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Introduction: Ant-iTNF treatment has been broadly linked with autoantibodies and autoimmune disorders development. After the clinical observation of aPTT (activated partial thromboplastin clotting time) prolongation in our cohort of IBD patients treated with anti-TNF, we sought to determine the presence of antiphospolipid antibodies in our population, along with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) occurrence., Methods: We included in the study 289 patients treated with anti-TNFα antibodies., Results: Twenty four of 289 patients presented a prolonged aPPT (8.3%) after starting anti-TNF treatment. We found antiphospholipid antibodies in 70.8% (17/24) of patients with aPTT prolongation. No major thrombotic events were reported although one patient met criteria for APS because of persistent antiphospolipid antibodies and two miscarriages. Another patient was diagnosed with lupus-like syndrome., Conclusion: Anti-TNF treatment is associated with the induction of various antibodies, among them, antiphospholipid antibodies. However, a very low number of patients develop APS. Testing for antiphospholipid antibodies patients with prolonged aPPT could identify those at risk and lead to individualized treatment. Additional prospective studies are necessary to acquire more information., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Several vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are currently in use and are recommended in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Data are scarce about the gastroenterologists and IBD patient's acceptance of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. The aim of the study was to evaluate the intention to get vaccination with SARS-CoV-2 vaccine among IBD patients from gastroenterologists and patient's perspective., Methods: An online anonymous survey was sent to 8000 patients from ACCU-Spain and 1000 members of the GETECCU. Three invitations were sent between October-December 2020. Descriptive analyses were performed, comparing physicians and patients responses by standard statistical analyses., Results: 144 gastroenterologists [63% female, mean age 43 years (SD 9.5)], and 1302 patients [72% female, mean age 43 years (SD 12)] responded to the survey. 95% of the physicians recommended SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for IBD patients and 87% consider that their vaccination strategies has not changed after the pandemic compared to 12% who considered that they currently refer more patients to vaccination. Regarding to IBD patients, only 43% of patients were willing to receive the vaccine and 43% were not sure. Male sex (p<0.001) and mesalazine treatment (p=0.021) were positively associated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccine acceptance. After multivariate analysis, only male sex was significantly associated with vaccination intent (OR=1.6; 95% confidence interval=1.2-2.0; p=0.001)., Conclusions: Gastroenterologists and patient's perspective about SARS-CoV-2 are different. Future efforts to increase COVID-19 vaccine and decrease unfounded beliefs among IBD patients are needed., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Analgesics are widely used, but evidence regarding whether their use increases the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) flares or complications is unclear. Therefore, self-medication with analgesics in IBD is usually not recommended. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of self-medication with analgesics in a cohort of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and to identify reasons and factors associated with self-medication., Methods: This cross-sectional study included consecutive unselected adult patients with UC. Participants were asked to complete an anonymous web-based survey with multiple-choice questions and closed responses. No clinical data were collected., Results: A total of 546 patients (61.2% women, mean age 39.9 years) completed the survey. The prevalence of self-medication with analgesics was 49.8% (272/546). Paracetamol (45.2%) and metamizole (21.2%) were the most frequently used drugs; frequencies of self-medication were <5% for other analgesics (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids). The most frequent reasons for self-medication were the need for quick symptom relief and that it had been agreed with/prescribed by the treating physician. Multivariable analysis identified female sex (odds ratio [OR]=1.9), sick leave (OR=2.2), treatment with intravenous drugs (OR=2.9), and emergency room visit (OR=2.3) as variables associated with self-medication, whilst follow-up by a nurse was associated with less self-medication (OR=0.6)., Conclusion: The frequency of self-medication with analgesics in UC patients is high and appears to be associated with variables suggesting worse disease control. Closer follow-up, including a specialized nurse, could decrease self-medication. Strategies to improve disease control, including close monitoring of symptoms such as pain, are needed., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are vulnerable to some psychological disorders. Here we describe the psychological impact of a COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in patients with IBD., Methods: This multicenter prospective cohort study included 145 patients recently diagnosed with IBD. Data on clinical and demographic characteristics, anxiety and depression scales, and IBD activity were collected in two telephone surveys, during and after the first COVID-19 lockdown in Spain. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated., Results: During lockdown, 33.1% and 24.1% scored high on the anxiety and depression scales, respectively. Independent factors related to anxiety (all values ORs; 95% CIs) during lockdown were female sex (2; 1.2-5.4) and IBD activity (4.3; 1.8-10.4). Factors related to depression were comorbidity (3.3; 1.1-9.8), IBD activity (6; 1.9-18.1), use of biologics (2.9; 1.1-7.6), and living alone or with one person (3.1; 1.2-8.2). After lockdown, anxiety and depression symptoms showed significant improvement, with 24.8% and 15.2% having high scores for anxiety and depression, respectively. Factors related to post-lockdown anxiety were female sex (2.5; 1.01-6.3), Crohn's disease (3.3; 1.3-8.5), and active IBD (4.1; 1.2-13.7). Factors associated with depression were previous history of mood and/or anxiety disorders (6.3; 1.6-24.9), active IBD (7.5; 2.1-26.8), and steroid use (6.4; 1.4-29)., Conclusions: Lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant psychological impact in patients with IBD. Disease activity was related to the presence of anxiety and depression symptoms during and after lockdown., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)