经内镜证实的300例功能性消化不良症状特点剖析

目的　剖析功能性消化不良 (FD)与器质性消化不良 (OD)的临床特点 ,评价我国消化不良的诊治流程。方法　调查 30 0例经内镜证实的OD和FD各亚型的上腹部消化不良症状 ,并分析各组症状和进餐的关系。结果　FD和OD分别占 5 1.0 %和 4 9.0 %。FD患者更多见于≤ 4 0岁组 (P =0 .0 0 6 ) ,FD的上腹胀、嗳气症状计分明显高于OD(P <0 .0 5 )。而OD患者的上腹痛症状计分则明显高于FD(P<0 .0 5 ) ,有明显的报警症状 (P =0 .0 0 3)。FD和OD两组的症状以空腹为主和以餐后为主的百分比相近。FD的动力障碍样型、溃疡样型和不特定型的症状可表现为以空腹为主或餐后加重。结论　消化不良特征有助于判断FD和OD ;无论是FD或OD患者 ,消化不良症状均可能与酸相关或动力障碍相关。因而 ,根据症状与进餐的关系有助于消化不良的诊治。     

Role of endoscopy in the investigation of upper gastrointestinal symptoms in HIV-infected patients.

Endoscopy plays a pivotal role in the management of patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), because tissue documentation of opportunistic processes is often necessary to establish a definitive diagnosis. With progression of immunodeficiency, endoscopy becomes more important because the predisposition to opportunistic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract is greatly increased. The yield of upper endoscopy in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients is dependent upon the indication for the procedure, including the clinical presentation and the stage of immunodeficiency. Indications for which endoscopy has a high yield include AIDS with esophageal symptoms refractory to empirical antifungal therapy, small bowel biopsy for chronic severe diarrhea and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Although processes can be identified, a diagnosis is less likely in patients who present with nausea and vomiting or nonspecific abdominal pain. By tailoring the use of endoscopy to the presenting symptoms and CD4 lymphocyte count, the diagnostic benefit can be increased.     

Alexithymia is associated with gastrointestinal symptoms, but does not predict endoscopy outcome in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms

BACKGROUND: Alexithymia, where a person has difficulty in distinguishing between emotions and bodily sensations, is considered to be a character trait and a vulnerability factor for various psychosomatic disorders. Assessing alexithymia in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms before endoscopy might therefore be useful in selecting patients who are more prone to functional GI disorders. GOAL: To determine whether alexithymia might be a useful factor in predicting GI endoscopy outcomes. STUDY: Patients referred for endoscopy between February 2002 and February 2004 were enrolled. They were asked to report alexithymia on the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 2 weeks before endoscopy. Information about endoscopic diagnoses was obtained from medical files. RESULTS: A total of 1141 subjects was included (49% male), of whom 245 (21%) reported alexithymia. There was no difference in mean+/-SD alexithymia scores between patients with (51+/-12) and without (50+/-12) an endoscopic organic abnormality at GI endoscopy. When divided into subgroups, according to the most prominent finding at either upper or lower GI endoscopy, there was no association with alexithymia. Patients with alexithymia reported a worse sensation of GI symptoms during the last weeks before enrollment in the study (mean+/-SD symptom severity score: 42+/-34 vs. 34+/-30, respectively; P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Alexithymia is not associated with endoscopic findings, and has therefore no additive value in predicting endoscopy outcomes. Patients with alexithymia more often present with a higher number and more severe GI symptoms.     

Prevalence and risk factors of Barrett's esophagus in patients undergoing endoscopy for upper gastrointestinal symptoms

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus (BE) and its risk factors in patients undergoing endoscopy for upper gastrointestinal symptoms in a Chinese tertiary referral medical center. METHODS: All consecutive patients receiving an endoscopy for upper gastrointestinal symptoms in our medical center from September to December 2007 were recruited. BE was explored for at endoscopy when a suspected columnar-lined esophagus was found. Patients with specialized intestinal metaplasia in the distal esophagus were defined as having BE. RESULTS: A total of 2022 patients (1053 male and 969 female) were recruited. The patients were aged 18 to 88 years and with a mean age of 46.97 ± 14.84 years. BE was found in 21 patients (15 male and 6 female), a prevalence of 1.0% of all patients receiving endoscopy for upper gastrointestinal symptoms in our medical center. One of the 21 patients had low-grade dysplasia. By logistic multivariate analysis, age (OR 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00, 1.07) and reflux esophagitis (OR 4.44; 95% CI, 1.22, 16.17) were factors associated significantly with BE. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of BE in our study was lower than that reported in other studies, especially in studies from developed countries. Older age and reflux esophagitis may be the risk factors for developing BE.     

