Self-expanding plastic stent removed after radiochemotherapy for advanced esophageal cancer

Endoscopic evaluation after chemoradiotherapy (CR) is impossible with an esophageal stent in place. The main study objective was to evaluate self-expanding plastic stent (SEPS) removal post-CR. Secondary end-points were the improvement of dysphagia and patients' quality of life. From October 2008 to March 2011, 20 dysphagic patients who suffered from advanced esophageal cancer were enrolled in a multicenter, prospective study. SEPS was inserted prior to CR and then removed endoscopically. SEPS efficiency (dysphagia score) and tolerance, as well as the patients' quality of life (European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire validated for the esophagus), were monitored. Continuous variables were compared using a paired t-test analysis for matched data. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Twenty patients (15 men and 5 women), aged 61.5 years (±9.88) (range 43-82 years), with adenocarcinoma (n = 12) and squamous cell carcinoma (n = 8), were enrolled. SEPS were successfully inserted in all patients (100%). There was one perforation and three episodes of migration. All of these complications were medically treated. The mean dysphagia score at the time of stent placement was 2.79 (0.6). Mean dysphagia scores obtained on day 1 and day 30 post-SEPS placement were 0.7 (0.9) (P < 0.0001) and 0.45 (0.8) (P < 0.0001), respectively. Quality of Life Questionnaire validated for the esophagus score showed an improvement in dysphagia (P = 0.01) and quality of oral feeding (P = 0.003). All SEPS were removed endoscopically without complications. In two patients, the stent was left in place due to metastatic disease. SEPS are extractable after CR of esophageal cancer. Early stenting by SEPS prior to and during CR may reduce dysphagia and improve quality of oral alimentation.

Serum anti-p53 antibodies in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

Immunoassay of serum anti-p53 antibodies was performed in a series of 63 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. p53 alterations were also analyzed with DGGE to detect gene mutations (n=53) and by immunohistochemistry to assess overexpression of p53 (n=43). An immune response was observed in 16 sera (25%). The corresponding biopsies all had a p53 gene mutation or overexpression of protein p53. We were unable to demonstrate any significant relationship between habitual tumor parameters (localization, cell differentiation, TNM stage) and development of p53 alterations. However, none of the patients with a localized tumor developed an immune response, while some of them had a muted gene or overexpressed p53.

Biliary stenting: indications, choice of stents and results: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) clinical guideline

This article is part of a combined publication that expresses the current view of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy about endoscopic biliary stenting. The present Clinical Guideline describes short-term and long-term results of biliary stenting depending on indications and stent models; it makes recommendations on when, how, and with which stent to perform biliary drainage in most common clinical settings, including in patients with a potentially resectable malignant biliary obstruction and in those who require palliative drainage of common bile duct or hilar strictures. Treatment of benign conditions (strictures related to chronic pancreatitis, liver transplantation, or cholecystectomy, and leaks and failed biliary stone extraction) and management of complications (including stent revision) are also discussed. A two-page executive summary of evidence statements and recommendations is provided. A separate Technology Review describes the models of biliary stents available and the stenting techniques, including advanced techniques such as insertion of multiple plastic stents, drainage of hilar strictures, retrieval of migrated stents and combined stenting in malignant biliary and duodenal obstructions.The target readership for the Clinical Guideline mostly includes digestive endoscopists, gastroenterologists, oncologists, radiologists, internists, and surgeons while the Technology Review should be most useful to endoscopists who perform biliary drainage.

Indications, results, and clinical impact of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided sampling in gastroenterology: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Clinical Guideline

This article is part of a combined publication that expresses the current view of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) about endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided sampling in gastroenterology, including EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) and EUS-guided trucut biopsy (EUS-TCB), of submucosal tumors, diffuse esophageal/gastric wall thickening, pancreatic solid masses and cystic-appearing lesions, mediastinal lesions unrelated to lung or esophageal cancer, cancer of the esophagus, stomach, and rectum, lymph nodes of unknown origin, adrenal gland masses, and focal liver lesions. False-positive cytopathological results and needle tract seeding are also discussed. The present Clinical Guideline describes the results of EUS-guided sampling in the different clinical settings, considers the role of this technique in patient management, and makes recommendations on circumstances that warrant its use. A two-page executive summary of evidence statements and recommendations is provided. A separate Technical Guideline describes the general technique of EUS-guided sampling, particular techniques to maximize the diagnostic yield depending on the nature of the target lesion, and sample processing. The target readership for the Clinical Guideline mostly includes gastroenterologists, oncologists, internists, and surgeons while the Technical Guideline should be most useful to endoscopists who perform EUS-guided sampling.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection in a European setting. A multi-institutional report of a technique in development

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a technique for "en bloc" resection of superficial tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. In France, experience with this technique is still limited. We wanted to assess the development of ESD in France, with special attention to short term outcomes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Members of the Société Française d'Endoscopie Digestive (SFED) who declared performing ESD reported their cases prospectively on a voluntary basis. Demographic, clinical, and technical data, and the results of immediate complications were collected. Case reports were completed prospectively by each investigator before pooled analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 188 consecutive case reports were collected from 16 centers. The median case mix per center was 6 patients (range 1-43). The lesion sites treated by ESD were the stomach (n = 75), esophagus (n = 27), duodenum (n = 1), cecum (n = 2), right colon (n = 3), transverse colon (n = 5), sigmoid (n = 3), and rectum (n = 72). The median size of the lesions was 26 mm (range 2-150 mm). En bloc resection was achieved in 77.1% of cases, with complete R0 resection in 72.9%. Histopathology results showed high grade dysplasia or superficial cancer in 71.2%. The median duration of ESD was 105 minutes (range 20-450 minutes). The short term morbidity was 29.2% including 34 cases of perforation (18.1%), and 21 hemorrhages (11.2%) during the 24 hours following ESD, 89% of which were managed conservatively or endoscopically.

CONCLUSION

In this early experience, the feasibility of ESD appeared to be good but R0 resection and complication rates did not match those reported by Japanese authors and must be improved by an extended practice.

Biliary stents: models and methods for endoscopic stenting

Biliary stenting is widely used to palliate malignant obstruction or to treat benign biliary diseases. Recently, the most important changes have related to self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs), which are now available in a wide variety of designs, and to treatment techniques. This article is part of a combined publication that expresses the current view of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) about endoscopic biliary stenting: a technology review describes the stent models and stenting techniques, and a separate clinical guideline states the evidence and recommendations regarding stenting.

Accuracy of computed tomographic colonography in a nationwide multicentre trial, and its relation to radiologist expertise

OBJECTIVE

Reports on the accuracy of computed tomographic colonography (CTC) mainly involve series from expert institutions. The aims of this study were to assess CTC accuracy in a nationwide population and to relate it to radiologist performance in their initial training.

DESIGN

Nationwide multicentre trial.

SETTING

Twenty-eight radiologists, working in 26 mostly academic clinical units, were involved in the study after having attended a formal specialised 2-day training session on CTC. They worked through a training set of 52 cases with automatic feedback after an attempt at each case.

PATIENTS

The study enrolled 845 patients with average and high risk of colorectal cancer, 737 of whom had both complete CTC and videocolonoscopy data, which constituted the dataset.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients underwent same-day CTC followed by videocolonoscopy with segmental unblinding of CTC results.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values for detection of polyps ≥ 6 mm in per-patient and per-lesion analyses of CTC without computer-aided detection.

RESULTS

Sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values for patients with polyps ≥ 6 mm were 69% (95% CI 61% to 77%), 91% (95% CI 89% to 94%), 67% (95% CI 59% to 74%) and 92% (95% CI 90% to 94%), respectively. Univariate analysis showed that the detection rate for polyps ≥ 6 mm was linked to neither radiologist case volume nor number of polyps, but was related to sensitivity achieved in the training set. Pooled sensitivity was 72% (95% CI 63% to 80%) versus 51% (95% CI 40% to 60%) for radiologists achieving above and below median sensitivity in the training set (61%), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that sensitivity for polyps ≥ 6 mm in the training set was the only remaining significant predictive factor for subsequent performance.

CONCLUSIONS

Radiologist sensitivity CTC for detection of polyps ≥ 6 mm in training was the sole independent predictor for subsequent sensitivity in detection of such polyps.

Small-bowel capsule endoscopy diagnoses early and advanced neoplasms in asymptomatic patients with Lynch syndrome

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Patients with Lynch syndrome are at increased risk of developing small-bowel adenocarcinoma, which usually has a bad prognosis and needs to be diagnosed early. Our aim was to evaluate the yield of capsule endoscopy and CT enteroclysis in this situation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed a prospective, blinded, comparative study of capsule endoscopy and CT enteroclysis in five academic centers. Thirty-five consecutive asymptomatic patients with Lynch syndrome, all with one proven deleterious mutation, were included. A double reading was performed blind for both types of examination.

RESULTS

Histologically confirmed small-bowel neoplasms were diagnosed in three patients (8.6 %): one adenocarcinoma (T3N0M0) and two adenomas with low-grade dysplasia. Capsule endoscopy identified all neoplasms. CT enteroclysis raised suspicion of one neoplasm (adenocarcinoma) but missed the two others. Concordance between the two capsule readings was high with a κ value of 0.78 (95 %CI 0.55 to 1.0), which was not the case for CT enteroclysis, where the κ value was 0.15 (95 %CI -0.27 to 0.58).

CONCLUSION

Curable early or advanced neoplasms in asymptomatic patients with Lynch syndrome using capsule endoscopy can be detected with a better reproducibility than with CT enteroclysis. The clinical usefulness of systematic small-bowel screening in these patients should be confirmed through large prospective studies.

Colon capsule endoscopy vs. colonoscopy in patients at average or increased risk of colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) is a new, non-invasive technology.

AIM

To conduct a prospective, multicentre trial to compare CCE and colonoscopy in asymptomatic subjects enrolled in screening or surveillance programmes for the detection of colorectal neoplasia.

METHODS

Patients underwent CCE on day one and colonoscopy (gold standard) on day two. CCE and colonoscopy were performed by independent endoscopists.

RESULTS

A total of 545 patients were recruited. CCE was safe and well-tolerated. Colon cleanliness was excellent or good in 52% of cases at CCE. Five patients with cancer were detected by colonoscopy, of whom two were missed by CCE. CCE accuracy for the detection of polyps ≥ 6 mm was 39% (95% CI 30-48) for sensitivity, 88% (95% CI 85-91) for specificity, 47% (95% CI 37-57) for positive predictive value and 85% (95% CI 82-88) for negative predictive value. CCE accuracy was better for the detection of advanced adenoma, in patients with good or excellent cleanliness and after re-interpretation of the CCE videos by an independent expert panel.

