The new proposed serological markers are significantly associated with Crohn's disease, with low sensitivity but good specificity. About one third of anti-Saccharomyces-negative patients may be positive for at least 1 of those markers. Antiglycan antibodies appear to be associated with characteristic localization and phenotype of the disease.

SIBO is a frequent but underestimated condition in CD, which often mimics acute flare, effectively identified with GBT and could be treated with a combined antibiotic and probiotic therapy.

Objective: the term "microscopic colitis" includes lymphocytic colitis (LC) and collagenous colitis, bearing common clinical presentation distinguishable only by histopathological examination of colonic biopsies. This study reports on demographic and clinical characteristics, and outcome of a cohort of patients with LC.Methods: demographic, clinical and histopathological data were reviewed. Every patient underwent total colonoscopy with multiple biopsies examined by an expert pathologist. Diagnosis of LC was confirmed if histopathological criteria were present. Routine laboratory tests were collected to rule out other diagnosis.Results: we included 80 patients (28 males; mean age: 46.4 years). At diagnosis, 71 patients (88%) reported diarrhea, 46 (58%) abdominal pain, 21 (36%) weight loss, 10 (13%) nausea. Regarding autoimmune or inflammatory diseases accompanying LC, thyroid disorders and celiac disease (CD) ranked first. Moreover, in over 10% of patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy, duodenal biopsies showed villi alterations classified as Marsh I damage, without clinical and serological data for diagnosis of CD. Mesalazine and oral topical steroids (budesonide or beclomethasone) were used to treat LC in 34 (43%) and 32 (39%) of patients, respectively, with similar percentages of clinical response (approximately 80%).Conclusions: the need for total colonoscopy with multiple biopsies in all patients with chronic watery diarrhea was confirmed. Since the association between CD and LC exists, additional tests should be performed in patients not responding to glutenfree diet or to LC specific therapy to exclude the other condition. Mesalazine obtained a similar outcome than oral steroids in this cohort.

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Purpose The aim of this work is to investigate the role of power Doppler sonography as an additional predictor of surgical recurrence in Crohn's disease. Methods A sample of 33 patients, with ileal or ileocolonic Crohn's disease, that had underwent intestinal resection, were retrospectively enrolled. All patients had bowel ultrasonography 7-16 months after resection. Power Doppler sonography of the preanastomotic ileum was evaluated as a possible prognostication tool to assess the risk of long-term need for reoperation. Results The absolute incidence of surgical recurrence in those who had a positive power Doppler was 42 %, while that of those who had a negative power Doppler was 28.6 %. Combining the power Doppler with bowel wall thickness, the surgical recurrence risk grew from 41.2 % of those with a positive power Doppler and thickness [3 mm to 55.6 % of those with a positive power Doppler and thickness [6 mm. Conclusions Power Doppler look to be another useful prediction tool for the personalization of patient's care. It could be useful to perform power Doppler in all patients with a wall thickness [5 mm: for those who have a positive power Doppler it may be indicated as a more aggressive prophylactic therapy.Riassunto Scopo L'obiettivo di questo lavoro è investigare il ruolo del power Doppler ecografico come fattore predittivo aggiuntivo della recidiva chirurgica nella malattia di Crohn. Metodo Un campione di 33 pazienti, con malattia di Crohn ileale o ileo-colica, che sono stati sottoposti a resezione intestinale, sono stati arruolati retrospettivamente. A tutti i pazienti è stata effettuata un'ecografia intestinale nei 7-16 mesi successivi alla resezione. E' stato valutato il power Doppler ecografico dell'ileo pre-anastomotico come un possibile predittore del rischio di necessità di una nuova operazione nel lungo termine. Risultati L'incidenza assoluta di recidiva chirurgica nei pazienti con power Doppler positivo è risultata essere del 42 %, mentre quella nei pazienti con power Doppler negativo è risultata essere del 28.6 %. Unendo i risultati del power Doppler con quelli dello spessore di parete, il rischio di recidiva chirurgica aumenta dal 41.2 % di quelli con power Doppler positivo e spessore di parete intestinale [3 mm al 55.6 % di quelli con power Doppler positivo e spessore di parete [6 mm. Conclusioni Il power Doppler sembra essere un ulteriore utile fattore predittivo per personalizzare la terapia del