[Sacral neuromodulation. Long-term results]. / Neuromodulación. sacra. Resultados a largo plazo.

Sacral neuromodulation involves electrical stimulation of af­ferent nerve roots to restore the balance between inhibitory and excitatory reflexes who improve the functional activity of the pelvic floor. With benefits in patients with fecal inconti­nence, constipation and chronic anorectal pain. Objective. The aim of this study is present the results obtained with sacral neuromodulation for the treatment of patients with fecal incontinence, severe and intractable chronic constipa­tion and chronic anorectal pain. Patients and methods. 33 patients had indication for transitory electrical sacral stimu­lation, 25 patients performed transitory electrical stimula­tion for fecal incontinence, 5 with refractary constipation and 3 with chronic anorectal pain. In cases of fecal inconti­nence, the patients performed previous anorectal manometry and ultrasonography examination of anal sphincters. When the constipation is the indication, we performed stimulation in patients with severe and refractary constipation like step before total colectomy. In cases of chronic anorectal pain, the electrical transitory test was performed according to our treatment algorithm for management of functional anorectal pain. In all cases, if the patients had satisfactory results after 2 weeks period the definitive implant was placed. Results. Mean follow-up was 69 months (range 6-130). Definitve implant was placed for treatment of fecal incontinence in 23 patients with a decrease in fecal incontinence scores in 98%, with an average success rate of 66% (range: 45-92). In cases of constipation, 3 definitive implants were placed, the mean follow-up was 77 months (range: 51-96) with a success rate between 50%-80% as measured by bowel frequency. We performed definitive electrical stimulation in 3 patients wit chronic and intractable anorectal pain. Response rates as measured by visual analog scale were between 40%-70%. Conclusions. Sacral neuromodulation is an area in constant growth, with more indications. The success depends on the correct indication and the patients need to be treated with other therapeutic options before sacral neuromodulation.

[Perianal Kaposi's sarcoma. A case report and a review of the literature]. / Sarcoma de Kaposi perianal. Presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

Kaposi's sarcoma is the most common cancer in men who have sex with men with AIDS. The estimated prevalence in the United States is 25% in patients with positive serology for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The commitment of the gastrointestinal tract is seen in 40% of patients with Kaposi's sarcoma related to AIDS but lesions can occur anywhere in the body and evolve rapidly. We present a 33-year-old patient who kept sex with men, with epidemiological history of hepatitis B and syphilis, who consulted the service of Coloproctology for perianal ulcer. He was studied according to the protocols of sexually transmitted diseases, was diagnosed HIV and an excision biopsy of the lesion was performed. The diagnosis of perianal Kaposi's sarcoma was reached. Kaposi's sarcoma-HIV was staged, no other lesions were found and the patient started antiretrovirals with poor response to therapy. He evolved with rapid progression of the disease and died with the presumptive diagnosis of Fournier's syndrome at three months after the excision biopsy. We conclude that perianal ulcers are a relatively common pathology in the office of Coloproctology and differential diagnosis are different according to the positivity for HIV or not and the patient's sexual practices. We consider that is important to publish and spread these cases.

[Anorectal manometry and ultrasound in the study of patients with fecal incontinence]. / Ecografía anorrectal y manometría en el estudio de pacientes con incontinencia fecal.

INTRODUCTION: Fecal incontinence is a complex disease that affects the quality of life of patients suffering from it. Anorectal manometry and endoanal ultrasound 360 grades are included among the studies used. There are no clear agreement about the relevance and usefulness of this studies and their role as apart of diagnostic procedures. OBJECTIVE: To describe the relationship between the clinical severity score in patients with fecal incontinence and the findings of anorectal manometry and endoanal ultrasound. Another objective of this study is to describe the degree of agreement of both methods of study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study population includes 74 patients who underwent endoanal ultrasonography and anorectal manometry for fecal incontinence. The presence or absence of ultrasound injury, the pressures obtained by anorectal manometry and its relationship with clinical severity of patients were described. An analysis of the degree of agreement between both methods was performed. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 53 years old (range 19-84 years). Pressures of anorectal manometry were reduced in 59 patients (79.7%) and normal in 15 (20.3%). The assessment of the degree of agreement or concordance between ultrasound and anorectal manometry yielded a kappa coefficient of 0.25 (acceptable) (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: There is a level of acceptable agreement between endoanal ultrasound findings and anorectal manometry when patients with fecal incontinence are evaluated.

