Atrophy of the intestinal villi in a post-gastrectomy patient with severe iron deficiency anemia.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Iron deficiency anemia is a common complication of gastric surgery that in certain patients can be refractory to treatment with oral iron and needs to be treated parenterally. METHODS: A 48-year woman underwent gastric surgery for a gastric ulcer. She was referred to the nutrition unit for the study and treatment of a 3-year iron deficiency anemia refractory to oral iron supplementation. Blood tests, endoscopy and jejunal biopsy were made to study the case. RESULTS: Intestinal villi atrophy in the absence of celiac disease was the result. She was treated with intravenous iron, resolving the villous atrophy and thus oral iron supplementation could be effective. CONCLUSION: This case illustrates that iron deficiency may cause villous atrophy. In this setting, parenteral iron administration is necessary to correct the haematological and non-hematological alterations associated with this deficiency.

Atrophy of the intestinal villi in a post-gastrectomy patient with severe iron deficiency anemia / Atrofia de las vellosidades intestinales en un paciente postgastrectomizado con anemia ferropénica grave

Background & aims: Iron deficiency anemia is a common complication of gastric surgery that in certain patients can be refractory to treatment with oral iron and needs to be treated parenterally. Methods: A 48-year woman underwent gastric surgery for a gastric ulcer. She was referred to the nutrition unit for the study and treatment of a 3-year iron deficiency anemia refractory to oral iron supplementation. Blood tests, endoscopy and jejunal biopsy were made to study the case. Results: Intestinal villi atrophy in the absence of celiac disease was the result. She was treated with intravenous iron, resolving the villous atrophy and thus oral iron supplementation could be effective. Conclusion: This case illustrates that iron deficiency may cause villous atrophy. In this setting, parenteral iron administration is necessary to correct the haematological and non-hematological alterations associated with this deficiency (AU)

Introducción y objetivos: La anemia ferropénica es una complicación frecuente tras la cirugía gástrica que en algunos pacientes puede ser refractaria al tratamiento con hierro oral, siendo necesaria su administración por vía parenteral. Métodos: Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 48 años intervenida de gastrectomía para tratamiento de una úlcera gástrica. Fue remitida a la unidad de nutrición para estudio y tratamiento de una anemia ferropénica de 3 años de evolución refractaria al tratamiento con hierro oral. Para el estudio del caso se realizó analítica y endoscopia digestiva alta con biopsia yeyunal. Resultados: En el estudio realizado la paciente presentaba atrofia de la mucosa yeyunal en ausencia de enfermedad celíaca. Fue tratada con hierro intravenoso desapareciendo la atrofia intestinal, tras lo cual continuamos con suplementos de hierro por vía oral. Conclusión: Este caso ilustra que la deficiencia de hierro puede producir atrofia intestinal. Si esto ocurre, es necesario la suplementación de este metal por vía parenteral para corregir las alteraciones hematológicas y no hematológicas asociadas a esta deficiencia (AU)

[Gastric surgery as a nutritional risk factor]. / Cirugía gástrica como factor de riesgo nutricional.

BACKGROUND: The stomach has a role in the digestion and absorption of nutrients, so patients are in nutritional risk after gastric resection. The aim of this work was to study the nutritional status of postgastrectomy outpatients followed in our hospital. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 54 patients (27 M, 27 F) followed more than 12 months postgastrectomy. Mean age was 61 +/- 14 yr and median follow-up was 35 months. The nutritional assessment included anthropometry, biochemical data and measurement of bone mineral density by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The statistical analysis was performed by non-parametric tests. RESULTS: Malignancy was the most frequent indication (85%), 63% of patients had total gastrectomy. Patients were supplemented with iron (43%), B12 (87%), calcium (18%) and vitamin D (17%). 13% of patients had a BMI < 18.5. The incidence of 25 OH vitamin D deficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism was 45% and 76%, respectively. The incidence of osteoporosis at lumbar spine was 46%. Matched with same age-sex people patients had 85.6% of bone mineral density. CONCLUSIONS: The loss of weight and the metabolic bone disease were the most prevalent impairments after gastric resection. These impairments point to the importance of a nutritional surveillance of patients after gastric resection.