The role of gastrointestinal endoscopy in long-distance runners with gastrointestinal symptoms

BACKGROUND: Exercise-related gastrointestinal symptoms are not uncommon among athletes. The occurrence of gastrointestinal bleeding has been reported, especially in long-distance runners. We studied gastrointestinal mucosal damage, using gastrointestinal endoscopy, in competitive long-distance runners. Gastrointestinal blood loss and anaemia before and after running were also assessed. METHODS: Sixteen competitive long-distance runners (all men; age range 16-19 years) participated in the study. All runners completed a symptom questionnaire prior to a 20 km race. Stool occult blood and haematological studies (haemoglobin, haematocrit, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity [TIBC] and ferritin) were performed before and immediately after the race. Gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed to assess macroscopic changes. Colonoscopy was also performed on the patients who had positive stool occult blood before or after the race. RESULTS: Gastrointestinal symptoms were frequently experienced by the runners. Gastritis (n = 16), oesophagitis (n = 6) and gastric ulcer (n = 1) were found at gastroscopy. Colonoscopy was performed on four patients who had positive stool occult blood. One had multiple erosions at the splenic flexure and one had a rectal polyp. Five runners had anaemia, and all of these had at least one endoscopic lesion (three gastritis, two oesophagitis and one multiple erosion at the splenic flexure). There were significant changes in the following haematological parameters after the race: iron (decreased, P = 0.02), ferritin (decreased, P = 0.001) and TIBC (increased, P = 0.00005). CONCLUSIONS: Gastrointestinal symptoms and gastrointestinal mucosal damage are prevalent among long-distance runners. Prior to treatment, gastrointestinal endoscopy should be considered in long-distance runners with gastrointestinal symptoms and/or anaemia.     

Rate and yield of repeat upper endoscopy in patients with dyspepsia

AIM: To determine the rate and yield of repeat esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for dyspepsia in clinical practice,whether second opinions drive its use,and whether it is performed at the expense of colorectal cancer screening.METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent repeat EGD for dyspepsia from 1996 to 2006 at the University of California,San Francisco endoscopy service.RESULTS: Of 24 780 EGDs,5460 (22%) were performed for dyspepsia in 4873 patients.Of these,451 pat...     

Long-term monitoring of patients with clinical symptoms of upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding with a negative endoscopy result

The authors present the results of a long-term monitoring of patients who presented with clinical signs of bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) but totally negative endoscopy results on admission. Retrospective-prospective analysis of acute endoscopies in patients with clinical signs of bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract performed in the Endoscopy Centre of the OstravaTeaching Hospital from 2002 to 2005, long term monitoring of the sample with negative results on admission. A total of 133 patients, i.e. 16.3 % of all acute procedures, with no source of bleeding detected in the first endoscopy. 26.4% of wrong indications. In the rest of the sample, a source of bleeding was detected by endoscopy in 17 patients (15 in an early examination and 2 within one month from the event), i.e. 17.3%. The rate of bleeding recurrence was 15%. The risk of recurrence was higher in patients with haematemesis and a decrease in the blood count (BC) at the time of the first event. In 19 patients, i.e. 14.3%, the source was not detected. In the remaining 33 patients, the findings were as follows: 1) in 4 patients, the source of bleeding was detected in the small intestine (push enteroscopy or enteroclysis); 2) in 3 patients, the source of bleeding was detected in the colon; 3) in 6 patients, IBD was detected; 4) in 5 patients, cirrhosis of the liver was diagnosed within months or years from the event.     

Investigation of upper gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with AIDS

Double contrast barium radiology and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were compared prospectively on 45 occasions in patients infected with HIV who presented with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. In 40 cases, a definite pathological diagnosis was reached and in four cases no organic basis for symptoms could be found. A correct and complete diagnosis was made on visual endoscopic criteria in 43 cases (95.5%) but in only 14 cases (31.1%) from barium studies alone. Radiology showed no abnormality in 22 cases where pathological changes were documented (oesophageal candidiasis in 21 cases). Where pathological confirmation of diagnosis existed (40 cases), endoscopy (without pathological support) had a sensitivity of 97.5% and a specificity of 100% compared with the sensitivity and specificity of 25 and 100% for barium studies. The difference between the sensitivities of the two methods was highly significant (P less than 0.005). The combination of oral candidiasis and upper gastrointestinal symptoms without dysphagia or weight loss was so strongly associated with uncomplicated oesophageal candidiasis (negative predictive value 93%; P less than 0.025), that this is supported as a basis for therapy without the need for further investigation, although if upper gastrointestinal investigation is required, endoscopy should be the method of choice.     

