Crohn's disease incidence evolution in North-western Greece is not associated with alteration of NOD2/CARD15 variants.
OBJECTIVE
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Economou
Michael
M
1st Department of Internal Medicine and Hepato-gastroenterology Unit, University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina 45110, Greece. meconom@cc.uoi.gr
Filis
Grigoris
G
Tsianou
Zoi
Z
Alamanos
John
J
Kogevinas
Antonios
A
Masalas
Kostas
K
Petrou
Anna
A
Tsianos
Epameinondas V
EV
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D053473:Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein / Q000235:genetics*
C429018:NOD2 protein, human; D053473:Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein