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Original article doi:10.1111/j.1463-1318.2006.00954.

Pre-pouch ileitis: a disease of the ileum in ulcerative colitis


after restorative proctocolectomy
A. J. Bell*†, A. B. Price*, A. Forbes*, P. J. Ciclitira†, C. Groves* and R. J. Nicholls*
*St Mark’s Academic Institute, St Mark’s Hospital, Harrow and †Department of Gastroenterology, The Rayne Institute, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK

Received 22 May 2005; accepted 17 October 2005

Abstract

Objective Ileal inflammation in ulcerative colitis can Crohn’s disease and one a NSAID stricture. The
occur as backwash ileitis or prestomal ileitis. After remaining 15 had a characteristic diffuse inflammation
restorative proctocolectomy (RPC), ileal inflammation extending from the NTI-pouch junction proximally: pre-
may be present in the pouch (pouchitis) but inflamma- pouch ileitis. The inflammation extended proximally for
tion proximal to the pouch in the neo-terminal ileum, so up to 50 cm. Fistula formation was seen in only one.
called pre-pouch ileitis (PI), has also been observed. As Seven (47%) of 15 had pouchitis but only two had
pouchitis is increasingly common and PI can mimic it, suffered backwash ileitis pre-operatively. Seven responded
our aim was to characterize this condition. to medical therapy and four to surgery. The histological
appearances including staining for colonic phenotypic
Subjects and methods A review of prospectively col-
change were similar in PI and pouchitis.
lected data on 571 inflammatory bowel disease patients
undergoing follow-up after RPC in a single centre over Conclusion Pre-pouch ileitis is uncommon. As the
22 years was performed. The histology of biopsy material patients’ previous diagnosis of UC was confirmed and
was reviewed and staining for colonic mucosal phenotypic there was no radiological or histological evidence of
changes was undertaken. It was not routine practice to Crohn’s disease, PI appears to have a distinct pathogen-
prospectively assess all patients for pre-pouch ileitis when esis from Crohn’s disease.
the database was constructed.
Keywords Pouch, pouchitis, ileitis, Crohn’s disease,
Results Of 19 patients with inflammation of the pre- ulcerative colitis
pouch neo-terminal ileum (NTI) identified three had

sought to ascertain the clinical and pathological charac-


Introduction
teristics of pre-pouch ileitis (PI) by analysis of a database
Small bowel inflammation may occur in ulcerative colitis In addition, histochemical staining of mucins in
(UC) as backwash ileitis. This resolves after conventional biopsies from the NTI was conducted since colonic
proctocolectomy. After restorative proctocolectomy phenotypic change of the pouch ileum with the expres-
(RPC), however, inflammation may occur in the ileal sion of colonic proteins [3] and colonic-type sulphomuc-
reservoir as pouchitis. This appears to be related to the ins [4] has been shown to be associated with pouchitis in
original diagnosis of UC since pouchitis is exceedingly some patients.
rare in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) after RPC
[1]. A pre-operative diagnosis of concurrent UC has been
Subjects and methods
demonstrated in cases of pouchitis occurring in FAP
patients [2]. Some patients with UC undergoing RPC The records of 571 consecutive patients undergoing RPC
develop ileal inflammation in the neo-terminal ileum for IBD between July 1976 and May 1998 at a single
(NTI) proximal to the pouch. This appears to be a centre followed for a mean of 83 ± 58 months were
condition distinct from pouchitis. The present study reviewed. Data on the appearance of the neo-terminal
ileum had not routinely been entered in the database. To
identify those with possible PI patients in whom any ileal
Correspondence to: Dr A J Bell, Department of Gastroenterology, Weston-
Super-Mare General Hospital, Somerset, UK. abnormality was recorded during follow-up were
E-mail: andrew.bell@waht.swest.nhs.uk identified. On review of the case-notes those with an

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A. J. Bell et al. Pre-pouch ileitis

abnormality related to localized sepsis or to adhesions, configurations recorded. Only one operation was des-
those in whom endoscopic examination disproved the cribed as difficult; and only one recorded the use of
presence of inflammation, and those with Crohn’s disease staples.
or a strong suspicion of a drug-related stricture based on
histology and ⁄ or recorded drug history were excluded.
Clinical features

