PREDICTORS OF FAILURE OF ENDOSCOPIC RETROGRADE CHOLANGIOPANCREATOGRAPHY IN CLEARING BILE DUCT STONES DURING INDEX PROCEDURE - A PROSPECTIVE STUDY.

BACKGROUND: Common bile duct (CBD) stones are known to complicate 10-15% of gallstone diseases. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the therapeutic modality of choice for bile duct clearance in CBD stones but may fail to achieve stone clearance. This prospective study was done to identify the predictors of failure of CBD clearance with ERCP. OBJECTIVE: This prospective study was done to identify the predictors of failure of CBD clearance with ERCP. METHODS: All consecutive patients with bile duct stones undergoing ERCP at a tertiary care center were prospectively included from October 2020 to October 2021. The study's primary outcome was to identify and analyze factors that could predict the failure of complete CBD clearance. RESULTS: A total of 120 patients (50.8% males, median age: 53.5 years) were included in the final analysis. Successful clearance of CBD stones during the index procedure was achieved in 70% of patients. At a cut-off stone diameter of >10.5 mm and CBD diameter of >12.5 mm, the AUC was 0.890 and 0.884, respectively, to predict failed clearance of CBD. On multivariate analysis, stone diameter ≥15 mm [odds ratio (OR) 16.97, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.629-176.785], location of stones in hepatic ducts (OR 7.74, 95%CI: 2.041-29.332), presence of stricture distal to stone (OR 6.99, 95%CI: 1.402-34.726) and impacted stone (OR 21.61, 95%CI: 1.84-253.058) were independent predictors of failed bile duct clearance. CONCLUSION: Stone size and location are independent predictors of failed bile duct clearance. The endoscopist should consider these factors while subjecting a patient to biliary ductal clearance to plan additional intervention. BACKGROUND: • Failure to clear bile duct stones in the index ERCP can be seen in 15-20% of cases, and identifying the factors associated with failure is important. BACKGROUND: • A prospective analysis was conducted to identify and analyze the factors that could predict the failure of complete CBD clearance. BACKGROUND: • The present study reported a successful clearance of CBD stones during the index procedure in only 70% of patients. BACKGROUND: • A stone diameter ≥15 mm, location of stones in hepatic ducts, presence of stricture distal to stone, and impacted stone were independent predictors of failed bile duct clearance.

Risk of tuberculosis with anti-TNF therapy in Indian patients with inflammatory bowel disease despite negative screening.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Tuberculosis (TB) is a well-recognized adverse effect associated with using biological therapy to manage various autoimmune conditions. There is a dearth of information about the development of TB after using anti-TNF agents in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from TB-endemic countries like India. This study aimed to estimate the risk of TB and its predictors after treatment with anti-TNF agents in patients with IBD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The present study is a retrospective analysis of data of patients with IBD from two tertiary care centers in India receiving anti-TNF therapy. Patients who had undergone chest X-ray, high-resolution computed tomography of the chest, and tuberculin skin test, with a follow-up duration of at least 6 months, were included in the analysis. RESULTS: In this multi-center study, 95 patients on anti-TNF agents for IBD (Median age of onset: 27 years, 62.1 % males) were followed up for a median duration of 9 (6-142) months. Among patients with IBD, 79 (83.2 %) had Crohn's disease, and 16 (16.8 %) had ulcerative colitis. Infliximab was the commonest biological, used in 82.1 % of cases, followed by adalimumab (17.9 %). On follow-up, 8.4 % (8/95) of the patients developed TB, among which the majority had extrapulmonary tuberculosis (5/8). On multivariate analysis, the duration of biological (Odds ratio: 1.047, 95 % confidence interval 1.020-1.075; p = 0.001) use was the only independent predictor of the development of TB with biologicals. CONCLUSION: Among Indian patients with IBD, there is a high risk of TB with anti-TNF agents, which increases with the duration of therapy. The current methods for latent TB screening in Indians are ineffective, and predicting TB after initiating biological therapy is difficult.