CONCLUSIONS

Although well-tolerated, CCE cannot replace colonoscopy as a first line investigation for screening and surveillance of patients at risk of cancer. Further studies should pay attention to colonic preparation (Clinicaltrial.gov number NCT00436514).

A national survey of endoscopic mucosal resection for superficial gastrointestinal neoplasia

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM

Studies on endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) are mostly based on data from centers with high expertise. We report the average EMR results in a national survey of consecutive patients in France.

METHODS

A 1-year survey was carried out to record immediate outcome data of all EMRs performed, regardless of lesion size or gastrointestinal location.

RESULTS

Overall, 1335 EMRs in 1210 patients were reported by 241 of the 736 gastroenterologists who performed such procedures (33 %). Resections were done for upper gastrointestinal lesions in 125 cases (41 esophageal, 43 gastric, and 41 duodenal lesions), in 45 % of cases using specific EMR techniques such as ligation, cap, or traction. The technique for resecting the 1210 lower gastrointestinal lesions mostly consisted of saline-assisted polypectomy or EMR, with specific techniques used in only 2.2 %. En bloc resection was less common with esophageal (46 %) or duodenal (54 %) neoplasms than in the lower gastrointestinal tract (73 %); size also had some influence (53 % > 1 cm vs. 92 % ≤  1 cm). The overall complication rate was 5.2 %; the rate was lower for lesions 1 cm or smaller (0.6 % vs. 4.6 %). Fifty-four early and 17 delayed complications were recorded, in 12 % of upper gastrointestinal and 4.6 % of colonic lesions. Surgery became necessary in 1.6 % for upper and 2.9 % for lower gastrointestinal neoplasms. No association was seen between physician EMR caseload and either en bloc resection rate or complication rate.

CONCLUSIONS

EMR in general, especially saline-assisted polypectomy in the colon, appears to be reasonably safe even when performed by nonexperts. EMR for larger or for upper gastrointestinal lesions should probably be limited to high-volume centers.

Gastric tone, volume and emptying after implantation of an intragastric balloon for weight control

BACKGROUND

The intragastric balloon, filled with air or liquid is used before elective bariatric surgery because its efficacy is limited. This might be the consequence of altered gastric functions. Therefore, we aimed to investigate, in an animal model, the changes in gastric motility and emptying induced by long-term insertion of a balloon used for weight reduction.

METHODS

Ten Göttingen mini-pigs were allocated into two groups with and without an intragastric balloon for 5 months. Balloons were inserted under endoscopy during general anesthesia and were filled with 350 mL of air. Gastric emptying was evaluated by scintigraphy. Gastric volume was measured by single photon emission computed tomography and proximal gastric compliance obtained using an electronic barostat. Changes in vagal tone were assessed by heart rate variability (HRV).

KEY RESULTS

After balloon insertion, gastric volume was significantly increased (2047 +/- 114.8 cm(3) after vs 1674 +/- 142.5 cm(3) before insertion, P < 0.05). Gastric compliance was also larger in balloon group (219 +/- 23.4 mL mmHg(-1) in balloon vs 168 +/- 7.7 mL mmHg(-1) in control group). Gastric emptying was reduced after insertion of the balloon (T(1/2) = 204 +/- 28.8 min vs 159 +/- 25.4 before vs after insertion). High frequency components of the spectral analysis of HRV, representing vagal tone, were increased in balloon group.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

The proximal stomach was enlarged after the insertion of a balloon in the stomach as a consequence of an increased gastric compliance. This change in compliance was probably causative for a reduction in gastric emptying rate of solids. These alterations were associated with increased vagal tone.

Diagnostic accuracy of esophageal capsule endoscopy versus conventional upper digestive endoscopy for suspected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM

A video capsule similar to that used in small-bowel capsule endoscopy is now available for esophageal exploration. The aim of our study was to compare the accuracy of upper endoscopy (esophageal gastroduodenoscopy [EGE]) with esophageal capsule endoscopy (ECE) in patients at risk of esophageal squamous cell cancer (SCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

68 patients at risk of SCC secondary to a history of head and neck neoplasia were included in this comparison of techniques for detecting SCC and dysplasia. ECE was done using the first generation Pillcam ESO and EGE was performed in accordance with the usual practice of each center, followed by examination with 2 % Lugol staining and biopsy of unstained areas (39 neoplasia comprising 5 low grade dysplasia, 8 high grade dysplasia and 26 SCC).

RESULTS

Compared with EGE with and without Lugol staining, the sensitivities of ECE for neoplasia diagnosis were 46 % and 54 %, respectively. On a per-patient basis, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value of ECE were 63 %, 86 %, 77 % and 76 %, respectively, compared with EGE without staining, and 61 %, 86 %, 77 % and 73 % compared with EGE with iodine staining. Neither the ECE transit time nor the distance between the esopharyngeal line and the neoplastic lesion differed between the 21 false-negative and 18 true-positive cases diagnosed by ECE; the only difference was a smaller median diameter among false negatives ( P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In a cohort at high risk for esophageal SCC, ECE is not sensitive enough to diagnose neoplastic lesions.

Lymphoma in patients treated with anti-TNF: results of the 3-year prospective French RATIO registry

OBJECTIVE

To describe cases of lymphoma associated with anti-TNF therapy, identify risk factors, estimate the incidence and compare the risks for different anti-TNF agents.

METHODS

A national prospective registry was designed (Research Axed on Tolerance of bIOtherapies; RATIO) to collect all cases of lymphoma in French patients receiving anti-TNF therapy from 2004 to 2006, whatever the indication. A case-control analysis was conducted including two controls treated with anti-TNF per case and an incidence study of lymphoma with the French population was used as the reference.

