Whipple's disease: endoscopic aspects before and after therapy.

This report describes the utility and the advantages of endoscopy in diagnosing and following the course of Whipple's disease. Sixteen patients, diagnosed over a period of 22 years, were identified via pathology records and retrospectively reviewed. Five patients were diagnosed before 1980 by means of peroral suction biopsy of the small intestine. The 11 patients diagnosed after 1980 all had upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and endoscopic small intestinal biopsies. Gross endoscopic lesions were observed in 9 of the 11 patients and disappeared in 5 of 6 treated patients at 6 months. These lesions include erosions, yellow plaques, and a pale yellow shaggy mucosa. The latter two lesions are macroscopically suggestive of Whipple's disease. After endoscopic "healing," periodic acid-Schiff-positive macrophages remained present in the endoscopic biopsies for years. The patients were followed for a median period of 4 years and 5 months. All patients were treated with antibiotics (eight tetracycline alone, four tetracycline + streptomycin + penicillin, and four trimethoprim). Five patients (four of the tetracycline alone group, none of the trimethoprim group) relapsed 2 to 11 years after the initial treatment.     

"Campylobacter pyloridis" and epigastric pain: endoscopic, histological, and bacteriological correlations

Campylobacter pyloridis is a newly discovered bacterium which has been implicated in gastric pathology. C. pyloridis was looked for by hematoxylin and eosin staining and culture (chocolate and brucella blood agar) in gastric antral biopsies in 136 unselected patients suffering from epigastric pain. The distribution of C. pyloridis positive cases according to the endoscopic diagnosis was as follows: duodenal ulcer (19 positive/21 tested), duodenitis (6/10), gastric ulcer (9/21), gastritis (13/26), and normal endoscopy (21/58). The association was statistically significant for duodenal ulcers (p less than 0.001). All of the 68 C. pyloridis positive patients showed histologic signs of gastritis as compared to 29 of the 68 C. pyloridis negative patients. The two techniques detection were comparable in sensitivity: 57 were detected by culture only and 63 by microscopy only. We also looked for C. pyloridis in biopsies of the body of the stomach in 71 patients. Bacteria were found in 33 of 36 cases with C. pyloridis positive antral biopsies (15 had histologic lesions) but only in 2 of 35 C. pyloridis antrum negative cases. Therefore, C. pyloridis was tightly associated with histologic signs of antral gastritis and with duodenal ulcers when diagnosed by endoscopy.     

Intestinal infection withMycobacterium avium in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Summary At endoscopy, a 30-year-old man with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), Kaposi's sarcoma, diarrhea, and unexplained malabsorption showed erythematous macular duodenal lesions consistent with Whipple's disease by histology and electron microscopy. Symptoms did not respond to tetracycline. Subsequent cultures revealed systemicMycobacterium avium (M. avium) infection. Tissue from this patient, from patients with Whipple's disease and from a macaque withM. avium were compared. All contained PAS-positive macrophages butM. avium could be distinguished by positive acid-fast stains and a difference in pattern of indirect immunofluorescence staining with bacterial typing antisera. PAS-positive macrophages in the intestinal lamina propria are no longer pathognomonic of Whipple's disease. Ultrastructural and histological similarities between Whipple's disease andM. avium infection suggest that both are manifestations of immune deficits limiting macrophage destruction of particular bacteria after phagocytosis.M. avium must be considered in the differential diagnosis of diarrhea in patients with AIDS and other immunosuppressed conditions.     

A Study of the Correlation between Endoscopic and Histological Diagnoses in Gastroduodenitis

