[Use of intragastric balloon in 385 obese patients]. / Experiencia en un solo centro de la utilización del balón intragástrico en 385 pacientes obesos.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with systemic co-morbi- dities. Conservative management has a low rate ofsuccess in the short and long term. Therefore, novel endoscopic strate- gies have emerged as alternative therapies to bariatric sur- gery. The intragastric balloon (IGB) is a temporary, effective and safe endoscopic treatment for weight loss. Objectives. 1. To describe changes in body mass index (BMI) in patients who completed treatment with IGB. 2. To describe metabo- lic co-morbidities and psychological features at admission. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with an age equal to or higher than 13 years-old were evaluated by a multidiscipli- nary team and categorized as "suitable" for IGB. The study took place in aprivate center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, bet- ween November 2007 andNovember 2012. The design was interventionist, longitudinal, comparative and retrospective. Interventions were: a) IGB placement was done with the usual technique; b) Nutritional monitoring was performed and a low calorie diet and an exercise plan were indicated. Follow-up was performed monthly. Main outcome measu- rements were: 1) Changes in BMI between baseline and at IGB removal according to diet and exercise compliance, 2) metabolic co-morbidities, 3) psychological traits evaluated wit checklist SCL 90. RESULTS: We included 385 patients, 66% female, mean age 41 years (range 13 to 70 years). A BMI decrease of 5 points (13 kg) was observed in the overall sample and in the 322 patients (83.6%) who completed 6 months (14 kg) (NS). The weight loss was greater in those who were compliant to diet and exercise (P = 0.0001). Most prevalent metabolic co-morbidities and psychological traits were dyslipemia and depression, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: IGB was effective in all patients. Weight loss was greater in patients compliant to diet and exercise.

[Endoscopic versus endoscopic plus octreotide treatment for acute variceal bleeding. Benefit according to severity at admission]. / Tratamiento endoscópico y combinado con octreotide en hemorragia por várices esofágicas. Beneficio según la gravedad al ingreso.

UNLABELLED: Vasoactive agents plus endoscopic treatment was recommended in esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB). However, the use according to severity on admission has been poorly evaluated OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic versus endoscopic plus octreotide treatment in patients with EVB according to severity on admission. METHODS: Between June 2001 and December 2011, 247 patients with EVB were treated using endoscopic or combined endoscopic plus octreotide treatment. Patients were analyzed according to the following cohorts: all patients, those with and without active bleeding, and by Child classes. Initial hemostatic failure, in-hospital rebleeding and in-hospital mortality were compared with both treatments. RESULTS: All patients with combined treatment had less initial hemostatic failure (P = 0.0157) and rebleeding (P = 0.0011) when compared to endoscopic treatment. Active bleeding patients and Child C patients had a significant reduction of initial hemostatic failure when receiving combined treatment vs endoscopic treatment (P = 0.0479 and P = 0.0222, respectively). Child C patients and patients without active bleeding significantly decreased rebleeding with combined treatment (P = 0.0139 and P = 0.0056, respectively). Global mortality was 17%, and did not differ between treatments. None patient in Child A died. CONCLUSIONS: Combined endoscopic plus octreotide treatment in patients with EVB resulted in a reduction of initial hemostatic failure and rebleeding. Moreover, the most relevant effect of combined treatment in decreasing initial hemostatic failure was seen in Child C and active bleeding patients, and for in-hospital rebleeding the same effect was seen in Child C and in patients without active bleeding. Mortality did not differ with both mentioned treatments.

Tratamiento endoscópico y combinado con octreotide en hemorragia por várices esofágicas. Beneficio según la gravedad al ingreso / [Endoscopic versus endoscopic plus octreotide treatment for acute variceal bleeding. Benefit according to severity at admission].

UNLABELLED: Vasoactive agents plus endoscopic treatment was recommended in esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB). However, the use according to severity on admission has been poorly evaluated OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic versus endoscopic plus octreotide treatment in patients with EVB according to severity on admission. METHODS: Between June 2001 and December 2011, 247 patients with EVB were treated using endoscopic or combined endoscopic plus octreotide treatment. Patients were analyzed according to the following cohorts: all patients, those with and without active bleeding, and by Child classes. Initial hemostatic failure, in-hospital rebleeding and in-hospital mortality were compared with both treatments. RESULTS: All patients with combined treatment had less initial hemostatic failure (P = 0.0157) and rebleeding (P = 0.0011) when compared to endoscopic treatment. Active bleeding patients and Child C patients had a significant reduction of initial hemostatic failure when receiving combined treatment vs endoscopic treatment (P = 0.0479 and P = 0.0222, respectively). Child C patients and patients without active bleeding significantly decreased rebleeding with combined treatment (P = 0.0139 and P = 0.0056, respectively). Global mortality was 17

, and did not differ between treatments. None patient in Child A died. CONCLUSIONS: Combined endoscopic plus octreotide treatment in patients with EVB resulted in a reduction of initial hemostatic failure and rebleeding. Moreover, the most relevant effect of combined treatment in decreasing initial hemostatic failure was seen in Child C and active bleeding patients, and for in-hospital rebleeding the same effect was seen in Child C and in patients without active bleeding. Mortality did not differ with both mentioned treatments.

