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Tropical Trip OK for Most With Crohn's, Colitis
Posted 17 days ago by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, Jan. 27 – Among people with inflammatory bowel disease – a chronic intestinal disorder that commonly takes the form of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis – those who travel to developing nations or tropical locales do not have a greater risk of intestinal infections than other travelers, according to a new study. Researchers in Israel concluded that patients with inflammatory bowel disease who have not had symptoms for at least three months actually should be encouraged to travel. They noted, however, that compared with people who don't have the condition, inflammatory bowel disease patients have a greater risk for illness when visiting industrialized countries. "Inflammatory bowel disease patients are often advised to avoid travel, especially to the developing world. However, we found that the absolute risk of illness is small and most episodes were mild," the study's ... Read more
Related support groups: Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Less Common in Sunny States
Posted 12 Jan 2012 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Jan. 12 – People who live in sunnier regions of the United States are less likely to develop inflammatory bowel disease, a new study says. The findings support previous European research and could lead to new types of treatment and preventive measures, the study authors said. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which can be extremely painful and require surgery. The causes of IBD remain largely unknown. In this study, researchers analyzed long-term data collected from 238,000 participants in the Nurses' Health Study I and the Nurses' Health Study II, which were launched in 1976 and 1989, respectively. None of the participants had inflammatory bowel disease at the start of the studies. Compared to participants who lived in northern areas of the United States, those living in southern areas were 52 percent less likely to develop ... Read more
Related support groups: Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease
As Nations Develop, So May Bowel Disease
Posted 7 Jan 2012 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, Jan. 6 – Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is becoming more common around the world, according to a new study. Researchers who analyzed data from all population-based studies about the incidence and/or prevalence of IBD found that the rate of new cases is increasing or stable in virtually every region of the world that has been studied. Canada and Europe had the highest number of cases, while Asia had a lower prevalence, the investigators found. IBD has been rare in developing nations, but incidence of the disease has increased as these countries become more industrialized, according to study lead author Dr. Gilaad Kaplan, of the University of Calgary, and colleagues. IBD includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn's involves inflammation and ulceration in the deep layers of the intestinal wall. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss and occasional ... Read more
Related support groups: Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Chronic Bowel Disease Drugs Linked to Skin Cancer Risk
Posted 23 Nov 2011 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, Nov. 22 – Some patients with inflammatory bowel disease may be at increased risk for skin cancer due to their use of immunosuppressant drugs to treat the intestinal disorder, according to the results of two new studies. The studies, published in the November issue of the journal Gastroenterology, noted that immunosuppressants are commonly used to treat patients with inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. Currently, there are no specific recommendations for skin cancer screening in IBD patients. In one study, French researchers led by Dr. Laurent Peyrin-Biroulet, of University Hospital of Nancy, found that both past and present use of a widely used class of immunosuppressants called thiopurines significantly increased the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer in irritable bowel disease patients. "The increased risk of skin cancer that we found in our study was observed in all patients, ... Read more
Related support groups: Colitis, Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease -- Maintenance, Crohn's Disease -- Acute, Ulcerative Colitis -- Active, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Ulcerative Colitis -- Maintenance, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Tied to Higher Risk of Post-Op Blood Clots
Posted 20 Oct 2011 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Oct. 20 – Researchers report that following surgery, people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may be at increased risk for blood clots known as deep vein thromboses and pulmonary embolisms. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in a deep vein in the thigh or leg – it's best known as "economy-class syndrome," after cases that occurred in passengers on long-haul flights. DVTs can travel to the lungs and lead to dangerous clots there known as pulmonary embolisms (PE). "An increased risk of DVT and PE in patients with IBD has been evident for the past 75 years," co-authors Dr. Andrea Merrill of Massachusetts General Hospital and Dr. Frederick Millham of Newton-Wellesley Hospital, both in Boston, wrote in the study published in the Oct. 17 online edition of the journal Archives of Surgery. However, they added that "most work in this area has not looked specifically at ... Read more
Related support groups: Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Health Tip: Coping With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Posted 1 Sep 2011 by Drugs.com
