FECAL OCCULT BLOOD: A COMPARISON OF CHEMICAL AND IMMUNOCHEMICAL TESTS.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal bleeding is a warning sign that may be identified by fecal occult blood testing. A positive fecal occult blood test result requires a subsequent colonoscopy, a costly and invasive examination. Therefore, the use of diagnostic tests with optimal sensitivity and specificity is warranted. In this study, we evaluated four different fecal occult blood tests in 176 patients undergoing colonoscopy and compared their results. OBJECTIVE: To assess the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of chemical and immunochemical fecal occult blood tests in patients undergoing colonoscopy and to evaluate the degree of concordance between the tests and colonoscopy. METHODS: Patients with indications for colonoscopy also underwent fecal occult blood testing by chemical (toluidine test) and immunochemical methods, employing three commercially available kits. Based on the endoscopic findings, the colonoscopy was rated as positive or negative for colorectal bleeding. The degree of concordance between the fecal occult blood tests and the colonoscopy was evaluated by the kappa index. RESULTS: Forty-four (25%) colonoscopies were categorized as positive for colorectal bleeding. The toluidine test presented lower concordance than the immunochemical tests, which showed moderate concordance with the colonoscopy. The toluidine test had the least sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. CONCLUSION: The immunochemical fecal occult blood tests showed greater sensitivity, specificity and predictive values in detecting colorectal bleeding. The immunochemical tests had superior indexes of agreement with colonoscopy compared to the toluidine test.

Sangue oculto nas fezes: uma comparação entre os métodos químico e imunoquímico / Fecal occult blood: a comparison of chemical and immunochemical tests

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Colorectal bleeding is a warning sign that may be identified by fecal occult blood testing. A positive fecal occult blood test result requires a subsequent colonoscopy, a costly and invasive examination. Therefore, the use of diagnostic tests with optimal sensitivity and specificity is warranted. In this study, we evaluated four different fecal occult blood tests in 176 patients undergoing colonoscopy and compared their results. OBJECTIVE: To assess the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of chemical and immunochemical fecal occult blood tests in patients undergoing colonoscopy and to evaluate the degree of concordance between the tests and colonoscopy. METHODS: Patients with indications for colonoscopy also underwent fecal occult blood testing by chemical (toluidine test) and immunochemical methods, employing three commercially available kits. Based on the endoscopic findings, the colonoscopy was rated as positive or negative for colorectal bleeding. The degree of concordance between the fecal occult blood tests and the colonoscopy was evaluated by the kappa index. RESULTS: Forty-four (25%) colonoscopies were categorized as positive for colorectal bleeding. The toluidine test presented lower concordance than the immunochemical tests, which showed moderate concordance with the colonoscopy. The toluidine test had the least sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. CONCLUSION: The immunochemical fecal occult blood tests showed greater sensitivity, specificity and predictive values in detecting colorectal bleeding. The immunochemical tests had superior indexes of agreement with colonoscopy compared to the toluidine test.

RESUMO CONTEXTO: O sangramento colorretal é considerado um sinal de alarme e não deve ser ignorado. O resultado positivo de um teste de pesquisa de sangue oculto nas fezes (PSOF) requer investigação complementar com colonoscopia, exame invasivo e de alto custo. Justifica-se, portanto, a aplicação de um teste diagnóstico mais sensível e específico. No presente estudo, foram avaliados quatro diferentes testes de PSOF em 176 pacientes submetidos à colonoscopia e seus resultados foram comparados. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a sensibilidade, a especificidade e os valores de predição dos testes químico e imunoquímico de PSOF em pacientes submetidos à colonoscopia e avaliar o grau de concordância entre os testes de PSOF e a colonoscopia. MÉTODOS: Pacientes com indicação de realizar colonoscopia foram submetidos também à PSOF pelo método químico (o-toluidina) e pelo método imunoquímico, empregando três kits comerciais disponíveis no mercado. Fundamentado nos achados endoscópicos, a colonoscopia foi categorizada em positiva ou negativa, de acordo com a possível fonte de sangramento colorretal. O grau de concordância entre os testes de PSOF foi avaliado pelo índice kappa. RESULTADOS: Quarenta e quatro (25%) colonoscopias foram categorizadas como positivas quanto à fonte de sangramento colorretal. O teste da o-toluidina mostrou menor concordância que os testes imunoquímicos, os quais apresentaram moderada concordância com a colonoscopia. O teste da o-toluidina revelou menor sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo positivo e valor preditivo negativo. CONCLUSÃO: Os testes imunoquímicos revelaram maior sensibilidade, especificidade e valores de predição na detecção de sangramento colorretal. Os testes imunoquímicos apresentaram melhores índices de concordância com a colonoscopia, quando comparados ao teste da o-toluidina.

What are the most important factors regarding acceptance to the colonoscopy?: study of related tolerance parameters.