Celiac disease serology in patients with different pretest probabilities: is biopsy avoidable?

AIM: To establish the diagnostic performance of several serological tests, individually and in combination, for diagnosing celiac disease (CD) in patients with different pretest probabilities, and to explore potential serological algorithms to reduce the necessity for biopsy. METHODS: We prospectively performed duodenal biopsy and serology in 679 adults who had either high risk (n = 161) or low risk (n = 518) for CD. Blood samples were tested using six assays (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) that detected antibodies to tissue transglutaminase (tTG) and deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP). RESULTS: CD prevalence was 39.1% in the high-risk population and 3.3% in the low-risk group. In high-risk patients, all individual assays had a high diagnostic efficacy [area under receiving operator characteristic curves (AU ROC): 0.968 to 0.999]. In contrast, assays had a lower diagnostic efficacy (AU ROC: 0.835 to 0.972) in the low-risk group. Using assay combinations, it would be possible to reach or rule out diagnosis of CD without biopsy in 92% of cases in both pretest populations. We observed that the new DGP/tTG Screen assay resulted in a surplus compared to more conventional assays in any clinical situation. CONCLUSION: The DGP/tTG Screen assay could be considered as the best initial test for CD. Combinations of two tests, including a DGP/tTG Screen, might be able to diagnose CD accurately in different clinical scenarios making biopsy avoidable in a high proportion of subjects.

Low-dose aspirin affects the small bowel mucosa: results of a pilot study with a multidimensional assessment.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Whether low-dose aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid [ASA]) produces intestinal damage is controversial. Our aim was to determine whether the small bowel is damaged by low-dose ASA on a short-term basis. METHODS: Twenty healthy volunteers (age range, 19-64 years) underwent video capsule endoscopy (VCE), fecal calprotectin, and permeability tests (sucrose and lactulose/mannitol [lac/man] ratio) before and after ingestion of 100 mg of enteric-coated ASA daily for 14 days. Video capsule images were assessed by 2 independent expert endoscopists, fully blinded to the treatment group, by using an endoscopic scale. RESULTS: Post-ASA VCE detected 10 cases (50%) with mucosal damage not apparent in baseline studies (6 cases had petechiae, 3 had erosions, and 1 had bleeding stigmata in 2 ulcers). The median baseline lac/man ratio (0.021; range, 0.011-0.045) increased after ASA use (0.036; range, 0.007-0.258; P = .08), and the post-ASA lac/man ratio was above the upper end of normal (>0.025) in 10 of 20 volunteers (vs baseline, P < .02). The median baseline fecal calprotectin concentration (6.05 microg/g; range, 1.9-79.2) also increased significantly after ASA use (23.9 microg/g; range, 3.1-75.3; P < .0005), with 3 patients having values above the cutoff (>50 microg/g). Five of 10 subjects with abnormal findings at VCE also had lac/man ratios above the cutoff. Median baseline sucrose urinary excretion (70.0 mg; range, 11.8-151.3) increased significantly after ASA administration (107.0 mg; range, 22.9-411.3; P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The short-term administration of low-dose ASA is associated with mucosal abnormalities of the small bowel mucosa, which might have implications in clinical practice.

A prospective evaluation of endoscopic markers for identifying celiac disease in patients with high and low probability of having the disease.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: the usefulness of duodenoscopic markers for predicting celiac disease (CD) has been questioned. We assessed the diagnostic efficacy of endoscopic markers of mucosal atrophy in individuals with different pretest probability of CD. METHODS: we prospectively performed endoscopic intestinal biopsies and CD-related serology tests in 661 individuals, including 143 consecutive patients attending a malabsorption clinic (high pretest probability) and 518 subjects randomly selected fom those undergoing routine endoscopy because of upper GI symptoms (low pretest probability). Duodenoscopic markers reported were: mosaic pattern, scalloped folds, and reduction in number or loss of Kerkring's folds. RESULTS: sixty-three (44.1%) and 18 (3.5%) patients were diagnosed with CD in the high and low risk groups, respectively Among high pretest subjects, the presence of any marker had very high sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy for the identification of CD (92.1%, 93.8%, 92.1%, 93.8% and 93.0%, respectively). The performance of these parameters for the presence of any marker in the low pretest population were 61.1%, 96.8%, 40.7%, 98.6% and 95.6%, respectively. Sensitivity (p < 0.004) and positive predictive value (p < 0.0001) of markers were significantly higher for the high risk patients. The identification of a reduction in number or loss of Kerkring'sfolds was not a reliable finding unless other signs were also present. CONCLUSIONS: we confirm that endoscopic markers are useful in predicting CD in different clinical scenarios. The high negative predictive value in the low probability group suggests that intestinal biopsy is not required if endoscopic markers are absent.

