BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care and education might differ around Europe. Therefore, we conducted this European Variation In IBD PracticE suRvey (VIPER) to investigate potential differences between countries. METHODS: This trainee-initiated survey, run through SurveyMonkey®, consisted of 47 questions inquiring basic demographics, IBD training, and clinical care. Results were compared according to gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, for which countries were divided into 2 groups (low/high income, according to the World Bank). RESULTS: The online survey was completed by 1,285 participants from 40 European countries, with a majority of specialists (65.3%) working in academic institutions (50.4%). Significant differences in IBD-specific training (55.9% vs. 38.4%), as well as availability of IBD units (58.4% vs. 39.7%) and multidisciplinary meetings (73.2% vs. 40.1%), were observed between respondees from high and low GDP countries (p < 0.0001). In high GDP countries, IBD nurses are more common (85.9% vs. 36.0%), also mirrored by more nurse-led IBD clinics (40.6% vs. 13.7%; p < 0.0001). IBD dieticians (33.4% vs. 16.5%) and psychologists (16.8% vs. 7.5%) are mainly present in high GDP countries (p < 0.0001). In the current COVID era, telemedicine is available in 73.2% versus 54.1% of the high/low GDP countries, respectively (p < 0.0001). Treat-to-target approaches are implemented everywhere (85.0%), though access to biologicals and small molecules differs significantly. CONCLUSION: Much variability in IBD practice exists across Europe, with marked differences between high and low GDP countries. Further work is required to help address some of these inequalities, aiming to improve and standardize IBD care and training across Europe.

• MeSH
• Biological Products * MeSH
• COVID-19 * MeSH
• Inflammatory Bowel Diseases * epidemiology   therapy   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Surveys and Questionnaires MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Europe MeSH

Background: Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an emerging treatment modality, but its current clinical use and organisation are unknown. We aimed to describe the clinical use, conduct, and potential for FMT in Europe. Methods: We invited all hospital-based FMT centres within the European Council member states to answer a web-based questionnaire covering their clinical activities, organisation, and regulation of FMT in 2019. Responders were identified from trials registered at clinicaltrials.gov and from the United European Gastroenterology (UEG) working group for stool banking and FMT. Findings: In 2019, 31 FMT centres from 17 countries reported a total of 1,874 (median 25, quartile 10-64) FMT procedures; 1,077 (57%) with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) as indication, 791 (42%) with experimental indications, and 6 (0•3%) unaccounted for. Adjusted to population size, 0•257 per 100,000 population received FMT for CDI and 0•189 per 100,000 population for experimental indications. With estimated 12,400 (6,100-28,500) annual cases of multiple, recurrent CDI and indication for FMT in Europe, the current European FMT activity covers approximately 10% of the patients with indication. The participating centres demonstrated high safety standards and adherence to international consensus guidelines. Formal or informal regulation from health authorities was present at 21 (68%) centres. Interpretation: FMT is a widespread routine treatment for multiple, recurrent CDI and an experimental treatment. Embedded within hospital settings, FMT centres operate with high standards across Europe to provide safe FMT. A significant gap in FMT coverage suggests the need to raise clinical awareness and increase the FMT activity in Europe by at least 10-fold to meet the true, indicated need. Funding: NordForsk under the Nordic Council and Innovation Fund Denmark (j.no. 8056-00006B).

• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Concomitant occurrence of celiac disease (CeD) and Crohn's disease (CD) is rare and has been reported in several case reports and series. We report a case of a 63-year-old man with proximal CD, CeD and selective immunoglobulin (Ig) A deficiency (SIgAD). The patient was admitted in our Clinic for evaluation of epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting and weight loss (up to 7 kg) appeared in the last 3 months. The imaging findings from abdominal ultrasound and CT enterography raised suspicion of a lymphoproliferative disease of the jejunum. To exclude the development of lymphoma based on long standing untreated atypical CeD, upper endoscopy with biopsies and serological tests were conducted, showing and subtotal villous atrophy and elevated levels of IgG tissue transglutaminase tTG. Histopathology documented CD (A3,L4,B2 according to Montreal's classification).

• MeSH
• Celiac Disease * immunology   pathology   therapy   MeSH
• Crohn Disease surgery   immunology   pathology   MeSH
• IgA Deficiency diagnosis   complications   MeSH
• Comorbidity MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Publication type
• Case Reports MeSH