Eosinophilic esophagitis prevalence in an adult population undergoing upper endoscopy in southeastern Mexico.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) prevalence fluctuates according to the population studied and varies from 0.4% in an open population to 6.5% in subjects with esophageal symptoms. Even though this entity has been described in North American and European populations, it is still considered an 'unusual' condition in Latin America. The study aimed to determine EoE prevalence in patients undergoing elective endoscopy in a tertiary referral center in southeastern Mexico. Consecutive patients were evaluated that had been referred to the Medical and Biological Research Institute, Veracruz, Mexico, for upper endoscopy due to gastrointestinal symptoms. Demographic variables and symptoms were analyzed in all the cases. Eight mucosal biopsies of the esophagus (four proximal and four distal) were obtained and were reviewed by a blinded pathologist. Histological diagnosis was established when the mean eosinophil count at a large magnification was ≥15. A total of 235 subjects (137 women, 51.16 years) were evaluated, and EoE prevalence was 1.7% (4/235 95% confidence interval 0.2-3.6%). In all four cases, pH test were normal. Among patients with histological diagnosis of EoE, a greater number of patients with a past history of asthma (50% vs. 19.3%, P = 0.04) and a tendency for a greater frequency of dysphagia (50% vs. 25%, P = 0.10). There were no differences in the endoscopic findings (rings, grooves, plaques, or stricture) when compared with the patients presenting with erosive esophagitis. EoE prevalence among patients undergoing upper endoscopy from southeastern Mexico was 1.7%, which can be regarded as intermediate to low.

Esophageal motor disorders in subjects with incidentally discovered Chagas disease: a study using high-resolution manometry and the Chicago classification.

In patients with chronic indeterminate Chagas disease, conventional manometry has shown that 25-48% had esophageal motor disorders. Recently, esophageal high-resolution manometry (HRM) has revolutionized the assessment of esophageal motor function. In this study, we performed esophageal HRM in a group of subjects with incidentally positive serological findings for Trypanosoma cruzi. In this prospective observational study, we evaluated subjects who had positive serological tests for Chagas disease detected during a screening evaluation for blood donation. All subjects underwent symptomatic evaluation and esophageal HRM with a 36 solid-state catheter. Esophageal abnormalities were classified using the Chicago classification. Forty-two healthy subjects (38 males) aged 18-61 years (mean age, 40.7 years) were included. When specific symptoms questionnaire was applied, 14 (33%) subjects had esophageal symptoms. Esophageal high-resolution manometry revealed that 28 (66%) of the subjects had an esophageal motility disorder according to the Chicago classification. Most common findings were hypocontractile disorders in 18 subjects (43%) and esophagogastric junction (EGJ) outflow obstruction in 6 (15%). Esophageal high-resolution manometry reveals that up to two thirds of the subjects with an incidental diagnosis of Chagas disease have esophageal abnormalities. This technology increases the detection and allows a more complete assessment of esophageal motor function in subjects infected with T. cruzi even in the early stages of the disease.

[Esophageal motor disorders in asymptomatic subjects with Trypanosoma cruzi infection]. / Alteraciones motoras del esófago en sujetos asintomáticos con infección crónica por Trypanosoma cruzi.

BACKGROUND: The indeterminate chronic or "asymptomatic" phase of Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas' disease) infection is characterized by the absence of gastrointestinal symptoms, and has an estimated duration of 20 to 30 years. However, the intramural denervation that induces dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract is progressive. Recently, epidemiological studies have shown that the seroprevalence for this infection in our area ranges between 2% and 3% of the population. OBJECTIVE: To detect the presence of esophageal motor disorders in asymptomatic individuals chronically infected with Trypanosoma cruzi using standard esophageal manometry. METHODS: A cross sectional study in 28 asymptomatic subjects (27 men, age 40.39 ± 10.79) with serological evidence of infection with Trypanosoma cruzi was performed. In all cases demographic characteristics, gastrointestinal symptoms and esophageal motility disorders using conventional manometry were analyzed. RESULTS: In this study 54% (n = 15) of asymptomatic subjects had an esophageal motor disorder: 5 (18%) had nutcracker esophagus, 5 (18%) nonspecific esophageal motor disorders, 3 (11%) hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter (LES), 1 (4%) an incomplete relaxation of the LES and 1 (4%) had chagasic achalasia. CONCLUSIONS: More than half of patients that course with Chagas' disease in the indeterminate phase and that are apparently asymptomatic have impaired esophageal motility. Presence of hypertensive LES raises the possibility that this alteration represents an early stage in the development of chagasic achalasia.

[Comparative analysis between breath test, serological immunoassay and rapid-urease test for detection of Helicobacter pylori infection in Mexican patients with non-investigated dyspepsia]. / Un análisis comparativo entre prueba de aliento, serología y prueba de ureasa rápida para la detección de infección por Helicobacter pylori en pacientes mexicanos con dispepsia no investigada.

INTRODUCTION: There are multiple Helicobacter pylori (Hp) detection tests, some are invasive and other noninvasive. The diagnostic accuracy of these methods varies according to the prevalence of the disease. OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of the breath test, serology and rapid urease test, considering gastric biopsy with Giemsa stain as the gold standard in Hp-infected subjects with uninvestigated dyspepsia. METHODS: Eighty four subjects (64 women, mean age 45 years) who were referred for dyspeptic symptoms were evaluated. Also, 20 healthy volunteers (12 men, average age 38 years) were evaluated. All the subjects underwent hystological analysis with Giemsa stain, breath test (Heliprobe®), rapid urease test (CLOtest®) and serological immunoassay (Hexagon®). RESULTS: Overall, Hp infection was diagnosed by histological analysis in 59 subjects (49 patients and 10 healthy subjects). Positivity to breath test, rapid urease test and serology were 56%, 46% and 44% respectively. Agreement with the histological analysis was 0.902 for the breath test, 0.620 for rapid urease test and 0.45 for serology. The area under the curve for the breath test was 0.95, for the rapid urease test was 0.82 and for serological test was 0.74. CONCLUSIONS: In our population, the breath test shown to have a diagnostic accuracy equivalent to histological analysis by Giemsa in subjects with uninvestigated dyspepsia.

[Fructose intolerance in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a case-control study]. / Intolerancia a la fructosa en pacientes con síndrome de intestino irritable; un estudio de casos y controles.

INTRODUCTION: Recently it has been reported that prevalence of fructose intolerance (FI) in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders range between 38% -75%. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of FI in subjects diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). METHODS: We studied 25 subjects (17 women, average age 36 years) with IBS (Rome II) and 25 healthy controls (14 women, mean age 37 years) who underwent a breath test after oral loading with fructose (Gastrolyzer ®, Bedfont Scientific Ltd., UK). The load consisted of 25 grams of fructose dissolved in 250 ml of water (10% solution). Breath test analysis of the particles per million (ppm) of hydrogen exhaled were performed every 15 minutes for 3 hours. The fructose breath test was considered positive when concentrations of hydrogen were higher than at 20 ppm or a raising greater than 5 ppm in 3 consecutive samples was detected. RESULTS: According to the Rome II criteria, 10 patients (40%) had IBS-C, 9 (36%) had IBS-D and 6 (24%) had IBS-M. Thirteen (52%) of IBS patients had IF, while only 4 (16%) of control subjects (p = 0.01). Patients with IBS and fructose intolerante tend to suffering from diarrhea predominant IBS (p = 0.053). CONCLUSIONS: Fructose intolerance may be responsible for gastrointestinal symptoms in at least half of IBS patients, especially in the group of patients with IBS-D.

Metabolic effects in patients with celiac disease, patients with nonceliac gluten sensitivity, and asymptomatic controls, after six months of a gluten-free diet. / Efectos de una dieta libre de gluten (DLG) durante 6 meses sobre el metabolismo en pacientes con enfermedad celíaca, sensibilidad al gluten no celíaca y controles asintomáticos.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: It is essential for patients with celiac disease (CD) to be on a gluten-free diet (GFD) but said diet has also been reported to increase the risk for metabolic syndrome. There is no evidence on the metabolic effects of a GFD in patients with nonceliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) or in asymptomatic subjects. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the metabolic effects of a GFD over a 6-month period in patients with CD, patients with NCGS, and in asymptomatic controls (ACs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted that evaluated metabolic syndrome and its components of obesity, high blood pressure, hepatic steatosis, and hyperglycemia at the baseline and at 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 66 subjects (22 CD, 22 NCGS, and 22 AC) were included in the study. At the baseline, 10% of the patients with CD presented with obesity, high blood pressure, hepatic steatosis, and metabolic syndrome. After 6 months, obesity and metabolic syndrome increased by 20% (p=0.125). In the patients with NCGS, obesity increased by 5% after the GFD and 20% of those patients presented with de novo hepatic steatosis. The prevalence of obesity decreased by 10% in the controls after the GFD (30 vs 20%, p=0.5) and none of the other components of metabolic syndrome were affected. CONCLUSIONS: The metabolic benefits and risks of a GFD should be considered when prescribing said diet in the different populations that opt for that type of intervention.