Rajan Kanth

Endotherapy in symptomatic pancreas divisum: a systematic review.

Pancreas divisum (PD) is the most common congenital variant of the pancreas and has been implicated as a cause of pancreatitis; however, endoscopic treatment is controversial. Our objective was to examine patient response to endotherapy for treatment of symptomatic PD in adult patients in a systematic review of the literature. A systematic review of all case series and case-control studies with ten or more patients undergoing endotherapy for treatment of symptomatic PD indicated by acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP), chronic pancreatitis (CP), or chronic abdominal pain (CAP) was performed. PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception through February 2013 using [pancreas divisum] AND [endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)] OR [endotherapy] OR [endoscopy] as search terms. Importantly, the majority of studies were retrospective in nature, significantly limiting analysis capacity. Main outcomes measures included endotherapy response rate in patients with PD and ARP, CP, or CAP. Twenty-two studies were included in the review, with a total of 838 patients. Response to endoscopy was seen in 528 patients, but response rate varied by clinical presentation. Patients with ARP had a response rate ranging from 43% to 100% (median 76%). Reported response rates were lower in the other two groups, ranging from 21% to 80% (median 42%) for patients with CP and 11%-55% (median 33%) for patients with CAP. Complications reported included perforation, post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis, bleeding, and clogged stents. Endotherapy appears to offer an effective treatment option for patients with symptomatic PD, with the best results in patients presenting with ARP.

Circadian Patterns of ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction in the New Millennium

Objective Nearly four decades ago, a circadian pattern of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with a peak in the early morning waking hours was described. The goal of the present study was to determine whether major changes in lifestyle and significant advances in medical therapy have altered this pattern in the intervening years. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting Tertiary care hospital in central Wisconsin. Methods We examined circadian patterns of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in 519 patients diagnosed with STEMI over a 5-year period. Time of symptom onset was obtained from patient self-reports in the medical record and was recorded over 24 hours. Results We observed a circadian pattern of STEMI occurrence with a morning peak at approximately 11:30 AM. This pattern was highly significant in patients who were not using beta-blockers (P <0.0001) and had no history of diabetes (P <0.0001), but was otherwise absent. The circadian pattern appeared to be attenuated in patients of a younger age, female gender, or who used statins or aspirin. Peak STEMI occurrence was earlier in smokers than non-smokers. Conclusions Despite significant lifestyle changes and medical advances in the nearly four decades since a circadian pattern of AMI occurrence was first described, patients with STEMI had a circadian pattern of symptom onset with a morning peak. Use of beta-blockers and a history of diabetes mellitus abolished this pattern. Other modifying factors, including medications, age, and gender attenuated, but did not abolish, the circadian pattern.

Statin-Associated Polymyositis Following Omeprazole Treatment

Statins are an extensively used class of drugs, and myopathy is an uncommon, but well-described side effect of statin therapy. Inflammatory myopathies, including polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and necrotizing autoimmune myopathy, are even more rare, but debilitating, side effects of statin therapy that are characterized by the persistence of symptoms even after discontinuation of the drug. It is important to differentiate statin-associated inflammatory myopathies from other self-limited myopathies, as the disease often requires multiple immunosuppressive therapies. Drug interactions increase the risk of statin-associated toxic myopathy, but no risk factors for statin-associated inflammatory myopathies have been established. Here we describe the case of a man, age 59 years, who had been treated with a combination of atorvastatin and gemfibrozil for approximately 5 years and developed polymyositis after treatment with omeprazole for 7 months. Symptoms did not resolve after discontinuation of the atorvastatin, gemfibrozil, and omeprazole. The patient was treated with prednisone and methotrexate followed by intravenous immunoglobulin, which resulted in normalization of creatinine kinase levels and resolution of symptoms after 14 weeks. It is unclear if polymyositis was triggered by interaction of the statin with omeprazole and/or gemfibrozil, or if it developed secondary to long-term use of atorvastatin only.

Incidence of Primary Biliary Cholangitis in a Rural Midwestern Population

Background Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a rare disease with incidence that varies with time and geography. Only two studies have assessed PBC incidence in the United States, with the most recent appearing over a decade ago. The objective of the present study was to assess PBC incidence in the United States in a more recent era. Methods The incidence of PBC was assessed in a population-based cohort in rural, Midwestern Wisconsin over two decades spanning from June 1992 through June 2011. Cases were initially identified in the electronic medical record and then manually verified for inclusion according to the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease criteria for PBC. Additional data were abstracted for verified cases. Results A total of 79 cases of PBC were identified over the 20-year period for an overall age- and sex-standardized incidence of 4.9 cases per 100,000 person-years. Incidence was higher in females, but changes over time were not significant. After a mean 7.3 years follow-up, all-cause mortality of those with PBC was 29%, and estimated 10-year survival was 76%. Conclusions The overall incidence of PBC in a Midwestern population of the United States has remained relatively stable over the last two decades. Patients have better prognosis, and the survival of PBC cases has improved.