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World J Gastroenterol. Oct 14, 2007; 13(38): 5116-5120
Published online Oct 14, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i38.5116
Crohn’s disease incidence evolution in North-western Greece is not associated with alteration of NOD2/CARD15 variants
Michael Economou, Grigoris Filis, Zoi Tsianou, John Alamanos, Antonios Kogevinas, Kostas Masalas, Anna Petrou, Epameinondas V Tsianos
Michael Economou, Grigoris Filis, Zoi Tsianou, Antonios Kogevinas, Kostas Masalas, Anna Petrou, Epameinondas V Tsianos, 1st Department of Internal Medicine and Hepato-gastroenterology Unit, University of Ioannina, School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece
John Alamanos, Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by General Secretariat for Research and Technology, Greece and the European Union, PENED03ED770
Correspondence to: Michael Economou, 1st Department of Internal Medicine and Hepato-gastroenterology Unit, University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina 45110, Greece. meconom@cc.uoi.gr
Telephone: +30-265-1097799 Fax: +30-265-1097867
Received: March 16, 2007
Revised: April 7, 2007
Accepted: April 26, 2007
Published online: October 14, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To assess the trends in the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) over 23 years in the same area and to identify genetic factors related to incidence evolution.

METHODS: Patients with IBD arising from North-western Greece were systematically recorded through the 1983-2005 period. Trends in disease incidence and genetic patterns related to CARD15 variants were documented and correlated.

RESULTS: A total of 447 patients with IBD were recorded (23.5% Crohn’s disease, 72.7% Ulcerative colitis and 3.8% indeterminate colitis). Mean annual incidence rates of CD and UC were 0.9/100 000 (95% CI 0.1-1.7) and 2.7/100 000 (95% CI 1.7-4.1) inhabitants, respectively. There was a statistically significant increase of CD incidence (P < 0.01) during the study period, in contrast to the UC incidence. There were no statistical differences in CARD15 variants over the study period.

CONCLUSION: The incidence of CD in North-western Greece has risen disproportionately to that of UC in the 21st century. This is not related to alterations of genetic background though.

Keywords: Inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, Epidemiology, CARD15