Serial histological specimens from 14 patients with the endoscopic diagnosis of erosive gastritis and/or duodenitis were examined for correlation between endoscopic and histological findings. All patients were symptomatic outpatients without history of alcoholism or usage of aspirin or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. After the initial diagnosis, the patients underwent follow-up endoscopy until healing of erosions at 1, 4, and 8 wk. Pairs of biopsies from the gastric fundus, body, and antrum, and the duodenum were obtained at each endoscopy. Agreement between histological and endoscopic findings occurred in only 56% of the 161 sites studied. The best correlation occurred in the duodenum when there was endoscopic disease (89%) and was worst in the stomach at all sites regardless of endoscopic findings (46%). A normal histology in the face of abnormal endoscopic changes was seen in only 16% of all biopsies. Histological inflammation occurred in 27% of all biopsies with a normal endoscopic appearance and in 55% of the normal endoscopic areas in the stomach. Histological appearances at each biopsy site remained constant in individual patients throughout the study. The specific histological findings, such as activity and severity, did not correlate with the endoscopic severity of inflammation or with any specific endoscopic appearances, such as erosions, petechiae, or nodules. In conclusion, the histological and endoscopic findings in the stomach from patients with symptomatic erosive gastroduodenitis correlate poorly while good correlation occurs in the duodenum.     

Value of upper digestive fibroscopy in the evaluation of initial spread of malignant extradigestive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Results in 101 patients

The aim of this prospective study was to assess the frequency of gastroduodenal involvement during initial staging of extradigestive non Hodgkin's lymphoma. One hundred and one patients (64 men and 37 women; mean age 57.7; range 22-77 years) underwent an upper digestive endoscopy with multiple biopsies before any treatment. The origin of lymphoma was nodal in 76 cases and extranodal in 25 cases. Biopsy specimens were taken from all gross lesions; when the mucosa was considered as normal, biopsy specimens were obtained from the corpus, the antrum, and the duodenum. Endoscopy was normal in 37 patients; nevertheless in 4/37 patients, biopsies revealed lymphoma infiltration. In 64 patients, endoscopy showed macroscopic anomalies: biopsies were negative in 47 patients and showed lymphoma involvement in 17 patients. The involvement site was the corpus of the stomach (11 cases), the antrum (9 cases), and the duodenum (9 cases); lesions were multifocal in 10/21 patients. The association of several types of lesions was noticed in 5 patients. Lesions included volcano-like craters (8 cases), large folds of brain-like appearance (4 cases), tumors greater than 3 cm (3 cases), gastric ulcers (3 cases), erosive gastritis (3 cases), and erythematous duodenitis (2 cases). Overall, 21 of 101 patients (20.8 percent) had positive biopsies, 17 with endoscopic lesions and 4 without. Only 5/21 patients presented upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Staging of the lymphoma changed to Stage IV in 11 patients (4 stage I, 4 stage II and 3 stage III) (10.9 percent) after gastrointestinal involvement was documented. Gastroduodenal involvement is not related to initial site (nodal or extranodal), stage of extension or grade of malignancy of the lymphoma.     

Diagnosis of Gastric Prepyloric and Antral Lesions

Fibergastroscopy and direct-vision gastric biopsy were performed in 47 patients who had a prepyloric or antral gastric lesion on barium meal (single-contrast) examination. Of 27 cases with a radiological diagnosis of prepyloric or antral ulceration, five cases (18.5%) had evidence of ulceration, 12 cases (44.4%) had acute or chronic gastritis and eight cases (29.6%) had normal gastric mucosa, on fibergastroscopy. Multiple gastric biopsy confirmed the presence of acute-on-chronic gastritis (ACG), chronic gastritis (CG) and chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), with or without intestinal metaplasia (IM) or epithelial atypia (Aty), in 24 cases (89%). Normal gastric mucosa was found in three cases (11%) and malignancy in none. Of 15 cases with a radiological diagnosis of prepyloric or antral malignancy, only three cases (20%) had evidence of adenocarcinoma on endoscopy and biopsy. One case had rounded nodules seen on endoscopy and gastric biopsies showed malignant lymphoma. In two cases with endoscopic suspicion of malignancy, gastric biopsies showed ACG in one and CAG in the other. Gastric biopsies showed histological changes of CG (+/- IM) or CAG (+/- IM) in 11 cases (73%). In five cases with a radiological diagnosis of various prepyloric or antral lesions, endoscopy and biopsy revealed CG (+/- IM) in all and malignancy in none. It is concluded that fiberendoscopy and gastric biopsy are superior to the single-contrast barium meal in the diagnosis of prepyloric or antral gastric lesions. Direct-vision gastric biopsy should be done in all cases since it increased the diagnostic accuracy of fiberendoscopy.     

