Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a multifactorial disease of unknown precise etiology and immunopathogenesis. Peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes/macrophages are the major sources of cytokines, ...which regulate inflammation. Leukocytapheresis (LCAP) is a method where blood is processed by apheresis system that removes lymphocytes and plasma before being returned to the body. We report the first case in Croatia where we used LCAP in the treatment of a patient with severe steroid-dependent UC. After 12 LCAP procedures, good clinical response was obtained and there were no significant adverse side effects noticed. The patient remained in clinical remission over two years in which he underwent regular follow ups at outpatient clinic. Over a 10-year follow-up period after LCAP, the patient had only occasional clinical symptoms of disease activity. The clinical course was complicated with the development of metastatic colorectal carcinoma, which points to the importance of regular disease monitoring rather than the increased risk of malignant disease after LCAP. Patients with UC are a demanding group of patients that warrant the search for novel treatment strategies other than conventional pharmacological therapies. Although LCAP is still not a common treatment modality in our daily practice, data from recent studies suggest it to be an effective and safe procedure in the management of active UC patients.
Population aging is a global demographic trend showing continuous growth and among its consequences is a rise in malnutrition that is characteristic for the elderly. The objective of this study was ...to evaluate nutritional status of elderly home care patients immediately after hospital discharge and to determine factors that affect nutritional status using questionnaires based on validated tools (NRS-2002, DETERMINE checklist) and basic medical history data. The study involved 76 elderly individuals (51.3% of them older than 70) living in the City of Zagreb. The nutritional status assessment using the NRS-2002 tool showed that 57.6% of the subjects were at nutritional risk. The findings of the assessment by use of the DETERMINE tool were also unfavorable, indicating that 82.1% of persons older than 70 were categorized as being at a high nutritional risk, while 17.9% were at moderate risk. The DETERMINE checklist elements (illness; reduced intake of fruits, vegetables or dairy products; alcohol consumption; oral health problems; and weight loss) were linked to a higher NRS score. The mean number of hospital days in subjects at nutritional risk was 14.27 (the mean number in the Republic of Croatia is 8.56 days). Although the study involved a small number of subjects, the results showed a substantial presence of malnutrition among the elderly. A timely -intervention by the healthcare system and training of healthcare personnel can be a step towards achieving a better nutritional status.
SummaryBackground & aimsCancer cachexia (CC) syndrome and anorexia–cachexia syndrome are common terms used to describe changes in metabolism with increased inflammatory activity and can progressively ...develop through various stages such as pre-cachexia; cachexia; and refractory cachexia. Therefore in year 2007 Croatian guidelines for use of eicosapentaenoic acid and megestrol acetate in cancer cachexia syndrome were published. Aim of this study was to assess the awareness and implementation of Croatian guidelines for use of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and megestrol acetate (MA) into clinical practice among Croatian oncologists approximately 10 years after the publication, but also to point out the importance of adequate recognition and treatment of CC. MethodsSurvey with questions was designed to assess the awareness and implementation of Croatian guidelines for use of EPA and MA into clinical practice and was distributed among all Croatian oncologists in secondary and tertiary hospital centers. Survey was conducted in January 2011 (40 months following release of the guidelines), February 2013 and June 2018, and were formed in a way of yes/no answers. Additional multiple choice questions that focus on the implementation of guidelines were added in June 2018. ResultsA total of 128 oncologists completed a questionnaire. There was no statistically significant difference in follow up period (2011–2018) of percentage of oncologists that are familiar with Croatian guidelines for use of EPA and MA in CC, percentage of oncologists in which Croatian national guidelines changed their approach in treating patients with CC syndrome and proportion of oncologists that are using MA, enteral nutrition formulas with EPA or their combination. Most of the oncologists 38% ( N = 44) are using >2.2 g of EPA per day. Nutritional support is prescribed in 25–50% of patients by 42% ( N = 48) of oncologists and most of the oncologists (35%, N = 41) start with nutritional support when a body mass loss is >5%. Oncologists mostly recommend patients to use nutritional support during 1 year or more (43%, N = 49) or two months to 1 year (42%, N = 48). Compliance of patients with malignant diseases for using nutritional support was mostly evaluated as medium (69%, N = 60). ConclusionsResults have shown that majority of oncologists who filled the questionnaire believe that the Croatian national guidelines for use of EPA and MA in CC syndrome changed their approach in treating patients with CC, but also that there are several targeted issues that can be significantly improved. The awareness of and adherence to national guidelines was maintained at high level even 11 years after the guidelines were published.
