Riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular e indicadores de adiposidad corporal y su relación con el riesgo psicosocial en trabajadores del sector económico de comercio / Indicadores de risco de doenças cardiovasculares e de adiposidade corporal e sua relação com o risco psicossocial em trabalhadores do setor econômico do comércio / Cardiovascular disease risk and body adiposity indicators and their relationship with psychosocial risk in workers of the commerce economic sector

Resumen Introducción Cada año a nivel mundial se presentan millones de muertes y lesiones no mortales por inadecuadas prácticas en salud laboral, muertes por cardiopatías isquémicas y accidente cerebrovascular son causadas por largas jornadas y altas cargas laborales. Objetivo Identificar el grado de correlación del riesgo psicosocial con el riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular e indicadores de adiposidad corporal: IMC (índice de masa corporal), PA (perímetro abdominal) y BFP (porcentaje de grasa corporal) en trabajadores del sector económico de comercio. Método Estudio de enfoque cuantitativo y alcance correlacional no causal, con una muestra de 118 sujetos (56.7% mujeres y 43.3% hombres). Se evaluó los indicadores de adiposidad mediante el protocolo internacional para la valoración antropométrica ISAK, el riesgo cardiovascular por medio de la escala de Framingham y para evaluar el riesgo psicosocial se aplicó la Batería de Instrumentos para la Evaluación de Factores de Riesgos Psicosociales validada para la población colombiana. Estos datos fueron procesados y analizados estadísticamente mediante SPSS versión 28. Resultados Se destaca una relación significativa (p < .05) entre las variables en diferentes grados, en el caso de la correlación entre enfermedad cardiovascular y el riesgo psicosocial su coeficiente de correlación es de (r = .62), para la correlación entre el IMC y el riesgo psicosocial un coeficiente de (r = .52), en el caso del BFP y el riesgo psicosocial en mujeres fue de (r = .45) y en hombres de (r = .67) y para el PA y el riesgo psicosocial, su coeficiente de correlación fue de (r = .42) y (r = .64) respectivamente. Conclusión Existe una correlación positiva y fuerte entre el riesgo psicosocial y el riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular, del mismo modo, entre el IMC y el riesgo psicosocial. En el caso del BFP y el riesgo psicosocial, el grado de correlación fue moderado en mujeres y fuerte en hombres al igual que en la correlación entre el PA y el riesgo psicosocial.

Resumo Introdução Todos os anos, em todo o mundo, ocorrem milhões de mortes e lesões não fatais devido a práticas inadequadas de saúde ocupacional, as mortes por doença cardíaca isquêmica e acidente vascular cerebral são causadas por longas jornadas de trabalho e altas cargas de trabalho. Objetivo Identificar o grau de correlação do risco psicossocial com o risco de doenças cardiovasculares e com os indicadores de adiposidade corporal: IMC (índice de massa corporal), PA (circunferência abdominal) e PBC (percentagem de gordura corporal) em trabalhadores do sector econômico do comércio. Método Estudo quantitativo de âmbito correlacional não causal, com uma amostra de 118 indivíduos (56.7% mulheres e 43.3% homens). Os indicadores de adiposidade foram avaliados através do protocolo internacional de avaliação antropométrica ISAK, o risco cardiovascular foi avaliado através da escala de Framingham e o risco psicossocial foi avaliado através da Bateria de Instrumentos para a Avaliação de Factores de Risco Psicossocial validada para a população colombiana. Estes dados foram processados e analisados estatisticamente utilizando o SPSS versão 28. Resultados Existe uma relação significativa (p < .05) entre as variáveis em diferentes graus, no caso da correlação entre doença cardiovascular e risco psicossocial o seu coeficiente de correlação é (r = .62), para a correlação entre IMC e risco psicossocial um coeficiente de (r = .52), para a PAF e risco psicossocial nas mulheres um coeficiente de (r = .52). 62), para a correlação entre o IMC e o risco psicossocial um coeficiente de (r = .52), no caso da PA e do risco psicossocial nas mulheres foi (r = .45) e nos homens (r = .67) e para a PA e o risco psicossocial, o seu coeficiente de correlação foi (r = .42) e (r = .64) respetivamente. Conclusão Existe uma forte correlação positiva entre o risco psicossocial e o risco de doença cardiovascular, bem como entre o IMC e o risco psicossocial. No caso da PAF e do risco psicossocial, o grau de correlação foi moderado nas mulheres e forte nos homens, tal como a correlação entre a PA e o risco psicossocial.