Symptoms included frequency of defaecation (6 ⁄ 15,


Histopathology
40%), subacute obstruction (6 ⁄ 15, 40%), loose stool
The slides of previous biopsies and surgical specimens (5 ⁄ 15, 33%), abdominal flatus or colic (5 ⁄ 15, 33%),
stained with haematoxylin and eosin were reviewed by a evacuation difficulty (3 ⁄ 15, 20%) and weight loss (1 ⁄ 15,
single histopathologist (ABP) blinded as to their origin. 7%). One patient was asymptomatic. Symptoms were
Nine of 15 patients who satisfied the inclusion criteria those elicited during unstructured routine follow-up
had archived blocks of tissue available from both the NTI interviews with clinicians.
and the pouch. Paraffin sections of these archived blocks All 15 had continuous disease from the NTI-pouch
were cut and stained using the high iron-diamine method junction for a distance of 1 cm to more than 50 cm
of Spicer [5]. This stains small intestinal sialomucins blue proximally becoming milder more proximally (Fig. 1a,b).
whilst colonic sulphomucins are stained brown or black. Three had disease limited to the pouch-NTI junction;
All slides were examined blind by two observers at 100· nine had narrowing of the lumen in the NTI and in two
magnification. All stained cells in each of five fields were of these there was a severe stricture. One had a fistula
counted for each biopsy and the number of blue-staining from the NTI to the vagina. Distally, two had a pouch-
cells as a percentage of the total stained cells was vaginal fistula and one of these two had an additional
recorded. The mean percentage was calculated. Where track arising from the ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. As
the observers’ mean estimates varied by more than 10% all these are recognized complications of pouch surgery they
stained cells in the section were counted. were not taken as diagnostic of Crohn’s disease in these
Biopsies from pouches with (n ¼ 8) and without latter two patients. The other key patient characteristics
(n ¼ 11) pouchitis were used for comparison. Pouchitis are shown in Table 1.
was defined according to the criteria of Moskowitz et al.
[1].
Radiological features
Statistical analysis of histochemical staining was by
unpaired t-test and significant results remained so In 10 of the patients, contrast studies of the NTI were
following Bonferroni correction. performed when inflammation was active. The radiologist
specifically suggested Crohn’s disease in two cases whilst
in another the report included deep ulceration and
Results
cobblestone appearance. In the remaining seven patients,
Of the 571 patients, 15 had evidence of idiopathic varying degrees and combinations of ulceration, thicken-
inflammation of the NTI. This was identified by radio- ing of folds, nodularity, irregularity and strictures were
logical contrast studies in eight patients, by endoscopy in described. The length of abnormal bowel varied from 1
four, by CT scanning in one, and at surgery in one. Those to 30 cm when assessed radiologically. Dilation of the
diagnosed by imaging who remained symptomatic all NTI was reported in one patient.
went on to have the findings confirmed at endoscopy or
surgery. In one further patient the means of diagnosis was
Histopathological features
not recorded. One patient had well-controlled coeliac
disease. In 14 patients the pre-operative histological diagnosis
The median age of the 15 patients was 36 years based on the colectomy specimen was confirmed as UC.
(range 16–58 years) and the median time from pouch In one other patient UC was confirmed on review
construction to diagnosis of NTI inflammation was elsewhere. Examination of resection specimens and
3 years (range 0.02–11 years). Eight (53%) patients biopsies revealed no characteristic features to distinguish
were female. PI from pouchitis (Fig. 2).
Four (27%) patients had an end ileostomy prior to The macroscopic appearance of the resection specimen
restorative surgery with two of these having ileo-rectal of the five patients undergoing surgical removal of the
anatomosis as an intermediate procedure. Pouch oper- pre-pouch ileum, was of severe ulcerating mucosal
ations were recorded as two-stage in 14 of 15 patients disease, with or without a stricture distally, giving way
and one-stage in one with 1S, 4J and 10W pouch to shallower more patchy ulceration proximally.

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Pre-pouch ileitis A. J. Bell et al.

Figure 1 (a–d) The endoscopic findings at variable distances into the NTI from the pouch in a typical UC case, (a) at 40 cm, (b) at
15 cm, (c) NTI-pouch junction, (d) pouch. (e) A typical contrast study. The 15 cm of ileum leading into the pouch is clearly abnormal
demonstrating fold thickening and superficial ulceration.

