Abstract
Aim
The aim of this study is to describe the long-term course of anorectal complains and function in a single centre cohort patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with perianal lesions.
Methods
Between 1993 and 2000, 56 IBD patients (43 Crohn’s disease and 13 ulcerative colitis) with perianal complaints underwent anorectal function evaluation (AFE) (baseline). For follow-up, they were approached between 2010 and 2012 by sending questionnaires including Inflammatory Bowel Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (IBDQ), Perianal Disease Activity Index (PDAI), faecal incontinence scale (Vaizey) and an invitation for AFE.
Results
At follow-up, 46 patients (82 %) were available, 9 (16 %) were lost and 1 (2 %) had died. Thirty patients returned the questionnaires of which 17 also underwent AFE. The remaining 16 patients were interviewed by phone and were only willing to mention their anorectal complaints. Median follow-up was 14 year. In 25 of the 46 patients (54 %), perianal complaints persisted faecal incontinence (n = 7); soiling (n = 13) and active fistula (n = 5). Eighteen (39 %) patients had an active fistula at baseline and three persisted at follow-up. Two developed a new fistula. Mean IBDQ, Vaizey and PDAI were 178 (SD 29), 7 (SD 5) and 4.2 (SD 3.0), respectively. In 17 patients, who underwent AFE, anal endosonography showed healing in nine of the ten fistulas. Anal pressures as well as rectal capacity remained unaltered in the individual patient, but showed a large range within the group.
Conclusion
After 14 years, 54 % of the IBD patients with perianal lesions still have mild complaints. The quality of life remained moderate over a long period, which is concerning.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Eglinton TW, Barclay ML, Gearry RB, Frizelle FA (2012) The spectrum of perianal Crohn’s disease in a population-based cohort. Dis Colon Rectum 55(7):773–777
McKee RF, Keenan RA (1996) Perianal Crohn’s disease–is it all bad news? Dis Colon Rectum 39(2):136–142
Vermeire S, Van AG, Rutgeerts P (2007) Perianal Crohn’s disease: Classification and clinical evaluation. Dig Liver Dis 39(10):959–962
Lockhart-Mummery HE, Morson BC (1964) Crohn’s disease of the large intestine. Gut 5:493–509
Hamzaoglu I, Hodin RA (2005) Perianal problems in patients with ulcerative colitis. Inflamm Bowel Dis 11(9):856–859
Zabana Y, Van DM, Garcia-Planella E et al (2011) Perianal disease in patients with ulcerative colitis: a case–control study. J Crohns Colitis 5(4):338–341
Chang L, Munakata J, Mayer EA et al (2000) Perceptual responses in patients with inflammatory and functional bowel disease. Gut 47(4):497–505
Farthing MJ, Lennard-Jones JE (1978) Sensibility of the rectum to distension and the anorectal distension reflex in ulcerative colitis. Gut 19(1):64–69
Loening-Baucke V, Metcalf AM, Shirazi S (1989) Anorectal manometry in active and quiescent ulcerative colitis. Am J Gastroenterol 84(8):892–897
Felt-Bersma RJ, Klinkenberg-Knol EC, Meuwissen SG (1990) Anorectal function investigations in incontinent and continent patients. Differences and discriminatory value. Dis Colon Rectum 33(6):479–485
Silvis R, van Eekelen JW, Delemarre JB, Gooszen HG (1995) Endosonography of the anal sphincter after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. Relation with anal manometry and fecal continence. Dis Colon Rectum 38(4):383–388
Wiese DM, Schwartz DA (2012) Managing perianal Crohn’s disease. Curr Gastroenterol Rep 14(2):153–161
Lam TJ, Kuik DJ, Felt-Bersma RJ (2012) Anorectal function evaluation and predictive factors for faecal incontinence in 600 patients. Colorectal Dis 14(2):214–223