Prognostic Impact of An Integrative Landscape of Clinical, Immune, and Molecular Features in Non-Metastatic Rectal Cancer.

Rectal Cancer (RC) is a complex disease that involves highly variable treatment responses. Currently, there is a lack of reliable markers beyond TNM to deliver a personalized treatment in a cancer setting where the goal is a curative treatment. Here, we performed an integrated characterization of the predictive and prognostic role of clinical features, mismatch-repair deficiency markers, HER2, CDX2, PD-L1 expression, and CD3-CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) coupled with targeted DNA sequencing of 76 non-metastatic RC patients assigned to total mesorectal excision upfront (TME; n = 15) or neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy treatment (nCRT; n = 61) followed by TME. Eighty-two percent of RC cases displayed mutations affecting cancer driver genes such as TP53, APC, KRAS, ATM, and PIK3CA. Good response to nCRT treatment was observed in approximately 40% of the RC cases, and poor pathological tumor regression was significantly associated with worse disease-free survival (DFS, HR = 3.45; 95%CI = 1.14-10.4; p = 0.028). High neutrophils-platelets score (NPS) (OR = 10.52; 95%CI=1.34-82.6; p = 0.025) and KRAS mutated cases (OR = 5.49; 95%CI = 1.06-28.4; p = 0.042) were identified as independent predictive factors of poor response to nCRT treatment in a multivariate analysis. Furthermore, a Cox proportional-hazard model showed that the KRAS mutational status was an independent prognostic factor associated with higher risk of local recurrence (HR = 9.68; 95%CI = 1.01-93.2; p <0.05) and shorter DFS (HR = 2.55; 95%CI = 1.05-6.21; p <0.05), while high CEA serum levels were associated with poor DFS (HR = 2.63; 95%CI = 1.01-6.85; p <0.05). Integrated clinical and molecular-based unsupervised analysis allowed us to identify two RC prognostic groups (cluster 1 and cluster 2) associated with disease-specific OS (HR = 20.64; 95%CI = 2.63-162.2; p <0.0001), metastasis-free survival (HR = 3.67; 95%CI = 1.22-11; p = 0.012), local recurrence-free survival (HR = 3.34; 95%CI = 0.96-11.6; p = 0.043) and worse DFS (HR = 2.68; 95%CI = 1.18-6.06; p = 0.012). The worst prognosis cluster 2 was enriched by stage III high-risk clinical tumors, poor responders to nCRT, with low TILs density and high frequency of KRAS and TP53 mutated cases compared with the best prognosis cluster 1 (p <0.05). Overall, this study provides a comprehensive and integrated characterization of non-metastatic RC cases as a new insight to deliver a personalized therapeutic approach.

Pre-Existing Tumoral B Cell Infiltration and Impaired Genome Maintenance Correlate with Response to Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer.

Locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) remains a medical challenge. Reliable biomarkers to predict which patients will significantly respond to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) have not been identified. We evaluated baseline genomic and transcriptomic features to detect differences that may help predict response to nCRT. Eligible LARC patients received nCRT (3D-LCRT 50.4 Gy plus capecitabine 825 mg/m2/bid), preceded by three cycles of CAPOX in high systemic-relapse risk tumors, and subsequent surgery. Frozen tumor biopsies at diagnosis were sequenced using a colorectal cancer panel. Transcriptomic data was used for pathway and cell deconvolution inferential algorithms, coupled with immunohistochemical validation. Clinical and molecular data were analyzed according to nCRT outcome. Pathways related to DNA repair and proliferation (p < 0.005), and co-occurrence of RAS and TP53 mutations (p = 0.001) were associated with poor response. Enrichment of expression signatures related to enhanced immune response, particularly B cells and interferon signaling (p < 0.005), was detected in good responders. Immunohistochemical analysis of CD20+ cells validated the association of good response with B cell infiltration (p = 0.047). Findings indicate that the presence of B cells is associated with successful tumor regression following nCRT in LARC. The prevalence of simultaneous RAS and TP53 mutations along with a proficient DNA repair system that may counteract chemoradio-induced DNA damage was associated with poor response.

