[Morphology and function of the esophagus after sclerotherapy of esophageal varices in cirrhotic patients]. / Morphologie et fonction de l'oesophage après sclérothérapie des varices oesophagiennes chez le cirrhotique.

To assess the effects of endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy on esophageal symptoms and function, we prospectively studied 24 consecutive cirrhotic patients (group I), 60 days after variceal eradication had been achieved. Nine cirrhotics with varices (group II) and 16 normal volunteers (group III) were control groups. After sclerotherapy, 9 patients had persistent dysphagia and two others had heartburn. Nine patients developed an esophageal stricture, without dysphagia in 2 cases. Distal esophageal scars were observed in 8 out of 9 patients with stricture and 2 out of 15 patients without stricture. The percentage of patients with abnormal peristaltic waves (abnormal pattern, non propulsive contractions, respectively) was significantly (p less than 0.01) more important in group I (83 p. 100, 96 p. 100) than in group II (22 p. 100, 22 p. 100). A very particular manometric "en plateau" waveform pattern, never seen before, was observed in 75 p. 100 of patients in group I. Relaxation of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) was significantly (p less than 0.01) lower in patients with stricture (38 p. 100 median) than in the others (71 p. 100 median). Motility disturbances were observed in the 6 +/- 3 last centimeters of the esophagus, and were unchanged 9 months later in 5 patients who had further examination. The percentage of time below pH 4 and the Kaye's score did not differ between group I (n = 17) and group III on 3 hours postprandial esophageal pH monitoring. The percentage of time at pH less than 4 was more than 9 p. 100 in 31 p. 100 of group I patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Diffuse pseudopolyposis of the colon: developmental form or cicatricial of hemorrhagic rectocolitis?]. / La pseudopolypose diffuse du côlon: forme évolutive ou cicatricielle de la rectocolite hémorragique?

The authors report the case of a patient with generalized polyposis associated with ulcerative colitis. The diagnosis of polyposis was made 20 years after the onset of colitis. The patient presented with the unusual clinical manifestations, ie poor general condition and severe denutrition, following a severe relapse of colitis. The mucosal surface of the entire colon, except the rectum, was covered by innumerable polyps, without any macroscopic or microscopic evidence of ulceration. Intestinal protein loss, as assessed by alpha-1-antitrypsin clearance, was very high (470 ml/d). Acute mucosal inflammation, as assessed by histologic study and by 111-Indium-labelled-leukocyte scintigraphy, was also present. The patient responded dramatically to total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis. Histologically, the polyps were filiform, with a central core, containing vessels and smooth muscle fibers. This observation demonstrates that generalized polyposis, generally considered to be an asymptomatic sequela of ulcerative colitis, can also be associated with severe attacks of colitis.

[Antral vascular ectasia and scleroderma. Endoscopic, radiologic and anatomopathologic aspects of an uncommon association]. / Ectasie vasculaire antrale et sclérodermie. Aspects endoscopiques, radiologiques et anatomopathologiques d'une association originale.

Diffuse gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) is a new disease entity corresponding to peculiar acquired vascular malformations. In 1984 Jabbari et al. coined the term "Watermelon Stomach" for this lesion. We report here in a new case particular by its association with systemic sclerosis in a 66 year-old female. The diagnosis of GAVE was suggested upon endoscopic and angiographic findings. Atrophic fundic gastritis associated with achlorhydria and hypergastrinemia was also noted. Antrectomy was performed with success. Pathologic examination and morphometric analysis of the antrum specimen revealed the characteristic features of GAVE: 1) increase of the mean cross sectional area of mucosal vessel lumen and increase of the mean percentage of specimen area occupied by vessels; 2) presence of intravascular fibrin thrombi and 3) fibromuscular hyperplasia of the lamina propria.

Splenic pseudoaneurysm rupture into the colon: colonoscopy before and after successful arterial embolization.

We report a case of splenic pseudoaneurysm rupture into the colon in chronic pancreatitis. At the time of bleeding, pancreatitis was undiagnosed and the colonic lesion was misinterpreted at colonoscopy. The lesion was also misinterpreted at laparotomy, because it simulated intra-abdominal carcinomatosis. The diagnosis was made by CT examination which showed an eccentric enhancing region within a hypodense mass in the region of the splenic hilum. Definitive control of bleeding was achieved by splenic arterial embolization. Splenic infarction and an intrasplenic abscess complicated the embolization, but they did not require surgical intervention. Healing of the colonic wall and of the colonic mucosa was observed at colonoscopy 3 weeks after the embolization.