Guyatt G, Mitchell A, Irvine EJ et al (1989) A new measure of health status for clinical trials in inflammatory bowel disease. Gastroenterology 96(3):804–810
Sandborn WJ, Tremaine WJ, Batts KP, Pemberton JH, Phillips SF (1994) Pouchitis after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis: a Pouchitis Disease Activity Index. Mayo Clin Proc 69(5):409–415
Vaizey CJ, Carapeti E, Cahill JA, Kamm MA (1999) Prospective comparison of faecal incontinence grading systems. Gut 44(1):77–80
Parks AG, Gordon PH, Hardcastle JD (1976) A classification of fistula-in-ano. Br J Surg 63(1):1–12
Buchmann P, Keighley MR, Allan RN, Thompson H, Alexander-Williams J (1980) Natural history of perianal Crohn’s disease. Ten year follow-up: a plea for conservatism. Am J Surg 140(5):642–644
Makowiec F, Jehle EC, Starlinger M (1995) Clinical course of perianal fistulas in Crohn’s disease. Gut 37(5):696–701
Schwartz DA, Loftus EV Jr, Tremaine WJ et al (2002) The natural history of fistulizing Crohn’s disease in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Gastroenterology 122(4):875–880
Ruffolo C, Citton M, Scarpa M et al (2011) Perianal Crohn’s disease: is there something new? World J Gastroenterol 17(15):1939–1946
Renna S, Orlando A, Cottone M (2012) Randomized controlled trials in perianal Crohn’s disease. Rev Recent Clin Trials 7(4):297–302
Mueller MH, Geis M, Glatzle J et al (2007) Risk of fecal diversion in complicated perianal Crohn’s disease. J Gastrointest Surg 11(4):529–537
Lewis RT, Maron DJ (2010) Anorectal Crohn’s disease. Surg Clin N Am 90(1):83–97
Ogawa H, Haneda S, Shibata C et al (2013) Adenocarcinoma associated with perianal fistulas in Crohn’s disease. Anticancer Res 33(2):685–689
Beck DE, Harford FJ, Roettger RH (1989) Perianal Bowen’s disease associated with Crohn’s colitis. Report of a case. Dis Colon Rectum 32(3):252–255
Mahadev S, Young JM, Selby W, Solomon MJ (2012) Self-reported depressive symptoms and suicidal feelings in perianal Crohn’s disease. Colorectal Dis 14(3):331–335
Beaugerie L, Seksik P, Nion-Larmurier I, Gendre JP, Cosnes J (2006) Predictors of Crohn’s disease. Gastroenterology 130(3):650–656
American Gastroenterological Association medical position statement: perianal Crohn’s disease (2003) Gastroenterology 125(5):1503–1507
Andersson P, Olaison G, Hallbook O, Boeryd B, Sjodahl R (2003) Increased anal resting pressure and rectal sensitivity in Crohn’s disease. Dis Colon Rectum 46(12):1685–1689
Mueller MH, Kreis ME, Gross ML et al (2002) Anorectal functional disorders in the absence of anorectal inflammation in patients with Crohn’s disease. Br J Surg 89(8):1027–1031
Chrysos E, Athanasakis E, Tsiaoussis J et al (2001) Rectoanal motility in Crohn’s disease patients. Dis Colon Rectum 44(10):1509–1513
Kangas E, Hiltunen KM, Matikainen M (1992) Anorectal function in Crohn’s disease. Ann Chir Gynaecol 81(1):43–47
Buchmann P, Mogg GA, Alexander-Williams J, Allan RN, Keighley MR (1980) Relationship of proctitis and rectal capacity in Crohn’s disease. Gut 21(2):137–140
van Bodegraven AA, Sloots CE, Felt-Bersma RJ, Meuwissen SG (2002) Endosonographic evidence of persistence of Crohn’s disease-associated fistulas after infliximab treatment, irrespective of clinical response. Dis Colon Rectum 45(1):39–45
Conflict of interests
None
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lam, T.J., van Bodegraven, A.A. & Felt-Bersma, R.J.F. Anorectal complications and function in patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease: a series of patients with long-term follow-up. Int J Colorectal Dis 29, 923–929 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-014-1926-7
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-014-1926-7