C. Abbiati

Prevalence and risk factors of Helicobacter pylori-negative peptic ulcer: a multicenter study.

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) has been described in the absence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, suggesting that different factors are involved in its etiopathogenesis. We investigated prevalence and characteristics of Hp-negative (Hp-) PUD in an area of Northern Italy and calculated the rate of Hp-positive (Hp+) patients with PUD in whom Hp might be coincidental and not causal. Four hundred nine consecutive patients with endoscopically diagnosed PUD were enrolled in seven hospitals. Hp infection was assessed by rapid urease test and histologic examination. The attributable risk percentages in different age groups were calculated by appropriate formulas. Of 409 patients, 31 (7.6%) were Hp- (gastric, 8.3%; duodenal, 7.6%). Age, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) consumption, and complication rates were significantly higher in Hp-than Hp+ patients with duodenal ulcers (DUs). Of the Hp-patients with DU, 58% did not use NSAIDs. In patients with Hp+ DU, the attributable risk percentage for Hp infection in patients aged <40 years, 40-60 years, or >60 years was 98%, 88%, and 66%, respectively. The prevalence of Hp- PUD was about 8%, mainly unrelated to any known etiologic factor. In about one-third of Hp+ patients with PUD aged over 60 years, Hp infection might be coincidental and not causal.

Capsule enteroscopy in small bowel transplantation.

BACKGROUND Enteroscopy plays a key role in the post-operative monitoring of patients with small bowel transplantation for the early detection of post-transplant complications and for the assessment of the grafts integrity. Routine surveillance enteroscopies (trans-stomal terminal ileoscopy or jejunoscopy) are invasive, may be unsafe in frail patients, and only allow incomplete exploration of the transplanted graft, which may be unsatisfactory. since the distribution of the lesions is often patchy or segmental. AIMS. To evaluate the potential of capsule enteroscopy, a new, minimally invasive technique which allows complete exploration of the small bowel. in small bowel transplant recipients. METHODS Five small bowel transplanted patients underwent capsule enteroscopy with the GIVEN endoscopy system. The results of capsule enteroscopy were compared with those of trans-stomal ileoscopy. RESULTS Capsule enteroscopy was better tolerated than ileoscopy and good quality images of the small bowel were obtained in four patients. The terminal ileum was normal both on ileoscopy and capsule enteroscopy. Mucosal changes in segments not reached by ileoscopy were detected by capsule enteroscopy in three of four patients. CONCLUSIONS Capsule enteroscopy is better tolerated than ileoscopy, allows complete exploration of the transplanted graft and can detect mucosal changes in segments not reached by ileoscopy.

Unsuspected ileal stenosis causing obscure GI bleeding in patients with previous abdominal surgery--diagnosis by capsule endoscopy: a report of two cases.

Peri-anastomotic ulcerations may occur in patients with previous abdominal surgery. They may present only with obscure GI bleeding. We report two cases in whom capsule endoscopy identified postsurgical stenoses with ulcers as the cause of obscure GI bleeding. Case 1. A 57-year-old male operated on in 1970 for a post-traumatic diaphragm hernia followed by displacement of the caecum in the upper left abdominal quadrant. Case 2. A 32-year-old female with a salpingectomy for tuberculosis (1978) followed by segmental ileal resection for intestinal obstruction. Both patients had undergone extensive work-up including bidirectional endoscopies and enteroclysis with negative results. Capsule endoscopy with the GIVEN diagnostic system was done. Ileal stenoses with mucosal ulcers in dilated prestenotic loops were observed in both cases. The capsule was retained at the stenosis site, requiring ileal resection and anastomosis. Pathology reports showed mucosal ulcers. In case 2, tuberculosis was ruled out by tissue and faecal polymerase chain reaction and culture. Ileal stenoses with prestenotic ulcerations causing GI bleeding may occur in patients with previous abdominal surgery. Capsule endoscopy may clarify the diagnosis and shorten the diagnostic work-up. However, these patients should be warned that capsule retention requiring surgery might occur.

Gastroduodenal lesions in polycythaemia vera: frequency and role of Helicobacter pylori

Summary.  The prevalence of gastroduodenal lesions is higher in polycythaemia vera (PV) than in the general population. However, the role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in the pathogenesis of such lesions is unknown. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of gastroduodenal lesions in PV patients and dyspeptic controls, and to assess the role of PV and H. pylori infection in inducing them. Thirty‐five PV patients fulfilling selection criteria and 73 age‐ and sex‐matched controls underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Six gastric mucosal biopsies were taken in all patients and controls, and analysed for presence of H. pylori; serum anti‐CagA was assayed by Western blot. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics and multivariate regression analysis. Compared with controls, PV patients showed a significantly higher frequency of erosions (46% versus 12%), ulcers (29% versus 7%), H. pylori positivity (83% versus 57%), and anti‐CagA positivity (66% versus 37%). Fourteen out of 20 (70%) asymptomatic PV patients had gastroduodenal lesions. At multivariate analysis, H. pylori, presence of PV alone, and both PV and anti‐CagA were significantly and strongly associated with a higher frequency of gastroduodenal lesions (P < 0·05, P < 0·01 and P < 0·05 respectively). Both PV and H. pylori infection were independent risk factors for gastroduodenal lesions; the underlying pathogenetic mechanism responsible for gastroduodenal lesions in PV possibly involves blood mucosal flow and trophism. The higher susceptibility of H. pylori infection and the high frequency of asymptomatic gastroduodenal lesions in PV patients suggest a surveillance of these patients.