RESULTS

38 cases of lymphoma, 31 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) (26 B cell and five T cell), five Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) and two Hodgkin's-like lymphoma were collected. Epstein-Barr virus was detected in both of two Hodgkin's-like lymphoma, three of five HL and one NHL. Patients receiving adalimumab or infliximab had a higher risk than those treated with etanercept: standardised incidence ratio (SIR) 4.1 (2.3-7.1) and 3.6 (2.3-5.6) versus 0.9 (0.4-1.8). The exposure to adalimumab or infliximab versus etanercept was an independent risk factor for lymphoma in the case-control study: odds ratio 4.7 (1.3-17.7) and 4.1 (1.4-12.5), respectively. The sex and age-adjusted incidence rate of lymphoma was 42.1 per 100 000 patient-years. The SIR was 2.4 (95% CI 1.7 to 3.2).

CONCLUSION

The two to threefold increased risk of lymphoma in patients receiving anti-TNF therapy is similar to that expected for such patients with severe inflammatory diseases. Some lymphomas associated with immunosuppression may occur, and the risk of lymphoma is higher with monoclonal-antibody therapy than with soluble-receptor therapy.

Systematic review: adverse event reports for oral sodium phosphate and polyethylene glycol

BACKGROUND

Screening colonoscopy exposes healthy patients to the risk of serious adverse events associated with bowel preparation. Randomized controlled trials are not an effective method for evaluating this risk.

AIM

To search published literature in order to characterize the risk of adverse events associated with oral polyethylene glycol (PEG) or sodium phosphate (NaP).

METHODS

A systematic review identified case reports of any serious events associated with PEG or NaP. Reports to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were also examined.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight publications of significant events in 109 patients using NaP and 22 patients using PEG were identified. As the total number of prescriptions issued is unknown, rates for the two agents cannot be directly compared. Most commonly reported were electrolyte disturbances, renal failure and colonic ulceration for NaP and Mallory-Weiss tear, electrolyte disturbances and allergic reactions for PEG between January 2006 and December 2007; there were 171 cases of renal failure reported to the FDA following use of NaP and 10 following PEG.

CONCLUSIONS

Adverse events following bowel preparation are uncommon, but potentially serious. Given that many of these patients are healthy individuals undergoing screening, the benefit/risk ratio must be carefully considered when deciding which preparation to prescribe in individual patients.

Transition of patients with inflammatory bowel disease from pediatric to adult care

AIM

This study was designed to ascertain the perception of patients (and their parents) followed-up for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) concerning the transition from pediatric to adult care.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty-eight youths with IBD who had transited from pediatric to adult care were surveyed. Their age at transition was 17.9+/-0.9 years. Thirty-four patients (71%) had been referred to a gastroenterologist working in the same hospital and, in 27 cases, after having attended a joint pediatric-adult care visit.

RESULTS

The response rate was 71%. Twenty-nine patients (85%) and 25 parents (74%) felt they were ready to transit into adult care. Seven patients (22%) and 10 parents (32%) were apprehensive about transition to adult gastroenterology. All patients considered the joint medical visit beneficial in terms of transmitting information from their medical records and 93% considered it beneficial for building confidence in the new gastroenterologist. All parents considered the joint medical visit helpful for building the children's confidence in their new doctor. At the time of the survey, 29 patients (85%) were continuing to be followed-up by the same gastroenterologist.

CONCLUSION

Effective planning, including a joint medical visit, enabled successful, well-coordinated transition to adult medical-care follow-up.

[Pseudomalignant endoscopic appearance in hyperplastic polyp at esophagogastric junction: case report]

Hyperplastic polyps are by far the most common benign tumors in the stomach larger than 5mm. Although the malignant potential of hyperplastic gastric polyps was originally denied, a low risk for carcinomatous conversion is now recognized. Its has been recommended that all gastric polyps of 5mm or more in diameter have to be removed. We present here the case of a large hyperplastic gastric polyp located at the esophagogastric junction with endoscopic malignant appearance. The description of its endoscopic and histological characteristics gives us the opportunity to discuss the difficulty of endoscopic diagnosis in the case of gastric polyps and to remind their prognosis.

Miss rate for colorectal neoplastic polyps: a prospective multicenter study of back-to-back video colonoscopies

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM

Polyp miss rates during colonoscopy have been calculated in a few tandem or back-to-back colonoscopy studies. Our objective was to assess the adenoma miss rate while limiting technique or operator expertise biases, i. e. by performing a large multicenter study, with same-day back-to-back video colonoscopy, done by two different operators in randomized order and blinded to the other examination.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

294 patients at 11 centers were included. Among the 286 analyzable tandem colonoscopies, miss rates were calculated in both a lesion- and patient-based analysis. Each of these rates was determined for polyps overall, for adenomas, and then for lesions larger than 5 mm, and for advanced adenomas. Univariate and logistic regression analysis were performed to define independent variables associated with missed polyps or adenomas.

RESULTS

The miss rates for polyps, adenomas, polyps > or = 5 mm, adenomas > or = 5 mm, and advanced adenomas were, respectively, 28 %, 20 %, 12 %, 9 % and 11 %. None of the masses with a carcinomatous (n = 3) or carcinoid component (n = 1) was missed. The specific lesion miss rates for patients with polyps and adenomas were respectively 36 % and 26 % but the corresponding rates were 23 % and 9.4 % when calculated for all 286 patients. The diameter (1-mm increments) and number of polyps (> or = 3) were independently associated with a lower polyp miss rate, whereas sessile or flat shape and left location were significantly associated with a higher miss rate. Adequacy of cleansing, presence of diverticula, and duration of withdrawal for the first procedure were not associated with adenoma miss rate.