Table 1 Patient characteristics. which is a recognized cause of granulomata in inflamma-


Idiopathic PI
tory bowel disease not confined to Crohn’s disease [6]. In
(n ¼ 15) one case with a stricture, capillary ectasia was a striking
feature and was felt to be suggestive of ischaemia. Three
n⁄N (%) specimens, including this case, the case with fistulating
disease and one of the other cases undergoing resection,
Family history of IBD 2 ⁄ 12 (17%) demonstrated fibrosis in the submucosa but none showed
Smoker 2 ⁄ 14 (14%)
the characteristic aggregated transmural inflammation of
Anaemia 8 ⁄ 13 (62%)
Crohn’s disease. In four cases an increase in severity was
Co-existent pouchitis 7 ⁄ 15 (47%)
seen over a follow up period ranging from one to 10 years
Backwash ileitis in original specimen 2 ⁄ 11 (18%)
Extra-intestinal manifestations 4 ⁄ 15 (27%) and one of these subsequently developed a severe
Significant stricture distal 3 ⁄ 15 (20%) stricture.
to pouch at ileo-anal anastomosis
End ileostomy or ileo-rectal 4 ⁄ 11 (36%)
Histochemistry
anastomosis prior to reconstruction
High iron diamine–Alcian blue staining reveals small
Values are shown as: no. with characteristic ⁄ no. in whom pres-
bowel sialomucins as blue (Fig. 3a) and large bowel
ence or absence of characteristic was recorded (%).
sulphomucins as brown (Fig. 3b). Several sections of the
Histopathology of the NTI was available for 12 pouch and pre-pouch ileum showed a mixed pattern of
patients. Sections showed degrees of villous atrophy and staining (Fig. 3c,d). The biopsies from UC pouches
a mucosal chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate accompan- without pouchitis exhibited sialomucins only with no
ied by neutrophils in the epithelium and ulceration of positive staining for sulphomucins. In inflamed speci-
variable intensity. mens, showing pouchitis and ⁄ or pre-pouch ileitis there
Granulomata were seen in only one case. This finding was a greater frequency of staining for sulphomucins with
was, however, not taken as evidence of Crohn’s disease this being the predominant mucin produced in some
since it was related to inflammatory crypt-abscess damage cases (Fig. 4). This demonstrates a further similarity

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A. J. Bell et al. Pre-pouch ileitis

Figure 2 The histology of a healthy pouch ileum contrasted with that typical of pouchitis and PI in the same patient. (a) Healthy
pouch with intact villi. (b) Inflamed pouch mucosa with flattened villi, acute inflammatory cell infiltration of the epithelium and chronic
inflammatory cells in the mucosa. (c) Similar appearance in inflamed pre-pouch ileum with overlying ulcer slough.

Figure 3 Sections stained with HID-AB. Blue represents small bowel sialomucins; brown colonic sulphomucins. (a) Normal small
bowel staining in pouch. (b) Normal large bowel staining in rectum. (c, d) Mixed staining pattern in a case of pouchitis (c) and pre-
pouch ileitis (d).

between PI and pouchitis. The difference was significant The remaining 10 patients were treated medically
(P ¼ 0.011; SE diff ¼ 11.367) when PI staining was initially, or with endoscopic dilatation. Seven of these
compared with controls but did not reach significance later required surgical intervention. Five of these came to
when pouchitis was compared with controls. (P ¼ resection for refractory symptoms and this proved to be
0.0599). effective treatment for their symptoms in three, although
this entailed sequential resections for recurrence with an
eventual end ileostomy in one.
Treatment
All of those undergoing endoscopic dilatation later
As multiple treatments were used a flow-chart is provided came to resection. Another of these 10 patients did not
for ease of interpretation (Fig. 5). respond either symptomatically or endoscopically to de-
Two patients with no or insignificant symptoms functioning of the inflamed segment. Of the seven
received no treatment and their condition remained the symptomatic patients not undergoing curative resection,
same. Two underwent spontaneous remission. One went two became dependent on immuno-suppressive therapy
straight to open stricturoplasty and improved. with one of them having poor symptom control whilst

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Pre-pouch ileitis A. J. Bell et al.

Percentage of goblet cells staining for had endoscopic recurrence; one required intermittent
sialomucins antibiotics and regular catheterization to empty the
100
pouch; and one resolved spontaneously following short-
lived responses to antibiotics, mesalazine and topical
steroids. In the five patients having a pouch-preserving
resection the inflammation recurred in three at a mean of
50 nine months. In two patients receiving an end ileostomy
there was no recurrence.
The indications for the original colectomy with extent
of disease, findings, treatment and outcome are summar-
0
ized in Table 2.

