Julie A. Cornish

A Meta-analysis on the Influence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease on Pregnancy

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has a typical onset during the peak reproductive years. Evidence of the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in IBD is important for the management of pregnancy to assist in its management. Aim: To provide a clear assessment of risk of adverse outcomes during pregnancy in women with IBD. Design: The Medline literature was searched to identify studies reporting outcomes of pregnancy in patients with IBD. Random-effect meta-analysis was used to compare outcomes between women with IBD and normal controls. Patients and setting: A total of 3907 patients with IBD (Crohn’s disease 1952 (63%), ulcerative colitis 1113 (36%)) and 320 531 controls were reported in 12 studies that satisfied the inclusion criteria. Results: For women with IBD, there was a 1.87-fold increase in incidence of prematurity (<37 weeks gestation; 95% CI 1.52 to 2.31; p<0.001) compared with controls. The incidence of low birth weight (<2500 g) was over twice that of normal controls (95% CI 1.38 to 3.19; p<0.001). Women with IBD were 1.5 times more likely to undergo caesarean section (95% CI 1.26 to 1.79; p<0.001), and the risk of congenital abnormalities was found to be 2.37-fold increased (95% CI 1.47 to 3.82; p<0.001). Conclusion: The study has shown a higher incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with IBD. Further studies are required to clarify which women are at higher risk, as this was not determined in the present study. This has an effect on the management of patients with IBD during pregnancy, who should be treated as a potentially high-risk group.

The Risk of Oral Contraceptives in the Etiology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES:Several environmental and genetic factors have been implicated to date in the development of Crohns disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this study was to provide a quantification of the risk of oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use in the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease.METHODS:A literature search was performed to identify comparative studies reporting on the association of oral contraceptive use in the etiology of UC and CD between 1983 and 2007. A random-effect meta-analysis was used to compare the incidence of UC or CD between the patients exposed to the OCP and nonexposed patients. The results were adjusted for smoking.RESULTS:A total of 75,815 patients were reported on by 14 studies, with 36,797 exposed to OCP and 39,018 nonexposed women. The pooled relative risk (RR) for CD for women currently taking the OCP was 1.51 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17–1.96, P = 0.002), and 1.46 (95% CI 1.26–1.70, P < 0.001), adjusted for smoking. The RR for UC in women currently taking the OCP was 1.53 (95% CI 1.21–1.94, P = 0.001), and 1.28 (95% CI 1.06–1.54, P = 0.011), adjusted for smoking. The RR for CD increased with the length of exposure to OCP. Moreover, although the RR did not reduce once the OCP was stopped, it was no longer significant once the OCP was stopped (CI contains 1), both for CD and for UC.CONCLUSIONS:This study provides evidence of an association between the use of oral contraceptive agents and development of IBD, in particular CD. The study also suggests that the risk for patients who stop using the OCP reverts to that of the nonexposed population.

The effect of restorative proctocolectomy on sexual function, urinary function, fertility, pregnancy and delivery: a systematic review.

PurposeThis study was designed to evaluate the effect of restorative proctocolectomy on sexual function, urinary function, fertility, pregnancy, and delivery in patients with ulcerative colitis.MethodsA systematic literature search was performed of articles published between 1980 and 2005 on patients undergoing restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis reporting data on the outcomes of interest. A random-effect, meta-analytical model was used for pooled estimates and 95 percent confidence intervals.ResultsA total of 22 studies, with 1,852 females, were included. Infertility rate was 12 percent before restorative proctocolectomy and 26 percent after, among 945 patients in seven studies. The incidence of sexual dysfunction was 8 percent preoperatively and 25 percent postoperatively (7 studies, n = 419). Two studies (n = 62) reported no urinary dysfunction in patients undergoing restorative proctocolectomy. There was an increased incidence of cesarean section after restorative proctocolectomy. During the third trimester of pregnancy, there was an increase in stool frequency by 1.15 stools per day compared with before pregnancy frequency (n = 49 95 percent confidence interval, 0.28–2.03 P = 0.01 chi-squared statistic, 0.04 P = 0.84). No significant differences were seen in pouch function after vaginal delivery (n = 456; weighted mean difference, 0.23; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.43–0.88; P = 0.49; chi-squared statistic, 1.29; P = 0.26).ConclusionsThe incidence of dyspareunia increases after restorative proctocolectomy. There was a decrease in fertility after restorative proctocolectomy. Pregnancy after restorative proctocolectomy was not associated with an increase in complications. There was an increase in stool frequency and pad usage during the third trimester. Vaginal delivery is safe after restorative proctocolectomy. Pouch function after delivery returns to pregestational function within six months.

Meta-analysis: alvimopan vs. placebo in the treatment of post-operative ileus

Alvimopan is a selective, competitive μ‐opioid receptor antagonist with limited oral bioavailability which may be used to reduce length of post‐operative ileus.

Surgical strategies for faecal incontinence--a decision analysis between dynamic graciloplasty, artificial bowel sphincter and end stoma.

Background Artificial bowel sphincter (ABS) and dynamic graciloplasty (DG) are surgical treatments for faecal incontinence (FI). FI may affect quality of life (QOL) so severely that patients are often willing to consider a permanent end stoma (ES). It is unclear which is the more cost‐effective strategy.

Female infertility following restorative proctocolectomy.

Aim  Females of child‐bearing age have been reported to have a two to three‐fold increase in infertility after restorative proctocolectomy (RPC). This study aimed to assess aspects of infertility and pregnancy.

Study of sexual, urinary, and fecal function in females following restorative proctocolectomy

Background: The aim was to investigate quality of life, sexual, fecal, and urinary function in females undergoing restorative proctocolectomy (RPC). Methods: A prospective case–control study was performed in two tertiary centers. Controls were females with ulcerative colitis, without a stoma or RPC. Validated questionnaires (SF‐36, Female sexual function index, Kings questionnaire, and the Wexner scale) were administered in the outpatient setting. Pearson chi2, t‐test, and Mann–Whitney U‐tests were used to assess significance. Results: A total of 255 females were identified and 49% (n = 124) recruited. In all, 109 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria: 55 (50.5%) inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); 54 (49.5%) RPC. The mean age of RPC patients was 41.8 years (± 12.7 SD) vs. 43.8 years (± 15.8) for IBD (P = 0.491). RPC females with urinary symptoms (urgency, frequency, or incontinence) were 10 years younger than IBD (RPC mean age 37.6 ± 7.3 years vs. IBD 47.4 ± 13.5; P = 0.044). Urgency in fecal function was experienced by more IBD patients (IBD 75.0% vs. RPC 47.9%; P = 0.006), although RPC patients had increased day (P < 0.001) and night bowel frequency (P < 0.001) and were more likely to experience night seepage (P = 0.001). RPC females who had a vaginal delivery (VD) were more likely to have day seepage (P = 0.046) and require pads (P = 0.026) than RPC females who had not undergone VD. There was no significant difference in sexual function. Conclusions: RPC may adversely impact urinary function in female patients over time. Bowel frequency, seepage, and pad usage are increased following RPC and function may be worse following VD. RPC does not adversely affect overall sexual function. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2012;)