High Eradication Rates of Helicobacter pylori Infection with First- and Second-Line Combination of Esomeprazole, Tetracycline, and Metronidazole in Patients Allergic to Penicillin

H. pylori eradication is a challenge in patients allergic to penicillin, both first-line and failures of prior therapy. We aimed to assess the eradication rate of H. pylori in patients allergic to penicillin, first-line and failures of prior therapy, the efficacy of healing of active duodenal ulcer disease (DUD) and erosive gastritis, and the safety and tolerability of the combination. Twenty patients with documented allergy to penicillin, DUD, and H. pylori infection, 17 (85%) for first-line treatment and 3 (15%) prior therapy failures, were given a 10-day regimen of esomeprazole, 40 mg qid, tetracycline, 500 mg qid, and metronidazole, 500 mg qid. Baseline and follow-up panendoscopy 30 days after end of treatment was performed for rapid urease test (Clotest), and four site biopsies for H. pylori, and to document endoscopic peptic ulcer disease. All adverse events during treatment were documented. Eradication rates by intention to treat (ITT) were 85% for first-line treatment and 100% for failures. Seventy percent of all cases had a normal endoscopy at follow-up, and 85 and 100% of patients had healed erosive gastritis and DUD, respectively, from baseline. There were histological improvements in most patients. A high eradication rate was obtained even in patients who had a shorter duration of treatment. The combination was well tolerated. A combination of esomeprazole, tetracycline, and metronidazole is effective for eradication of H. pylori in patients allergic to penicillin, for both first-line treatment and failures of prior treatment.This research was supported by a grant from the Investigator Sponsored Studies Program of Astra Zeneca.     

A study on the correlation of duodenal-ulcer healing with campylobacter-like organisms

Abstract Campylobacter-like organisms (CLOS) occur frequently in the antrum of patients with duodenal ulcer, but their pathogenetic role has remained uncertain. This study examined prospectively endoscopic biopsies of the antrum of 109 patients with duodenal ulcer, taken before and after 4–12 weeks of treatment with either a prostaglandin E₁ or its placebo, for the density of campylobacter-like organisms and the severity of antral gastritis. Antral biopsies from 30 non-ulcer dyspeptic patients were used as controls. Active chronic antral gastritis and CLOS respectively occurred in 98% and 99% of patients with duodenal ulcer, and in 50% and 57% of the controls ( P < 0.005). CLOS occurred in 97% of all subjects with active chronic gastritis and in 14% of those with normal gastric mucosa ( P < 0.0005). The density of CLOS correlated with the severity of gastritis. After treatment with prostaglandin E₁ and placebo, 89% and 51% respectively of ulcers healed, and 42% and 6% respectively of gastritis improved from a moderate to a mild grade, but bacteria remained positive and persisted in the same density as before treatment. The conclusion was that CLOS, antral gastritis and duodenal ulcer are closely associated, but that healing of duodenal ulcer and improvement of antral gastritis are unaffected by CLOS.     

Dyspepsia in HIV-infected patients under highly active antiretroviral therapy

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Upper gastrointestinal symptoms, mainly dyspepsia, are common adverse effects in patients under highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Whether it is worthwhile to perform endoscopy early in their treatment is a matter of debate. We have done a prospective study of the prevalence and the etiology of endoscopic lesions in a large cohort of dyspeptic adult HIV-infected patients under HAART, according to their immunological status. METHODS: 528 (334 men and 194 women, mean age 38) HIV-infected patients under HAART with epigastric pain and/or nausea and vomiting underwent upper endoscopy. Patients were classified in two groups, according to CD4 cells counting (>200 cells/mm(3) or < or =200 cells/mm(3)). Gastric and duodenal biopsies were taken from normal mucosa and any lesion found. RESULTS: Gastric mucosa alterations were seen in 61.74% of patients (40.71% erythema, 18.38% erosion and 2.65% ulcer). Duodenum mucosa alterations were seen in 25.37% of patients, mainly erosions (19.50%) and ulcer (3.59%). There was no difference in endoscopic findings according to CD4 cell count groups. Chronic active gastritis was shown in 459 patients (86.93%). H. pylori infection was seen in 32.38%, and it was more prevalent in the group with CD4 > 200 (p < 0.01). Opportunistic infections and malignancies were seen exclusively in patients with CD4 < or = 200. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the endoscopic lesions in dyspeptic HIV-infected patients under HAART were not related to AIDS. Upper endoscopy was more helpful in dictating clinical treatment in patients with low CD4 counts (< or =200) and should be done earlier in this group.     