Discussion
Pre-pouch ileitis Pouchitis controls Healthy pouch controls
Involvement of the small intestine in inflammatory bowel
Figure 4 The percentage staining for small bowel mucins in disease usually indicates Crohn’s disease. The ‘backwash
sections from 27 patients is shown. Where less than 100% the ileitis’ seen in some colitics with continuous disease is an
remainder stained for colonic mucins. More patients in the exception [7]. After restorative proctocolectomy some
inflamed groups including PI and pouchitis produced colonic
degree of inflammation often occurs in the ileo-anal
mucins.
pouch: pouchitis. Pouchitis appears to arise almost
the other later came to resection for side-effects of exclusively in patients with a previous diagnosis of UC,
treatment. Two were controlled on regular antibiotics; and it has been argued that it may represent a form of UC
one was controlled on antibiotics following resection but affecting the ileal mucosa. The prevalence of pouchitis is

15 Patients with idiopathic pre-pouch ileitis

11 with symptoms
Strictureplasty medical Rx or
requiring treatment
(1) : well endo. diln. (10)

Resection for Surgery for long-term


side-effects (1)+ : medical Rx antibiotics +/-
well failure (7) prn steroids (2);
resolved off-
treatment (1)

Endo. Resection for Defunctioning


resection symptoms (4) ileostomy (1)
(polyp) (1)

Medical Rx following
surgical Rx failure (3)

immuno
antibiotics +/- suppressants (1)
catheter (2)
Figure 5 Flow-chart of treatment.
Abbreviations used in flow-chart: endo,
endoscopic; diln, dilatation; Rx, treat-
well well (2)# well Symptoms (1) ment; + pouch resected; # pouch resected
Well
and short bowel syndrome in one.

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A. J. Bell et al. Pre-pouch ileitis

Table 2 Indication for colectomy with disease extent, NTI findings, treatment and outcome.

Aetiology Indication Extent Reports PI Treatment Outcome

Idiopathic Res ⁄ ref Left 20 cm of minor stricturing Dilatation + MTZ + CS, Recurred postresection on
and aphthae in NTI resection, later MTZ + CS treatment, later symptoms
resolved. Functioning pouch.
Idiopathic Res ⁄ ref n⁄a Extensive ulceration in NTI i ⁄ v CS + Aza, CS initially Recovered but excised for
and pouch, cobblestoning effective then excision of steroid-dependence with
and deep ulcers pouch and NTI required osteoporotic fracture;
with no recurrence never functional pouch.
No recurrence 9 year
postop. End ileostomy.
Idiopathic Res ⁄ ref Pan Major aphthae + NTI-pouch Mild, not treated Mild symptoms continue
inflammation with slight
stricture
Idiopathic Res ⁄ ref Pan Superficial aphthae in Antibiotics good short-term Fairly well with prn
final 25 cm of NTI ciprofloxacin and live yoghurt.
Idiopathic Res ⁄ ref Ext Moderate ileitis for > 50 cm Nil Never symptomatic
ex anum
Idiopathic HGD Pan No PI at 4 year postop; MTZ to good symptomatic Well, intermittent treatment.
10 cm at 14 year effect in 2 week.s
Idiopathic Emergency n⁄a 20 cm NTI stricture Predfoam; Pentasa p.o. no Obstructive signs and
with ulcers reduction in frequency but symptoms. Cramps slightly
no obstruction; then dilated; better after polyp out
later inflammatory polyp and Pentasa
(ball-valve) removed
Idiopathic Res ⁄ ref Left Irregular ulcerated stricture Po ⁄ pr steroids, 5- ASA Settled on medication initially.
for last 30 cm of NTI and Aza, Dilatation Recurrent flares & quickly
then resection recurred postresection.
of stricture Continuous medical therapy.
Idiopathic Res ⁄ ref Left apthae, granularity & linear Initially defunctioned for Defunctioning did not
ulcers for > 40 cm subacute obstruction; alter PI.
lessening proximally stoma taken down, Well, on treatment.
catheter and MTZ effective
Idiopathic Emergency n⁄a 3 cm stricture just proximal Stricturoplasty of pre-pouch . Reduced frequency and severity
to pouch stricture of colicky pain
Idiopathic Emergency n⁄a Fistula from thickened NTI Resection NTI. Recurred at No recurrence but
with dilatation above. new NTI. Resected with has short
pouch. Recurred pre-Kock bowel syndrome
pouch. Resected. ileostomy.
Idiopathic Res ⁄ ref Ext Nodular narrowing in Nil Spontaneous resolution
afferent loop
Idiopathic Res ⁄ ref Left Granular mucosa and Antibiotics and pentasa Spontaneous resolution
aphthae at NTI-pouch and topical steroids all later
junction briefly effective
Idiopathic HGD Pan Stenosis proximal to pouch Spontaneous resolution Discharged well
Idiopathic Res ⁄ ref Ext Severe inflammation in NTI, Stoma for 6 month. Symptoms Well 1 year. post,
5 years later continuous helped by defunctioning; later resection functioning
stricture above for recurred and resected after pouch.
some distance 5 years. MTZ helped.
NSAID n⁄a n⁄a Stricture above pouch Resection Well post resection.
(‘NSAID’) ‘NSAID stricture’
Crohn’s Emergency Pan Proximal anastomotic Excised. Proximal small Well 9 month. postop.
ulcers; major aphthae bowel lesion so ‘Crohn’s’ End ileostomy.
at 10 cm proximal to but possibly previous
this. Normal between. stoma site

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Pre-pouch ileitis A. J. Bell et al.

