Does gastroenterology consultation change management of patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation?

Gastrointestinal complications following hematopoietic stem cell transplantations (HSCTs) are common, but it is unknown how often gastroenterology consultation (GEC) early post BMT leads to specific changes in patient management. We aimed to determine the reason(s) for GEC, the diagnoses found through GEC, whether the advice or intervention led to change(s) in management and if intervention led to any adverse outcome within the first 100 days post HSCT. We undertook a retrospective review of all patients at least 18 years old (n = 197) who underwent HSCT between November 1990 and April 1998. Of these, 79 patients had 92 consultations for a total of 163 separate GE problems within the first 100 days post HSCT. Data were obtained through chart review. It was determined whether the intervention or advice given by the consultant led to actual changes in patient management or outcome. We found that the characteristics more likely to be associated with GEC included female patient vs male (P = 0.03), allogeneic vs autologous transplants (P < 0.001), hematologic vs solid malignancies (P = 0.006), and leukemias vs lymphomas (P = 0.013). Overall, a definitive diagnosis for an identified complaint was made in 71% (range 25-87%). A change in management was effected in 54% of cases (range 0-59%). Endoscopy led to perforation and subsequent death in two patients (1.8%). Gastrointestinal disease was a direct cause of death in 2.5% of all patients. In conclusion, a definite diagnosis was reached in 71% of gastrointestinal problems and management was effected in 54% of cases. Since endoscopy was associated with a mortality of 1.8%, minimizing its use for the cases in which no impact is made, should be considered.

Early changes in hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels predict response to interferon treatment in noncirrhotic HCV patients.

UNLABELLED: The role of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA quantification in determining ideal interferon (IFN) treatment of noncirrhotic HCV liver disease is uncertain. The specific aim of this study was to determine whether measurement of baseline HCV RNA or changes in HCV RNA levels (DHCV RNA) early during therapy predict response to IFN alpha in noncirrhotic HCV patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-one noncirrhotic patients with chronic HCV were treated with 3 MU IFN alpha-2a three times per week. HCV RNA levels were determined at baseline and after two, four, six, eight and 12 weeks of treatment. Baseline HCV RNA and DHCV RNA during therapy were compared with treatment response results at six months. Data were expressed as mean +/- SE, and differences were assessed using Student's t test. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients initiated IFN alpha therapy. Two patients were noncompliant and lost to follow-up. One patient discontinued IFN alpha due to side effects. Apart from age, where responders tended to be younger than nonresponders, the baseline clinical characteristics and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin and HCV RNA levels did not differ between IFN alpha responders and nonresponders. Levels of HCV RNA were significantly lower after both two and four weeks of therapy in IFN alpha responders compared with nonresponders (P<0.001). Changes in log HCV RNA levels after both two and four weeks of therapy were significantly greater in IFN alpha responders compared with nonresponders (P<0.001). Changes in log HCV RNA of more than 1.0 after two weeks of IFN alpha therapy identified all six-month responders, with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 89%. Potential financial impact of these findings on patients' management was also calculated. Decisions regarding discontinuation of therapy based on early changes in HCV RNA levels would result in a 40% to 50% reduction in IFN alpha cost. CONCLUSIONS: In noncirrhotic HCV patients, the change in quantitative HCV RNA after the first two weeks of IFN alpha therapy identifies responders. This finding would result in a 40% to 50% cost savings if decisions about continuing IFN alpha were based on early changes in HCV RNA levels rather than ALT or HCV RNA assessment after the completion of three months of IFN alpha treatment.

Esophageal involvement in Wegener's granulomatosis: a case report and review of the literature.

Wegener's granulomatosis is characterized by a granulomatous arteritis involving the upper and lower respiratory tracts, progressive glomerulonephritis and systemic symptoms attributable to small vessel vasculitis. Although multisystemic manifestations are frequent, involvement of the gastrointestinal tract is uncommon. Cases have been reported of intestinal perforation, ulceration and hemorrhage. A patient whose initial presentation of Wegener's granulomatosis was odynophagia secondary to esophageal vasculitis is described. Endoscopy revealed multiple punched out ulcerations in the esophagus, which resolved with standard therapy for systemic Wegener's granulomatosis. There are only two previous reports of symptomatic esophageal vasculitis in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis. These reports illustrate the need to consider odynophagia as a reflection of disease activity as opposed to complications of immunosuppressive therapy.

Feedback suppression of B cell colony formation by supernatants of B colony cells: role of immunoglobulin.

We have reported previously that CD5+ B cells from mature B cell colonies provide a negative feedback signal to the growth of autologous B cell colonies. Now we have observed that supernatants from mature B cell colonies also provide a negative feedback signal to the growth of autologous B cell colonies. We investigated the mechanism of this effect by growing B cell colonies physically separated by a 0.45 micron filter from T cells in millicell-CM chambers. Addition of colony supernatants to the T cell compartment reduced the number of B cell colonies by 28 +/- 6%. Colony numbers were reduced by 11 +/- 2 and 17 +/- 5% when the supernatants were added to the B cell or to both compartments, respectively. Pulsing T cells with the B cell colony supernatants before adding them to the colonies also decreased colony numbers by 33 +/- 13%. The addition of exogenous Ig classes and IgG subclasses to B cells decreased B cell colony numbers, although the effect was variable. In the presence of T cells, IgG had the greatest suppressive activity and the subclass IgG4 was most suppressive. In the absence of T cells, high concentrations of IgG almost abolished B cell colony formation. We conclude that these supernatants provide a negative feedback signal either directly to B cells, or via T cells which may be mediated at least in part by Ig.