[Prospective, double-blind study of topical phenylephrine treatment for nocturnal fecal incontinence in patients after ileoanal pouch construction]. / Estudio prospectivo y doble ciego del tratamiento local con fenilefrina de la incontinencia anal nocturna en pacientes con reservorio ileal.

PATIENTS: Fecal incontinence has been reported in 5.5% to 45% of patients after ileoanal pouch construction, predominantly at night. It has been shown that alpha1-adrenergic agonists as phenylephrine increase anal sphincter pressure in healthy volunteers and in patients with idiopathic fecal incontinence. The median duration of action of topical phenylephrine is seven hours. Carapeti et al have demonstrated its usefulness in patients after ileoanal pouch construction. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate that the administration of a single dose of topical 10% phenylephrine at night is effective for the treatment of nocturnal anal incontinence in this group of patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We randomized 12 patients in two groups. Group A (control) received a placebo cream and group B received a 10% phenylephrine cream. The study was prospective, randomized and double-blind. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in age, follow-up time since the closure of ileostomy and pre-treatment and intra-treatment leaks. Control group had 7 episodes of incontinence pre-treatment and 9 intra-treatment. Treated group had 3 and 5.4, respectively. (p = NS) No patient had side effects. CONCLUSIONS: Given the small number of patients included, we can not yet rule out that topical 10% phenylephrine is useful for the treatment of nocturnal fecal incontinence in patients after ileoanal pouch construction. It would be necessary to continue with studies, increasing the number of patients treated with this drug, in order to have a better evidence of its clinical utility.

[Long term functional outcomes after ileoanal pouch in patients with and without postoperative complications]. / Resultados funcionales a largo plazo luego de la coloproctectomía con reservorio ileal en pacientes con y sin complicaciones postoperatorias.

BACKGROUND: the proctocolectomy with ilealpouch (IP) has become the gold standard for surgical treatment for ulcerative colitis (UC). The postoperative complications are frequent but the definitive outcome is acceptable. AIM: our aim was to evaluate the long term functional outcome in a series of consecutive patients with IP and to establish its relation with postoperative complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: we included 144 patients categorized in two groups: I--patients without postoperative complications (n: 71); II--patients with postoperative complications (n: 73). Patients were followed for a median time of 3.8 years (range 1-15). We evaluated: stool frequency, anal discrimination between gas and stool, voluntary evacuation inhibition, requirement of antidiarrheal medications and presence of incontinence. RESULTS: the functional outcome was similar between the two groups in terms of stool fequency medication use, anal discrimination and the voluntary inhibition of evacuation for more than 5 hours. A trend to present seepage was seen in patients with complications (34%) more than in those without them (20%; p<0.08 NS). Compared with group II, seepage in group I was significantly related with dietary lapses (p<0.01). The most frequent complication in incontinent patients was pelvic sepsis (56%). CONCLUSIONS: our study showed that most of long-term functional parameters are not influenced by the presence of postoperative complications. However, a trend for incontinence seems to be related to postoperative complications, more frequently with pelvic sepsis.

[Prevention of colorectal cancer]. / Prevención del cáncer colorrectal (CCR).

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in Argentina. The cumulative lifetime risk of developing CRC for both men and women is 4-6%. Despite advances in the management of this disease, the 5-year survival rate is about 60% because only 35% of patients are diagnosed when the disease is localized. Risk factors for CRC include age, diet and life style factors, personal or family history of adenomas or CRC and personal history of inflammatory bowel disease. Scientific evidence shows that primary and secondary prevention, through screening programs, permit to reduce incidence and mortality significantly. Chemopreventive agents, including nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, folate, and calcium, have been shown to have some preventive effect. Physical inactivity and excess body weight are consistent risk factors for CRC. Tobacco exposure, diet high in red meat and low in vegetables and alcohol consumption, probably in combination with a diet low in folate, appear to increase risk. The dietary fiber and risk of CRC has been studied but the results are still inconclusive. Screening for CRC is cost-effective compared with no screening, but a single optimal strategy cannot be determined from the currently available data. The advantages and disadvantages or limitations of screening modalities for CRC are analyzed. The literature and clinical practice guidelines are reviewed, with an emphasis on advances and evolving screening methods and recommendations for patients with average, moderate and high-risk CRC.