Previsores de falha da colangiopancreatografia retrógrada endoscópica na limpeza de cálculos do ducto biliar durante o procedimento inicial - Um estudo prospectivo / Predictors of failure of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in clearing bile duct stones during index procedure - a prospective study

ABSTRACT Background: Common bile duct (CBD) stones are known to complicate 10-15% of gallstone diseases. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the therapeutic modality of choice for bile duct clearance in CBD stones but may fail to achieve stone clearance. This prospective study was done to identify the predictors of failure of CBD clearance with ERCP. Objective: This prospective study was done to identify the predictors of failure of CBD clearance with ERCP. Methods: All consecutive patients with bile duct stones undergoing ERCP at a tertiary care center were prospectively included from October 2020 to October 2021. The study's primary outcome was to identify and analyze factors that could predict the failure of complete CBD clearance. Results: A total of 120 patients (50.8% males, median age: 53.5 years) were included in the final analysis. Successful clearance of CBD stones during the index procedure was achieved in 70% of patients. At a cut-off stone diameter of >10.5 mm and CBD diameter of >12.5 mm, the AUC was 0.890 and 0.884, respectively, to predict failed clearance of CBD. On multivariate analysis, stone diameter ≥15 mm [odds ratio (OR) 16.97, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.629-176.785], location of stones in hepatic ducts (OR 7.74, 95%CI: 2.041-29.332), presence of stricture distal to stone (OR 6.99, 95%CI: 1.402-34.726) and impacted stone (OR 21.61, 95%CI: 1.84-253.058) were independent predictors of failed bile duct clearance. Conclusion: Stone size and location are independent predictors of failed bile duct clearance. The endoscopist should consider these factors while subjecting a patient to biliary ductal clearance to plan additional intervention.

RESUMO Contexto: Cálculos do ducto biliar comum (CDC) são conhecidos por complicar 10-15% das doenças de cálculos biliares. A colangiopancreatografia retrógrada endoscópica (CPRE) é a modalidade terapêutica de escolha para a limpeza do CDC, mas pode falhar na sua remoção. Objetivo: Este estudo prospectivo foi realizado para identificar os previsores de falha na limpeza do CDC com CPRE. Métodos: Pacientes consecutivos com cálculos no ducto biliar submetidos a CPRE em um centro de atendimento terciário foram incluídos prospectivamente de outubro de 2020 a outubro de 2021. O principal resultado do estudo foi identificar e analisar fatores que poderiam prever a falha na limpeza completa do CDC. Resultados: Um total de 120 pacientes (50,8% homens, idade média: 53,5 anos) foram incluídos na análise final. A limpeza bem-sucedida dos cálculos de CDC durante o procedimento inicial foi alcançada em 70% dos pacientes. Com um diâmetro de corte de cálculos >10,5 mm e de diâmetro de CDC de >12,5 mm, a AUC foi de 0,890 e 0,884, respectivamente, para prever a falha na limpeza do CDC. Na análise multivariada, diâmetro da cálculos ≥15 mm [razão de chances (OR) 16,97, intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC): 1,629-176,785], localização dos cálculos nos ductos hepáticos (OR 7,74, IC95%: 2,041-29,332), presença de estreitamento distal ao cálculo (OR 6,99, IC95%: 1,402-34,726) e cálculo impactado (OR 21,61, IC95%: 1,84-253,058) foram previsores independentes de falha na limpeza do ducto biliar. Conclusão: O tamanho e a localização dos cálculos são previsores independentes de falha na limpeza do ducto biliar. O endoscopista deve considerar esses fatores ao submeter um paciente à limpeza ductal biliar para planejar intervenção adicional.

Role of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition for the diagnosis of gastric wall thickening: a retrospective study with meta-analysis.

