Crohn's disease environmental factors in the developing world: A case-control study in a statewide catchment area in Brazil

To identify environmental risk factors associated with the development of Crohn’s disease (CD) in order to re-assess the hygiene hypothesis. METHODSA hospital-based, case-control study was carried out with CD patients (n = 145) and controls (n = 163) representing a socioeconomically diverse statewide catchment area in Brazil. Controls were recruited from caregivers of patients seen in different outpatient clinics at the same hospital. A multi-item survey with 94 questions regarding family history of CD, perinatal and childhood circumstances, living conditions, tobacco use and familial socioeconomic status was carried out by interviewers. RESULTSOn the univariate analysis, predictive variables for CD included being male, under age of 40, a high education level, urban dweller, smaller family size, exposure to enteric pathogens and user of treated water (P < 0.005). On the multivariate analysis, variables significantly associated with CD were male gender (OR = 2.09), under age 40 (OR = 3.10), white (OR = 2.32), from a small family in childhood (OR = 2.34) and adulthood (OR = 3.02), absence of viral infections in childhood (OR = 2.23), exposure to enteric pathogens (OR = 2.41), having had an appendectomy (OR = 2.47) and prior or current smoker (OR = 2.83/1.12). CONCLUSIONMost variables supporting the “hygiene hypothesis” are associated with the development of CD but are not independent predictors of the diagnosis.

Risk factors associated with inflammatory bowel disease: A multicenter case-control study in Brazil

BACKGROUND The etiology of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is unknown,but it is believed to be multifactorial.The hygiene hypothesis proposes that better hygiene conditions would lead to less infectious disease during childhood and favor the development of immune-mediated diseases.AIM To test the hygiene hypothesis in IBD by assessing the environmental risk factors associated with IBD development in different regions of Brazil with diverse socioeconomic development indices.METHODS A multicenter case-control study was carried out with 548 Crohn’s disease(CD)and 492 ulcerative colitis(UC)outpatients and 416 healthy controls,from six IBD centers within different Brazilian states at diverse socioeconomic development stages.A semi-structured questionnaire with 87 socioeconomic and environmental questions was applied.Logistic regression model was created to assess the odds ratio(OR)with P value and 95%confidence intervals(CI).RESULTS Predictive variables for both diseases(CD and UC)were women[odd ratios(OR)=1.31;OR=1.69],low monthly family income(OR=1.78;OR=1.57),lower number of cohabitants(OR=1.70;OR=1.60),absence of vaccination(OR=3.11;OR=2.51),previous history of bowel infections(OR=1.78;OR=1.49),and family history of IBD(OR=5.26;OR=3.33).Associated risk factors for CD were age(18-39 years)(OR=1.73),higher educational level(OR=2.22),absence of infectious childhood diseases(OR=1.99).The UC predictive variables were living in an urban area(OR=1.62),inadequate living conditions(OR=1.48)and former smokers(OR=3.36).Appendectomy was a risk factor for CD(OR=1.58)with inverse association with UC(OR=4.79).Consumption of treated and untreated water was associated with risk of CD(OR=1.38)and UC(OR=1.53),respectively.CONCLUSION This is the first examining environmental exposures as risk factors for inflammatory bowel disease in Brazil.Most of the variables associated with disease risk support the role of the hygiene hypothesis in IBD development.

Semi-Solid and Solid Bolus Swallows in High-Resolution Oesophageal Manometry for the Detection of Motility Disorders

Background/Aims: High-resolution oesophageal manometry utilises water swallows to evaluate oesophageal function. However, small volumes of water are not representative of normal eating and as a result often produce normal manometry studies in patients with dysphagia. This study sets out to establish optimal diagnostic thresholds for semi-solid solid swallows and evaluate their ability to uncover motility abnormalities in patients with motility disorders. Method: Manometry was performed using ten 5-mL single water swallows followed by two semi-solid and two solid swallows in the upright position. Normative values for the adjunctive tests were obtained from patient controls while patients with major motility disorders were used to establish the optimal diagnostic thresholds. Diagnostic thresholds identified were prospectively tested in patients with normal water swallows but oesophagus related symptoms and in those with minor and major motility disorders. Results: Normal values for semi-solid and solid were determined in patient controls (n = 100). Development of diagnostic thresholds included 120 patients with major motility disorders. Optimal diagnostic thresholds identified for oesophagogastric junction dysfunction in semi-solid and solid swallows (IRP > 15.5 mmHg). Hypercontractilty and spasm used existing thresholds (>8000 mmHg-s-cm and < 4.5 s, respectively) but modified frequency of ≥50% of adjunctive swallows. Diagnostic thresholds were applied to symptomatic patients with normal water swallows (n = 70) identifying 12/70 (17%) to have abnormal adjunctive swallows. One of 30 patients (3%) with ineffective motility had abnormal adjunctive swallow and 12 patients with oesophageal spasm, oesophagogastric junction obstruction, and hypercontractility had abnormal adjunctive swallows that moved them up the motility disorder hierarchy. Conclusions: Semi-solid and solid challenge increase diagnostic yield of motility disorders.