pneumonia unresponsive to antibiotic agents, particularly in cases with eosinophilia.
Albendazole/therapeutic use ; Animals ; Anthelmintics/therapeutic use ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use ; Antigens, Helminth/analysis ; Colitis, Ulcerative/*complications ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Lung/pathology ; Lung Diseases, Parasitic/*diagnosis/*pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Aspergillosis/diagnosis/pathology ; Steroids/therapeutic use ; Toxocara/*isolation & purification ; Toxocariasis/*diagnosis/*pathology ; Treatment Outcome

Ulcerative colitis is a non-specific colorectal inflammation of unknown causes. It is now known to complicate the dangers of colorectal cancer more than was previously thought. Macrophages are an important part of immune system and play a positive role in immune reaction. But it has been shown that the phenotype and the function of macrophages change in the tumor microenvironment. Through their interaction with colorectal cancer cells and by releasing large quantities of cytokines, macrophages promote colorectal cancer cells by inhibiting angiogenesis and inhibit apoptosis. But the macrophages are also affected by cancer, interact with other inflammatory cells, and become immune suppressed. Thus the changes of macrophages are inseparable with colitis-associated colorectal carcinogenesis.
Carcinogenesis ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; immunology ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; complications ; immunology ; pathology ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; etiology ; immunology ; pathology ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Macrophages ; pathology

A case of hemophagocytic syndrome associated with ulcerative colitis is very rare. A 32-year-old man visited the hospital complaining of fever and severe abdominal pain for 7 days. He was diagnosed to have ulcerative colitis 2 years ago and had been treated with sulfasalazine. Three months ago, he had abdominal pain, weight loss, and hematochezia, so prednisolone and mercaptopurine were added to the treatment. On admission, the physical examination showed splenomegaly. Peripheral blood counts revealed pancytopenia, and bone marrow aspirate smears showed many histiocytes with active hemophagocytosis. There was no evidence of viral and bacterial infections and other neoplasms, which were commonly associated with hemophagocytic syndrome. He was successfully treated with high dose steroid. We report this case along with a review of the related literatures.
6-Mercaptopurine/therapeutic use ; Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use ; Bone Marrow Cells/pathology ; Colitis, Ulcerative/complications/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Colonoscopy ; Dexamethasone/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic/complications/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Male ; Prednisolone/therapeutic use ; Sulfasalazine/therapeutic use ; Syndrome ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Venous thrombosis and thromboembolism appear to occur more often in patient with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The cause of thrombotic complications in IBD is generally considered to be associated with hypercoagulable conditions. Its prevalence rate ranges from 1% to 8% in clinical studies and rises to 39% in autopsy, but the renal vein thrombosis is very rare complication in ulcerative colitis patient. A 24-year-old man presented with intermittent abdominal pain and hematochezia for 6 months and recently developed pitting edema for few weeks. He was diagnosed as severe ulcerative colitis involving whole colon combined with thrombosis in both renal veins by colonoscopy and computed tomography scan of abdomen. We used steroid for the treatment of ulcerative colitis and both intravenous lower molecular weight heparin and warfarin for renal vein thrombosis. His symptoms were improved after treatment and maintained with mesalazine and warfarin. Follow-up abdominal CT scan showed complete resolution of both renal vein thrombosis. Currently he has been followed up for 2 years with oral mesalazine.
Anticoagulants/therapeutic use ; Colitis, Ulcerative/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Colonoscopy ; Heparin/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Protein S/metabolism ; *Renal Veins ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Venous Thrombosis/complications/*diagnosis/radiography ; Warfarin/therapeutic use ; Young Adult

Inflammatory bowel disease often involves extra-intestinal organs. Cerebral thrombosis, portal vein thrombosis and pulmonary thrombosis have been reported. Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism are significant causes of mortality in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. A 48-year-old woman was diagnosed as inflammatory bowel disease on colonoscopy and histology. We used hydrocortisone and mesalazine for the treatment of disease. Nineteen days later, she complained of abrupt dyspnea. Pulmonary CT angiography revealed a thromboembolism in right pulmonary arteries. After the treatment of heparin therapy, follow-up pulmonary CT angiography showed significant improvement of previously thrombosed pulmonary arteries.
Acute Disease ; Colitis, Ulcerative/complications/*diagnosis ; Colonoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Embolism/*diagnosis/etiology/pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Autoimmunity is thought to play a central role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease and associated extraintestinal manifestations. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia associated with ulcerative colitis is a rare occurrence. No more than 50 cases have been described in the international literatures, and only 2 cases reported in Korea. A 29-year-old woman who was diagnosed as ulcerative colitis two years ago was complicated with autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and did not respond to steroid therapy. Ultimately, total colectomy and splenectomy were carried out for the treatment of ulcerative colitis and hemolytic anemia. After the operation, anemia was resolved. We present the case with a review of literature.
Adult ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune/*diagnosis/drug therapy/etiology ; Colectomy ; Colitis, Ulcerative/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Drug Resistance ; Female ; Humans ; Splenectomy ; Steroids/therapeutic use