CONCLUSIONS

We confirm a significant miss rate for polyps or adenoma during colonoscopy. Detection of flat polyps is an issue that must be focused on to improve the quality of colonoscopy.

Patients with sporadic duodenal adenoma are a high-risk group for advanced colorectal neoplasia: results of a case-control study

AIM

To evaluate colorectal cancer risk among patients with sporadic duodenal neoplasia using a case-control protocol.

METHODS

Cases were 35 patients referred for the management of sporadic duodenal adenoma and who underwent colonoscopy. Colonoscopy findings among cases were compared with those from a control group matched for age and sex (two controls per case) without duodenal adenoma. Colonoscopy findings were categorized as adenoma, advanced adenoma, cancer or advanced neoplasia. The two groups were compared using the chi-squared test. Odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.

RESULTS

Colorectal adenoma was present in 31% of cases vs. 24% of controls, advanced neoplasia in 29% vs. 4%, advanced adenoma in 23% vs. 3% and adenocarcinoma in 6% vs. 1%. The relative risks of advanced colorectal adenoma and advanced colorectal neoplasia in cases were 10.1 (95% CI: 1.8-100.1, P = 0.003) and 8.9 (95% CI: 2.1-53.3, P = 0.001), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The relative risk of advanced colorectal adenoma and advanced neoplasia in cases was nine- to 10-fold that among controls. Patients with sporadic duodenal adenoma represent a high-risk group for advanced colorectal neoplasia and should therefore undergo complete colonoscopy.

Systematic review: oral bowel preparation for colonoscopy

BACKGROUND

There are many published trials of colon cleansing regimens for colonoscopy but no clear consensus regarding relative performance.

AIM

To identify high quality controlled trials comparing two or more bowel preparation regimens and to compare efficacy and tolerability.

METHODS

A comprehensive systematic review was carried out to identify candidate studies. Quality appraisal was carried out on all identified studies. Results were meta-analysed where possible and qualitatively compared if not.

RESULTS

Eighty-two studies qualified for analysis. Polyethylene glycol and sodium phosphate were the most frequently investigated preparations. There was no significant efficacy difference between the two, but sodium phosphate was better tolerated. Sodium picosulphate/magnesium citrate, a commonly prescribed preparation, was investigated in four studies, with no clear benefit over other regimens demonstrated. Safety was not recognized as a problem in the randomized controlled trials. Published case series demonstrate that sodium phosphate is associated with the highest risk of clinically significant electrolyte disturbances.

CONCLUSION

Shortcomings in study design limit the value of many of the studies. Based on these results, no single bowel preparation emerges as consistently superior. New preparations are required that combine better efficacy and tolerability, in addition to rigorous new validated study designs, allowing unequivocal comparisons to be made.

Wireless capsule endoscopy versus ileocolonoscopy for the diagnosis of postoperative recurrence of Crohn's disease: a prospective study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Following ileocolonic resection for Crohn's disease (CD), early endoscopic recurrence predicts recurrence of symptoms. The aim of the study was to compare ileocolonoscopy and wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) for the detection of postoperative recurrence in CD.

METHODS

WCE and ileocolonoscopy were performed within six months following surgery in 32 prospectively enrolled patients. Two independent observers interpreted the results of WCE. Recurrence in the neoterminal ileum was defined by a Rutgeerts score>or=1. When observers at WCE did not concur, WCE results were considered as either true negative or true positive and sensitivity and specificity were calculated according to both assumptions.

RESULTS

Recurrence occurred in 21 patients (68%) and was detected by ileocolonoscopy in 19 patients. Sensitivity was 90% and specificity 100%. Sensitivity of WCE was 62% and 76% and specificity was 100% and 90%, respectively, depending on assumptions. There was a correlation between the severity of the lesions measured by both methods (p<0.05). Lesions located outside the scope of conventional endoscopy were detected by WCE in two thirds of patients with excellent interobserver agreement (kappa>0.9) for all lesions with the exception of ulceration (kappa=0.7).

CONCLUSIONS

The sensitivity of WCE in detecting recurrence in the neoterminal ileum was inferior to that of ileocolonoscopy. In contrast, WCE detected lesions outside the scope of ileocolonoscopy in more than two thirds of patients. Additional follow up studies are needed to assess the clinical relevance of such lesions. At the present time, it seems that WCE cannot systematically replace ileocolonoscopy in the regular management of patients after surgery.

Frequency and significance of granulomas in a cohort of incident cases of Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Epithelioid granulomas is one of the best histological criterion for distinguishing Crohn's disease (CD) from other inflammatory bowel diseases. Few data are available on the time of occurrence of epithelioid granulomas, and the value of epithelioid granulomas in predicting outcome has been determined only in cohorts of prevalent CD cases. Our objective was to evaluate epithelioid granuloma occurrence in incident CD cases and to examine the associations between epithelioid granulomas and outcome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We reviewed the histological reports of endoscopic and surgical specimens in a cohort of 188 consecutive incident CD cases seen in 1994 and 1995, and recorded the occurrence of epithelioid granulomas, isolated giant cells, and microgranulomas. Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted for time from CD diagnosis to immunosuppressive treatment or surgery, and associations between epithelioid granulomas and outcome were evaluated in a multivariate analysis. Follow up was at least five years.