胶囊内镜对胃肠道疾病的诊断意义

目的 评价胶囊内镜对胃肠道疾病的诊断价值。方法 应用胶囊内镜对13例不明原因消化道出血、6例反复腹泻、4例腹痛及l例转移性腺癌寻找原发灶患者进行检查。结果在13例不明原因消化道出血患者中，发现小肠血管发育不良7例，其中有l例合并有回肠溃疡，小肠血管瘤l例，小肠恶性淋巴瘤l例，十二指肠球部溃疡l例，小肠克罗恩病l例，未见异常2例；在6例反复腹泻患者中，发现l例溃疡性空回肠炎，其余5例均考虑功能性胃肠道疾病；在4例腹痛患者中，发现糜烂性胃炎2例，十二指肠降部糜烂l例，正常l例；l例转移性腺癌检查发现小肠腺癌。结论 胶囊内镜对胃肠道疾病尤其是小肠疾病有较高的诊断价值。     

Chronic Erosive Gastritis: Clinical, Diagnostic, and Pathological Features in Nine Patients

We have recognized nine patients with gastric mucosal lesions which were characterized by an erosion with surrounding mucosal elevation. This lesions has previously been called chronic erosive or varioliform gastritis. Patients were investigated because of upper gastrointestinal symptoms (n = 7). weight loss (n = 2), and/or bleeding (n = 3). Radiologically the appearance was of typical target lesions. Pathological features included pseudopyloric metaplasia, pyloric gland hyperplasia, acute and chronic inflammation, edema, and fibrosis. Atypia was present in biopsies from four patients and in one was incorrectly interpreted as representing intramucosal carcinoma. The remaining patients were treated with antacids and/or cimetidine with resolution of symptoms and in five patients repeat endoscopy demonstrated resolution of the lesions. Chronic erosive gastritis may cause upper gastrointestinal symptoms indistinguishable from peptic ulceration. Greater numbers of patients will have to be treated in a controlled fashion to determine the natural history of the disease and the most efficacious treatment.     

Diagnostic yield of routine duodenal biopsies in iron deficiency anaemia: a study from Western Anatolia

OBJECTIVE: The role of routine endoscopic duodenal biopsies obtained during the evaluation of iron deficiency anaemia is being increasingly emphasized, but insufficiently applied. Diagnostic yield of this practice, mainly identification of coeliac disease, differs in different populations and geographic regions. The aim of this study is to assess the usefulness of routine duodenal biopsies during upper endoscopy in patients presenting with iron deficiency anaemia in Western Anatolia. METHODS: Routine duodenal biopsies were evaluated over a 12-month period in 100 consecutive adult patients with iron deficiency anaemia undergoing upper endoscopy. All potential bleeding lesions were identified and gastric as well as duodenal biopsies were taken for histopathologic investigation. RESULTS: A bleeding lesion is identified in 44% of cases. Duodenal biopsy gives an additional 5% diagnostic yield and revealed three patients with coeliac disease and two patients with giardiasis. One of the patients diagnosed with coeliac disease had a second bleeding lesion at the upper endoscopic examination. Appearance of the duodenal mucosa was normal in all patients including those with diagnostic duodenal biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: Routine duodenal sampling during the upper endoscopic examination gives an additional 5% diagnostic benefit and this practice should be included in the diagnostic work-up of patients with iron deficiency anaemia. As one of the patients who was found to have coeliac disease had a second bleeding lesion that may otherwise explain iron deficiency anaemia, finding a source for bleeding at the upper endoscopy should not preclude duodenal biopsy. Moreover, performing duodenal biopsy is still necessary even though the endoscopic appearance of the mucosa is normal. Aside from coeliac disease, Giardia infestation could be identified as a contributory factor for iron deficiency anaemia, in endemic regions.     

