Histopathologic and Lymphocyte Subpopulations Evaluation of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract of Crohn's Disease (CROHNLY)

Histopathologic and Lymphocyte Subpopulations Evaluation of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract of Crohn's Disease: A Multicentre Prospective Study (CROHNLY Project)

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises a series of disorders of unknown cause, such as ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn's disease (CD) and indeterminate colitis (IC), associated with an over-the-top immune response that produces lesions of variable depth and extent in the intestine. They have a chronic course, without cure and with an unpredictable evolution. Clinical symptoms of CD are characterized by malaise, weight loss, fever, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting, sometimes palpable mass, perianal disease, among others. The disease is most frequently located in the ileocecal area, but all the entire digestive tract from the oral cavity to the rectum may be affected. The involvement of the upper gastrointestinal tract (UGT) (L4) in CD is frequently undiagnosed. From 1-7% of patients with CD refer symptoms or signs that are due to UG involvement. Chronic iron deficient anaemia, in the absence of digestive symptoms, is the only guiding sign that may alert about the diagnosis.

Furthermore, retrospective cohort studies suggest that CD of the UGT is associated with a worse prognosis. The systematic study of the UGT in the initial evaluation of CD at the time of diagnosis is not generally recommended in adulthood, European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) guidelines recommend upper endoscopy only if there are upper digestive symptoms (vomiting, dyspepsia, etc.). In the case of gastroscopy, gastric biopsies have to be performed due to the possible presence of focal active gastritis, which is considered very specific of CD. This statement is based on a limited series of cases published in 1980. On the other hand, systematic performance of duodenal biopsies is not recommended. This fact has caused that the histopathology of duodenal CD is very unknown and the need to perform duodenal biopsies of the UGT is still a matter of debate.

Macro and microscopic findings from the UGT have generally been used to differentiate between UC and CD in cases of IC. Among the macroscopic findings highlight the presence of sores or ulcers and most specific and frequent microscopic findings are granulomas and chronic inflammatory infiltrate respectively. However, it is known that CD can cause lymphocytic infiltration of the duodenal epithelium (duodenal lymphocytosis or lymphocytic enteritis) and villus atrophy. These are findings are characteristically found in celiac disease, and therefore, these histological lesions of the duodenum also propose the differential diagnosis between celiac disease and CD.

In addition, it must be considered that many of the patients with IBD take immunosuppressive for disease control, which have been reported to be the cause of lymphocytic enteritis and duodenal villus atrophy. This proposed drug-induced enteropathy is based only in a few series of cases in the context of treatment with azathioprine and methotrexate. There are no studies systematically evaluate how often these drugs can cause a "sprue like" enteropathy.

The lymphocytic enteritis of celiac disease has been associated with a specific pattern of lymphocyte subpopulations (increase in the percentage of CD3+TCRγẟ+ lymphocytes and decrease in the percentage of CD3-). It is unknown if CD duodenal lymphocytes is associated with a specific CD cytometric pattern. If so, the evaluation of lymphocyte subpopulations could be of great diagnostic aid when considering the differential diagnosis between celiac disease, CD and other forms of duodenal lymphocytosis.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Crohn Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: General variables; Behavioral: Clinical activity; Procedure: Laboratory data; Procedure: Endoscopic and histology data

Detailed Description

Hypothesis:

Routine evaluation of the upper digestive tract mucosa can be useful for the differential diagnosis between of adult CD and celiac disease, particularly in patients with chronic iron-deficient anemia and lymphocytic enteritis in the duodenum. The study of the lymphocytic subpopulations can help in the differential diagnosis of lymphocytic enteritis and identify in which cases are due to CD. Nowadays, the prevalence of "sprue-like" enteropathy associated with the use of immunosuppressants in CD is unknown.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 200

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Barcelona
    • Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain, 08221
      • Hospital Universitari Mutua Terrassa

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

The definition of the study population was patients with CD diagnosed according to the criteria of the ECCO guidelines. The definition of control populations was patients with celiac disease diagnosed according to the Catassi and Fasano criteria and control subjects.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patients (> 18 years)
• Diagnosis of Crohn disease
• Diagnosis of Coeliac disease
• Control subjects
• Study period: The study period has been 36 months (June 2017 - June 2020)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Refusal of the patient to participate in the study
• Pregnancy
• Serious comorbidities: heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, liver disease, bleeding disorders, etc

