Abnormal colonic transit time in untreated celiac sprue.

Motility disorders of the digestive tract have long been implicated in the pathophysiology of diarrhea in patients with celiac sprue. However, the contribution of the colon to the intestinal transit of celiac sprue has not been reported. Our aim was to determine whether sprue alters gut transit and whether differences in the clinical status of the disease influences colonic transit. We prospectively studied 25 patients with untreated celiac sprue, 15 treated patients and 15 healthy controls. Oro-cecal transit time, measured by the lactulose breath H2 test, was significantly delayed in untreated patients compared with treated patients and controls (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01 respectively). The delayed transit through the stomach and small bowel was not related to the presence of the steatorrhea. Transit of radiopaque makers, a measure of total colonic transit, was significantly faster in untreated patients (p < 0.05). The major finding was that this abnormal colonic behavior was principally due to a subpopulation of untreated patients with very fast transit times (< 18 hours). A weakly significant inverse correlation between transit and fecal weight (r: -0.55, p < 0.01), and between transit and steatorrhea (r: -0.38, p < 0.05), was observed. We confirm previous descriptions of delayed oro-cecal transit time in untreated patients, and also provide the first evidence that disordered colonic transit contributes to the pathophysiology of the diarrhea in sprue.

Noninvasive measurement of portal venous blood flow in patients with cirrhosis: effects of physiological and pharmacological stimuli.

The present study aims to evaluate the usefulness of combined pulse Doppler-real-time ultrasonography as a noninvasive method for the measurement of portal blood flow in man. This measurement technique was performed on 12 healthy subjects and 20 patients with portal hypertension. Ten patients (group 1) were evaluated prior to and after ingestion of a standard meal (Ensure Plus) or placebo. In the remaining 10 patients (group 2), the effects of isosorbide dinitrate (5 mg/SL) administration or placebo were studied. In group 1, food intake caused a significant increase of portal blood flow (from 1038 +/- 539 to 1572 +/- 759 ml/min, P less than 0.02); this effect was due to a significant rise in mean blood velocity (from 18.5 +/- 3.7 to 23.9 +/- 3.9 cm/sec, P less than 0.02). In group 2, isosorbide dinitrate significantly reduced portal blood flow (from 985 +/- 491 to 625 +/- 355 ml/min, P less than 0.05); a significant decline of mean blood velocity (from 18.8 +/- 4.5 to 14.5 +/- 2.5 cm/sec, P less than 0.02) was observed. Placebo administration had no significant hemodynamic effects in either group. Our results suggest that Doppler measurements gave accurate noninvasive estimations of portal blood flow and that this technique may be used to monitor physiological and pharmological stimuli in patients with portal hypertension.

Screening for asymptomatic celiac sprue in families.

We evaluated the reliability of IgA and IgG antigliadin antibodies (AGA-A, AGA-G), antireticulin antibody (ARA), endomysial antibodies (EmA), and alpha 1-antitrypsin clearance (alpha 1-AT CL) in the detection of celiac sprue (CS) in 59 first-degree asymptomatic relatives of celiac patients who had duodenal biopsy. Twenty-four relatives who had normal results of screening tests were selected at random for biopsy; 35 relatives with at least one abnormal test result were biopsied. Eleven relatives were noted to have villous atrophy at biopsy; the diagnosis of celiac sprue was confirmed by histological improvement after gluten-free diet in six. AGA-G, alpha 1-AT CL, and EmA had sensitivities of 73%, 73%, and 64%, respectively, with very high levels of specificity. Sensitivity was improved by the combination of two serological markers (AGA-G + alpha 1-AT CL = 91%; AGA-G + EmA = 82%; EmA + ARA = 82%). Furthermore, combination of EmA and ARA has shown the best specificity and positive predictive value. AGA-G, alpha 1-AT CL, and EmA are reliable individual markers for the detection of asymptomatic celiac sprue. However, a combination of two of them, including ARA, was more sensitive than the individual tests.

Longitudinal study on the effect of treatment on body composition and anthropometry of celiac disease patients.

OBJECTIVES: This prospective study was designed to assess the nutritional changes associated with the long-term treatment of celiac disease. In addition, we analyzed whether these changes were related to the degree of compliance with a gluten-free diet. METHODS: We studied nutritional parameters and body composition in 25 newly diagnosed celiac patients after a mean period of 37 months (range 25-49 months) on a gluten-free diet. Body composition parameters (fat, lean tissue, and bone masses) were measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Anthropometry was measured according to conventional formulas. RESULTS: At diagnosis, fat (-49%), lean tissue (-12%), and bone (-24%) compartments were reduced, compared with that of sex- and age-matched controls. After treatment, we noted a significant increase in body weight (p < 0.0001), fat mass (p < 0.0005), bone mass (p < 0.002), and body mass index (p < 0.005). In contrast, we did not observe a significant increase in lean-tissue mass or muscle mass. Patients who adhered strictly to a gluten-free diet experienced a greater, though nonsignificant improvement in fat mass, body weight, and body mass index than patients whose compliance had been partial. Mean caloric intake at the end of the study was significantly lower among those patients who had adhered strictly to a gluten-free diet, compared with those who had complied only partially with the diet (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the institution of a gluten-free diet in celiac disease patients results in a significant improvement in nutritional parameters, as measured by anthropometry and/or body composition. This effect was more pronounced in patients who followed strict gluten restriction and was related mainly to changes in fat and bone compartments.

