005), gender (p < 0.001), colo-rectal surgery (p = < 0.001). QOL was significantly affected by FI (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In

our study population, nearly a quarter of patients reported FI. There was a significant correlation between FI and QOL. Therefore, enquiring about FI in IBD patients can lead to identification of this debilitating condition. This will enable early referral for continence care in IBD patients. Key Word(s): 1. Faecal incontinence; 2. Ulcerative colitis; 3. Quality of life; 4. IBD; Presenting Author: SILVIO MIHALJEVIC Additional Authors: ROBERT SMOLIC, MARIO STEFANIC, ZELJKO find more KRZNARIC, LJUBICA GLAVAS OBROVAC, BORIS TAKAC, ALEKSANDAR KIBEL Corresponding Author: ROBERT SMOLIC Affiliations: KBC Osijek; KBC Torin 1 manufacturer Zagreb; Medicinski Fakultet Osijek Objective: The Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription (STATS) are intracellular effector molecules of cytokine-modulated

signalling, which play important role in the development of the human immune system and haematopoiesis, and are involved in the regulation of T-cell survival. STAT3, a master regulator of Th17 and FoxP3+Treg polarization, was recently associated with increased risk of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Chron’s disease (CD). Aim: To investigate whether a functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the learn more STAT3 gene is likely to be important for UC and CD risk in a Croatian population, and whether its phenotypic relationship could provide useful clinical predictions. Methods: A total of 50 CD patients and 91 UC patients, as well as 95 healthy control subjects were included

in the study. The intronic variant in the STAT3 gene (GenBank: NM 213662, rs744166) was genotyped using fluorescence resonance energy transfer technology and melting curve analysis of polymerase chain reaction products. Results: The observed population allele frequencies in the controls were similar to those reported in other Caucasian populations (36.8%, G allele). No significant difference was observed in genotype and allele frequencies between the cases and controls (CD: odds ratio 1.29, 95% confidence interval 0.78–2.11, P = 0.322; UC: 0.86 (0.56–1.32), P = 0.502, allelic contrasts, G allele). No further associations were uncovered by inspection of secondary traits. Conclusion: Here, we have demonstrated that the STAT3 rs744166 variant is not associated with CD, UC susceptibility or disease severity in the Croatian population, but pathogenetic mechanisms remain to be further evaluated. The STAT signalling pathway remains a potential therapeutic target for the development of new treatment options for UC and CD. Key Word(s): 1. Ulcerative colitis; 2. Chron’s disease (CD); 3. STAT 3 gene; 4.