Evaluation of dyspeptic symptoms in patients with and without Helicobacter pylori infection and normal upper gastrointestinal endoscopy

BACKGROUND: A relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and dyspeptic symptoms has not yet been demonstrated. AIM: To evaluate any possible difference in symptom score between dyspeptic patients with and without H. pylori infection who have normal upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and no other appreciable gastrointestinal or systemic disease. PATIENTS: A series of consecutive patients affected by upper abdominal disturbances completed a symptoms questionnaire before undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with a rapid urease test to detect H. pylori infection. Patients with normal upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and abdominal ultrasound were included in the study. The symptoms assessed were burping and belching, bloating, odynophagia, dysphagia, postprandial fullness, heartburn, early satiety, nausea, vomiting, regurgitation, sour taste in mouth, epigastric pain at fasting, epigastric pain postprandial, epigastric pain nocturnal, and pain in right hypocondrium and were scored in terms of intensity and frequency on a scale from 0 to 4. RESULTS: The total number of patients who met the inclusion criteria was 263 out of 1187 examined. A total of 113 H. pylori-positive and 150 H. pylori-negative patients were compared. Among the symptoms evaluated, belching and bloating and heartburn were present in more than 50% of patients of both groups. No statistical difference was found in terms of presence or absence of each symptom, and intensity or frequency between H. pylori-positive and -negative patients. CONCLUSION: H. pylori infection does not seem to be associated with a specific symptom in patients with upper abdominal complaints and normal upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.     

Effects of domperidone in patients with chronic unexplained upper gastrointestinal symptoms: A double-blind,placebo-controlled study

The effects of domperidone, a peripherally acting dopamine antagonist, were compared with those of placebo in a double-blind randomized study in 16 patients with idiopathic gastric stasis, chronic symptoms of nonulcer dyspepsia (including nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain), and altered gastroduodenal motility. Patients received either domperidone or placebo orally (20 mg before meals and at bedtime) for six weeks. Symptoms were assessed by daily diaries kept by the patients for two weeks while receiving no medication for their gastrointestinal complaints (baseline), and throughout the six-week treatment phase. Studies of gastric emptying of a radiolabeled solid-phase meal were performed at baseline and six weeks after treatment. All patients had delayed gastric emptying at baseline, defined as a half-emptying time of more than mean +1 sd (from studies of normal controls). An 18- to 24-hr recording of gastroduodenal motor function during fasting was also performed at baseline and after six weeks of either domperidone or placebo treatment. After six weeks of treatment, the symptom scores significantly improved in the domperidone group (P<0.05), but not in the placebo group. Gastroduodenal motor activity was unchanged from baseline recordings after six weeks. Solid-phase gastric emptying also showed no improvement in either the domperidone or placebo group of patients. Although domperidone therapy had no significant effect on motility, it appears to be an effective drug for the treatment of the symptoms of nonulcer dyspepsia.This study was supported partly by the Medical Research Service of the Veterans Administration, Clinical Research Center grant No. RR-82, and Janssen Pharmaceutica, Inc.     

Diagnostic yield of upper endoscopy in Asian patients presenting with dyspepsia

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer occurs more frequently in older people. Because the population of aged persons is increasing, a better understanding of the characteristics of colorectal cancer with respect to age would be useful. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is any relationship between the site of colorectal adenoma and adenocarcinoma in the colon and age. METHODS: Colonoscopy was performed (September 1995 to December 1998) on 2942 consecutive patients (1907 men, 1035 women; mean age 61 years, range 11 to 95 years) with no history of colorectal adenoma, adenocarcinoma, or inflammatory bowel disease. The occurrence of colorectal neoplasia, histologically proven as adenoma or adenocarcinoma, was analyzed for a possible association between site in the colon and patient age. RESULTS: Adenocarcinoma was found in 191 patients (196 lesions). The proportion of patients with right-sided colonic adenocarcinoma increased with patient age: < 50 years, 15% (2/13); 50 to 59 years, 21% (8/39); 60 to 69 years, 32% (18/57); 70 to 79 years, 42% (25/49); > or =80 years, 57% (16/28). The proportion of patients with right-sided adenoma did not significantly differ among age groups: < 50 years, 40% (98/246); 50 to 59 years, 41% (280/678); 60 to 69 years, 46% (459/1001); 70 to 79 years, 53% (270/508); and > or =80 years, 57% (87/152). CONCLUSION: The frequency of right-sided colon cancer increases with patient age. Hence, colonoscopy may be indicated in the elderly for colorectal cancer screening. Over half of colon carcinomas may be missed if sigmoidoscopy alone is used for screening.     

Diagnostic yield of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in relation to age: retrospective analysis of 8,043 patients

The diagnostic yield of the initial endoscopy performed in 8,043 consecutive patients over a 14-year period was analyzed according to age. The mean age of women (57.4 years; 50.9% 60 years or older) was higher than that of men (50.5 years; 29.8% 60 years or older). A younger age group with a mean male age of under 50 years comprising acid-related peptic diseases or normal findings was distinguishable from an intermediate group with a mean age of between 50 and 60 years. This included patients with gastric ulcer disease, who were an average of 8 years older than duodenal ulcer patients. The highest-age group comprised gastric and esophageal cancer patients with male mean ages of 64.6 and 64.7 years, respectively. In all diagnostic categories except esophageal carcinoma, the mean age of women exceeded that of men by 2.7-10.2 years. The histological grading of gastritis also correlated closely with age, women having higher mean ages than men, and all gastritis grades in the body were associated with a higher mean age than identical grades in the antrum. These data shed additional light on the age distribution of major upper GI tract diseases, and also on the peculiarities of upper GI endoscopy in advanced age.