Abstract | BACKGROUND: Thiopurinic immunomodulators are effective for maintaining symptom remission in Crohn's disease. Little is known, however, about their effect on patients' quality of life or psychological well-being. The present study aimed to determine whether remission induced by thiopurinic immunomodulators returns levels of quality of life and psychological well-being to normal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-control study was performed. Cases were 33 patients with Crohn's disease treated with azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine and in stable remission for at least 6 months. Sixty-six healthy individuals matched 2:1 by age and sex and 14 patients with active Crohn's disease were included as control groups. Quality of life was evaluated with the Short Form (SF-36) questionnaire, and the respective Hamilton rating scales were used for anxiety and depression. ANOVA with Bonferroni's correction was used for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: SF-36 global scores were 85 in the study group, 85 in healthy controls (P = 1), and 58.6 in patients with active disease (P < 0.001 for the comparison with the other 2 groups). The differences between values were 0 (95% CI -4-4), 26.4 (95% CI 20-32), and 26.4 (95% CI 19-33), respectively. The respective anxiety and depression scores were 6.5, 5.5, and 16.2 and 3.7, 3.3, and 10.9. No significant differences were observed in any of the SF-36 domains between case and control groups, whereas in patients with active disease, all domains were significantly worse. CONCLUSIONS:
|
Authors | Xavier Calvet, Olga Gallardo, Ramón Coronas, Francesc Casellas, Antònia Montserrat, Antonio Torrejón, Mercedes Vergara, Rafel Campo, Enric Brullet |
Journal | Inflammatory bowel diseases
(Inflamm Bowel Dis)
Vol. 12
Issue 8
Pg. 692-6
(Aug 2006)
ISSN: 1078-0998 [Print] England |
PMID | 16917223
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
|
Chemical References |
- Immunosuppressive Agents
- Mercaptopurine
|
Topics |
- Adult
- Anxiety
(diagnosis, etiology)
- Case-Control Studies
- Crohn Disease
(drug therapy, psychology)
- Depression
(diagnosis, etiology)
- Female
- Humans
- Immunosuppressive Agents
(therapeutic use)
- Male
- Mercaptopurine
(therapeutic use)
- Quality of Life
- Remission Induction
|