Saransh Jain

Familial aggregation of inflammatory bowel disease in patients with ulcerative colitis

Background/Aims Familial occurrence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is well documented. Reports from Western countries have shown a higher familial occurrence of ulcerative colitis (UC) in first- and second-degree relatives than that in the Asian UC population. No data are currently available from the Indian subcontinent in this regard. We present our data on the familial aggregation of UC. Methods Records of patients with UC followed at the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinic at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi from August 2004 to January 2016 were reviewed. Details regarding the prevalence of family history and characteristics of these patients were recorded. Affected family members were contacted and disease characteristics were noted for assessment of familial aggregation. Results Of the 2,058 UC patients included in the analysis, a positive family history of IBD was confirmed in 31 patients (1.5%), 24 (77.4%) of whom had only first-degree relatives affected. All the affected relatives had UC and none had Crohns disease. Among first-degree relatives, siblings were found to have the highest prevalence of IBD (53.3%), followed by parents (26.7%). Conclusions The probability of occurrence of IBD in family members of affected North Indian UC patients is lower than that reported in Western populations.

Interleukin-6 significantly improves predictive value of systemic inflammatory response syndrome for predicting severe acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND Predicting severe acute pancreatitis (AP) is important for triage, prognosis, and designing therapeutic trials. Persistent systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) predicts severe AP but its diagnostic accuracy is suboptimal. Our objective was to study if cytokine levels could improve the predictive value of clinical variables for the development of severe AP. METHODS Consecutive patients with AP were included in a prospective cohort study at a tertiary care center. Serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, MCP-1, GM-CSF and IL-1β were measured at day 3 of onset of AP. Variables such as age, co-morbidity, etiology, SIRS, and cytokines were modeled to predict severe AP by multivariable regression analysis. Genotyping was done to correlate IL-6, TNF-α and MCP-1 gene polymorphisms with cytokine levels. RESULTS Of 236 patients with AP, 115 patients admitted within 7 days of onset formed the study group. 37 of the 115 (32%) patients developed organ failure. Independent predictors of organ failure were persistent SIRS (OR 34; 95% CI: 7.2-159) and day 3 serum IL-6 of >160 pg/ml (OR 16.1; 95% CI:1.8-142). IL-6 gene (-174 G/C) GG genotype was associated with significantly higher levels of IL-6 compared to CC/CG genotype. Serum IL-6 >160 pg/ml increased the positive predictive value of persistent SIRS from 56% to 85% and specificity from 64% to 95% for predicting OF without compromising its sensitivity and negative predictive value. CONCLUSION Serum IL-6 of >160 ng/ml added significantly to the predictive value of SIRS for severe AP.

Predictors of long-term outcomes in patients with acute severe colitis: A Northern Indian cohort study

Knowledge of long‐term outcomes following an index episode of acute severe colitis (ASC) can help informed decision making at a time of acute exacerbation especially when colectomy is an option. We aimed to identify long‐term outcomes and their predictors after a first episode of ASC in a large North Indian cohort.

Combination of increased visceral fat and long segment involvement: Development and validation of an updated imaging marker for differentiating Crohn's disease from intestinal tuberculosis: Updated imaging marker in differentiating CD and ITB

Computed tomographic (CT) features (long segment, ileocaecal area involvement, and lymph nodes > 1 cm) have demonstrated good specificity but poor sensitivity, while visceral to subcutaneous fat ratio on CT (VF/SC > 0.63) has moderate sensitivity and specificity in differentiating Crohns disease (CD) and intestinal tuberculosis (ITB). This study aims to develop and validate an updated model incorporating CT features and VF/SC to improve the diagnostic accuracy of imaging in differentiating CD/ITB.

Are Truelove and Witts criteria for diagnosing acute severe colitis relevant for the Indian population? A prospective study

Background/Aims Truelove and Witts criteria have been used to define acute severe colitis since the 1950s. However, hemoglobin (an additional criterion of the definition) levels in the general population in developing countries are lower than in the population of developed countries. We aimed to determine the relevance of Truelove and Witts criteria in the Indian population. Methods Consecutive patients with acute severe colitis satisfying the Truelove and Witts criteria, hospitalized at a single center between April 2015 and December 2016 were included. All patients received intravenous corticosteroids and 16 required colectomy. The hemoglobin levels at admission were subsequently excluded from the classification criteria, and the effect this had on the criteria for diagnosis was determined. Results Out of 61 patients of acute severe colitis diagnosed according to the original Truelove and Witts criteria, 12 patients (20%) had 1 additional criterion, 33 (54%) had 2 additional criteria and 16 (26%) had 3 or more additional criteria in addition to 6 or more blood stained stools on admission. On excluding hemoglobin as an additional criterion from the Truelove and Witts definition, all patients still met the criteria for acute severe colitis. Conclusions Truelove and Witts criteria can be used to define acute severe colitis in India, despite lower mean hemoglobin in the native population.

