Endoscopic ultrasound diagnostic gain over computed tomography and magnetic resonance cholang-iopancreatography in defining etiology of idiopathic acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND About 10%-30%of acute pancreatitis remain idiopathic(IAP)even after clinical and imaging tests,including abdominal ultrasound(US),contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CECT)and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography(MRCP).This is a relevant issue,as up to 20%of patients with IAP have recurrent episodes and 26%of them develop chronic pancreatitis.Few data are available on the role of EUS in clarifying the etiology of IAP after failure of one or more cross-sectional techniques.AIM To evaluate the diagnostic gain after failure of one or more previous crosssectional exams.METHODS We retrospectively collected data about consecutive patients with AP and at least one negative test between US,CECT and MRCP,who underwent linear EUS between January 2017 and December 2020.We investigated the EUS diagnostic yield and the EUS diagnostic gain over different combinations of these crosssectional imaging techniques for the etiologic diagnosis of AP.Types and frequency of EUS diagnosis were also analyzed,and EUS diagnosis was compared with the clinical parameters.After EUS,patients were followed-up for a median of 31.5 mo to detect cases of pancreatitis recurrence.RESULTS We enrolled 81 patients(63%males,mean age 61±18,23%with previous cholecystectomy,17%with recurrent pancreatitis).Overall EUS diagnostic yield for AP etiological diagnosis was 79%(20%lithiasis,31%acute on chronic pancreatitis,14%pancreatic solid or cystic lesions,5%pancreas divisum,5%autoimmune pancreatitis,5%ductal abnormalities),while 21%remained idiopathic.US,CECT and MRCP,taken alone or in combination,led to AP etiological diagnosis in 16(20%)patients;among the remaining 65 patients,49(75%)obtained a diagnosis at EUS,with an overall EUS diagnostic gain of 61%.Sixty-eight patients had negative US;among them,EUS allowed etiological diagnosis in 59(87%).Sixty-three patients had a negative CECT;among them,47(74%)obtained diagnosis with EUS.Twenty-four had a negative MRCP;among them,20(83%)had EUS diagnosis.Twenty-one had negative CT+MRCP,of which 17(81%)had EUS diagnosis,with a EUS diagnostic gain of 63%.Patients with biliary etiology and without previous cholecystectomy had higher median values of alanine aminotransferase(154 vs 25,P=0.010),aspartate aminotransferase(95 vs 29,P=0.018),direct bilirubin(1.2 vs 0.6,P=0.015),gammaglutamyl transpeptidase(180 vs 48,P=0.006)and alkaline phosphatase(150 vs 72,P=0.015)Chronic pancreatitis diagnosis was more frequent in patients with recurrent pancreatitis at baseline(82%vs 21%,P<0.001).During the follow-up,AP recurred in 3 patients,one of which remained idiopathic.CONCLUSION EUS is a good test to define AP etiology.It showed a 63%diagnostic gain over CECT+MRCP.In suitable patients,EUS should always be performed in cases of IAP.Further prospective studies are needed.

Carrier frequency of HLA-DQB1*02 allele in patients affected with celiac disease:A systematic review assessing the potential rationale of a targeted allelic genotyping as a first-line screening

BACKGROUND Celiac Disease(CD)is an immune-mediated disorder,in which the HLA immunogenetic background(DQ2 and DQ8 heterodimers)and environmental trigger(gluten)are well established.Indeed,both factors are necessary–but not sufficient–to develop CD.However,it is very likely that CD is underdiagnosed in both developing and developed countries,due to several aspects,including the fact that a lot of patients present mild and/or atypical symptoms,without the presence of any recognized risk factors.Therefore,the possibility and feasibility of widened screening strategies to identify CD patients are debated.AIM To provide further evidence of the main epidemiological importance of HLADQB1*02 allele in the population of CD patients.METHODS We performed a systematic search in PubMed,EMBASE,Cochrane,Web of Science and Scopus databases,in order to produce a systematic review assessing the carrier frequency of HLA-DQB1*02 allele in the celiac population.Following the PRISMA guidelines,we retrieved all the original articles describing CD patients’HLA-DQB1 genotype in such a way that could allow to assess the HLADQB1*02 carrier frequency among CD patients,along with the evidence of the appropriate diagnostic work-up to achieve a correct and final diagnosis of CD.RESULTS The final output of this systematic search in the medical literature consisted of 38 studies providing the appropriate HLA-DQB1 genotype information of the respective CD population.According to this systematic review,including a pool of 4945 HLA-DQ genotyped CD patients,the HLA-DQB1*02 carrier frequency was 94.94%,meaning that only 5.06%of CD patients were completely lacking this allelic variant.Interestingly,if we consider only the studies whereby the prevalence of CD patients affected with type 1 diabetes mellitus was supposed or clearly established to be very low,the frequency of non-HLA-DQB1*02 carriers among CD patients dropped to 3.65%.CONCLUSION Such a high carrier frequency of the HLA-DQB1*02 allelic variant(which is>95%-96%in CD patients without risk factors,like type 1 diabetes mellitus comorbidity)might be exploited to consider a cost-effective and widened screening approach.If a sustainable strategy could be implemented through a low-cost targeted genetic test to detect the individual presence of HLA-DQB1*02 allele,an appropriate algorithm for serological screening in individuals resulting to be genetically predisposed to CD,might be considered.

SARS-CoV-2 in inflammatory bowel disease population:Antibodies,disease and correlation with therapy

BACKGROUND Guidelines recommend to cease inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)biologic therapy during coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).AIM To investigate severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)antibody positivity in an IBD cohort,COVID-19 disease severity and to evaluate the correlation with clinical/therapeutic variables.METHODS Prospective observational cohort study.IBD patients were tested for SARS-CoV-2 IgG.Data on COVID-19 disease,demographics/therapeutics and clinical features of the IBD population were collected.IgG≥7 was set for SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity.Throat swab was performed in cases of IgG positivity.Correlations between antibody positivity or COVID-19 symptoms and therapeutic/clinical data were assessed.RESULTS In total,103 IBD patients were enrolled.Among them,18.4%had IgG≥7.Multivariate analysis of antibody positivity correlated only with IBD treatment.For IgG≥7,the odds ratio was 1.44 and 0.16 for azathioprine and mesalazine,respectively,vs biologic drugs(P=0.0157 between them).COVID-19 related symptoms were reported in 63%of patients with IgG positivity.All but one patient with COVID-19 symptoms did not require ceasing IBD treatment or hospitalization. IBDtreatment and body mass index correlated with COVID-19 disease development with symptoms.CONCLUSIONThe IBD population does not have a higher risk of severe COVID-19. The relative risk of havingSARS-CoV-2 antibodies and symptoms was higher for patients taking azathioprine, then biologictherapy and lastly mesalazine. None of the patients under biologic therapy developed severeCOVID-19.