Risk factors for severity and recurrence of colonic diverticular bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Colonic diverticular bleeding is the most common cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Risk factors related to severity and repeated bleeding episodes are not completely clearly defined. OBJECTIVE: To characterize a Portuguese population hospitalized due to colonic diverticular bleeding and to identify the clinical predictors related to bleeding severity and rebleeding. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all hospitalized patients diagnosed with colonic diverticular bleeding from January 2008 to December 2013 at our institution. The main outcomes evaluated were bleeding severity, defined as any transfusion support requirements and/or signs of hemodynamic shock, and 1-year recurrence rate. RESULTS: Seventy-four patients were included, with a mean age of 75.7 ± 9.5 years; the majority were male (62.2%). Thirty-six patients (48.6%) met the criteria for severe bleeding; four independent risk factors for severe diverticular bleeding were identified: low hemoglobin level at admission (≤ 11 g/dL; OR 18.8), older age (≥ 75 years; OR 4.7), bilateral diverticular location (OR 14.2) and chronic kidney disease (OR 5.6). The 1-year recurrence rate was 12.9%. We did not identify any independent risk factor for bleeding recurrence in this population. CONCLUSION: In this series, nearly half of the patients hospitalized with diverticular bleeding presented with severe bleeding. Patients with low hemoglobin levels, older age, bilateral diverticular location and chronic kidney disease had a significantly increased risk for severe diverticular bleeding. In addition, a small number of patients rebled within the first year after the index episode, although we could not identify independent risk factors associated with the recurrence of diverticular bleeding.

Anaemia in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease - A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Anaemia is the most common complication in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aims to assess the prevalence of anaemia in IBD patients and to know its characteristics with regard to the main IBD clinical features. METHODS: An observational cross-sectional multicentre study was conducted. We included all patients who had an appointment at the 15 participating centres during the period of 1 month, and who met the following selection criteria: age ≥18, diagnosis of IBD. Disease activity was evaluated by Harvey-Bradshaw Index (HBI) for Crohn's disease (CD), and by Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index (SCCAI) for ulcerative colitis (UC). RESULTS: One thousand three hundred and thirteen patients, were included: 54.8% female, mean age 42.8 (interquartile range (25th-75th): 31-53 years), 59% had a diagnosis of CD, 39% of UC and 2% IBD unclassified. The median follow-up since diagnosis was 7 years. The ongoing treatment was aminosalicylates (63.1%), corticosteroids (11.6%), immunomodulators (36.4%) and anti-tumour necrosis factor (27.3%). Anaemia was identified in 244 patients, representing a prevalence of 18.6% (95% CI 16.6-20.9). A majority of cases (90%) have mild/moderate anaemia (mean haemoglobin 11.3 ± 0.8 g/dl). Anaemia was significantly higher in females (p = 0.006), but there were no differences between CDs (19.1%) and UCs (17.7%; p = 0.688). Anaemia was more frequent in patients with active disease (HBI >4; SCCAI >2) than in those in clinical remission (33.6 vs. 15.6%, p < 0.001) and in patients on steroids (36.8%) vs. other treatments (p < 0.001). Only 47% of patients with anaemia were under any specific treatment (oral iron 67%; intravenous iron 41%). CONCLUSION: Anaemia was more frequent in patients with active disease and in those on corticosteroids. The treatment of anaemia still seems undervalued, whereas more than half of anaemic patients were not receiving any specific treatment and the use of oral iron prevails contrarily to current recommendations.

Olmesartan-Induced Enteropathy: An Unusual Cause of Villous Atrophy.

We report a case of a 63-year-old-man presenting with chronic diarrhea and weight loss while on olmesartan treatment for hypertension. Investigation showed multiple nutritional deficiencies associated with diffuse intestinal villous atrophy. Serologies for celiac disease were negative and other causes of villous atrophy were excluded. Olmesartan as a precipitant agent was suspected and withdrawn. Clinical improvement occurred in days with no need for other therapeutic measures. Follow-up at three months showed clinical remission and almost complete recovery of intestinal atrophy. Olmesartan is an angiotensin receptor blocker commonly prescribed for the management of hypertension. Spruelike enteropathy associated with this drug is a recently described entity with few cases reported. It presents with chronic diarrhea and intestinal villous atrophy and should be included in its differential diagnosis. This case intends to alert clinicians for the possibility of this event in a patient on treatment with this drug.

Apresentamos o caso de um homem de 63 anos com diarreia crónica e perda ponderal. Apresentava hipertensão arterial tratada com olmesartan. A investigação complementar mostrou múltiplos défices nutricionais associados a atrofia vilositária intestinal difusa. As serologias de doença celíaca foram negativas e outras causas de atrofia vilositária foram excluídas. Suspeitou-se do olmesartan como agente precipitante, sendo este suspenso. Observou-se melhoria clínica em dias, sem necessidade de outras medidas terapêuticas. No seguimento, aos 3 meses, constatou-se remissão clínica e recuperação quase completa da atrofia intestinal.O olmesartan é um bloqueador dos recetores da angiotensina, geralmente prescrito no tratamento da hipertensão. A enteropatia "spruelike" associada a este fármaco é uma entidade recentemente descrita, com poucos casos reportados. Manifesta-se por diarreia crónica associada a atrofia vilositária intestinal, devendo ser incluída no seu diagnóstico diferencial. Com este caso pretende-se alertar os clínicos para a possibilidade deste evento em doentes sob tratamento com este fármaco.

Risk factors for severity and recurrence of colonic diverticular bleeding

Background: Colonic diverticular bleeding is the most common cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Risk factors related to severity and repeated bleeding episodes are not completely clearly defined. Objective: To characterize a Portuguese population hospitalized due to colonic diverticular bleeding and to identify the clinical predictors related to bleeding severity and rebleeding. Methods: Retrospective analysis of all hospitalized patients diagnosed with colonic diverticular bleeding from January 2008 to December 2013 at our institution. The main outcomes evaluated were bleeding severity, defined as any transfusion support requirements and/or signs of hemodynamic shock, and 1-year recurrence rate. Results: Seventy-four patients were included, with a mean age of 75.7 ± 9.5 years; the majority were male (62.2%). Thirty-six patients (48.6%) met the criteria for severe bleeding; four independent risk factors for severe diverticular bleeding were identified: low hemoglobin level at admission (≤ 11 g/dL; OR 18.8), older age (≥ 75 years; OR 4.7), bilateral diverticular location (OR 14.2) and chronic kidney disease (OR 5.6). The 1-year recurrence rate was 12.9%. We did not identify any independent risk factor for bleeding recurrence in this population. Conclusion: In this series, nearly half of the patients hospitalized with diverticular bleeding presented with severe bleeding. Patients with low hemoglobin levels, older age, bilateral diverticular location and chronic kidney disease had a significantly increased risk for severe diverticular bleeding. In addition, a small number of patients rebled within the first year after the index episode, although we could not identify independent risk factors associated with the recurrence of diverticular bleeding (AU)

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A case of sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation of the spleen: Imaging and histopathological findings / Un caso de transformación nodular angiomatoide esclerosante del bazo: hallazgos radiológicos e histopatológicos

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