RESULTS

Granulomas were found in 69 (37%) patients, including 46 (25%) at presentation. Median time from CD diagnosis to epithelioid granuloma detection was 0.16 (0-63) months overall, and 9.59 (0.1-63) months in 23 patients who became epithelioid granuloma positive during follow up. Isolated giant cells were found in 6% of patients and microgranulomas in 12%. Epithelioid granuloma detection increased with the number of endoscopic sampling procedures; sampling site had no influence. By multivariate analysis, epithelioid granulomas were associated with surgical resection but not immunosuppressive therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Epithelioid granulomas may separate CD into two pathological subsets and may indicate aggressive disease.

Quantitation of chemokines (MDC, TARC) expression in mucosa from Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

Chemokines and their receptors are involved in the migration of different mononuclear cells. Among them macrophages-derived chemokines (MDC) and thymus-and activation regulated chemokine (TARC) belong to a new cluster of genes involve in Th2 lymphocytes homing. Cytokines appear to play a significant role in pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases with an excessive Th1 response in chronic lesions of Crohn's disease (CD) and a Th2 pattern in both earlier mucosal CD lesions and in mucosa of ulcerative colitis (UC). Here we demonstrate that RNAm coding for MDC and TARC are expressed in mucosa from CD and UC patients. Using real-time fluorescent RT-PCR, MDC and TARC mRNA were increased in CD inflamed mucosa. Moreover MDC and TARC transcripts were increased in inflamed CD specimen compared to non-involved CD mucosa. These differences both discriminate CD from UC patients. Additionally, MDC protein was produced in isolated mononuclear cells from peripheral blood (PBMC) or mucosa (LPMC) from UC and CD patients: spontaneously, MDC production from PBMC was increased in CD compared to UC patients. MDC production from CD PBMC was also higher than that found in healthy controls. Together, these data indicate that MDC should be involved in the lymphocytes homing in mucosa from CD patients.

[Crohn's disease complicated by multiple and recurrent aseptic splenic abscesses]

We report a case of multiple aseptic splenic abscesses occurring in a woman with Crohn's disease for three years. All microbiological samples were negative. The diagnosis was suspected on abdominal echography and CT scan and confirmed on histologic examination of the splenectomy specimen. The evolution was marked by recurrence of fever and inflammatory syndrome, associated to transitory morphological abnormalities of the accessory spleen. Aseptic splenic abscesses recurrence was suspected. This case allows us to consider aseptic splenic abscesses as an extra-intestinal manifestation and not as a splenic localisation of Crohn's disease.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic auto-antibodies (ANCA) in ulcerative colitis (UC): no relationship with disease activity

The relationship between anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic auto-antibodies (ANCA) and disease activity in inflammatory bowel diseases remains controversial. The aim of this study was to highlight the relationship between ANCA presence or titers and disease activity in ulcerative colitis (UC). Three groups of patients with UC were studied: 1) group A included 39 patients who had not undergone colectomy, 2) group B, 43 patients with subtotal colectomy and ileo-rectal anastomosis, 3) group C, 98 patients with proctocolectomy and ileo-anal anastomosis, including 88% with pouchitis and 12% without pouchitis at the time of the study. Determination of ANCA was performed using the standardized indirect immunofluorescence assay. ANCA were positive in 59%, 65%, and 54% of patients from groups A, B, and C, respectively (NS). No relationship between ANCA presence or titers and UC activity could be detected within groups A and B. In group C, 45 of 86 patients (52%) without pouchitis and 8 of 12 patients (67%) with pouchitis, were ANCA positive (NS). These results do not support a relationship between ANCA and UC activity in this cohort of 180 patients.

HLA class II alleles associated with susceptibility and resistance to Crohn's disease in the Jewish population

Previous studies have suggested that susceptibility to Crohn's disease (CD) is associated with the histocompatibility complex (HLA) class II alleles DR1, DQ5, and DR13 in the Caucasian population, DR7 in the French and German populations, and DR4 and DQ4 in the Japanese population. However, little is known about the relationship between HLA class II alleles and CD in the Jewish population since these previous studies included few Jewish individuals. In order to determine whether the HLA associations observed with predominantly non-Jewish populations were also present in the Jewish CD population and whether there were any HLA class II alleles uniquely associated with CD in the Jewish population, 132 CD patients, of which 82 were Ashkenazi Jewish, were HLA-typed using serologic and DNA methods. Ethnically matched controls were similarly typed. No association with DR1 or DR13 was observed in the Jewish CD population although an association with DR13 (OR [odds ratio] = 5.3, p = 0.02) was observed in the non-Jewish CD population. However, an association with DR15 (OR = 2.7, p = 0.03), which is normally associated with ulcerative colitis, was observed in the Jewish, but not non-Jewish, CD group. In addition, a strong negative association was observed with DR3, which was especially striking in the Jewish population (OR = 0.35, p = 0.025); similar negative associations with DR3 have been observed by others using non-Jewish populations. Furthermore, a significant negative association with DR7 (OR = 0.45, p = 0.04) was observed in the Jewish, but not non-Jewish, population. Consistent with this was the negative association with DQ2 (OR = 0.38, p = 0.005), which is in strong linkage disequilibrium with both DR3 and DR7, in the Jewish, but not non-Jewish, population. These studies support previous suggestions that susceptibility to CD in Jewish and non-Jewish populations is determined by distinct genes and provide further support to the hypothesis that a gene on the DR3 haplotype may protect against CD. Furthermore, protection is conferred by the same or another gene found on Jewish, but not non-Jewish, DR7 haplotypes.

[Incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in children in Brittany (1994-1997). Breton association of study and research on digestive system diseases (Abermad)]

BACKGROUND

The aim of this work was to determine in Brittany the incidence and main clinical pattern of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) occurring during childhood. These data are compared to the previous epidemiologic data available from the Northern France registry or around the world.

METHODS

Private and public Brittany gastroenterologists (2,836,418 inhabitants including 618,049 children under 17 years of age) referred all patients consulting for inflammatory bowel disease from January 1994 to December 1997. An interviewer-practitioner completed at the gastroenterologist's office a standard questionnaire for each patient. Each case was independently reviewed by four experts in a blind manner and made a final diagnosis of Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), or ulcerative proctitis and acute colitis (onset of symptoms < 6 weeks) or unclassified chronic colitis.

RESULTS

Among 1,309 cases recorded, 88 were under 17 years of age (6.7%): 43 (49%) had CD (including three possible cases), 14 (16%) had UC (including three proctitis), 24 (27%) acute colitis and 7 (8%) unclassified chronic colitis. The crude mean annual incidence (per 100,000 children) based on definite and probable cases only was 2.5 for IBD, 1.6 for CD and 0.57 for UC, without variation between 1994 and 1997. The male/female ratio was 2.3 for CD and 1.3 for UC. The mean time between onset of disease and diagnosis was equal to 7.2 and 8.6 months for CD and UC respectively (median: 3 and 5 months). A familial history of IBD was present in 5 cases (8%). In CD, the small and large bowel were involved in 58% of patients, whereas an isolated involvement of small or large bowel occurred in 15% and 23% of cases. Among the 14 UC, there were three proctitis and four pancolitis. Among 43 CD, a granuloma was present in 48% of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

In Brittany the incidence of CD and UC in childhood was similar to the published data from Northern France. Clinical presentation and symptoms were not different. However, the rate of acute colitis was higher and the accurate incidence of IBD could be underestimated, requiring a follow-up to classify these cases.

[Multicenter prospective study of prognostic factors of gastroduodenal ulcer hemorrhages. Reevaluation of clinical and endoscopic factors in the era of endoscopic hemostasis]

AIM

To evaluate in a prospective study the prognostic factors of recurrent bleeding and mortality in patients presenting with high risk peptic ulcer bleeding routinely treated by endoscopic hemostasis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A multicenter study was carried out in 8 Western French hospitals in 144 patients with gastrointestinal bleeding peptic from ulcer type I or IIa, b as defined by Forrest classification. Thirty four and 38 parameters were studied respectively in order to predict recurrent bleeding and death. Significant predictive factors (P < 0.1) in univariate analysis were entered in a multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Endoscopic hemostasis was performed in 108 of 144 cases (75%). Recurrent bleeding and death occurred in 39 (28%) and 22 cases (15%), respectively. By multivariate analysis, the only predictor of rebleeding was hypovolemia at admission. Predictors of death were ASA score, cardiovascular Goldman score and recurrent bleeding. In this study, prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection was low (41%) but was not a predictive factor.

CONCLUSIONS

In a selected population of peptic ulcer bleeding patients with high risk of rebleeding, prevalence of recurrent bleeding and death remains rather high, despite routine endoscopic hemostasis. In the era of endoscopic hemostasis, clinical parameters remain the best prognostic factors of peptic ulcer bleeding outcome.

An immunomodulation strategy targeted towards immunocompetent cells or cytokines in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD)

Many immunological abnormalities have been described in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Even though, no clear cut primary defects have yet been described, some therapeutic trials have targeted either immunocompetent cells or overproduction of cytokines. Preliminary results have shown that antisense oligonucleotides (anti-ICAM), anti-cytokine antibodies (anti-TNF) or recombinant human cytokines (IL-10 or IL-11) are effective in some patients with Crohn's disease refractory to steroids. However, these data need to be confirmed and the potential side effects of these treatments must be further considered. These drugs need to be more precisely defined in particular compared to corticotherapy. Finally, data from immunomodulation strategies should help us understand the aetiology of abnormal immune responses in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).

Anti-inflammatory drugs and variceal bleeding: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can have severe gastrointestinal effects and cause peptic ulcers to bleed. Acute bleeding from oesophageal varices is a major complication of cirrhosis of the liver.

AIMS

To investigate the role, using a case-control study, of NSAIDs in first bleeding episodes associated with oesophageal or cardial varices in cirrhotic patients.

PATIENTS/METHODS

A structured interview was conducted of 125 cirrhotic patients with bleeding mainly related to oesophageal varices and 75 cirrhotic controls with oesophageal varices who had never bled.

RESULTS

Cirrhotic patients who were admitted for bleeding related to portal hypertension were more likely to have used NSAIDs during the week before the index day (31 of 125 (25%)) than the cirrhotic controls (eight of 75 (11%); odds ratio = 2.8, p = 0.016). Use of aspirin alone or combined with other NSAIDs was also more prevalent in the cases (21 of 125 (17%)) than in the controls (three of 75 (4%); odds ratio = 4.9, p = 0.007). Logistic regression analysis showed that NSAID use (p = 0.022, odds ratio = 2. 9, 95% confidence interval = 1.8 to 4.7) and variceal size (p<0.001, odds ratio = 4.0, 95% confidence interval = 1.4 to 11.5) were the only variables independently associated with the risk of bleeding.