Early changes of body composition in asymptomatic celiac disease patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This is a study of patients with asymptomatic celiac disease. The aims of this study were: 1) To evaluate the nutritional status of asymptomatic patients with newly diagnosed celiac disease, and 2) to compare these findings with those of untreated/symptomatic and treated patients. MATERIAL: We examined 41 patients with celiac disease divided into three groups: a) 8 asymptomatic (diagnosed in a study of first-degree relatives of probands), b) 20 untreated/symptomatic patients, and c) 13 treated patients. Nutrition of patients from groups A and B was assessed at the time of diagnosis. METHODS: Nutritional status was evaluated by: 1) body composition (fat and lean mass) by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), and 2) anthropometric measurements. RESULTS: Compared with sex and age matched controls (n = 153), asymptomatic patients presented a moderate but significant reduction of the fat compartment (-29%; p < 0.001), but not of the lean-tissue mass (p = NS). Untreated/symptomatic patients showed a more severe depletion of fat (-46%; p < 0.001) and lean mass (-9.0%; p < 0.05) compared with healthy controls. Although fat mass of treated patients was significantly reduced with respect to controls (-24%; p < 0.003), lean mass was not affected. The anthropometric measurements of fat showed a significant correlation with the evaluation by DEXA (multiple regression analysis r = 0.918). CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic patients in our study with an unequivocal diagnosis of celiac disease established by mucosal biopsy exhibited a modified body composition.

El incremento del hidrógeno en el aire espirado no predice la intolerancia a la fibra en la dieta en el síndrome del intestino irritable con constipación: estudio piloto / Breath hydrogen levels do not predict fiber intolerance in irritable bowel syndrome with constipation

BACKGROUND: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is characterized by the worsening of symptoms with a high fiber diet. This intolerance could be related to an increase in colonic bacterial fermentation. The hydrogen breath test (HBT) is a marker of the intestinal micro flora fermentative capacity. AIM: To assess if there is an association between hydrogen (H2) levels and clinical changes between diets with and without bran. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 10 women with predominantly constipated irritable bowel syndrome (Rome II criteria) received a lowfiber diet during one week. This phase was followed by a second 7 day period with the same diet but supplemented with 12 g of crude dietary fiber. At the end of both periods, patients completed a symptom scale (Lickert type) and performed a HBT. RESULTS: Comparing both periods with a different diet the median difference in the clinical scale score (-2.5) shows a tendency favorable to the diet without bran, p = 0.048. In the fiber period the median increase of 2 ppm in H2 values was not significant deferent. Neither was possible to establish an association between breath H2 and the clinical response to a fiber diet. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study we could not detect ary association between breath H2 levels and the clinical response to dietary fiber.

Introducción: Los pacientes con síndrome del intestino irritable (SII) frecuentemente agravan sus síntomas cuando incorporan fibra insoluble en su dieta. Esta intolerancia podría estar relacionada con una incrementada fermentación colónica. El nivel de hidrógeno en el aire espirado es una variable dependiente de la capacidad fermentativa del contenido bacteriano del intestino por lo que podría representar un recurso capaz de predecir el grado de intolerancia a la fibra dietética. Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio piloto fue investigar si existe una asociación entre los niveles de hidrógeno (H2) en el aire espirado y la respuesta clínica a las dietas con y sin fibra. Pacientes y métodos: En este estudio piloto se incluyeron diez mujeres afectadas de síndrome de intestino irritable con constipación (Criterios Roma II). Siguieron una dieta poco fermentable durante 14 días. En la primera semana las pacientes se sujetaron a la dieta sin ningún agregado, en la segunda semana incorporaron 12 gr diarios de fibra dietaria cruda. Al finalizar ambos períodos las pacientes completaron una escala de Lickert de 7 ítems donde se valoró la respuesta clínica a la dieta administrada y se midió la excreción de H2 en el aire espirado. Resultados: Comparando ambas dietas, se observó que la mediana de las diferencias de los puntajes clínicos (-2,5) indicaba una tendencia favorable a la dieta poco fermentable sin fibra, p=0,048. El incremento de la mediana de la concentración de H2 en el aire espirado fue de 2 ppm para la dieta con fibra, pero el mismo no fue significativo. Tampoco se pudo demostrar una tendencia que permitiera relacionar los valores de H2 con la respuesta clínica a la fibra dietética. Conclusión: Los resultados de este estudio no lograron demostrar una asociación entre los niveles de hidrógeno en el aire espirado y la respuesta clínica a la dieta con fibra.

Gastrostomía percutánea en pacientes con cáncer de esófago / Percutaneous gastrostomy in patients with carcinoma of the oesophagus

El tratamiento oncológico con radio y quimioterapia (RT/QT) en pacientes (ptes.) con cáncer de esófago exige, para su adecuada implementación, un soporte nutricional intensivo. Objetivos: Analizar la factibilidad y las complicaciones del uso de la gastrostomía percutánea (GPC) para el apoyo nutricional en ptes. con cáncer de esófago antes del inicio del tratamiento curativo/paliativo con un esquema ambulatorio de RT/QT (6,300 cGy + 5-fluorouracilo + leucovorina cálcica + cisplatino; Intergrupo Argentino para el Tratamiento de los Tumores Gastrointestinales-IATTGI-). Material y métodos: Se evaluaron retrospectivamente las historias clínicas de 31 ptes. con cáncer de esófago, tratados entre mayo de 2001 y abril de 2003 en quienes se colocó una GPC. Todos los ptes. tenían diagnóstico histológico de cáncer de esófago; sexo M/F: 21/10, edad promedio de 65 años (r:38-90). Disfagia, grado II...