CONTEXT: Colonoscopy plays an indubitable role in the setting of clinical practice, however, it is an invasive exam; complex, lengthy, embarrassing, not devoid of risks and discomfort that yields fear and anxiety in the majority of patients. In a new era of rising competition between health institutions, where the quality of health care and client satisfaction are praised, studies regarding tolerance-related colonoscopy issues yield great potential to be explored. In the present study, tolerance is defined as willingness to repeat the exam. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate information associated to bowel preparation, the exam itself and post-examination period that might interfere with the tolerance to the colonoscopy. METHODS: Analysis of the tolerance to the colonoscopy at three stages (pre, post, and during) through a checklist: patient's questionnaire and a medical assessment form were used. RESULTS: In this present study, 91.2% of 373 patients exhibited positive tolerance to the colonoscopy. Aspects related to a negative level of tolerance were patient gender (12.9% of women versus 3.2% of men would not repeat the exam), age extremes (less than 20 years and greater than 80 years of age), and abdominal pain, both during the bowel preparation and after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Gender, age, patient cooperation and abdominal pain were the decisive components regarding tolerance to the colonoscopy. Notably, in two phases of the exam, the abdominal pain was the most important feature associated to a lessened tolerance.

WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS REGARDING ACCEPTANCE TO THE COLONOSCOPY?: Study of related tolerance parameters

Context Colonoscopy plays an indubitable role in the setting of clinical practice, however, it is an invasive exam; complex, lengthy, embarrassing, not devoid of risks and discomfort that yields fear and anxiety in the majority of patients. In a new era of rising competition between health institutions, where the quality of health care and client satisfaction are praised, studies regarding tolerance-related colonoscopy issues yield great potential to be explored. In the present study, tolerance is defined as willingness to repeat the exam. Objectives Evaluate information associated to bowel preparation, the exam itself and post-examination period that might interfere with the tolerance to the colonoscopy. Methods Analysis of the tolerance to the colonoscopy at three stages (pre, post, and during) through a checklist: patient's questionnaire and a medical assessment form were used. Results In this present study, 91.2% of 373 patients exhibited positive tolerance to the colonoscopy. Aspects related to a negative level of tolerance were patient gender (12.9% of women versus 3.2% of men would not repeat the exam), age extremes (less than 20 years and greater than 80 years of age), and abdominal pain, both during the bowel preparation and after the procedure. Conclusions Gender, age, patient cooperation and abdominal pain were the decisive components regarding tolerance to the colonoscopy. Notably, in two phases of the exam, the abdominal pain was the most important feature associated to a lessened tolerance. .

Contexto É inquestionável o papel da colonoscopia na prática clínica, entretanto, trata-se de exame invasivo, complexo, demorado, impudico, não isento de riscos e desconforto, que gera receio e ansiedade à maioria dos pacientes. Em uma nova época de elevada competição entre instituições de saúde, na qual se valoriza a qualidade dos serviços prestados e satisfação dos clientes, estudos sobre fatores relacionados a tolerância à colonoscopia oferecem grande potencial a ser explorado. No presente estudo considerou-se tolerância a disposição de repetir o exame. Objetivo Analisar informações relacionados ao preparo, exame e pós exame que interferem na tolerância à colonoscopia. Métodos Análise da tolerância à colonoscopia em três momentos da colonoscopia (pré, pós e durante) através de check list: “formulário do paciente” e “ficha de avaliação médica”. Resultados No presente estudo 91.2% de 373 pacientes apresentaram tolerância positiva à colonoscopia. Os fatores relacionados à tolerância negativa foram o sexo feminino (12.9% mulheres and 3.2% dos homens não repetiriam o exame), extremos de idade (<20 anos e >80 anos) e dor abdominal durante o preparo intestinal e após o procedimento. Conclusões Gênero, idade, cooperação do paciente e dor abdominal foram fatores determinantes da tolerância à colonoscopia. Significativa em duas fases do exame, a dor abdominal foi o fator mais importante relacionado à redução da tolerância. .

Estudo da apoptose e da proliferação do enterócitos na estrongiloidíase / Enterocyte apoptosis and proliferation in strongyloidiasis

A estrongiloidíase é uma parasitose de alta prevalência em nosso meio, que provoca alterações inflamatórias no intestino delgado. Foram estudados os índices de apoptose e de proliferação das células epitelias do duodeno e jejuno de 23 pacientes parasitados pelo Strongyloides stercoralis, comparados com um grupo controle de 17 indivíduos. A média do índice de apoptose, avaliada pelo método do TUNEL / Strongyloidiasis is a wide prevalent parasitosis in our enviroment that causes inflammatory alterations in the bowel. The aim of this study was to investigate the apoptotic and proliferative indices in a group of 23 patients, compared to 17 controls. The mean apoptotic indices when evaluated by TUNEL...