CONCLUSIONS

Aspirin, used alone or combined with other NSAIDs, was associated with a first variceal bleeding episode in patients with cirrhosis. Given the life threatening nature of this complication, the possible benefit of this treatment should be weighed against the risk shown here. No firm conclusions could be drawn on non-aspirin NSAIDs used alone.

Anticipation in Crohn's disease may be influenced by gender and ethnicity of the transmitting parent

OBJECTIVE

We sought to examine whether anticipation (an earlier age of onset in succeeding generations) is observed in Crohn's disease (CD) patients within the New York metropolitan area, and whether there are differences in the degree of anticipation with respect to gender and ethnicity of the affected parent.

METHODS

Sixty-one parent-child pairs both affected by CD were identified; about half of the pairs were of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. An additional 17 pairs of second-degree relatives with CD were also identified. The intergenerational difference in age at diagnosis (AAD) was used to perform regression analysis and the degree of anticipation among subsets of patients separated on the basis of gender and ethnicity of the transmitting parent was determined.

RESULTS

The AAD was consistently (90% of the time) lower in the younger member of the 61 parent-child pairs (35.3+/-1.6 yr vs 20.8+/-1.1 yr, p = 0.0001). Furthermore, the degree of anticipation was significantly greater for father-child pairs (20.6+/-3.2 yr) than for mother-child pairs (11.7+/-2.1 yr). However, when the patient population where the parent had an AAD of < 28 was analyzed separately, there was a lack of clear-cut evidence of anticipation in the population as a whole. Only when the population was subdivided by ethnicity was there convincing evidence of anticipation in the Jewish population.

CONCLUSION

Ascertainment bias may be responsible for the apparent anticipation observed in the CD population as a whole or in the nonJewish CD subgroup. However, the Jewish CD population displays strong evidence of anticipation even after correction for ascertainment bias.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and hyperfractionated radiotherapy with concurrent low-dose chemotherapy for squamous cell esophageal carcinoma

PURPOSE

We conducted a prospective study of neoadjuvant treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, modifying the chemotherapy protocol by adding l-folinic acid and giving bifractionated radiotherapy with a cis-diaminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) injection before each fraction.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Thirty-two patients, 30 men, 2 women, mean age 56.2+/-8.9 years, with resectable squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (TNM stage I=4, IIA=4, IIB=13, III=11) were included. Chemotherapy, CDDP (80 mg/m2 D2), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; 600 mg/m2, D1-4), and l-folinic acid (200 mg/m2, D1-4), was given in two sessions with a 3-week interval during which the patients received radiotherapy (45 Gy), two fractions per day (150 cGy/fraction). A 3-mg injection of CDDP was given prior to each fraction. Patients underwent surgery 4 to 7 weeks after neoadjuvant therapy.

RESULTS

No severe side effects were observed in 12 patients. Grade 3 effects (WBC, platelets, mucositis) occurred in 16 patients and grade 4 effects (platelets, mucositis) in four including 1 death due to septicemia with an infected catheter. Surgery was performed in 29 patients; 26 had resectable tumors (81%). Operative mortality was 10%. The 26 surgical specimens showed complete response (n=18), persistent microscopic residues (n=4), or not significant modification (n=4). Survival at 1, 2, and 3 years was 81, 61, and 51.6% and disease-free survival was 75, 59, and 54% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This new therapeutic combination is aggressive and associated with a high postoperative mortality but has a remarkable histological effect since complete response was achieved in 56% (95% CI: 39-73%) of the patients and 3-year survival reached 52%, a very high rate in our experience.

[Polymorphism of the microsatellites and tumor necrosis factor genes in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases]

OBJECTIVES

Multiplex family studies have excluded chromosome 6 as a candidate gene of susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease. However, one recent study suggested that a gene involved in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease is located on chromosome 6 confering to a microsatellite allelic combination (a2, b1, c2, d4, e1) a strong genetic risk factor in Crohn's disease. The aim of our study was to determine simultaneously the polymorphisms of the TNF microsatellites and of the genes coding for TNF synthesis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sixty patients with ulcerative colitis, 100 patients with Crohn's disease were compared to 64 healthy ethnically matched controls. Five TNF microsatellite loci (a, b, c, d, e) were typed using polymerase chain reaction PCR, and two dimorphisms of TNF alpha and TNF beta (intron 1) were studied by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).

RESULTS

Allelic frequencies of TNF microsatellites and of TNF alpha and beta genes were similar in Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and controls. Five loci microsatellite haplotypes, especially a2 b1 c2 d4 e1 allelic combination, were not more frequent in Crohn's disease (25%) compared to ulcerative colitis (27%) or controls (20%). Subgroups stratification according to clinical characteristics did not modify haplotype frequencies. Analysis of our data taking simultaneously into account the MHC alleles (DRB*01 or DRB1*04) did not modify our data; however, it suggested that extended haplotype on short arm of chromosome 6 differed between patients and controls. Linkage disequilibrium (delta = -360.10(-4); P < 0.01) between a2, b1, c2, d4, e1 allelic combination and DRB1*04 allele was observed only in Crohn's disease.

CONCLUSION

Percentages of patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis carrying TNF microsatellite or TNF alpha and beta gene haplotypes were similar to those of healthy controls. These data argue against involvement of the TNF locus without exclusion of short arm of chromosome 6 implication in Crohn's disease pathogenesis.