Abstract Introduction Every year worldwide millions of deaths and non-fatal injuries occur due to inadequate occupational health practices, deaths from ischemic heart disease and stroke are caused by long working hours and high workloads. Objective To identify the degree of correlation of psychosocial risk with the risk of cardiovascular disease and body adiposity indicators: BMI (body mass index), AC (abdominal circumference) and BFP (body fat percentage) in workers of the commerce economic sector. Method A study with a quantitative approach and non-causal correlational scope, with a sample of 118 subjects (56.7% women and 43.3% men). Adiposity indicators were evaluated by means of the international protocol for anthropometric assessment ISAK, cardiovascular risk by means of the Framingham scale and to evaluate psychosocial risk, the Battery of Instruments for the Evaluation of Psychosocial Risk Factors validated for the Colombian population was applied. These data were processed and analyzed statistically using SPSS version 28. Results A significant relationship (p < .05) between the variables is highlighted in different degrees, in the case of the correlation between cardiovascular disease and psychosocial risk its correlation coefficient is (r =. 62), for the correlation between BMI and psychosocial risk a coefficient of (r = .52), in the case of BFP and psychosocial risk in women it was (r = .45) and in men (r = .67) and for AC and psychosocial risk, its correlation coefficient was (r = .42) and (r = .64) respectively. Conclusion There was a strong positive correlation between psychosocial risk and cardiovascular disease risk, as well as between BMI and psychosocial risk. In the case of BFP and psychosocial risk, the degree of correlation was moderate in women and strong in men, as was the correlation between AC and psychosocial risk.

Location, morphology and invasiveness of lateral spreading tumors in the colorectum differ between two large cohorts from an eastern and western country.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Data from Japanese series show that surface morphology of laterally spreading tumors (LST) in the colon identifies lesions with different incidence and pattern of submucosal invasion. Such data from western countries are scarce. We compared clinical and histological features of LST in a western country and an eastern country, with special interest on mucosal invasiveness of LST, and investigated the effect of clinical factors on invasiveness in both countries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with LST lesions ≥20mm were included from a multicenter prospective registry in Spain and from a retrospective registry from the National Cancer Center Hospital East, Japan. The primary outcome was the presence of submucosal invasion in LST. The secondary outcome was the presence of high-risk histology, defined as high-grade dysplasia or submucosal invasion. RESULTS: We evaluated 1102 patients in Spain and 663 in Japan. Morphological and histological characteristics differed. The prevalence of submucosal invasion in Japan was six-fold the prevalence in Spain (Prevalence Ratio PR=5.66; 95%CI: 3.96, 8.08), and the prevalence of high-risk histology was 1.5 higher (PR=1.44; 95%CI: 1.31, 1.58). Compared to the granular homogeneous type and adjusted by clinical features, granular mixed, flat elevated, and pseudo-depressed types were associated with higher odds of submucosal invasion in Japan, whereas only the pseudo-depressed type showed higher risk in Spain. Regarding high-risk histology, both granular mixed and pseudo-depressed were associated with higher odds in Japan, compared with only the granular mixed type in Spain. CONCLUSION: This study reveals differences in location, morphology and invasiveness of LST in an eastern and a western cohort.

