Epidemiological and clinical profile of irritable bowel syndrome in India: report of the Indian Society of Gastroenterology Task Force.

AIMS: To study the profile of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and the frequency of such symptoms among the general population, in India. METHODS: In this prospective, multi-center study, data were obtained from 2785 patients with chronic lower gastrointestinal symptoms (complainants) with no alarm feature and negative investigations for organic causes visiting physicians at 30 centers, and from 4500 community subjects (non-complainants), using separate questionnaires. RESULTS: Most complainants were middle-aged (mean age 39.4 years) and male (1891; 68%). The common symptoms were: abdominal pain or discomfort (1958; 70%), abdominal fullness (1951; 70%); subjective feeling of constipation (1404 of 2656; 53%), or diarrhea (1252 of 2656, 47%), incomplete evacuation (2134; 77%), mucus with stools (1506; 54%), straining at stools (1271; 46%), epigastric pain (1364; 49%) and milk intolerance (906; 32%). Median stool frequency was similar in patients who felt they had constipation or those who felt they had diarrhea. Information to subtype symptoms using standard criteria was available in 1301 patients; of these, 507 (39%) had constipation-predominant IBS ( 3 <or= stools/week), 50 (4%) had diarrhea-predominant IBS (>3 stools/day) and 744 (57%) had indeterminate symptoms. Among non-complainants, most subjects reported daily defecation frequency of one (2520 [56%]) or two (1535 [34%]). Among non-complainants, 567 (12.6%) reported abdominal pain, 503 (11%) irregular bowel, 1030 (23%) incomplete evacuation, 167 (4%) mucus and 846 (18%) straining at stools; a combination of abdominal pain or discomfort relieved by defecation, and incomplete evacuation was present in 189/4500 (4.2%) community subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with IBS in India are middle-aged men, and have a sense of incomplete evacuation and mucus with stools. Abdominal pain or discomfort is frequent but not universal. Importantly, stool frequency was similar irrespective of whether the patients felt having constipation or diarrhea. Most (90%) non-complainant subjects had 1 or 2 stools per day; symptoms complex suggestive of IBS was present in 4.2% of community subjects.

Congenital paraesophageal hernia presenting with severe gastroesophageal reflux.

Paraesophageal hernia in children is relatively rare entity. These children usually present with recurrent respiratory tract infection or vague GI symptoms. An 11 year female presented with episodic vomiting, heartburn and features of hypocalcemic tetany. Investigations revealed right paraesophageal hernia. Reduction of the contents and repair of the defect with fundoplication was done. Patient is asymptomatic on follow-up.

Profile of chronic small-bowel diarrhea in adults in Western India: a hospital-based study.

BACKGROUND: Small-bowel diarrhea is reported to account for 10% of all cases of chronic diarrhea. Data on the etiology and clinical presentation of chronic small-bowel diarrhea in adult Indians is scarce. METHODS: 50 patients (mean age 32.8 years; 26 men) with chronic small bowel diarrhea were evaluated clinically, and investigated to determine etiology. The diagnosis of small-bowel diarrhea was based on history, stool volume and associated symptoms. RESULTS: Abdominal pain (n=22, 44%) and weight loss (n=37, 74%) were the most common symptoms, apart from diarrhea. Anemia (70%) and hypoalbuminemia (48%) were other important biochemical abnormalities. Intestinal tuberculosis (26%) and celiac disease (26%) were the most common causes of chronic small-bowel diarrhea. CONCLUSION: Tuberculosis of intestine and celiac disease are common causes of small-bowel diarrhea in our population. Tropical sprue seems to be a rare cause.

Intestinal amyloidosis presenting as malabsorption syndrome.

Intestinal amyloidosis presenting with small bowel diarrhoea with malabsorption is an infrequent clinical entity. The present case report includes such a case and discusses the diagnostic approach in such a case.

Hepatic granuloma in chronic hepatitis C.

We report the findings in a 54-year-old male with chronic hepatitis C with granulomas liver biopsy. Unfortunately, this patient died before treatment could be started.

Comparative evaluation of the efficacy and tolerability of itopride hydrochloride and domperidone in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia.

