Factors Associated with the Development of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Patients Hospitalized with Covid-19.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The most common symptoms of Covid-19 are respiratory; however, gastrointestinal symptoms are present in up to 50% of patients. We aimed to determine characteristics associated with the development of gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with Covid-19. METHODS: A case-control study of adults hospitalized for Covid-19 was conducted across a geographically diverse alliance of 36 US and Canadian medical centers. Data were manually abstracted from electronic health records and analyzed using regression analyses to determine characteristics associated with any gastrointestinal symptoms and diarrhea specifically. RESULTS: Of 1406 patients, 540 (38%) reported at least one gastrointestinal symptom and 346 (25%) reported diarrhea. Older patients (≥ 80 years) had significantly lower rates of any gastrointestinal symptoms and diarrhea (vs. patients 18-79 years, OR 0.41, p < 0.01 and OR 0.43 p = 0.01, respectively), while those with IBS (OR 7.70, p = 0.02 and OR 6.72, p < 0.01, respectively) and on immunosuppressive therapy (OR = 1.56, p = 0.02) had higher rates of any gastrointestinal symptom and diarrhea. Patients with constitutional symptoms exhibited significantly higher rates (OR 1.91, p < 0.01), while those with pulmonary disease alone had lower rates of gastrointestinal symptoms (OR 0.23, p = 0.01). A significant interaction between constitutional symptoms and pre-existing pulmonary conditions was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Several patient- and disease-specific characteristics associate with gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with Covid-19. Knowledge of these may provide insights into associated pathophysiologic mechanisms, and help health care professionals provide targeted attention to reduce morbidity related to Covid-19.

ASGE guideline on the management of cholangitis.

Cholangitis is a GI emergency requiring prompt recognition and treatment. The purpose of this document from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy's (ASGE) Standards of Practice Committee is to provide an evidence-based approach for management of cholangitis. This document addresses the modality of drainage (endoscopic vs percutaneous), timing of intervention (<48 hours vs >48 hours), and extent of initial intervention (comprehensive therapy vs decompression alone). Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology was used to formulate recommendations on these topics. The ASGE suggests endoscopic rather than percutaneous drainage and biliary decompression within 48 hours. Additionally, the panel suggests that sphincterotomy and stone removal be combined with drainage rather than decompression alone, unless patients are too unstable to tolerate more extensive endoscopic treatment.

ASGE guideline on the role of endoscopy in the management of malignant hilar obstruction.

This clinical guideline from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) provides an evidence-based approach for the management of patients with malignant hilar obstruction (MHO). This document was developed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework and addresses primary drainage modality (percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage [PTBD] vs endoscopic biliary drainage [EBD]), drainage strategy (unilateral vs bilateral), and stent selection (plastic stent [PS] vs self-expandable metal stent [SEMS]). Regarding drainage modality, in patients with MHO undergoing drainage before potential resection or transplantation, the panel suggests against routine use of PTBD as first-line therapy compared with EBD. In patients with unresectable MHO undergoing palliative drainage, the panel suggests PTBD or EBD. The final decision should be based on patient preferences, disease characteristics, and local expertise. Regarding drainage strategy, in patients with unresectable MHO undergoing palliative stent placement, the panel suggests placement of bilateral stents compared with a unilateral stent in the absence of liver atrophy. Finally, regarding type of stent, in patients with unresectable MHO undergoing palliative stent placement, the panel suggests placing SEMSs or PSs. However, in patients who have a short life expectancy and who place high value on avoiding repeated interventions, the panel suggests using SEMSs compared with PSs. If optimal drainage strategy has not been established, the panel suggests placing PSs. This document clearly outlines the process, analyses, and decision processes used to reach the final recommendations and represents the official ASGE recommendations on the above topics.

Long-term follow-up of asymptomatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in multiple endocrine neoplasia type I syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) in asymptomatic patients may contribute to mortality. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is the most accurate test to identify and monitor tumor size. The aim of this study was to examine the rate of growth and development of new tumors in multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (MEN 1). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study in a tertiary academic center. Patients identified in endoscopic databases were included if they had 2 or more EUS examinations with untreated asymptomatic tumors identified. The growth rate and incidence of new lesions was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 11 patients were studied (7 female, 4 male). Initially, 18 lesions with an average size of 10.3 mm (range, 5 to 24 mm) were found. Mean surveillance was 79 months (range, 18 to 134 mo). The growth rate of index lesions was 1.32 mm/y; 11 lesions exhibited stability or a decrease in size. Twelve new lesions were identified in 7 patients during the surveillance period with an average growth rate of 3.0 mm/y. The earliest new lesion was identified at 12 months and the latest at 70 months after index EUS. New lesions had a faster growth rate than those seen on initial EUS (P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type I patients exhibit an overall low rate of growth of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Growth rate of newly diagnosed lesions was significantly faster, suggesting a variation in phenotypic expression of the disease. Therapy should be individualized based upon the tumor size and location, symptoms, overall clinical status, and operative risk.

Targeted imaging of esophageal neoplasia with a fluorescently labeled peptide: first-in-human results.

Esophageal adenocarcinoma is rising rapidly in incidence and usually develops from Barrett's esophagus, a precursor condition commonly found in patients with chronic acid reflux. Premalignant lesions are challenging to detect on conventional screening endoscopy because of their flat appearance. Molecular changes can be used to improve detection of early neoplasia. We have developed a peptide that binds specifically to high-grade dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. We first applied the peptide ex vivo to esophageal specimens from 17 patients to validate specific binding. Next, we performed confocal endomicroscopy in vivo in 25 human subjects after topical peptide administration and found 3.8-fold greater fluorescence intensity for esophageal neoplasia compared with Barrett's esophagus and squamous epithelium with 75% sensitivity and 97% specificity. No toxicity was attributed to the peptide in either animal or patient studies. Therefore, our first-in-human results show that this targeted imaging agent is safe and may be useful for guiding tissue biopsy and for early detection of esophageal neoplasia and potentially other cancers of epithelial origin, such as bladder, colon, lung, pancreas, and stomach.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor complicated by Streptococcus milleri bacteremia and liver abscess.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. Often discovered incidentally, GISTs can present with nonspecific abdominal symptoms or more overt symptoms of bleeding, obstruction, or perforation. Despite a myriad of clinical presentations, bacteremia associated with a GIST has not been described. In this report, we present an unusual clinical case that illustrates how GISTs can become infected, and demonstrate the importance of Streptococcus milleri bacteremia as an indicator of possible underlying gastrointestinal neoplasm.

Risk stratification in upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Acute upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding is a common clinical problem that accounts for a large number of hospitalizations and results in substantial health care expenditures. Risk stratification after UGI hemorrhage involves the use of clinical and endoscopic parameters to predict the likelihood of rebleeding and death. This information can guide management decisions, such as the necessity of hospital admission, the application of endoscopic hemostatic therapy, and the length of inpatient stay. This concise review examines the current literature on risk stratification in UGI hemorrhage and attempts to integrate evidence-based data into the clinical decision-making process.