Maria Laura Annunziata

Publications (8) View all

• Article: Upper gastrointestinal involvement of Crohn's disease: a prospective study on the role of upper endoscopy in the diagnostic work-up.

  Maria Laura Annunziata, Renato Caviglia, Luigi Giovanni Papparella, Michele Cicala
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  ABSTRACT: Prevalence of upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract involvement in adult Crohn's disease (CD) has been reported to be very low (0.3-5%). In routine practice, upper endoscopy is recommended only in CD patients with upper GI symptoms. Available data concerning the prevalence of asymptomatic upper GI lesions in CD patients are controversial. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the prevalence of upper GI CD involvement in CD patients, irrespective of upper GI symptoms. A series of 119 consecutive CD patients underwent clinical assessment, including occurrence and score of upper GI symptoms, and upper endoscopy with biopsy samples for histological assessment and Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection detection. In an attempt to further recognize the upper GI tract lesions as CD or other form of inflammation, in a subgroup of CD patients, the histological and endoscopic evaluation was repeated following 12 weeks of anti-TNF-α or other treatments in association with proton-pump inhibitors. Upper CD involvement was found in 19/119 (16%) patients. Hp infection was detected in 10/119 (8.4%) CD patients. Hp-negative focally active chronic gastritis was found in 34/119 (28.6%) CD patients. At presentation, 12/19 patients (63%) showing upper CD involvement were asymptomatic and 7 (37%) symptomatic. A high prevalence of upper GI tract involvement has been observed in CD patients, irrespective of upper symptoms. This finding suggests the usefulness of routine upper endoscopy in the diagnostic work-up of CD patients in order to correctly classify the distribution and extent of the disease.
  Digestive Diseases and Sciences 02/2012; 57(6):1618-23. · 2.12 Impact Factor
• Article: Can we treat ulcerative colitis with nutritional supplements?

  M L Annunziata, S Hanauer
  Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics 02/2012; 35(4):485; author reply 486-7. · 3.77 Impact Factor
• Article: Calcineurin inhibition in severe ulcerative colitis: lost in translation?

  Maria Laura Annunziata, Stephen B Hanauer
  Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 08/2011; 18(5):809-11. · 4.86 Impact Factor
• Article: Role of spiramycin/cotrimoxazole association in the mother-to-child transmission of toxoplasmosis infection in pregnancy.

  P Valentini, M Annunziata, D Angelone, L Masini, M De Santis, A Testa, R Grillo, D Speziale, O Ranno
  European Journal of Clinical Microbiology 06/2009; · 2.86 Impact Factor
• Article: Severe acute hypertriglyceridemia during acute lymphoblastic leukemia induction successfully treated with plasmapheresis.

  Vita Ridola, Paola Sabrina Buonuomo, Palma Maurizi, Rossana Putzulu, Maria Laura Annunziata, Domenico Pietrini, Riccardo Riccardi
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  ABSTRACT: Children suffering from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) treated with asparaginase and corticosteroids are at risk of developing severe lipid abnormalities. The authors report the case of a 10-year-old male with extremely high plasma triglyceride concentrations (4,000 mg/dl) during the induction phase of ALL associated with mild pancreatitis. Hypertriglyceridemia was successfully managed with plasmapheresis with a decrease in triglyceride levels to 590 mg/dl. Apheresis appears to be safe and effective in reducing hypertriglyceridemia and preventing related complications.
  Pediatric Blood & Cancer 03/2008; 50(2):378-80. · 1.89 Impact Factor