Daniela De Nitto

High Incidence of Celiac Disease in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis

Objective. To evaluate the presence of celiac disease in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). The association of autoimmune diseases with celiac disease has been reported, but few publications deal with the combination of SSc and celiac disease. Methods. We investigated the presence of anti-tissue transglutaminase (anti-tTG) antibodies and serum antiendomysial antibodies (anti-EMA) in 50 patients with SSc. All subjects were on a gluten-containing diet. Duodenal mucosa histology and biopsy culture were performed in anti-tTG-positive patients; anti-EMA and IgA, IgG1 anti-tTG were detected in culture supernatants. Results. The incidence of celiac disease in patients with SSc was found to be 8%. Serum anti-tTG antibody-positive results were detectable in 5 out of 50 patients with SSc, but only in 4 of them was the diagnosis confirmed by histological results (Marsh classification). Conclusion. Our data show an increased prevalence of celiac disease in patients with SSc.

A randomized trial comparing 4.8 vs. 2.4 g/day of oral mesalazine for maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND Mesalazine is used as maintenance therapy in ulcerative colitis but the optimal dosage is still controversial. AIM To compare the remission-maintenance efficacy and tolerability of two daily doses of oral mesalazine (4.8 g and 2.4 g) in patients with ulcerative colitis with frequent relapses in a randomized controlled trial. METHODS 112 ulcerative colitis patients in remission were enrolled and randomly allocated to treatment for 1 year with oral mesalazine at a daily dose of 4.8 g (n=56, Group A) or 2.4 g (n=56, Group B). RESULTS At the end of the 12 months, intention to treat analysis revealed persistent remission in 42 (75%) in Group A and 36 (64.2%) in Group B (p=0.3). The higher daily dose (4.8 g) proved to be significantly more effective for maintaining remission in patients under 40 years of age (90.5% Group A vs. 50% Group B; Fishers exact test, p=0.0095) and in those with extensive disease (90.9% Group A vs. 46.7% Group B; Fishers exact test, p=0.0064). CONCLUSIONS In ulcerative colitis patients younger than 40 years and/or with extensive disease, a daily dose of 4.8 g oral mesalazine results in increased rates and duration of remission compared to 2.4 g.