Adalimumab efficacy in enteropathic spondyloarthritis: A 12-mo observational multidisciplinary study

AIM To report adalimumab(Ada) efficacy on articulargastrointestinal disease and health-related quality of life(HRQo L) in patients with enteropathic spondyloarthritis(ES).METHODS A cohort of 52 patients with ES was evaluated in the departments of gastroenterology and internal medicine. At baseline, all patients underwent assessment by an integrated gastro-rheumatologic evaluation of articular and gastrointestinal activity, as well patient reported outcomes(PROs) of the HRQo L questionnaires. After this integrated evaluation and following a specific working flowchart, the Ada anti-tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-inhibitor was assigned to a cohort of 30 patients and its clinical efficacy was evaluated at baseline and after 6-mo and 12-mo treatment by the following tests:(1) Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity ScoreC-Reactive Protein(ASDAS-CRP); Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index(BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index(BASFI) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index(BASMI) for articular activity;(2) Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire(IBDQ), Crohn's Disease Activity Index(CDAI) and partial Mayo(p Mayo) score for gastrointestinal symptoms and activity; and(3) Health Assessment Questionnaire(HAQ), Patient Global Assessment(PGA) and Short Form-36 health survey(SF-36) questionnaires for PROs of the HRQo L.RESULTS Integrated evaluation and management of the patients affected by ES, carried out simultaneously by a gastroenterologist and a rheumatologist, allowed clinicians to choose the optimal therapeutic strategy. In a cohort of 30 ES patients affected by active articular and gastrointestinal disease, or axial active articular inflammation, Ada led to fast and sustained improvement of both articular and gastrointestinal disease activities. In fact, all the clinimetric evaluation tests exploring articular or gastrointestinal activity, as well as all the HRQo L scores, showed a significant improvement having been achieved at the earliest(6-mo) assessment. This important clinical improvement was maintained at the 12-mo follow-up. Importantly, global and gastrointestinal quality of life significantly correlated with articular disease activity, providing evidence to support that the integrated evaluation is the best option to manage patients with ES.CONCLUSION Ada treatment, upon multidisciplinary(gastrorheumatologic) evaluation, significantly improves both articular and gastrointestinal inflammation, thereby improving the HRQo L in patients affected by ES.

Small bowel diverticulitis with severe anemia and abdominal pain

The current case report is related to a male patient with diabetes, obesity [body mass index(BMI) 33], hypertension and recurrence of anemia associated to melena and deep asthenia. M.P., a 60-year-old obese individual, was referred to our department by the primary care unit(PCU) of our hospital for severe anemia(Hemoglobin 6.5 g/d L) associated to episodes of melena and abdominal pain. In the past 5 mo the patient referred to the local hospital 3 times for episodes of melena(hemoglobin levels showed anemia 9.8 g/d L) but the main gastroenterological exams were completely negative(colonoscopy and gastroscopy). The PCU of our Hospital, after stabilization of the main parameters and blood transfusion for the low levels of hemoglobin, referred the patient to gastroenterologists: the patient was subjected to both colonoscopy and gastroscopy that were negative. Due to the condition of acute severe hemorrhage the patient, during the first 3 h from the access to the PCU, was subjected to arteriography that did not reveal any hemorrhagic foci or vascular alterations. The video capsule for the study of the small bowel showed the presence of blood beginning from the third portion of duodenum but deep gastroscopy did not reveal it. The patient was then subjected to double balloon endoscopy that revealed a severe diverticulosis of the small bowel with blood from the diverticula. The entero-tomografia computerizzata confirmed the diagnosis and revealed an extension of the diverticula for almost the entire small bowel(no diverticula in the colon). The patient was subjected to wide spectrum antibiotic therapy with resolution of the symptoms and stabilization of hemoglobin levels. The surgeon suggests no indication to surgery for the wide area involved from the disease and potential high risk of complication due to the high BMI. At home, the patient started a monthly therapy with rifaximin and probiotics associated to mesalazine. At present, after 12 mo from the last episode of hemorrhage, the patient is in good clinical condition, reduced his body weight of about 7 kg and the hemoglobin levels appear in slow progressive increase(last measurement 13.2 g/d L).