Table 2 (Continued)

Aetiology Indication Extent Reports PI Treatment Outcome

Crohn’s n⁄a Left 10 cm ulceration Defunctioned. Crohn’s. New activity


‘typical of Crohn’s PI gone by 3 month. elsewhere in small bowel
disease’ pre-pouch precluded further attempts at
reversal of ileostomy.
Crohn’s Res ⁄ ref Ext Stricture at NTI-pouch Dilatation; continued Crohn’s. End ileostomy.
junction; minor symptoms. Excision.
aphthae above only

Abbreviations used in Table 2: Res ⁄ ref ¼ treatment resistant or refractory disease; HGD ¼ high grade dysplasia; Ext ¼ extensive
colitis; Left ¼ left-sided; MTZ ¼ metronidazole; CS ¼ corticosteroids; Aza ¼ azathioprine; n ⁄ a ¼ not available.

increasing and it has been called the third inflammatory [14]. In terms of response to treatment the picture is
bowel disease. As a result the differential diagnoses in similar to resistant pouchitis. Various treatments were
patients with a pouch are assuming greater significance. given but none was consistently effective.
This study describes a group of patients who have Other unusual patterns of small bowel inflammation
inflammation proximal to the pouch. Only about half of in UC have been reported. Hallak et al. [15] published
these have concomitant pouchitis. The present study a series of nine cases of ‘postcolectomy ileitis’ which
sought to characterize the clinical and pathological they observed in patients with and without UC. These
features of pre-pouch ileitis. included two with inflammation proximal to an S-
The endoscopic features had been interpreted as pouch similar to the cases reported in the present
Crohn’s disease and so were three of 10 contrast studies. study. In an analysis of eight cases with Crohn’s-like
Histologically, however, all 15 patients were confirmed to complications following RPC, Goldstein et al. [16]
have had ulcerative colitis at the time of RPC. Further- described three patients with stricturing enteritis at the
more in none of the 13 patients who had undergone pouch inlet. The authors suggested that a re-classifica-
contrast radiology of the proximal bowel was there any tion of the diagnosis from UC to Crohn’s disease
evidence of any other small bowel lesion. In contrast to should not be considered unless there was intestinal
what would be expected in Crohn’s disease, less than 15% disease distant from the pouch or there were irrefutable
of patients smoked and of the two patients having faecal changes of Crohn’s disease in biopsies or in the
diversion one developed distal inflammation and the excision specimen. While there were two cases with a
other did not improve [8]. pouch-vaginal fistula in the present series, this is a
Inflammation can occur immediately proximal to an recognized complication of RPC and is not per se
ileostomy although this is less common than is inflam- strong evidence of Crohn’s disease [17].
mation in a Kock or ileo-anal pouch. It has been Morphological changes of the small bowel including
suggested that pouch inflammation is related to distal variable villous atrophy have been observed in acute
stricturing [9] but this did not appear to apply to the neo- colitis [18]. However, these have a tendency to resolve
terminal ileum as only three (20%) patients in the present after the acute attack has settled. In coeliac disease there is
study had a significant distal stricture. All were due to an association with microscopic colitis. In such instance,
stenosis of the ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. however, neutrophil infiltration of the epithelium is not
There was no correlation between PI and the original prominent and there may be a gluten sensitivity of the
extent of the disease or the presence of backwash ileitis, large intestinal lymphoid tissue as it responds to a gluten-
which has been proposed as a predictor of pouchitis [10]. free diet [19]. The continuous nature of the inflamma-
The indications for RPC in the 15 patients were no tion together with its length and histological appearance
different from those in a general UC population under- make it highly unlikely that the cases reported here are
going surgery [11]. A history of extra-intestinal manifes- examples of the more unusual vasculitic-type [20] or
tations has been suggested to be a marker for aggressive NSAID-induced enteropathy [21].
disease [12,13]. However, this was present in less than One weakness of the present study is that the recent
30% of the patients and, although the numbers are small, use of NSAIDs was not prospectively collected in the
this rate was similar to that reported in the general database. In the light of a recent report in which the
population of patients who have had an RPC for UC authors found this to be the likely explanation for afferent

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A. J. Bell et al. Pre-pouch ileitis

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