High risk of tuberculosis during infliximab therapy despite tuberculosis screening in inflammatory bowel disease patients in India

Background/Aims The data on the risk of tuberculosis (TB) reactivation with infliximab (IFX) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from TB endemic countries, like India, is limited. The risk of TB reactivation on IFX and its predictors in patients with IBD was assessed. Methods This retrospective review included consecutive patients with IBD who received IFX, and were on follow-up from January 2005 to November 2017. The data was recorded on age/disease duration, indications for IFX, screening for latent tuberculosis (LTB) before IFX, response to IFX, incidence and duration when TB developed after IFX, and type of TB (pulmonary [PTB]/extra-pulmonary [EPTB]/disseminated). Results Of 69 patients (22 ulcerative colitis/47 Crohn’s disease; mean age, 35.6±14.5 years; 50.7% males; median follow-up duration after IFX, 19 months [interquartile range, 5.5–48.7 months]), primary non-response at 8 weeks and secondary loss of response at 26 and 52 weeks were seen in 14.5%, 6% and 15% patients respectively. Prior to IFX, all patients were screened for LTB, 8 (11.6%) developed active TB (disseminated, 62.5%; EPTB, 25%; PTB, 12.5%) after a median of 19 weeks (interquartile range, 14.0–84.5 weeks) of IFX. Of these 8 patients’ none had LTB, even when 7 of 8 were additionally screened with contrast-enhanced chest tomography. Though not statistically significant, more patients with Crohn’s disease than ulcerative colitis (14.9% vs. 4.5%, P=0.21), and those with past history of TB (25% vs. 9.8%, P=0.21), developed TB. Age, gender, disease duration, or extraintestinal manifestations could not predict TB reactivation. Conclusions There is an extremely high rate of TB with IFX in Indian patients with IBD. Current screening techniques are ineffective and it is difficult to predict TB after IFX.

Dislodged hood stuck in submucosal tunnel: retrieval during peroral endoscopic myotomy

A 42-year-old man with type II achalasia cardia underwent peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) by posterior approach. The procedure was started using a gastroscope fitted with a conical hood (DH28GR, Fujifilm, Tokyo, Japan). The gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) was tight when the scope reached the lower end during the creation of the submucosal tunnel. The scope was maneuvered to pass beyond the GEJ. However, the hood became stuck at the tight GEJ and slipped off the gastroscope. During an attempt to remove the hood using a rat-tooth forceps, one portion of the hood chipped off (▶Fig. 1). The hood was tightly stuck in the submucosal tunnel and the mucosa prolapsed inside the tunnel (▶Fig. 2). Forceful removal of the hood could have caused mucosal injury. We decided to proceed with myotomy to decrease the pressure in the submucosal tunnel and create more space. Myotomy was continued until we reached the hood and was carefully extended between the muscle and the hood (▶Fig. 3). The hood immediately became loose and was removed using a rat-tooth forceps (▶Fig. 4, ▶Video1). The submucosal tunnel was extended beyond the GEJ and the myotomy was completed. The patient made an uneventful recovery. This case illustrates that the hood can become dislodged in the submucosal tunnel during POEM and can usually be removed easily [1]. However, if it becomes difficult to remove the hood, as in the present case, myotomy should be carefully performed posteriorly to the hood, which should relieve the pressure in the tunnel and loosen the hood in the submucosal space. One should catch the hood from the mucosal side in order to avoid the prolapse of mucosa around the hood and to facilitate hood removal. Pulling the dislodged hood into the replacement hood will aid safe removal, as for the removal of a foreign body.

Infected Pancreatic Necrosis due to Multidrug-Resistant Organisms and Persistent Organ failure Predict Mortality in Acute Pancreatitis

Background: Organ failure determines outcome in acute pancreatitis (AP). It is controversial if infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is also an independent determinant of mortality. We hypothesized that the predictors of mortality in AP might have changed with advances in management and consequent decline in mortality over the past decades. Our objective was to study the predictors of mortality in patients with AP. Methods: Consecutive patients with a first episode of AP hospitalized from January 2015 to December 2016 were included in an observational study. Patients with IPN were treated with a conservative first approach followed by intervention. Necrosectomy, if required, was delayed beyond 4 weeks and done primarily employing minimally invasive techniques. The primary outcome measure was independent predictors of in‐hospital mortality. Results: Of 209 patients with AP, 81 (39%) had persistent organ failure (OF) and 108 (52%) developed IPN. Overall, 46/209 (22%) patients died. Independent predictors of mortality were OF (odds ratio [OR]19; 95% CI: 6.1–58.8), and IPN due to infection with multidrug resistant (MDR) organisms (OR: 8.4; 95% CI:3.1–22.5). Infected pancreatic necrosis by itself was not found to be a significant predictor of mortality (OR 2; 95% CI: 0.4–9.5). Conclusion: Persistent OF and complicated IPN due to MDR infection were independent predictors of mortality in patients with AP. Renewed efforts to prevent MDR infection with antibiotic stewardship and strategies for early control of sepsis are urgently required.

Urinary potassium is a potential biomarker of disease activity in Ulcerative colitis and displays in vitro immunotolerant role

We evaluated the in-vitro effect of potassium on CD4+ T cells and the role of urinary potassium as a potential biomarker of disease activity in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). This prospective observational cohort study included healthy controls (n = 18) and UC patients [n = 30, median age: 40 (IQR: 28–46) years, 17 males)] with active disease(assessed by Mayo score) from September 2015–May 2016. Twenty-four hours urinary potassium along with fecal calprotectin (FCP) were estimated in UC patients (at baseline and follow-up after 3–6 months) and controls. In healthy volunteers, we also assessed the effect of potassium on CD4+ T cells differentiated in the presence of Th17 polarizing condition. UC patients had significantly higher FCP (368.2 ± 443.04 vs 12.44 ± 27.51, p < 0.001) and significantly lower urinary potassium (26.6 ± 16.9 vs 46.89 ± 35.91, p = 0.01) levels than controls. At follow-up, a significant increase in urinary potassium among patients who had clinical response [n = 22, 21.4 (14.4–39.7) to 36.5 (20.5–61.6), p = 0.04] and remission [n = 12, 18.7 (9.1–34.3) to 36.5 (23.4–70.5), p = 0.05] was accompanied with a parallel decline in FCP. On in-vitro analysis, potassium under Th17 polarizing conditions significantly inhibited IL-17 and interferon-