-- People who have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have flares when symptoms worsen, and periods of remission when symptoms ease up. The American Gastroenterological Association offers these suggestions to help you cope with the disease, especially during flares: Learn how IBD affects your body. While foods don't cause IBD symptoms, certain foods can exacerbate symptoms. Recognize which foods make your symptoms worse, and avoid them. Take control over the factors that you are able to control. Build a support system, including support groups, friends and family. Always follow instructions given by your medical team. Read more
Related support groups: Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Hospital Infection Raises Death Risk for Bowel Patients
Posted 23 Apr 2011 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, April 22 – Patients hospitalized for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a six-fold increased risk of death if they become infected with Clostridium difficile bacteria, a new study finds. IBD includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. When people with IBD experience severe symptoms, they often require hospitalization, note the researchers at Imperial College London and St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust in the United Kingdom. They examined data on IBD patients hospitalized between 2002 and 2008 and found that those infected with C. difficile in the hospital were six times more likely to die in the hospital than those not infected with the bacteria. The death rate at 30 days was 25 percent for those with C. difficile and 3 percent for those who were free of the bacteria. The researchers also found that IBD patients with C. difficile stayed in the hospital ... Read more
Related support groups: Inflammatory Bowel Disease
People With Bowel Disease at Higher Risk of Blood Clot in Lungs, Legs
Posted 22 Feb 2011 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, Feb. 22 – People with inflammatory bowel disease have double the risk of developing a potentially deadly blood clot (venous thromboembolism) in the legs or lungs as do people in the general public, a new study finds. Inflammatory bowel disease includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, both of which can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and other problems. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) – which includes deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and superior sagittal sinus thrombosis – affects about two in every 1,000 people a year in the United States and other developed nations. Researchers compared the number of new cases of VTE diagnosed between 1980 and 2007 in nearly 50,000 adults and children with IBD and more than 477,000 members of the general public. After they factored in known VTE risk factors such as a broken bone, cancer, surgery and ... Read more
Related support groups: Colitis, Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease -- Maintenance, Crohn's Disease -- Acute, Ulcerative Colitis -- Active, Ulcerative Colitis -- Maintenance, Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Researchers Turn Stem Cells Into Intestinal Tissue in Lab
Posted 13 Dec 2010 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, Dec. 13 --Researchers say they've turned human stem cells into functioning human intestinal tissue in a laboratory setting. The study team described its accomplishment as a "significant step" forward in efforts to better understand the function and development of the human intestine. They also expressed hope that the innovation will spur the development of new strategies to combat intestinal diseases, while opening up new avenues for the generation of transplantation tissue. "The hope is that our ability to turn stem cells into intestinal tissue will eventually be therapeutically beneficial for people with diseases such as necrotizing enterocolitis, inflammatory bowel disease and short bowel syndromes," explained study senior author James Wells, a researcher in the division of developmental biology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, in a hospital news release. ... Read more
Related support groups: Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Non-Invasive Diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Shows Promise
Posted 16 Jul 2010 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, July 16 – Getting tested for inflammatory bowel disease through an endoscopy isn't a pleasant experience, but a new review of existing research suggests that a simple stool test may help doctors figure out who needs the more extensive screening. Inflammatory bowel disease refers to a number of conditions – including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis – that can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea and bleeding (the disease is sometimes confused with irritable bowel syndrome, which is a different condition.) Doctors look for signs of disease through endoscopies, which are procedures that require patients to allow a tube to be passed into their digestive system from the rectum. In the new review, published online July 16 in BMJ, researchers sought to discover whether a test of proteins in the stool could help doctors discover whether an endoscopy is necessary. The researchers, ... Read more
Related support groups: Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Drugs for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Might Increase Cancer Risk