BACKGROUND: Prokinetic drugs are widely used for treatment of non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD). AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of a new prokinetic agent, itopride hydrochloride in patients of NUD and compare it with domperidone. METHODS: Fifty-six patients who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. Patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to rule out organic pathology as a cause for their symptoms. The patient's symptoms were graded on a 4-point scale (0 to 3) at the beginning of treatment and at the end of Week-one and Week-two Patients were randomly allocated to receive either one tablet of itopride hydrochloride 50mg three times daily or one tablet of domperidone 10mg three times daily for two weeks. Pre-treatment and post-treatment hemogram, liver function and renal function tests, prolactin level and ECG were done in all patients. The response to therapy was evaluated by assessing the relief of symptoms at the end of two weeks on a 5-point scale. Statistical analysis was done using two-tailed paired t-test; Wilcoxon matched pairs ranks sum test, Mann-Whitney-U test and chi-square test as applicable. RESULTS: Of the fifty-five patients enrolled in the study (age range of 18-60 yrs, median age of 35yrs), 26 were males and twenty nine were females. They had a median duration of symptoms for 4 weeks. Twenty-seven patients received itopride and 28 received domperidone. One patient did not follow up in the domperidone group, thus 54 patients were evaluable for analysis. Moderate to complete symptomatic relief was observed in 22 (81%) patients in the itopride group and 19 patients (70%) in the domperidone group (p > 0.05, NS). Both the drugs were well tolerated and neither caused prolongation of QT interval nor any abnormality in any serum biochemistry values. CONCLUSION: Therapy with itopride resulted in good symptomatic relief, was safe, well tolerated and comparable in efficacy to domperidone in relieving the symptoms of NUD. By virtue of its efficacy and tolerability, it could be an ideal choice for providing symptomatic relief to patients suffering from non-ulcer dyspepsia.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus and extrahepatic portal vein obstruction: a causal association?

So far, no association has been described between multifactiorial disorders such as insulin- dependent diabetes mellitus and extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO), which is the most common cause of extra-hepatic portal hypertension in children. We describe 3 cases of EHPVO who developed type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Portal hypertensive jejunopathy: a case control study.

BACKGROUND: Small bowel mucosa is a recognized potential source of bleeding in portal hypertension. However, the frequency of its involvement is not known. AIMS: To document the nature, severity and frequency of endoscopic and histologic changes in the jejunum in patients with portal hypertension. METHODS: Forty consecutive patients with portal hypertension and 43 patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia (controls) underwent push enteroscopy and jejunal, duodenal and gastric biopsies. Biopsies were randomized and examined by a blinded pathologist for inflammation and vascular dilatation, which was quantified by morphometry. RESULTS: Endoscopic jejunopathy was observed in 6 patients and none of the control subjects. All patients with jejunopathy had portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) and 5 had duodenopathy. Vascular dilatation was observed in 15 patients and 25 control subjects (p = ns). The degree of vascular dilatation was similar in both groups. Inflammatory changes were observed in 24 patients and 25 control subjects (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic jejunopathy was present in 15% of patients with portal hypertension. These changes were mild in 83% of them. All patients with jejunopathy also had PHG. Histologic changes were similar in patients and control subjects.

Giant mesenteric cyst of abdomen herniating into scrotum.

Cystic mesenteric tumors are rare abdominal neoplasms. We report a 55-year-old man with recurrent benign mesothelioma arising from the left colonic mesentery and extending into the scrotal sac. He recovered well after excision of the abdominal and scrotal mass.

Abdominal wall abscess secondary to subcapsular tubercular liver abscess.

We report a 22-year-old woman who presented with an abdominal wall lump in the right upper quadrant 15 days after starting antitubercular treatment for right pleural effusion. CT scan revealed a right liver lobe subcapsular abscess communicating vith subcutaneous tissue. Aspiration of pus revealed acid-fast bacilli. She responded to 9 months of antitubercular treatment.

Endoscopic management of anal protrusion of ventriculo-peritoneal shunt.

A 2-year-old male child, who was operated on 18 months earlier for tuberculous meningitis with hydrocephalus by placement of a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt, presented with the lower end of the shunt tube coming out through the anus. Colonoscopy showed the shunt tube coming out through the colon 22 cm from the anal opening. The cranial end, along with a malfunctioning valve, were disconnected surgically, and the shunt was removed endoscopically using a pediatric flexible colonoscope.