Clinical validation of risk scoring systems to predict risk of delayed bleeding after EMR of large colorectal lesions.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Endoscopic Resection Group of the Spanish Society of Endoscopy (GSEED-RE) model and the Australian Colonic Endoscopic Resection (ACER) model were proposed to predict delayed bleeding (DB) after EMR of large superficial colorectal lesions, but neither has been validated. We validated and updated these models. METHODS: A multicenter cohort study was performed in patients with nonpedunculated lesions ≥20 mm removed by EMR. We assessed the discrimination and calibration of the GSEED-RE and ACER models. Difficulty performing EMR was subjectively categorized as low, medium, or high. We created a new model, including factors associated with DB in 3 cohort studies. RESULTS: DB occurred in 45 of 1034 EMRs (4.5%); it was associated with proximal location (odds ratio [OR], 2.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-6.16), antiplatelet agents (OR, 2.51; 95% CI, .99-6.34) or anticoagulants (OR, 4.54; 95% CI, 2.14-9.63), difficulty of EMR (OR, 3.23; 95% CI, 1.41-7.40), and comorbidity (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, .99-4.47). The GSEED-RE and ACER models did not accurately predict DB. Re-estimation and recalibration yielded acceptable results (GSEED-RE area under the curve [AUC], .64 [95% CI, .54-.74]; ACER AUC, .65 [95% CI, .57-.73]). We used lesion size, proximal location, comorbidity, and antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy to generate a new model, the GSEED-RE2, which achieved higher AUC values (.69-.73; 95% CI, .59-.80) and exhibited lower susceptibility to changes among datasets. CONCLUSIONS: The updated GSEED-RE and ACER models achieved acceptable prediction levels of DB. The GSEED-RE2 model may achieve better prediction results and could be used to guide the management of patients after validation by other external groups. (Clinical trial registration number: NCT03050333.).

Clinical guidelines for endoscopic mucosal resection of non-pedunculated colorectal lesions.

This document summarizes the contents of the Clinical Guidelines for the Endoscopic Mucosal Resection of Non-Pedunculated Colorectal Lesions that was developed by the working group of the Spanish Society of Digestive Endoscopy (GSEED of Endoscopic Resection). This document presents recommendations for the endoscopic management of superficial colorectal neoplastic lesions.

Clinical guidelines for endoscopic mucosal resection of non-pedunculated colorectal lesions. / Guía clínica para la resección mucosa endoscópica de lesiones colorrectales no pediculadas.

This document summarizes the contents of the Clinical Guidelines for the Endoscopic Mucosal Resection of Non-Pedunculated Colorectal Lesions that was developed by the working group of the Spanish Society of Digestive Endoscopy (GSEED of Endoscopic Resection). This document presents recommendations for the endoscopic management of superficial colorectal neoplastic lesions.

A Scoring System to Determine Risk of Delayed Bleeding After Endoscopic Mucosal Resection of Large Colorectal Lesions.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: After endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of colorectal lesions, delayed bleeding is the most common serious complication, but there are no guidelines for its prevention. We aimed to identify risk factors associated with delayed bleeding that required medical attention after discharge until day 15 and develop a scoring system to identify patients at risk. METHODS: We performed a prospective study of 1214 consecutive patients with nonpedunculated colorectal lesions 20 mm or larger treated by EMR (n = 1255) at 23 hospitals in Spain, from February 2013 through February 2015. Patients were examined 15 days after the procedure, and medical data were collected. We used the data to create a delayed bleeding scoring system, and assigned a weight to each risk factor based on the ß parameter from multivariate logistic regression analysis. Patients were classified as being at low, average, or high risk for delayed bleeding. RESULTS: Delayed bleeding occurred in 46 cases (3.7%, 95% confidence interval, 2.7%-4.9%). In multivariate analysis, factors associated with delayed bleeding included age ≥75 years (odds ratio [OR], 2.36; P < .01), American Society of Anesthesiologist classification scores of III or IV (OR, 1.90; P ≤ .05), aspirin use during EMR (OR, 3.16; P < .05), right-sided lesions (OR, 4.86; P < .01), lesion size ≥40 mm (OR, 1.91; P ≤ .05), and a mucosal gap not closed by hemoclips (OR, 3.63; P ≤ .01). We developed a risk scoring system based on these 6 variables that assigned patients to the low-risk (score, 0-3), average-risk (score, 4-7), or high-risk (score, 8-10) categories with a receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.77 (95% confidence interval, 0.70-0.83). In these groups, the probabilities of delayed bleeding were 0.6%, 5.5%, and 40%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of delayed bleeding after EMR of large colorectal lesions is 3.7%. We developed a risk scoring system based on 6 factors that determined the risk for delayed bleeding (receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.77). The factors most strongly associated with delayed bleeding were right-sided lesions, aspirin use, and mucosal defects not closed by hemoclips. Patients considered to be high risk (score, 8-10) had a 40% probability of delayed bleeding.