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Cohort 1: Crohn's disease; Patients with CD diagnosed according to the criteria of the ECCO guidelines. For the histological and lymphocyte subpopulation analysis of duodenal samples, all patients with CD who required an endoscopic examination during the disease have been prospectively included. All the recorded variables were registered at the moment of the endoscopy.	Behavioral: General variables; Variables evaluated: age, sex, location, extent, and phenotype of IBD according to the Montreal classification, smoking habit, therapeutic requirements (immunosuppressants, biologics, steroids, salicylates, drugs that cause enteropathy such as olmesartan, valsartan, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, etc, ...).; Behavioral: Clinical activity; Clinical activity was evaluated using the Harvey-Bradshaw index (HBI) (cut-off values: <5, remission; 5-7, mild activity; 8-16, moderate activity; and >16, severe activity).; Procedure: Laboratory data; Laboratory data: blood count, renal function and C-reactive protein, anti-transglutaminase antibodies, genetic study of celiac disease DQ2.5, DQ8, and DQ2.2, study of parasites, fecal calprotectin.; Procedure: Endoscopic and histology data; Endoscopic signs suggestive of CD in UDT (presence of canker sores, ulcers, ...) and colon inflammatory activity was evaluated when available in patients with active disease using the Simple Endoscopic Score for CD (SES-CD: 0-2, remission; 3-6, mild endoscopic activity; 7-15, moderate endoscopic activity; and >15, severe endoscopic activity). Duodenal biopsies were assessed by 2 pathologists and were evaluated according to Marsh classification modified by Ensari [Marsh 0, 1, 2 or 3], the limit of normality for intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) per 100 enterocytes is set at 25, gastric biopsies (determination of H. Pylori by immunohistochemistry) and esophageal biopsies was recorded too. Percentage of lymphocyte subpopulations are assessed by flow cytometry.
Cohort 2: Control groups; Two groups are included: 1) Disease control: Patients with celiac disease diagnosed according to the Catassi and Fasano criteria and 2) Healthy control subjects. For the histological and lymphocyte subpopulation analysis of duodenal samples, patients with celiac disease were prospectively included to undergone gastroscopy, before starting gluten-free diet. Control subjects were patients referred for upper endoscopy due to digestive symptoms that have normal appearing mucosa both at endoscopic and histological assessment (Marsh 0, <25 intraepithelial lymphocytes). Serological markers of celiac disease were negative and they have no signs of inflammatory bowel diseases.	Behavioral: General variables; Variables evaluated: age, sex, location, extent, and phenotype of IBD according to the Montreal classification, smoking habit, therapeutic requirements (immunosuppressants, biologics, steroids, salicylates, drugs that cause enteropathy such as olmesartan, valsartan, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, etc, ...).; Behavioral: Clinical activity; Clinical activity was evaluated using the Harvey-Bradshaw index (HBI) (cut-off values: <5, remission; 5-7, mild activity; 8-16, moderate activity; and >16, severe activity).; Procedure: Laboratory data; Laboratory data: blood count, renal function and C-reactive protein, anti-transglutaminase antibodies, genetic study of celiac disease DQ2.5, DQ8, and DQ2.2, study of parasites, fecal calprotectin.; Procedure: Endoscopic and histology data; Endoscopic signs suggestive of CD in UDT (presence of canker sores, ulcers, ...) and colon inflammatory activity was evaluated when available in patients with active disease using the Simple Endoscopic Score for CD (SES-CD: 0-2, remission; 3-6, mild endoscopic activity; 7-15, moderate endoscopic activity; and >15, severe endoscopic activity). Duodenal biopsies were assessed by 2 pathologists and were evaluated according to Marsh classification modified by Ensari [Marsh 0, 1, 2 or 3], the limit of normality for intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) per 100 enterocytes is set at 25, gastric biopsies (determination of H. Pylori by immunohistochemistry) and esophageal biopsies was recorded too. Percentage of lymphocyte subpopulations are assessed by flow cytometry.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Description of microscopic lesions in the upper digestive tract in patients with CD.	Microscopic duodenum lesions are measured by "Marsh classification modified by Ensari" of histologic findings: Type 0: normal (<25 intraepithelial lymphocytes per 100 enterocytes).; Type 1: increased intraepithelial lymphocytes but no villous atrophy (>25 intraepithelial lymphocytes per 100 enterocytes).; Type 2: villi still present but shortened.; Type 3: complete villous atrophy.	3 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of lymphocyte subpopulations in the duodenum of patients with CD.	Percentage of lymphocyte subpopulations are assessed by flow cytometry.	3 years
Description of "sprue-like" enteropathy associated with the use of immunosuppressants in CD.	"sprue-like" enteropathy lesions are measured by "Marsh classification modified by Ensari" of histologic findings: Type 0: normal (<25 intraepithelial lymphocytes per 100 enterocytes).; Type 1: increased intraepithelial lymphocytes but no villous atrophy (>25 intraepithelial lymphocytes per 100 enterocytes).; Type 2: villi still present but shortened.; Type 3: complete villous atrophy.	3 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hospital Mutua de Terrassa
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Maria Esteve, PhD, MD, Hospital Universitari Mutua Terrassa

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 1, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): January 1, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 12, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 23, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): May 24, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 24, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 23, 2023
• Last Verified: May 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Crohn Disease
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Digestive System Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Gastroenteritis; Intestinal Diseases; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Crohn Disease
• Other Study ID Numbers: CROHNLY23

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No