Posted 16 Jul 2010 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, Oct. 19 – The use of thiopurine drugs to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) increases the risk of cancers related to viral infection, according to a new study. IBD includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Thiopurine drugs are used to suppress the immune system in order to maintain remission in IBD patients. For this study, French researchers analyzed data on 19,486 IBD patients (60 percent with Crohn's and 40 percent with ulcerative colitis or unclassified IBD) who were followed for a median of 35 months. At the start of the study, 30 percent of patients were taking thiopurines, 14 percent had discontinued them, and 56 percent had never received thiopurines. During the study, 23 patients developed malignant lymphoproliferative disorders (LD) – cancers that are associated with viral infection, particularly those linked to Epstein Barr virus (EBV) infection. Of the ... Read more
Related support groups: Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease -- Maintenance, Imuran, Crohn's Disease -- Acute, Ulcerative Colitis -- Active, Ulcerative Colitis -- Maintenance, Mercaptopurine, Azathioprine, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Azasan, Purinethol, Tabloid, Thioguanine
New Clues to Treating Immune System Disorders
Posted 19 May 2010 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, May 19 – Researchers are reporting that they've used two different types of noninvasive probes to uncover the roles played by different types of cells in the immune system. One of the probes, known as an FDG, is commonly used in PET scans to track how cells break down glucose (sugar), while the so-called FAC probe – developed recently at the University of California, Los Angeles – measures the activity of specific biochemical pathways. The probes may help doctors evaluate treatments that target different cells in the immune system, senior study author Dr. Owen Witte, a professor of microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics at the University of California at Los Angeles, said in a news release from the school. "We demonstrated with this study that each probe targets different cells in the immune system with a high degree of specificity," said Witte, who added that the ... Read more
Related support groups: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory Bowel Ups Risk for Blood Clots
Posted 9 Feb 2010 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, Feb. 9 – People with active inflammatory bowel disease are much more likely to develop blood clots than people without the condition, a new study suggests. And that may make preventive drug treatment necessary, it adds. The study, done in the United Kingdom, compared data on 13,756 people who had inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with 71,672 people who did not have it. None of the people were hospitalized. Between November 1987 and July 2001, 304 people developed a blood clot (venous thromboembolism). Overall, people with IBD were found to be 3.4 times more likely to develop a blood clot and eight times more likely at the time of an IBD flare. But the risk rose to 16 times higher if a flare occurred when the person was not hospitalized. The study was published online Feb. 8 in The Lancet. The researchers said the findings suggest that active IBD might be a far greater risk ... Read more
Related support groups: Colitis, Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease -- Maintenance, Crohn's Disease -- Acute, Ulcerative Colitis -- Active, Ulcerative Colitis -- Maintenance, Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Bowel Disease Treatment May Raise Skin Cancer Risk
Posted 2 Dec 2009 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, Oct. 26 – Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients who are being treated with immunosuppressive medications may be at increased risk for non-melanoma skin cancer, a new U.S. study says. Researchers analyzed data on 26,403 Crohn's disease patients and 26,974 patients with ulcerative colitis in order to evaluate how the use of immunosuppressive and biologic medications to treat IBD affected non-melanoma skin cancer risk. The study found that the incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer was higher in IBD patients than in a control group. Recent use (within 90 days) of any immunosuppressive medication was associated with greater risk of non-melanoma skin cancer (adjusted odds ratio 3.28), as was recent use of the thiopurine class of immunosuppressive medications (adjusted odds ratio 3.56) and recent use of biologic medications in Crohn's disease patients (adjusted odds ratio 2.07). ... Read more
Related support groups: Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease -- Maintenance, Imuran, Crohn's Disease -- Acute, Ulcerative Colitis -- Active, Ulcerative Colitis -- Maintenance, Mercaptopurine, Azathioprine, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Azasan, Purinethol, Tabloid, Thioguanine
Gene Discovery Gives Clues to Crohn's Disease, Colitis
Posted 1 Dec 2009 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4 – People with painful, chronic bowel conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis could see a glimmer of hope from new research. Scientists say they've spotted a genetic flaw that could drive a rare childhood form of colitis, and the finding might have implications for the broader range of illnesses collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Genetic analysis of nine children with a severe form of early-onset colitis found mutations of two genes producing cell receptors for interleukin-10, a protein that controls the body's inflammatory response, according to a report published online Nov. 4 in the New England Journal of Medicine. In one case, a bone marrow transplant eliminated a child's disease, the report said. About one million Americans have been diagnosed with IBD, which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. These conditions ... Read more
Related support groups: Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease -- Maintenance, Crohn's Disease -- Acute, Ulcerative Colitis -- Active, Ulcerative Colitis -- Maintenance, Inflammatory Bowel Disease
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