The heart in inflammatory bowel disease

Cardiovascular involvement in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been occasionally reported, mainly in the form of case reports. Endocardium derangement in IBD involves endocarditis and subendocardial abscess. Endocarditis may occur as a result of septicemia or due to the prolonged use of total parental nutrition (TPN) catheters or/and immunosuppression. The cause of endocarditis may be bacterial or fungal and require surgery in several cases. Prophylaxis for endocarditis in selected IBD patients is discussed. Myocarditis or perimyocarditis in IBD is reported as an autoimmune phenomenon during bowel disease excacerbations or as a side-effect of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) formulations. Ulcerative colitis (UC) patients seem to be at a higher risk for this complication compared to Crohn ́s disease (CD) patients. Myocardial infarctions, selenium deficiency during TPN, the role of prolonged steroid use and the association with giant cell myocarditis are topics which need further analysis. Pericardium involvement seems to be the most frequent type of cardiovascular complication in IBD caused by drugs (5-ASA, azathioprine, cyclosporine), pericardio-colonic fistulas or unknown causes (idiopathic) and it may occasionally be the disease presenting symptom. Coronary artery status and other factors for cardiovascular risk, such as smoking, hyperlipidemia and exercise are also discussed. Electrocardiogram and ultrasonographic changes are not so uncommon and cardiogenic sudden death in IBD is reviewed. Intracavitary coagulation abnormalities, amyloidosis, heart failure and aortitis syndrome are topics included and discussed in this review. A list of tables contributes to a more systemic overview of this current knowledge.