经内镜氩离子凝固术治疗隆起糜烂性胃炎的价值及安全性

目的 探讨经内镜氩离子凝固术（APC）治疗隆起糜烂性胃炎（EGP）的价值及安全性.方法 选取100例EGP患者分为观察组与对照组（各50例）,观察组行APC治疗,合并幽门螺杆菌（H.pylori）感染者服用兰索拉唑、阿莫西林、克拉霉素治疗7d,无H.pylori感染者口服兰索拉唑治疗,治疗8周后患者复查胃镜评价疗效.结果 手术过程顺利,未发生灼伤、穿孔等严重并发症;观察组患者症状改善明显优于对照组（P＜0.05）,观察组症状治疗总有效率（98.00％）明显高于对照组（84.00％）（P＜0.05）,观察组患者内镜下观察病灶改善明显优于对照组（P＜0.05）,观察组内镜下治疗总有效率（100％）明显高于对照组（66.00％）（P＜0.05）,观察组隆起糜烂病灶减少率（91.14％）高于对照组（42.27％）（P＜0.05）,H.pylori阳性患者治疗转阴率为81.58％,对照组为74.29％,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.结论 经内镜APC治疗疗效确切,明显高于单纯药物治疗,手术安全性高,值得临床推广.     

Influence of overweight and obesity on upper endoscopic findings

BACKGROUND: In previous studies, increasing body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)) was related to chronic gastrointestinal symptoms, such as frequent vomiting, upper abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea. However, there have been no reports about the relationship between increasing BMI and abnormal upper endoscopic findings such as gastritis or ulcer. METHODS: The study group consisted of 27 319 individuals who underwent medical checkup at a healthcare center from 1 January to 31 December 2003. The following classification of BMI was applied. (i) underweight; BMI < 18.5; (ii) normal weight; 18.5 or= 30.0. The subjects were grouped according to the findings of upper endoscopy as follows: group 1, those with erosive gastritis, gastric ulcers (benign and malignant) and duodenal ulcers; group 2, those with reflux esophagitis; and group 3, those with findings of upper endoscopy other than group 1 and group 2. RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity and overweight was 2.2% and 30.5%, respectively. By multivariate analyses, overweight (OR 1.31, 95% CI; 1.22-1.40, P = 0.000) and obesity (OR 1.40, 95% CI; 1.14-1.72, P = 0.001) were significant contributors of group 1. Overweight (OR 1.61, 95% CI; 1.42-1.83, P = 0.000) and obesity (OR 2.23, 95% CI; 1.59-3.11, P = 0.000) were also significant contributors of group 2. CONCLUSIONS: In the general population, increasing BMI was associated with abnormal upper endoscopic findings, such as erosive gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer and reflux esophagitis. Clarification of the cause-and-effect relationships and the mechanisms of these associations require further investigation.     

The clinical characteristics, endoscopic treatment, and prognosis for patients presenting with duodenal varices

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study investigated the clinical characteristics, endoscopic appearances, usefulness of endoscopic treatments, and survival of patients with duodenal varices. METHODOLOGY: Twelve patients were evaluated in whom endoscopy confirmed duodenal varices (13 lesions), and patient data was retrospectively analyzed regarding underlying diseases, hepatic function, endoscopic appearance, previous treatment for other complicated varices, endoscopic treatment for hemorrhage from duodenal varices, and survival. RESULTS: Underlying diseases consisted of liver cirrhosis in 8 patients, and pancreatic cancer-related pylemphraxis in 4 patients. Endoscopic appearances of hemorrhage from duodenal varices revealed negative red color (RC) signs in all 6 lesions, and 5 of 6 lesions were F3 lesions. Three of 5 patients with hemorrhagic duodenal varices had received treatment for esophageal varices. Successful hemostasis and complete eradication by endoscopic treatments was achieved in all 5 patients (6 lesions). The 1, 3, and 5 year cumulative survival rates were 66.7%, 48.6%, and 36.5% in the patients with duodenal varices. CONCLUSIONS: The hemorrhagic factor of duodenal varices is F factor, but not RC sign. Changes of blood flow in the collateral circulatory pathway after treatment for esophageal varices may increase the risk of hemorrhage from duodenal varices. Endoscopic treatment is useful for hemorrhagic duodenal varices.     