Diagnostic performance of fecal immunochemical test and sigmoidoscopy for advanced right-sided colorectal neoplasms.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer screening effect on right-sided colorectal neoplasia is limited. We compared fecal immunochemical test and simulated sigmoidoscopy diagnostic accuracy for advanced right-sided neoplasia detection. METHODS: We analyzed 1,292 individuals with complete screening colonoscopy with a fecal immunochemical test determination before colonoscopy. Sigmoidoscopy and "hybrid strategy" (sigmoidoscopy or fecal hemoglobin concentration ≥ 20 µg hemoglobin/g) diagnostic yield were simulated according to UK Flexible Sigmoidoscopy, Screening for COlon REctum (SCORE), and Norwegian Colorectal Cancer Prevention (NORCCAP) trials criteria to complete colonic examination. We compared sensitivity and specificity of both strategies and of "hybrid strategy" for advanced right-sided neoplasia with McNemar test. RESULTS: An advanced right-sided neoplasia was detected in 47 (3.6 %) subjects. A fecal hemoglobin concentration ≥ 20 µg hemoglobin/g was determined in 6.6 % of the subjects and 10.1, 12.7, and 23.5 % met UK, SCORE, and NORCCAP criteria, respectively. Fecal immunochemical test was statistically more specific than sigmoidoscopy strategies (93.8 %, UK 90.3 %, SCORE 87.7 %, NORCCAP 77.8 %; p < 0.001). In contrast, fecal immunochemical test sensitivity for advanced right-sided neoplasia (17 %) was not statistically different than UK (21.3 %; p = 0.7) or SCORE (23.4 %; p = 0.5), although it was inferior than NORCCAP strategy (42.5 %; p < 0.001). Adding fecal immunochemical test to sigmoidoscopy increased number of positives (8.5-25.7 %), sensitivity (10-30 %), and significantly reduced advanced right-sided neoplasia specificity (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Fecal immunochemical test and sigmoidoscopy diagnostic yield for advanced right-sided neoplasia are low. Fecal immunochemical test is more specific than sigmoidoscopy but less sensitive than sigmoidoscopy according to NORCCAP criteria.

Diagnostic accuracy of fecal immunochemical test in average- and familial-risk colorectal cancer screening.

BACKGROUND: There is little information about the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) in familial-risk colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this article is to investigate whether FIT diagnostic accuracy for advanced neoplasia (AN) differs between average and familial-risk (first-degree relative) patients. METHODS: A total of 1317 consecutive participants (595 familial) who collected one stool sample before performing a colonoscopy as a CRC screening test were included. FIT diagnostic accuracy for AN was evaluated with Chi-square test at a 20 µg hemoglobin/g of feces cut-off value. Finally, we determined which variables were independently related to AN. RESULTS: An AN was found in 151 (11.5%) patients. The overall accuracy was not statistically different between both cohorts for AN (88.4%, 91.7%; p = 0.051). At the cut-off stablished, differences in FIT sensitivity (31.1%, 40.6%; p = 0.2) or specificity (96.5%, 97.3%; p = 0.1) were not statistically significant. Finally, independent variables such as sex (male) (odds ratio (OR) 2.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-3.1), age (50-65, >65 years) (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-4.3; OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2-6.1), previous colonoscopy (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.9) and FIT ≥20 µg/g feces (OR 17.7, 95% CI 10.8-29.1) were associated with AN diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: FIT accuracy for AN detection is equivalent in average and familial-risk CRC screening cohorts.

Characteristics of adenomas detected by fecal immunochemical test in colorectal cancer screening.

