Phone: 385 (0)41 218-461
Summary: Epidemiological study will be done in several regions of
Republic of Croatia in order to recognize possible regional differences.
Number of laboratory parameters will be evaluated in connection with the
activity of the disease with final effort to produce a new disease activity
index.Above parameters will be correlated not only with the activity of the
disease but also as predictors for recognition of the relapse, remission
and effects of the therapy.Clinical trials will be performed in order to
evaluate new drugs, primarily immunosupresive drugs and new
aminosalicilates.Since new surgical procedures were introduced in the
previous study period, pouchitis as a new entity will be studied.In order
to address a problem of early detection of the cancer of the colon and
rectum, number of methods will be prospectively studied like epithelial
dysplasia, degree of aneuploidia, mucins and pectins in the bowel lumen.
Keywords: Ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, epidemiology, acute reactants, bowel scan with labeled autologous leucocytes, cancer detection, pouchitis, new drugs.
Research goals: Epidemiological study is vital for the assessment of
the incidence and prevalence of IBD in the entire country, for the
recognition of regional differences which might point to possible
etiological factors and for the identification of risk factors, some of
which are already described (smoking,contraceptives, sugar
consumption).Accurate epidemiological data are essential for health
planning. The assessment of the activity of the disease is a major problem.
Various parameters will be evaluated in order to identify those which
correlate with activity, which have prognostic value for early recognition
of the relapse and those which enable correct interpretation of radiologic
and endoscopic findings.The attempt will be made to create new activity
index.There are number of indeces already published (Powell-Tuck,CDAI,van
Hees, Truelove- Witts) but none is satisfactory.Leucocyte scan of the bowel
might solve the problem of interpretation of radiological and endoscopic
data, where we already have significant experience (bowel mapping). Major
problem in IBD therapy are frequent resistant cases.Therefor we plan to
prospectively evaluate immunosupressive therapy (azathioprine,
cyclosporine, FK 506) and new amminosalycilates. New surgical procedures
will be introduced with study of metabolic consequences.Of special interest
is the problem of pouchitis with unknown pathogenesis, where we plan to
conduct microbiological and immunological studies. The incidence of cancer
is increased in IBD,particularly in ulcerative colitis.It is impossible to
detect it early with routine tests, and therefore we plan prospective study
of early detection using epithelial dysplasia, changes in bowel mucins and
pectines and degree of aneuploidia.
COOPERATION - INSTITUTIONS
Name of institution
: KLINIČKI BOLNIČKI CENTAR Type of institution: Economical/Production City: 10000 - Zagreb, Croatia