Estudio prospectivo acerca de la precisión diagnóstica del test inmunológico de sangre oculta en materia fecal en una única ronda para la realización de pesquisa del cáncer colorrectal en pacientes de riesgo promedio en la Argentina / Prospective study on the diagnostic accuracy of the immunochemical fecal occult blood test in a single round for colorectal cancer screening in average risk patients in Argentina

Introducción: El cáncer colorrectal (CCR) es la segunda causa de muerte por cáncer en Argentina. Debido a su alta prevalencia es fundamental normatizar un programa de pesquisa para la prevención y detección temprana. La precisión del test de sangre oculta en materia fecal inmunológico (SOMFi) para pesquisa de CCR en población de riesgo promedio ha demostrado ser adecuada según la bibliografía internacional, no habiendo, sin embargo, información a nivel local. El objetivo es evaluar en nuestro medio la precisión diagnóstica del test de SOMFi en una única ronda para la pesquisa de CCR en pacientes de riesgo promedio. Diseño: Prospectivo de precisión diagnóstica. Material y Método: Se incluyeron pacientes con riesgo promedio que consultaron para realizar una videocolonoscopía (VCC) por pesquisa de CCR en el Hospital Alemán de Buenos Aires, entre el 1 de junio del 2015 y 31 diciembre de 2017. Se excluyeron todos los pacientes con riesgo incrementado para CCR. Todos los pacientes realizaron el test de SOMFi y posteriormente la VCC. Los endoscopistas estaban ciegos para el resultado del test al momento de realizar la VCC. Se evaluó la precisión diagnóstica del test SOMFi para detectar lesiones neoplásicas avanzadas (LNA) calculando la sensibilidad (S), especificidad (E), valor predictivo positivo (VVP) y negativo (VVN), coeficiente de probabilidad positivo (CP+) y negativo (CP-). Se evaluó también la precisión para la detección de adenomas de bajo riesgo, pólipos aserrados y CCR. Resultados: Se incluyeron un total de 300 pacientes; 273 (91%) entregaron la muestra de materia fecal para realizar el test de SOMFi y completaron la VCC. La edad media de los pacientes fue de 56.9 (40-85) años y 54% fueron hombres. Del total de pacientes que realizaron ambos estudios (273), 53 pacientes (19%) presentaron al menos un adenoma de bajo riesgo, en 18 pacientes (6,59%) observamos al menos un adenoma aserrado sésil y en 21 pacientes (7,7%) al menos una lesión neoplásica avanzada (LNA). Solo 4 pacientes (1.5%) presentaron CCR. En cuanto a la precisión diagnóstica del test de SOMFi en una única ronda para detectar LNA observamos una S de 30%, E de 84%, VPP de 13% y un VPN de 94%. Para adenomas de bajo riesgo observamos una S de 13%, E de 84%, VPP de 17%, VPN de 79%. Para adenomas aserrados sésiles observamos una S de 16.7%, E de 87%, VPP de 11% y de VPN 91%. La precisión para el CCR fue la siguiente, S de 75%, E de 83%, VPP 6%, VPN 99%. No se observaron complicaciones post procedimientos. Conclusiones: La precisión diagnóstica del test de SOMFi en nuestro medio es comparable a los resultados internacionales. Sin embargo, la baja precisión observada en una única ronda realza la necesidad de realizarlo de forma anual o bianual para poder optimizar su precisión y lograr programas de pesquisa efectivos.(AU)

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in Argentina. Due to its high prevalence, it is essential to standardize a screening program for prevention and early detection. According to international literature, the accuracy of the immunochemical fecal occult blood test (FIT) for CRC screening in an average-risk population has proven to be adequate, but there is no information at the local level. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the FIT test in a single round for CRC screening in average-risk patients in our setting. Design: Diagnostic accuracy prospective study. Material and Methods: Average-risk patients who consulted for a CRC screening video colonoscopy (VCC) at the Hospital Alemán of Buenos Aires, between June 1, 2015 and December 31, 2017 were included. All patients with increased risk for CRC were excluded. All patients performed FIT and subsequently VCC. The endoscopists were blind to FIT result at the time of VCC. The diagnostic accuracy of FIT to detect advanced neoplastic lesions (ANL) was evaluated by calculating sensitivity (S), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), negative (NPV), positive likelihood ratio (LR+) and negative likelihood ratio (LR-). The accuracy for the detection of low-risk adenomas, serrated polyps and CRC was also evaluated. Results: A total of 300 patients were included; 273 (91%) submitted the stool sample to perform FIT and completed VCC. The mean age of patients was 56.9 (40-85) years and 54% were men. Of the total number of patients who carried out both studies (273), 53 (19%) patients had at least one low-risk adenoma, 18 (6.59%) patients had at least one sessile serrated adenoma and 21 (7.7%) patients had at least one ANL. Only 4 (1.5%) patients presented CRC. The diagnostic accuracy of FIT in a single round to detect ANL was: S 30%, Sp 84%, PPV 13%, NPV 94%; for low-risk adenomas: S 13%, Sp 84%, PPV 17%, NPV 79%; for sessile serrated adenomas: S 16.7%, Sp 87%, PPV 11%, NPV 91% and for CRC: S 75%, Sp 83%, PPV 6%, NPV 99%. No post-procedure complications were observed. Conclusions: The diagnostic accuracy of FIT in our setting is comparable to international results. However, the low precision observed in a single round highlights the need to do it annually or biannually in order to optimize its accuracy and achieve effective screening programs. (AU)