BACKGROUND: Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) diagnostic accuracy for colorectal adenoma detection in colorectal cancer screening is limited. METHODS: We analyzed 474 asymptomatic subjects with adenomas detected on colonoscopy in two blinded diagnostic tests studies designed to assess FIT diagnostic accuracy. We determined the characteristics of adenomas (number, size, histology, morphology, and location) and the risk of metachronous lesions (according to European guidelines). Finally, we performed a logistic regression to identify those variables independently associated with a positive result. RESULTS: Advanced adenomas were found in 145 patients (75.6% distal and 24.3% only proximal to splenic flexure). Patients were classified as low (59.5%), intermediate (30.2%), and high risk (10.3%) according to European guidelines. At a 100-ng/mL threshold, FIT was positive in 61 patients (12.8%). Patients with advanced adenomas [odds ratio (OR), 8.8; 95% confidence interval (CI), 4.76-16.25], distal advanced adenomas (OR, 6.7; 95% CI, 1.9-8.8), high risk (OR, 20.1; 95% CI, 8.8-45.8), or intermediate risk lesions (OR, 6; 95% CI, 2.9-12.4) had more probabilities to have a positive test. The characteristics of adenomas independently associated were number of adenomas (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.04-1.42), distal flat adenomas (OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.21-0.96), pedunculated adenomas (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.48-3.5), and maximum size of distal adenomas (mm; OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.16-1.32). CONCLUSIONS: European guidelines classification and adenoma location correlates with the likelihood of a positive FIT result. IMPACT: This information allows us to understand the FIT impact in colorectal cancer prevention. Likewise, it should be taken into account in the development of new colorectal adenomas biomarkers.

Fecal immunochemical test accuracy in familial risk colorectal cancer screening.

There is little information on fecal immunochemical test (FIT) in familial risk colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Our study assesses FIT accuracy, number needed to scope (NNS) and cost to detect a CRC and an advanced neoplasia (AN) in this setting. We performed a multicentric, prospective, double-blind study of diagnostic tests on individuals with first-degree relatives (FDRs) with CRC submitted to screening colonoscopy. Two stool samples were collected and fecal hemoglobin in the first sample (FIT1) and the highest in both samples (FITmax) were determined. Areas under the curve (AUC) for CRC and AN as well as the best FIT1 and FITmax cutoff value for CRC were determined. At this threshold, NNS and the cost per lesion detected were calculated. A total of 595 individuals were included (one FDR > 60 years, 413; two FDR or one ≤ 60 years, 182). AN and CRC were found in 64 (10.8%) and six (1%) patients, respectively. For CRC diagnosis, FIT1 AUC was 0.96 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.95-0.98] and FITmax AUC was 0.95 (95% CI: 0.93-0.97). For AN diagnosis, FIT1 and FITmax AUC were 0.74 (95% CI: 0.66-0.82). The best cutoff point for CRC was 115. At this threshold, the NNS to detect a CRC was 5.67 and 7.67, and the cost per CRC was 1,064€ and 1591.33€ on FIT1 and FITmax strategies, respectively. FIT shows high accuracy to detect CRC in familial CRC screening. Performing two tests does not improve diagnostic accuracy, but increases cost and NNS to detect a lesion.

Gasterópodos asociados al alga calcárea Halimeda opuntia (Udoteaceae) en Puerto Rico

Gastropods associated with the calcareous alga Halimeda opuntia (Udoteaceae) in Puerto Rico. Gastropod communities associated with the calcareous green alga Halimeda opuntia are described and compared for two Puerto Rico coral reefs: one in the northeast with front tradewinds (windward zone) and one in the southwest (leeward zone). We analyzed the content of 21 lots (2432 g) of H. opuntia from leeward zone and 15 lots (2448 g) from the windward zone. In total we recovered 526 gastropods (prosobranchs) classified in 54 taxa. Thirteen species of gastropods represented 79.6% of the community. Differences between species richness and mean density values were not significant (p>0.100). Forty species were identified from leeward and thirty one (31) species from windward. Gastropod mean density was 13.9 /100g of algae in leeward and 7.6/100g in windward. Significant differences were found for the Simpson Diversity Index (0.91 in the leeward and 0.82 in the windward community; t=3.44, α=0.005). We found no correlation between the weight of the algae and the frequency of the gastropods (R²=0.0893 in leeward, 0.0249 windward and 0.0923 for both). The relationship between species composition in lots of windward and leeward study sites was explored via polar ordination and no segregation was found. When compared, the gastropod communities found in H. opuntia collected in coral reefs in Puerto Rico were more similar within them than any other communities found in other genera of seaweed and in other environments. Our results agree with the hypothesis that H. opuntia offers the interstitial community a protected microhabitat from water movement impact. H. opuntia creates more homogenous conditions than those of the habitat where we found the algae. Rev. Biol. Trop. 56 (4): 1665-1675. Epub 2008 December 12.

