Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 in the differential diagnosis of biliary strictures.

INTRODUCTION: bile-duct strictures include a wide spectrum of benign and malignant diseases. OBJECTIVE: to determine the usefulness of endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) and circulating carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) for the differential diagnosis of biliary strictures. METHOD: an observational, prospective, cross-sectional study was performed in 75 patients with biliary stricture diagnosed by ERCP between October 2018 and January 2020. The variables included type of biliary stricture as diagnosed by ERCP, biliary cytology, and CA 19-9 levels. For the statistical analysis, descriptive statistics were used according to type of variable. The relationships between them was analyzed using Pearson's chi-square and Fisher's exact probability tests, assuming differences were significant when p < 0.05. The cut-off point for CA 19-9 was calculated using the ROC curve, and Cohen's kappa index was used to measure concordance between diagnostic methods. RESULTS: cytology was positive in 51 (68 %) patients with biliary stenosis. Mean age was 63 years. Acute cholangitis predominated in malignant strictures (93.7 %). There was agreement between cytology and the cut-off value calculated for CA 19-9 of 85.4 U/mL, with a kappa agreement index of 0.332 (p = 0.004), and between ERCP and cytology, with a kappa concordance index of 0.701 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: a serum CA 19-9 value higher than 85.4 U/mL is highly related to neoplastic biliary stenosis.

Effect of symbiotic fermented milk together with conventional therapy in the eradication treatment of Helicobacter pylori.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with various gastrointestinal diseases and is the dominant microorganism in gastric microbiota. There are multiple therapeutic combinations used with uneven results for eradication. Studies have been carried out with some strains of Lactobacillus (L) that support its preponderant role in the treatment of infection and reduction of inflammation.

Colangiopancreatografía retrógrada endoscópica y antígeno carbohidrato 19-9 en el diagnóstico diferencial de las estenosis biliares / Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 in the differential diagnosis of biliary strictures

Introducción: las estenosis de vías biliares incluyen un amplio espectro de enfermedades benignas y malignas.Objetivo: determinar la utilidad de la colangiopancreatografía retrógrada endoscópica (CPRE) y del antígeno carbohidrato 19-9 (CA 19-9) en el diagnóstico diferencial de las estenosis biliares.Método: estudio observacional, prospectivo y transversal de 75 pacientes con estenosis biliar diagnosticada por CPRE entre octubre de 2018 y enero de 2020; las variables fueron: tipo de estenosis biliar por CPRE, citología biliar y CA 19-9. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizaron medidas descriptivas de resumen de acuerdo con el tipo de variable. La relación entre ellas se realizó mediante los test estadísticos del chi cuadrado de Pearson y la probabilidad exacta de Fisher, denotando las diferencias como significativas cuando p < 0,05. Se calculó el punto de corte del CA 19-9 mediante la curva ROC yel índice kappa de Cohen para medir la concordancia entre los métodos diagnósticos.Resultados: la citología fue positiva en 51 (68 %) pacientes con estenosis biliar. La edad media fue de 63 años. La colangitis aguda predominó en las estenosis malignas (93,7 %). Existió concordancia entre la citología y el valor de corte calculado para el CA 19-9 de 85,4 U/ml, con índice de concordancia kappa = 0,332 (p = 0,004), así como entre la CPRE y la citología, con índice de concordancia kappa = 0,701 (p < 0,001).Conclusiones: un valor sérico de CA 19-9 superior a 85,4 U/ml está altamente relacionado con la estenosis biliar neoplásica. (AU)