Background: Tissue acquisition from a thickened gastric wall using biopsy forceps may not always lead to diagnosis, given the submucosal location of the pathology. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition (TA) may serve as a minimally invasive diagnostic tool in such cases. Hence, we aimed to assess the diagnostic outcome and safety of EUS-TA from thickened gastric walls. Methods: Data from patients with gastric wall thickening undergoing EUS-TA at 5 tertiary care centers from August 2020 to August 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. These data were pooled with studies obtained from a comprehensive search of Medline, Embase and Scopus from January 2000 to November 2022 and a meta-analysis was performed. Pooled event rates were calculated using an inverse variance model. Results: The search strategy yielded 13 studies that were combined with data from 30 patients from our centers; a total of 399 patients were included in the analysis. The pooled rate of sample adequacy was 94.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 90.0-98.2), while the pooled rate of diagnostic accuracy was 91.3% (95%CI 87.0-95.5). The pooled sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing malignant lesions with EUS-TA from gastric wall thickening were 94.8% (95%CI 91.3-97.2) and 100% (95%CI 93.6-100), respectively. There were no reported adverse events in any of the studies. Conclusions: EUS-TA offers a safe and accurate diagnostic modality for the etiological diagnosis of thickened gastric walls. Further research is required to identify the needle type and optimal technique for improving outcomes.

Upfront tofacitinib in patients with biological-naïve ulcerative colitis - An Indian multicentric experience.

OBJECTIVES: Tofacitinib is a Janus Kinase inhibitor used for treating moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC), mainly after the failure of biological therapy. There is a paucity of data on the outcome of tofacitinib in biological-naïve UC patients. The present study was aimed at analyzing the safety and efficacy of tofacitinib in biological-naïve Indian patients with UC. METHODS: The present study retrospectively evaluated consecutive patients with biological-naïve moderate-to-severe active UC from six tertiary care centers in India receiving tofacitinib from September 2020 to September 2022. Clinical remission or response assessment was based on partial Mayo score (PMS) calculated at baseline and weeks eight, 16 and 24. RESULTS: Total 47 cases (57.4% male, median age: 32 years) were included. After eight weeks of therapy, 33 (70.2%) achieved clinical remission and eight (17.0%) had a primary failure. The baseline serum albumin at treatment initiation was the only independent predictor of remission at eight weeks (Odds ratio: 11.560, 95% CI: 1.478 - 90.404), but not at 16 weeks. By 24 weeks, 59.6% (28/47) of the patients were in remission and 29.8% (14/47) had stopped tofacitinib either due to failure (27.6%) or adverse events (AEs) (2.1%). Among the 47 patients, 10 (21.2%) cases developed AEs during follow-up, including two tuberculosis (4.2%), one cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis (2.1%) and one herpes zoster (2.1%). Four patients with infection required temporary drug discontinuations. One required permanent discontinuation (mania). CONCLUSION: Upfront tofacitinib is effective in biologic-naïve Indian patients with moderate-severe UC. Further randomized studies are required to validate the study findings.

Prothrombotic states in portal vein thrombosis and Budd-Chiari syndrome in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Both Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) and portal vein thrombosis (PVT) have been linked to various prothrombotic (PT) conditions. The PT profile in Asians is different from the west and there are no nationwide epidemiological surveys from India. Hence, the present meta-analysis was aimed at analyzing the prevalence of acquired and hereditary thrombophilia among Indian patients with non-cirrhotic PVT and BCS. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search of Embase, Medline and Scopus was conducted from January 2000 to February 2022 for studies evaluating the prevalence of various PT conditions in Indian patients with PVT and BCS. Pooled prevalence rates across studies were expressed with summative statistics. RESULTS: Thirty-five studies with 1005 PVT patients and 1391 BCS patients were included in the meta-analysis. At least one PT condition was seen in 46.2% (28.7-63.7) of the PVT patients and 44.9% (37.3-60.7) of the BCS patients. Multiple PT conditions were seen in 13.0% (4.2-21.8) of the PVT patients and 7.9% (3.5-12.4) of the BCS patients. Among PVT patients, hyperhomocysteinemia was the commonest prothrombotic condition (21.6%) followed by protein C (PC) deficiency (10.7%), Janus kinase 2 (JAK-2) mutation (8.5%) and antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) (7.5%). Among patients with BCS, PC deficiency was the commonest prothrombotic condition (10.6%) followed by methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) mutation (9.8%), APLA (9.7%) and JAK-2 mutation (9.1%). CONCLUSION: The PT profile in Indian patients with abdominal vein thrombosis is different from that of the western data with a lower prevalence of PT conditions in patients with BCS.