Antibodies against synthetic deamidated gliadin peptides as predictors of celiac disease: prospective assessment in an adult population with a high pretest probability of disease.

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive serologic tests have shown high diagnostic accuracy for celiac disease (CD) in selected populations. Our aim was to determine prospectively the performance of CD-related serology in individuals undergoing intestinal biopsy because of clinical suspicion of small-bowel disorders. METHODS: We enrolled 141 unselected consecutive adult patients attending a small-bowel disease clinic. Patients underwent endoscopy and biopsy; serum samples were obtained at that time for measurements of anti-tissue transglutaminase (a-tTG), IgA and IgG anti-deamidated gliadin-related peptide (a-DGP), and IgA antiactin antibodies (AAAs). Characterization of patients was based on histological criteria (Marsh type II lesion or greater). RESULTS: The prevalence of CD was 42.5%. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were >90% for most assays. Diagnostic accuracy based on ROC curve analysis was similar for all assays [area under the curve (95% CI): 0.996 (0.967-0.998) for a-tTG, 0.995 (0.964-0.998) for IgA a-DGP, 0.989 (0.954-0.999) for IgG a-DGP, 0.996 (0.966-0.998) for blended conjugated of IgA + IgG a-DGP in a single assay, and 0.967 (0.922-0.990) for AAA]. The combinations of 2 tests, IgG a-DGP plus IgA a-tTG or the single blended conjugate detecting IgA + IgG a-DGP plus IgA a-tTG had 100% positive and negative predictive values if concentrations of both tests in either combination were above or below the cutoff. CONCLUSIONS: In a population with high pretest probability, the newly developed a-DGP tests have diagnostic accuracy that is at least equivalent to that of established assays.

Clinical utility of counting intraepithelial lymphocytes in celiac disease intestinal mucosa.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Our aims were to establish the clinical utility of assessing the intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) density in intestinal biopsies from a large series of individuals and to determine the best threshold discriminating celiac disease (CD) patients and controls in two populations with different pre-test prevalence. METHODS: We prospectively performed intestinal biopsy and CD-related serology in 349 subjects undergoing upper GI endoscopy. While 116 had symptoms suggestive of a small bowel disorder (high prevalence), 233 individuals were randomly selected from patients referred to endoscopy because upper GIsymptoms (low prevalence). Diagnosis of CD was based on the concordance of classical histological features and a positive CD serology. RESULTS: While 58 patients had a newly diagnosed CD (52 in the high and 6 in the low prevalence groups), 291 subjects did not meet diagnostic criteria of the disorder. Patients had a highly significant greater IEL density than controls (p < 0.00001). Based on the ROC curve, a count of 22.8 IEL/100 epithelial cells had the highest performance for diagnosing CD in the overall population and for subjects in the high pre-test probability subgroup and 22.5% was ,he best cut-off for those diagnosed in the low risk population (area under the curves: 0.979, 0.979 and 0.993, respectively). An abnormal CD serology confirmed the diagnosis of CD in all the four patients with counts below 22.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms that an IEL density of 22.8% is an adequate threshold to discriminate CD patients and controls in individuals irrespective of the prevalence of the disorder.

Nadolol plus spironolactone in the prophylaxis of first variceal bleed in nonascitic cirrhotic patients: A preliminary study.

Treatment with beta-blockers fails to decrease portal pressure in nearly 40% of cirrhotic patients. Recent studies have suggested that treatment with spironolactone reduces pressure and flow in the portal and variceal systems. This trial was designed to assess if nadolol plus spironolactone is more effective than nadolol alone to prevent the first variceal bleeding. One hundred patients with medium and large varices who had never bled and were without ascites were included in a prospective, randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The patients were randomized into 2 groups: 51 received nadolol plus placebo (N + P) and 49 received nadolol plus spironolactone 100 mg/d (N + S). Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and activity of the renin-aldosterone system (plasma renin activity/plasma aldosterone levels) were measured in 24 patients. There were no significant differences in the appearance of variceal bleeding and ascites between groups at a mean follow-up of 22 +/- 16 months. However, analyzing both complications together, the incidence was significantly higher in the N + P group than in the N + S group (39% vs. 20%; P <.04). Clinical ascites was also higher in patients in the N + P group than in the N + S group (21% vs. 6%; P <.04). Significant increases in plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone levels were only observed in patients in the N + S group (P <.01). The cumulative probabilities of remaining free of bleeding and ascites were similar in both groups after 70 months of follow-up. In conclusion, these results suggest that nadolol plus spironolactone does not increase the efficacy of nadolol alone in the prophylaxis of the first variceal bleeding. However, when bleeding and ascites were considered together, the combined therapy effectively reduced the incidence of both portal-hypertensive complications.