Are PANCA, ASCA, or Cytokine Gene Polymorphisms Associated with Pouchitis? Long-term Follow-up in 102 Ulcerative Colitis Patients

Objective: Pouchitis is the most frequent complication after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis. This study aims to analyze the frequency and characteristics of pouchitis in long-term follow-up in a large population, and to determine whether a significant association exists between five immunogenetic markers and pouchitis.

Methods: From a population of over 500 ulcerative colitis patients who had undergone ileal pouch-anal anastamosis 5-12 yr earlier, 102 subjects participated in the study. Using clinical data obtained from interviews and chart reviews, patients were classified into three groups: no pouchitis; 1-2 episodes per year; and >2 episodes per year. Coded sera from the patients were analyzed for ulcerative colitis-associated perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and Crohn's disease-associated anti-saccharomyces cerevesiae antibodies. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and lymphotoxin beta (lymphotoxin) polymorphisms were also analyzed.

Results: Pouchitis affected 49% of the study population. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, anti-saccharomyces cerevesiae antibodies, and lymphotoxin-beta polymorphisms were not associated with pouchitis. Carriage of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist allele 2 was significantly greater among those without pouchitis than those with pouchitis. Patients without pouchitis had a significantly greater carriage rate of TNF allele 2.

Conclusions: Perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and anti-saccharomyces cerevesiae antibodies are not correlated with pouchitis, but interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and TNF may play a role in its development. Further evaluation of these markers in pouchitis will require larger populations, long-term prospective observation, and studies that correlate polymorphisms with specific immunologic functions.