Impact of macroscopic on-site evaluation on the diagnostic outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition is the preferred modality for diagnosing pancreatic lesions and mediastinal and abdominal lymph nodes. Rapid on-site cytologic evaluation improves the diagnostic outcome of EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) but is unavailable at many centers. Alternatively, macroscopic on-site evaluation (MOSE) may improve the diagnostic outcome of EUS-FNA, but data are limited. Hence, the present study was conducted to assess the efficacy of MOSE in improving adequacy and accuracy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data of consecutive patients with pancreatic or lymph nodal lesions undergoing EUS-guided FNA at a tertiary care center from December 2020 to December 2022. The study's primary outcomes were adequacy and diagnostic accuracy of the EUS-guided tissue acquisition, with secondary analysis of predictors of adequacy and accuracy. RESULTS: Data from 124 patients (44.4% male, median age: 54 years) who underwent EUS-FNA were included in the present analysis. The presence of macroscopic visible core (MVC) on MOSE was reported in 93/124 (75%) cases. An adequate sample for histopathological or cytological examination was obtained in 110/124 (88.7%) cases, while the diagnostic accuracy was 85.5%. On multivariate analysis, the absence of MVC on MOSE was found to be the independent negative predictor of both adequacy (OR 0.092, 95% CI: 0.024-0.349) and accuracy (OR 0.175, 95% CI: 0.057-0.536). CONCLUSION: The presence of MVC on MOSE can be an indicator of specimen adequacy and can improve the diagnostic yield of EUS-FNA.

Transesophageal endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition of lung masses: a case series with systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The diagnosis of intraparenchymal lung masses is challenging when lesions are located at sites inaccessible through bronchoscopy or endobronchial ultrasound. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition (TA)-fine-needle aspiration (FNA) or fine-needle biopsy-provides a potentially useful diagnostic tool for lesions located adjacent to the esophagus. This study was conducted to analyze the diagnostic outcome and safety of EUS-guided tissue sampling of lung masses. Methods: Data were retrieved for patients who underwent transesophageal EUS-guided TA between May 2020 and July 2022 at 2 tertiary care centers. A meta-analysis was performed after pooling these data with studies obtained from a comprehensive search of Medline, Embase, and ScienceDirect from January 2000 to May 2022. Pooled event rates across studies were expressed with summative statistics. Results: After screening, 19 studies were identified and, after their data had been combined with those of 14 patients from our centers, a total of 640 patients were included in the analysis. The pooled rate of sample adequacy was 95.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 93.1-97.8), while the pooled rate of diagnostic accuracy was 93.4% (95%CI 90.7-96.1). The pooled rate of adverse events with transesophageal EUS-guided TA from lung masses was 0.7% (95%CI 0.0-1.6%). There was no significant heterogeneity with respect to various outcomes and results were comparable on sensitivity analysis. Conclusions: EUS-FNA offers a safe and accurate diagnostic modality for the diagnosis of paraesophageal lung masses. Future studies are needed to determine the needle type and techniques for improving outcomes.

Intractable vomiting as a presentation of adrenal insufficiency - a case report.