Radiochemotherapy with short daily infusion of low-dose oxaliplatin, leucovorin, and 5-FU in T3-T4 unresectable rectal cancer: a phase II IATTGI study.

PURPOSE: Oxaliplatin (OXA)/5-fluorouracil (5-FU) have confirmed their preclinical synergy in advanced colorectal cancer patients. Chemoradiotherapy with 5-FU + leucovorin (LV) is considered the standard treatment in unresectable rectal cancer patients. The objective was to evaluate OXA with 5-FU + LV and concurrent radiotherapy in unresectable rectal cancer patients. TREATMENT: OXA 25 mg/m(2)/day in 30-min infusions, followed by bolus LV 20 mg/m(2)/day and bolus 5-FU 375 mg/m(2)/day. All drugs were given on 4 days during Weeks 1 and 5 of a standard radiotherapy cycle (50.4 Gy). A single OXA dose (50 mg/m(2)) was also given on the third week of radiotherapy. A cycle of OXA with 5-FU + LV was administered 4 weeks after chemoradiotherapy, with surgery planned 4 weeks later. RESULTS: Between March 1998 and April 2000, 22 patients with T3-T4 unresectable rectal cancer were accrued. Patient characteristics included the following: 11 females, 11 males, median age 58 (range: 18-76). Performance status ECOG (PS) 0: 2 patients, PS 1: 7 patients, and PS 2: 13 patients. The following RTOG Grade 3-4 toxicities were reported: diarrhea, 6 patients; cutaneous, 3 patients; neutropenia-leukopenia, 2 patients; and thrombocytopenia, 1 patient; 1 treatment-related death resulted (febrile neutropenia-sepsis after chemoradiotherapy). Only 1 patient had neurosensory Grade 2 (OXA-specific Levi's scale) toxicity. Nine patients had PS worsening during treatment. Five patients had chemoradiotherapy delay (median: 6 days). Of 22 patients, 16 underwent surgery (without serious surgical complications); 12/16 had a complete resection (5/12 had sphincter preservation). Pathologic examination revealed 3/12 complete remissions, 2/12 minimal microscopic residual disease, 2/12 T2N0, 1/12 T3N0, and 4/12 positive nodes; 4/16 had unresectable disease. Median follow-up was 15 months (range: 3.0-43.4 months), median time to progression was 15.7 months (CI 95%, 0, 31.7), and median overall survival was 19.5 months (CI 95%, 18.0, 21). CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient treatment with low-dose, 30-min daily OXA infusion was feasible and very active, with acceptable toxicity.

Proctitis infecciosa por Chlamydia Trachomatis / Infectious proctitis by Chlamydia Trachomatis

