title: Effects of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases on left ventricular structure and function: a study protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Experimental evidences suggest an increased collagen deposition in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). In particular, large amounts of collagen type I, III and V have been described and correlated to the development of intestinal fibrotic lesions. No information has been available until now about the possible increased collagen deposition far from the main target organ. In the hypothesis that chronic inflammation and increased collagen metabolism are reflected also in the systemic circulation, we aimed this study to evaluate the effects on left ventricular wall structure by assessing splancnic and systemic collagen metabolism (procollagen III assay), deposition (ultrasonic tissue characterization), and cardiac function (echocardiography) in patients with different long standing history of IBD, before and after surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients affected by active IBD, 15 with Crohn and 15 with Ulcerative Colitis, submitted to surgery will be enrolled in the study in a double blind fashion. They will be studied before the surgical operation and 6, 12 months after surgery. A control group of 15 healthy age and gender-matched subjects will also be studied. At each interval blood samples will be collected in order to assess the collagen metabolism; a transthoracic echocardiogram will be recorded for the subsequent determination of cardiac function and collagen deposition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From this study protocol we expect additional information about the association between IBD and cardiovascular disorders; in particular to address the question if chronic inflammation, through the altered collagen metabolism, could affect left ventricular structure and function in a manner directly related to the estimated duration of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Milan, Ospedale Maggiore di Milano-IRCCS, Via F Sforza, 35-20122, Milano, Italy. ugo.cioffi@unimi.it
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Cioffi
authors.forename: Michele M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ciulla
authors.forename: Matilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Simone
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paliotti
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pierini
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Magrini
authors.forename: Fiorenzo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Botti
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Contessini-Avesani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004452:Echocardiography; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013152:Splanchnic Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
chemical_list: D024061:Collagen Type III