An array of pathophysiological processes can lead to chronic nausea and vomiting, including gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal disorders. Initial symptoms of adrenal insufficiency are usually non-specific, but intractable nausea and vomiting are infrequently associated, posing a diagnostic dilemma for clinicians. Here we present such a patient, who responded to glucocorticoid replacement with complete improvement.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Among Pregnant Women in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection during pregnancy is associated with perinatal transmission contributing to the pool of HBV infection in the population. There is a wide variation in the reported data on the seroprevalence of HBV in pregnant patients from various parts of India. Hence, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the pooled seroprevalence of HBV and its associated demographic factors. Methods: A comprehensive literature search of Medline, Scopus, and Google Scholar was conducted from January 2000 to April 2022 for studies evaluating the prevalence of HBV in pregnant patients from India. Results: A total of 44 studies with data on 272,595 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in pregnant women was 1.6% [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.4-1.8]. Among patients with HBsAg positivity, the pooled prevalence of hepatitis B e antigen was 26.0% (95%CI 17.4-34.7). There was no significant difference in the odds of HBV seroprevalence based on the age (<25 years vs. > 25 years) [odds ratio (OR) 1.07, 95%CI 0.74-1.55], parity (primipara vs. multipara) (OR 1.09, 95%CI 0.70-1.70) or area of residence (urban vs. rural) (OR 0.88, 95%CI 0.56-1.39). However, the odds of HBV seroprevalence in those with no or primary education was higher than in those with secondary level education or higher (OR 2.29, 95%CI 1.24-4.23). Prior history of risk factors was present in 13.5-22.7% of patients indicating a vertical mode of acquisition. Conclusion: There is a low endemicity of HBV among pregnant women in India. Risk factors are seen in less than 25% of the cases, indicating vertical transmission as the predominant mode of acquisition, which can be reduced by improving vaccination coverage.

Predictors of early bleeding after endoscopic variceal ligation for esophageal varices: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim of the study: Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) is important for emergency as well as prophylactic management of esophageal varices. Early bleeding after EVL is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Assessing the likelihood of early post-EVL bleeding and its determinants can help deciding therapeutic strategies for high-risk patients. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to identify predictors of early bleeding after EVL. Material and methods: A comprehensive search of the literature was conducted from 2000 to November 2021 for studies evaluating the incidence, predictors and outcome of post-EVL bleeding. Pooled odds ratios (OR), mean difference (MD) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for prognostic variables. Results: A total of 16 studies with data on 13,378 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Among 34 parameters, 14 parameters were assessed for association with early bleeding after EVL. Lower hemoglobin at admission (MD = 1.11, 95% CI: -1.91 to -0.31), higher MELD score (MD = 2.00, 95% CI: 0.51-3.50), associated gastric varices (OR = 5.99, 95% CI: 1.06-33.90), higher number of bands (MD = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.02-0.97), and peptic esophagitis (OR = 11.38, 95% CI: 1.21-106.81) were significantly associated with increased risk of bleeding. However, there was significant heterogeneity among the studies with respect to all the analyzed parameters. Conclusions: Major predictors for early post-EVL bleeding in cirrhosis are admission hemoglobin level and MELD score, associated gastric varices, number of bands deployed during EVL, and peptic esophagitis on follow-up endoscopy. These risk factors may be useful for risk stratification after EVL in cirrhotics.

Apolipoprotein C3 gene polymorphisms in Southern Indian patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

AIM: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in the world today. A previous study has suggested an association of apolipoprotein C3 (APOC3) gene variants with the risk of NAFLD in Asian Indian men living in the Western regions. The present study was carried out with an aim to evaluate the association of demographic features, serum lipid profile and APOC3 gene variants (C-482T and T-455C) NAFLD. METHODS: One hundred and fifty NAFLD patients and 150 age and gender-matched controls were included in the study. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was performed to detect the genotypes of APOC3. Serum lipid profile was analyzed. RESULTS: In the present study, body mass index was not a predictive demographic marker for NAFLD. Serum triglycerides were higher in patients (mean 155.95 ± 59.0) with NAFLD compared to the control group (mean 133.75 ± 44.71) (p = 0.016). APOC3 gene polymorphism T-455C (rs2854116) was significantly associated with NAFLD (p = 0.001). However, we did not find a significant association of C-482T polymorphism (rs2854117) of APOC3 gene with NAFLD. Genotype -455C/C of the SNP, rs2854116 associated significantly with the elevated serum triglycerides in patients. CONCLUSIONS: The polymorphism T-455C in APOC3 gene and elevated serum triglycerides were associated with NAFLD.