Adenocarcinoma complicating Crohn's disease of the duodenum.

Duodenal obstruction is a classic complication of Crohn's disease with duodenal involvement. However, malignant transformation of duodenal lesions has very rarely been reported, and diagnosis of such a transformation is rarely made preoperatively. We report the case of a 32-year-old patient with an 8-year history of Crohn's disease who underwent bypass gastrojejunostomy for a duodenal stricture. A year later, weight loss and biliary obstruction led to a further laparotomy. At operation, an advanced carcinoma with peritoneal seedings was confirmed. Of the three patients previously reported in the literature with duodenal cancer arising in Crohn's disease stricture, only one had a preoperative diagnosis of malignancy made from endoscopic biopsies. When considering the surgical bypass of Crohn's duodenal stricture, if preoperative endoscopy and biopsy cannot be performed on account of duodenal stricturing, we suggest performing a peroperative endoscopy via a jejunotomy in order to eliminate the diagnosis of associated duodenal malignancy.     

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and related gastroduodenal lesions in spouses of Helicobacter pylori positive patients with duodenal ulcer.

BACKGROUND: To date, very few studies have evaluated the risk of infection among spouses of Helicobacter pylori positive patients and their results are conflicting. AIM: To assess the seroprevalence of H pylori infection in spouse of H pylori positive patients with duodenal ulcer as compared with age and sex matched volunteer blood donors, as well as the frequency of endoscopic gastroduodenal lesions in these spouses, according to the presence or absence of gastrointestinal complaints. METHODS: Some 124 spouses (48% males) of patients with duodenal ulcer consecutively seen over a 10 month period were studied. They were all screened for serum IgG anti-H pylori antibodies and asked to complete a questionnaire with particular reference to the presence of chronic or recurrent dyspepsia. Upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy with antral and corpus biopsy specimens taken for histological examination and urease rapid test was offered to all seropositive spouses. Volunteer blood donors (248), living in Milan and matched for age, sex, north-south origins, and socioeconomic status to the cases, were used as controls. RESULTS: Spouses of patients with duodenal ulcer had a significantly higher seroprevalence of H pylori infection than controls (71% v 58%, p < 0.05); 30 of 88 (34%) H pylori positive spouses complained of dyspeptic symptoms compared with only four of 34 (12%) seronegative spouses (p < 0.02). At endoscopy, H pylori infection was confirmed in 48 of 49 (98%) seropositive spouses. The endoscopic findings in those spouses showed active duodenal ulcer in eight (17%), duodenal scar and cap deformity in two (4%), active gastric ulcer in two (4%), erosive duodenitis in three (6%), antral erosions in two (4%), antral erosions plus duodenitis in one, and peptic oesophagitis in another patient. The prevalence of major endoscopic lesions was significantly higher in symptomatic spouses than in those who had never been symptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that being the spouse of an H pylori positive patient with duodenal ulcer may increase the risk of H pylori colonisation and perhaps of peptic ulcer disease, and raises questions as to whether serological screening of cohabiting partners of H pylori positive patients with duodenal ulcer may be indicated.     

A prospective, multidisciplinary evaluation of premenopausal women with iron-deficiency anemia

