Robert Vanheuverzwyn

Anal Lesions in Hematologic Diseases

Of 514 patients hospitalized for miscellaneous hematologic diseases, 31 had severe anal lesions (6 per cent); these complications were most commonly observed in agranulocytosis, acute myeloid leukemia, and medullar aplasia. They included infiltration of the perianal area, ulceration, and abscesses. In 20 per cent of the 31 patients, the anal lesion was the first manifestation of the hematologic disease. In all instances, the prognosis of the condition was closely related to the type and severity of the underlying hematologic disease. Surgical therapy, which was applied to the majority of the abscesses, was followed in all instances by rapid symptomatic improvement and was never associated with local or general complications.

Interaction between azathioprine and aminosalicylates: an in vivo study in patients with Crohn's disease

SUMMARY Background: The inhibition of thiopurine methyltransferase activity, one of the enzymes responsible for azathioprine metabolism, by aminosalicylates has been described in an in vitro study. This could result in a higher risk of bone marrow depression when using the two drugs together. Aim: To investigate the in vivo interaction between azathioprine and aminosalicylates in quiescent Crohn’s disease by measuring 6-thioguanine nucleotide levels, thiopurine methyltransferase activity and the plasma levels of the acetylated metabolite of 5-aminosalicylic acid. Methods: Sixteen patients taking a stable dose of azathioprine, plus sulfasalazine or mesalazine, were enrolled and completed the study. They were not taking any drugs interfering with azathioprine metabolism. Four visits every 4 weeks were held over a 3-month period. Aminosalicylate administration was withdrawn after the second visit. At each visit, the blood cell count, inflammatory parameters, levels of 6-thioguanine nucleotide and the acetylated metabolite of 5-aminosalicylic acid and thiopurine methyltransferase activity were determined. Results: After aminosalicylate withdrawal, mean 6-thioguanine nucleotide levels decreased significantly from 148 pmol (57‐357 pmol) to 132 pmol (56‐247 pmol) per 8 · 10 8 red blood cells (Pa 0.027), without significant changes in thiopurine methyltransferase activity or biological parameters. Conclusions: This in vivo study favours the existence of an interaction between azathioprine and aminosalicylates through a mechanism which remains unclear. This drug‐drug interaction should be taken into account when using azathioprine and aminosalicylates

Apport de l'endoscopie dans la maladie de Crohn

Two types of endoscopic lesions are observed in Crohns disease (CD): active lesions or scars, frequently associated. Following their localization at different sites of the digestive tract, they are defining the type of disease. Ileo-colonoscopy is an important step of the initial characterization of the lesions, completed with biopsies helful for the differential diagnosis between CD and ulcerative colitis or infectious colitis An endoscopy is only repeated in front of a new clinical problem or when a change of treatment is required. In case of severe colitis, colonoscopy may detect septic lesions as well as deep ulcers indicating severe evolution with a bad prognosis. After surgery, in most of the cases ileocolonoscopy detects recurrent lesions whose severity is linked to an unfavourable clinical evolution and permits therapeutic adaptation. Since the risk of colorectal cancer in CD predominant in the colon is probaly underestimated, a systematic colonoscopy after 8 to 10 years of evolution should be performed for the screening of malignant lesions. Colonoscopy is also useful for the treatment of complications of CD, i. e. dilatation of benign strictures, as well as localization and treatment of distal bleeding. Upper digestive tract endoscopy, endosonography, enteroscopy, videocapsule and endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography are other contributive methods within the field of correct indications.