Background
The lack of scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of 5-aminosalicylate in patients with Crohn’s disease is in sharp contrast to its widespread use in clinical practice.
Aims
The ...aim of the study was to investigate the use of 5-aminosalicylate in patients with Crohn’s disease as well as the disease course of a subgroup of patients who were treated with 5-aminosalicylate as maintenance monotherapy during the first year of disease.
Methods
In a European community-based inception cohort, 488 patients with Crohn’s disease were followed from the time of their diagnosis. Information on clinical data, demographics, disease activity, medical therapy and rates of surgery, cancers and deaths was collected prospectively. Patient management was left to the discretion of the treating gastroenterologists.
Results
Overall, 292 (60%) patients with Crohn’s disease received 5-aminosalicylate period during follow-up for a median duration of 28 months (interquartile range 6–60). Of these, 78 (16%) patients received 5-aminosalicylate monotherapy during the first year following diagnosis. Patients who received monotherapy with 5-aminosalicylate experienced a mild disease course with only nine (12%) who required hospitalization, surgery, or developed stricturing or penetrating disease, and most never needed more intensive therapy. The remaining 214 patients were treated with 5-aminosalicylate as the first maintenance drug although most eventually needed to step up to other treatments including immunomodulators (75 (35%)), biological therapy (49 (23%)) or surgery (38 (18%)).
Conclusion
In this European community-based inception cohort of unselected Crohn’s disease patients, 5-aminosalicylate was commonly used. A substantial group of these patients experienced a quiescent disease course without need of additional treatment during follow-up. Therefore, despite the controversy regarding the efficacy of 5-aminosalicylate in Crohn’s disease, its use seems to result in a satisfying disease course for both patients and physicians.
Dijetoterapija i klinička prehrana zauzimaju važno mjesto u liječenju bolesnika s upalnim bolestima crijeva (UBC). Nutritivna potpora važna je komponenta liječenja pacijenata s UBC-om, a uključuje ...prevenciju i liječe-nje svih oblika malnutricije. Potvrđenu malnutriciju u bolesnika s upalnim bolestima crijeva treba adekvatno zbrinjavati jer pogoršava prognozu, stupanj komplikacija, mortalitet i kvalitetu života bolesnika. Enteralna je prehrana izuzetno važan dio nutritivnog liječenja u upalnim bolestima crijeva, a u pojedinim situacijama ima značenje primarne terapije. Parenteralna prehrana ima mjesto u liječenju upalnih bolesti crijeva, i u akutnim situacijama i u kroničnom liječenju bolesnika sa sindromom kratkog crijeva. U izradi ovih smjernica sudjelo-vali su predstavnici Hrvatskog društva za kliničku prehranu Hrvatskoga liječničkog zbora, Hrvatskog društva za imunologiju sluznice Hrvatskoga liječničkog zbora, Hrvatskoga gastroenterološkog društva i Hrvatskog društva nutricionista i dijetetičara. Utemeljene su na dokazima, prema sustavu GRADE (engl. Grading of Re-commendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation), koji uz snagu dokaza opisuje i razinu preporuke. Temeljni zaključci ovih smjernica odnose se na prepoznavanje malnutricije u ovoj skupini bolesnika, određi-vanje nutritivnih potreba, nadoknadu ključnih nutrijenata i farmakonutrijenata, primjenu različitih modaliteta artificijalne prehrane te specifičnosti perioperativne prehrane.
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