Cirugía gástrica como factor de riesgo nutricional / Gastric surgery as a nutritional risk factor

Objetivo: El estómago tiene un papel importante en la digestión y absorción de nutrientes, por lo que los pacientes con resección gástrica están en riesgo nutricional. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el estado nutricional de pacientes gastrectomizados seguidos en una consulta externa de Nutrición de un Hospital General Universitario. Material y métodos: Estudiamos de manera retrospectiva 54 pacientes (27 V, 27 M) con un tiempo mínimo de evolución desde la gastrectomía de 12 meses. La edad media fue 61 ± 14 años y la media de seguimiento 35 meses. La valoración nutricional incluyó antropometría, datos bioquímicos y valoración de la densidad mineral ósea mediante DEXA. El estudio estadístico se realizó con pruebas no paramétricas. Resultados: La indicación principal de la cirugía fue oncológica (85%). El 63% de los pacientes presentaban gastrectomía total. Los pacientes recibieron suplementos de hierro (43%), vitamina B12 (87%), calcio (18%) y vitamina D (17%). El 13% de los pacientes tenían bajo peso (IMC < 18,5). La incidencia de deficiencia de 25 OH vitamina D y de hiperparatiroidismo secundario fue de 45% y 76%, respectivamente. La incidencia de osteoporosis en columna fue del 46%. Comparadas con personas de su misma edad y sexo, los pacientes mantenían el 85,6% de la densidad mineral ósea. Conclusiones: La pérdida de peso y la enfermedad metabólica ósea fueron las complicaciones más prevalentes en nuestros pacientes gastrectomizados. Por ello, creemos que es importante realizar un seguimiento nutricional en los pacientes gastrectomizados

Background: The stomach has a role in the digestion and absorption of nutrients, so patients are in nutritional risk after gastric resection. The aim of this work was to study the nutritional status of postgastrectomy outpatients followed in our hospital. Methods: We retrospectively studied 54 patients (27 M, 27 F) followed more than 12 months postgastrectomy. Mean age was 61 ± 14 yr and median follow-up was 35 months. The nutritional assessment included anthropometry, biochemical data and measurement of bone mineral density by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The statistical analysis was performed by non-parametric tests. Results: Malignancy was the most frequent indication (85%), 63% of patients had total gastrectomy. Patients were supplemented with iron (43%), B12 (87%), calcium (18%) and vitamin D (17%). 13% of patients had a BMI < 18.5. The incidence of 25 OH vitamin D deficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism was 45% and 76%, respectively. The incidence of osteoporosis at lumbar spine was 46%. Matched with same age-sex people patients had 85.6% of bone mineral density. Conclusions: The loss of weight and the metabolic bone disease were the most prevalent impairments after gastric resection. These impairments point to the importance of a nutritional surveillance of patients after gastric resection

Hiperparatiroidismo primario tras cirugía bariátrica: a propósito de un caso / Primary hyperparathyroidism after bariatric surgery: apropos of a case

La deficiencia de vitamina D es una consecuencia común tras técnicas malabsortivas de cirugía bariátrica, si no se previene con suplementación posquirúrgica. Esto induce hiperparatiroidismo secundario moderado con los subsecuentes efectos en el metabolismo óseo. Casos como el que presentamos, con hiperparatiroidismo primario por producción autónoma glandular, detectado durante el seguimiento postoperatorio, pueden plantear problemas de diagnóstico diferencial y en la elección de una actitud terapéutica determinada. Con el presente artículo, tratamos de revisar los mecanismos fisiopatológicos implicados en el hiperparatiroidismo secundario asociado a cirugía bariátrica, los criterios actuales de tratamiento quirúrgico del hiperparatiroidismo primario y posibles nuevos factores (como la necesidad de suplementación con calcio y vitamina D), que hay que tener en cuenta en la elección de esta opción terapéutica

Vitamin D insufficiency is common after bariatric surgery with a malabsorptive component, unless prevented with specific oral postoperative supplementation. It induces moderate secondary hyperparathyroidism with subsequent effects on bone metabolism. Cases such as that presented herein, with primary hyperparathyroidism due to autonomous glandular production diagnosed during follow-up after bariatric surgery, can pose problems when making a differential diagnosis and choosing a therapeutic option. The aim of the present report was to review the physiopathological mechanisms involved in secondary hyperparathyroidism associated with bariatric surgery, the current criteria for the surgical treatment of asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism, and possible future factors (e.g. the need for supplementation with calcium and vitamin D) that should be taken into account when choosing this therapeutic option

Copper deficiency with pancytopenia due to enteral nutrition through jejunostomy.

Copper deficiency is a rare complication of enteral nutrition. Haematologic abnormalities such as neutropenia and anaemia, but not pancytopenia, have been described associated to copper deficiency. We report the case of a patient requiring long term enteral nutrition through jejunostomy who developed copper deficiency and pancytopenia. In 1991, a 47-year-old woman was admitted with severe gastroesophageal mucositis after an attempted suicide with caustic intake. Enteral nutrition with a commercial, polymeric, fiber-containing formula was started. Twenty-eight months later, the patient developed anemia and neutropenia that did not respond to combined iron and parenteral vitamin B(12) supplementation. In 1996 the patient showed pancytopenia and low serum levels of copper and ceruloplasmin. Pancytopenia improved after copper supplementation. Possible mechanism causing copper deficiency and pancytopenia are discussed. We conclude that assessment of copper status is advisable in patients receiving long-term enteral nutrition by jejunostomy.