Introducción: Las infecciones transmisibles sexualmente (ITS) son motivo de consulta frecuente, encontrándose Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) entre las prevalentes. Este germen provoca proctitis de diversa gravedad según el biovar involucrado. Los casos más floridos suelen ser ocasionados por el biovar LGV, responsable de la entidad linfogranuloma venéreo. Se desconocen la prevalencia de CT como causa de proctitis en Argentina y los biovares implicados. Con el objetivo de estudiar estas variables, se diseñó un protocolo para detectar y genotipificar CT en pacientes con proctitis infecciosa. Pacientes y métodos: Se incluyeron pacientes mayores de 18 años con cuadro de proctitis infecciosa atendidos en un centro público y otro privado. Se excluyeron pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal y radioterapia pelviana. El estudio fue aprobado por un Comité de Ética y los pacientes firmaron un consentimiento informado. En las muestras de hisopado anal se realizó detección y tipificación molecular de CT. Resultados: Entre 31de agosto de 2017 y 31 de mayo de 2018, se incluyeron 56 pacientes (1 mujer, 53 hombres, 2 mujeres trans), 79% HIV+. En 29 casos (52%) se detectó CT. Todos eran hombres que tienen sexo con hombres (HSH) y refirieron practicar sexo anal u oral receptivo no protegido. La mediana de edad de este subgrupo fue de 31 años; 83% HIV+ en tratamiento antirretroviral y mediana de CD4 637 cel/mm3. La coinfección con otras ITS fue del 41% (siendo las más frecuentes HPV, gonococia y sífilis). Los motivos de consulta más frecuentes fueron proctorragia, pujo y tenesmo, proctalgia y secreción. Las manifestaciones clínicas fueron variadas: proctitis, úlcera perianal, tumor endoanal/rectal y absceso/fístula. El 86% de las proctitis correspondió al biovar LGV, siendo 62% moderadas a graves. La mediana de tiempo de evolución hasta el diagnóstico fue 21 días. Los casos más prolongados correspondieron a cuadros clínicos y endoscópicos más graves. La duración del tratamiento se adecuó al biovar involucrado. Todos los pacientes respondieron favorablemente; sin embargo, las dos fístulas perianales requirieron resolución quirúrgica. Conclusiones: Proctitis, úlceras y fístulas son manifestaciones inespecíficas; el hallazgo clínico y endoscópico per se no son suficientes para definir la etiología; sólo una anamnesis minuciosa permite presumir una ITS como agente causal. La tipificación logra definir el biovar, dato fundamental para adecuar el tratamiento, cortar la cadena de transmisión y contar con datos epidemiológicos a nivel local. Como resultado de esta investigación, el Ministerio de Salud de Nación proyectó la emisión de una alerta sobre la presencia de LGV en nuestro medio. Tipo de estudio: Observacional, transversal, analítico, multicéntrico.

Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections (STI) are a frequent reason for consultation, being Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) among the most prevalent ones. It causes proctitis of varying severity depending on the biovar involved. The most severe cases are usually caused by the LGV biovar, responsible for the entity called lymphogranuloma venereum. The prevalence of CT as a cause of proctitis in Argentina and the biovars involved are unknown. In order to study these variables, a protocol was designed to detect and genotype CT in patients with infectious proctitis. Patients and methods: Patients over 18 years old with infectious proctitis were attended in a public and private center. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease and pelvic radiation therapy were excluded. The study was approved by an Ethics Committee and the patients signed an informed consent. The detection and molecular typing of CT was performed in anal swab samples. Results: Between 31-08-2017 and 31-05-2018, 56 patients were included (1 woman, 53 men, 2 trans women), 79% HIV +. In 29 cases (52%) CT was detected. All were MSM and reported to practice unprotected receptive oral or anal sex. The median age of this subgroup was 31 years; 83% HIV + on antiretroviral treatment and median CD4 637 cel / mm3. The coinfection with other STIs was present 41% (the most frequent were HPV, gonococcal and syphilis). The most frequent symptoms were bleeding, tenesmus, proctalgia and secretion. The clinical manifestations were varied: proctitis, perianal ulcer, endoanal / rectal tumor and abscess / anal fistula. 86% of the proctitis corresponded to the LGV biovar, being 62% moderate to severe. The median time of evolution until the diagnosis was 21 days. The most prolonged cases corresponded to more severe clinical and endoscopic symptoms. The duration of the treatment was adapted to the biovar involved. All patients responded favorably; however, the two perianal fistulas required surgical resolution. Conclusions: Proctitis, ulcers and fistulas are nonspecific manifestations; the clinical and endoscopic findings per se are not sufficient to define the etiology; only a meticulous anamnesis allows us to presume an STI as a causative agent. The typification allows to define the biovar, a fundamental data to adapt the treatment, stop chain of transmission and provides local epidemiological data. As a result of this investigation, the Ministry of Health of the Argentina issued an alert about the presence of LGV in our country. Type of study: Observational, cross-sectional, analytical, multicenter study.