Objective: The cause of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in premenopausal women is often presumed to be menstrual blood loss. The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of a comprehensive gynecological and gastrointestinal evaluation in premenopausal women with IDA. Methods: Nineteen premenopausal, nonpregnant women older than 18 yr of age with IDA defined by a hemoglobin < 12 gm/dl with serum ferritin < 10 ng/ml participated in the study. Evaluations included directed history and physical examination by a specialist in gynecology and a subspecialist in gastroenterology, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, upper gastrointestinal radiography with small bowel follow-through, antiendomysial antibody, and fecal occult blood tests. Results: Seven of 19 (37%) premenopausal women with IDA were diagnosed to have a gynecological cause of anemia by a specialist in that field. Although only four of these seven patients had digestive complaints, all but one (86%) were discovered to have gastrointestinal disease by upper endoscopy; findings were duodenal ulcer and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) gastritis (one), esophagitis and H. pylori gastritis (one), erosive esophagitis (one), gastric arteriovenous malformations (one), and nodular/erosive H. pylori gastritis (two). Fecal occult blood testing was positive in only two (29%) subjects; upper endoscopy revealed erosive esophagitis and gastric arteriovenous malformations. Twelve of the 19 (63%) premenopausal women with IDA were not diagnosed to have a gynecological source of anemia by a specialist in that field. Fecal occult blood testing was negative among all women tested and the only digestive complaint was heartburn (pyrosis) in seven. Each was identified to have esophagitis, duodenal ulcer, or gastritis by upper endoscopy. Colonoscopic examination of the 12 subjects without gynecologic etiology for IDA revealed pan colitis (one), diverticulosis (one), diverticulosis and melanosis coli (one), hyperplastic polyps (one), and nodular lymphoid aggregates (one). Conclusions: Significant upper gastrointestinal disease is identifiable among most premenopausal women with IDA (18 of 19 or 95%), even when careful evaluation by a specialist in gynecology suggests a gynecological source. Upper endoscopy should be considered in the evaluation of all premenopausal women with IDA expressing digestive complaints or in those with IDA refractory to iron supplementation. Lower endoscopic examination may be reserved for those women with symptoms or signs suggestive of colorectal disorders.     

H.heilmannii与H.pylori相关性胃炎的对比研究

目的 评估上消化道H.heilmannii感染的临床表现、内镜诊断、病理特征,探讨该菌在上消化道疾病中的致病特点,并与Hpylori相关性胃炎相比较.方法 收集并分析2005至2007年间3107例胃镜受检者的临床资料、内镜表现及病理活检标本.结果 共检出25例H.heilmannii感染,1060例H.pylori感染,3例混合感染.H.heilmannii感染患者中,20例有不同程度的上消化道症状,主要为上腹胀痛、恶心、食欲下降,5例无明显自觉症状;患者内镜下均有慢性胃炎的表现,其中单纯慢性浅表性胃炎7例,伴糜烂3例,萎缩肠化4例,十二指肠球炎2例,胆汁反流、溃疡、息肉各1例;尿素酶试验强阳性3例,阳性3例,弱阳性7例,阴性12例.组织学上,H.heilmannii散在或聚集于胃小凹、腺腔内或上皮表面的黏液层内,1 例标本中可见H.heilmannii侵入壁细胞内.所有H.heilmannii感染者均可见散在的淋巴细胞、浆细胞浸润,12例见中性粒细胞浸润,4例见腺体萎缩和肠化,6例见淋巴滤泡形成.炎症程度总体上较H.pylori感染轻,H.heilmannii相关胃炎中螺杆菌密度、淋巴细胞浸润和中性粒细胞活性程度低于H.pylori相关性胃炎组(P<0.05).结论 H.heilmannii感染主要引起慢性胃炎,其炎症程度轻于H.pylori相关性胃炎.     

The value of duodenal biopsy within routine upper endoscopy: a prospective study in 1000 patients

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Several gastrointestinal diseases are localised in the small bowel and are confirmed by duodenal biopsies upon upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. However, the clinical value of routine duodenal biopsies during endoscopy has not been satisfactorily defined and was assessed in the current study. METHODS: In 1000 consecutive patients duodenal biopsies were performed during routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Endoscopic diagnoses, symptoms and the prevalence of anaemia were correlated with the histological diagnoses. RESULTS: Coeliac disease and giardiasis was diagnosed in 18 and two patients, respectively (2.0 % of all cases). In 11 (55 %) patients the diagnosis was already made macroscopically during endoscopy. The sensitivity for endoscopic diagnosis of coeliac disease MARSH III was 84.6 %. There was no correlation between clinical symptoms, the prevalence of anaemia and the diagnosis of coeliac disease or giardiasis in our cohort. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic diagnosis of advanced celiac disease (MARSH III) can be made with high sensitivity and specifity. Nevertheless, duodenal biopsy is necessary for the diagnosis of early coeliac disease or giardiasis. However, the routine duodenal sampling of normal mucosa during gastrointestinal endoscopy cannot be recommended.