Se describen y comparan las comunidades de gasterópodos asociados al alga verde calcárea H. opuntia. Se compararon estas comunidades en arrecifes coralinos de lugares geográfica y ambientalmente diferentes, uno en el noreste de Puerto Rico, frente a los vientos alisios (barlovento), el otro en el suroeste (sotavento). Se analizó el contenido de 15 lotes (2432 g) de H. opuntia recolectadas en la estación de sotavento y 21 lotes (2448 g) en la de barlovento. En los 36 lotes se recuperaron 526 gasterópodos (prosobranquios) que se clasificaron en 54 taxones. Trece especies de gasterópodos representaron el 79.6% de la muestra de la comunidad. No encontramos diferencias significativas en las densidades de gasterópodos ni en la riqueza de especies (p>0.100). La densidad promedio fue de 13.9/100 g alga en la estación de sotavento y 7.6/100 g en la de barlovento. Se identificaron 40 especies diferentes en las muestras de sotavento y 31 en las de barlovento. Solamente se encontraron diferencias significativas en los valores de diversidad (Simpson), de 0.91 para la comunidad de sotavento y de 0.82 en la de barlovento (t = 3.44, α = 0.05). No encontramos correlaciσn entre el peso de la muestra del alga y la frecuencia de gasterσpodos en ésta, R² = 0.0893 para sotavento, 0.0249 para barlovento y 0.0923 para datos combinados. Utilizando los métodos de ordenación polar se comprueba la similitud de las dos comunidades estudiadas. Estos resultados sostienen la hipótesis de que H. opuntia le ofrece a los organismos que viven en sus intersticios un microhábitat protegido del impacto del movimiento del agua, creando condiciones más homogéneas que las del hábitat donde encontramos creciendo el alga.

Plantar keratoderma as a presenting sign of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

A 76-year-old woman presented with a 1-year history of back pain and sudden onset of plantar keratoderma. Her serum carbohydrate antigen (CA 19.9) levels were elevated. Endoscopic radial sonographic examination led to the diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, in a stage not detectable with helical CT yet amenable to surgical therapy. Cutaneous lesions disappeared after distal pancreatectomy.

Pseudoachalasia of the cardia secondary to nongastrointestinal neoplasia.

A minor proportion of patients with achalasia eventually have a neoplasm and, as a consequence, pseudoachalasia is diagnosed. A neoplasm may either involve gastrointestinal junction or present a paraneoplastic effect. Over the global diagnoses of achalasia issued in 5 years of experience in our motility unit, we have found 13% (3/23 cases) of pseudoachalasia (2-4% in previous series, probably due to the fact that the population assisted was mainly composed of elderly patients). The origin of the neoplasm was bladder, prostate and metastases from epidermoid carcinoma of vocal chord. Treatment of primary neoplasm, besides classical approach (with dilatation of botulinum injection) may help in the resolution of this clinical disorder.

Localized vasculitis of the gastrointestinal tract.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Isolated vasculitis of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a rare entity. Endoscopic biopsies have low sensitivity to diagnose intestinal vasculitis, even though the endoscopic findings may be suggestive of this condition. Our aims were to describe a case of biopsy-proven colonic leukocytoclastic vasculitis and review the literature. METHODS: A patient with biopsy-proven colonic leukocytoclastic vasculitis is described. A Medline database search of cases with localized GI vasculitis between January 1985 and September 2005 was conducted. RESULTS: A 32-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of abdominal pain and diarrhea. A colonic biopsy showed leukocytoclastic vasculitis. There are very few articles on leukocytoclastic GI vasculitis as a separate disease, and most of them emphasize the difficulty in classification. Unlike our case, in former cases of localized vasculitis a diagnosis was made after surgery. Although our patient had steroid-refractory biopsy-proven isolated intestinal vasculitis, treatment with intravenous cyclophosphamide resulted in rapid resolution of symptoms and surgery was not required. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with abdominal pain a diagnosis of intestinal vasculitis should be considered. Immunosuppressive therapy allowed our patient to avoid surgery and may be similarly beneficial in other similar cases.