Evaluation of endoscopy-based diagnostic methods for the detection of Helicobacter pylori.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori is an etiological factor in duodenal ulcer. Few studies have objectively assessed the accuracy of diagnostic methods for the detection of H. pylori. METHODS: The sensitivity and specificity of histology, touch smear, rapid urease test (RUT) and brush cytology of endoscopic antral biopsy from patients with duodenal ulcer were compared. Forty-nine patients were evaluated before, and 34 after, eradication therapy. Each time, sampling was done for all 4 tests. The infection status for each sample was established by a positive concordance of results of three of four tests. RESULTS: The highest degree of agreement was between RUT and cytology (kappa = 0.69). Brush cytology (100%) followed by RUT (94.5%) were the most sensitive tests. Histology had the highest specificity (89.3%). A combination of RUT or brush cytology with histology had the maximum chance of detecting H. pylori. As single tests, brush cytology and touch smear had high diagnostic accuracies with a Youdin J value of 1.79 and 1.78, respectively. CONCLUSION: The best method for diagnosis of H. pylori is a combination of the rapid urease test or brush cytology with histology. Brush cytology or touch smear are diagnostic tests of choice if a single test is desired.

Sonographic signs in portal hypertension: a multivariate analysis.

A prospective case controlled study was conducted to evaluate the value of real time ultrasound in establishing the diagnosis and the etiology of portal hypertension. Patients attending the outpatient department of a tertiary care centre were included. There were 324 consecutive patients with portal hypertension due to cirrhosis (n = 229), non cirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF: n = 64) and extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO: n = 31). During this period, 146 patients with dyspepsia, 35 with splenomegaly and 32 with ascites due to varied causes served as negative and positive controls. Real time ultrasonography using a 3.5 MHz linear array scanner was performed in a fasting state in all subjects. Portal and splenic vein diameter greater than 10 mm, splenomegaly, hepatic and splenic hilar collaterals were suggestive of portal hypertension. Non visualization of the portal vein which was replaced by a cavernoma had a diagnostic accuracy of 98% in EHPVO. Splenic infarcts and absence of ascites were features of non cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPF and EHPVO). Sonography had an overall diagnostic accuracy of 80%. A stepwise logistic regression with multivariate analysis using discriminate function showed that collaterals at the hepatic and splenic hilum, hepatomegaly, ascites and splenic infarcts were independent markers to differentiate cirrhotic from noncirrhotic causes of portal hypertension. The discriminate equation generated had a mismatch of 9.8%. Correlations between the sonographic signs demonstrated that the variceal grade correlated positively with the presence of splenic hilar collaterals and the liver size inversely correlated with presence of ascites. It was concluded that real time ultrasonography is an accurate method to establish the presence and etiology of portal hypertension.

Gastrointestinal leiomyomas in a developing country.

Twenty one consecutive patients with leiomyoma of the gastrointestinal tract were studied. Recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding was found in 18 (85.7%) and recurrent intestinal obstruction in 3 (14.3%) patients. The commonest site of the lesion was the stomach followed by ileum, jejunum and duodenum. Barium meal examination and gastrointestinal endoscopy were suggestive of the diagnosis in 8 and angiography in 2 patients. The remaining patients were diagnosed peroperatively. All patients underwent excision and remained asymptomatic on follow up except two patients who had a recurrence of the tumor as leiomyosarcoma.

Long term follow-up of amebic liver abscess: clinical and ultrasound patterns of resolution.

A prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical and sonographic patterns of resolution in amebic liver abscess (ALA). There were 146 patients of ALA attending the gastroenterology clinic of a tertiary care centre of whom 25 died. Of the remaining 121 patients, 107 were followed up for 20.9 +/- 11.4 months. 14 (11.3%) patients were lost to follow up before complete disappearance of the cavity. Complete disappearance of the cavity was seen in 84 (78.5%) and a reduction in volume to 50% at entry in 23 (21.5%). Abdominal pain, fever and hepatomegaly were the predominant forms of clinical presentation. On ultrasound, there were 121 cavities in 107 patients. The most frequent type of lesion was solitary, (96%) round cavity (80.4%) in the right lobe of liver (85%). Clinical and hematological parameters of resolution occurred rapidly (3.2 +/- 2.9 months). Sonographic resolution took much longer (9.6 +/- 6.8% months) in the 84 patients. The remaining 23 patients are on follow up. Three pattern of resolution were observed: Type I--where complete disappearance of the cavity occurred within 3 months (29.8%), Type II--where a gradual reduction and disappearance of the cavity occurred (64.3%) and Type III--where a rapid reduction till 25% of original cavity size remained and then a delayed resolution occurred (5.9%). There were no relapses in the patients on follow up. Factors that influenced healing time included the size of the abscess cavity at admission, hypoalbuminemia and anemia. The type of clinical presentation, nature of therapy, number or location of abscesses and time for clinical resolution did not influence the resolution time. None of the variables studied influenced the pattern of resolution. We conclude that rapid clinical resolution is common in patients with ALA. Sonographic resolution may be delayed and does not warrant additional or prolonged therapy.

Colonoscopy for unexplained lower gastrointestinal bleeding in a tropical country.

Two hundred and forty consecutive patients with recurrent lower gastrointestinal bleeding were studied by colonoscopic examination. These included 187 adults and 53 children. The procedure was successful either in identifying the lesion or in excluding it up to the cecum in 216 (90% patients). The source of bleeding was identified in 138 (74%) adults and 43 (81%) Children. Predominant lesions in adults were nonspecific colitis and ulcers (58%), polyps (19%), cancer (10%), rectal varices (4%) and tuberculosis (3%). Juvenile polyps (77%) and nonspecific colitis and ulcers (23%) were the cause of bleeding in children. Both in adults and children, 92% of these lesions involved the left colon. Rectum and sigmoid colon were mainly involved. Diffuse lesions were seen when nonspecific colitis and ulcers were the source of bleeding. Thus colonoscopic examination was useful in localizing the cause of rectal bleeding and the predominant lesions were different from those reported in the Western hemisphere.

The epidemiologic significance and clinical pattern of HCV induced chronic hepatitis in India.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) ribonucleic acid (RNA) was tested for in a group of 16 defined non-B chronic hepatitis patients using specific reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). These were chosen from amongst 56 biopsy proven cases of chronic hepatitis of which majority (40) were positive for hepatitis B virus infection. Hepatitis C virus RNA could be demonstrated in 12 (75%) of remaining 16 cases. These include all seven patients positive for antibody to HCV. Two of these patients had past history of blood transfusion and in another two the clinical course started with severe acute liver disease. This study establishes the association of HCV with severe liver disease. The clinical and biochemical profiles are also discussed. In view of limited sensitivity of the antibody assays it is justified to develop diagnostic testes based on local strains.

Chronic hepatitis in a large Indian hospital.

BACKGROUND. In developed countries as well as in Southeast Asia, the hepatitis B and C viruses are the main causes of chronic hepatitis. In India, however, there have been no major investigations on the aetiology of chronic hepatitis. (The hepatitis E virus which is responsible for half the sporadic and most of the epidemic cases of acute viral hepatitis in India does not cause chronic disease.) We, therefore, studied the profile of chronic hepatitis in India. METHODS. The clinical presentation, aetiology, serology and histological changes were studied prospectively in 48 patients with chronic hepatitis admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Of these, 44 (92%) had chronic active hepatitis, 3 (6.3%) had chronic persistent hepatitis and 1 (2%) had chronic lobular hepatitis. RESULTS. The hepatitis B virus was the aetiological agent in 24 (50%) of these patients, the hepatitis D virus in association with hepatitis B virus in 10 (21%), the hepatitis C virus in 7 (15%) and the non-A, non-B viruses other than the hepatitis C virus in 6 (13%). One patient (2.0%) had autoimmune chronic active hepatitis. Jaundice at presentation was seen in 33 (69%) patients and more than half had hypoalbuminaemia (< 3 g/dl) with a prolonged prothrombin time. Alanine aminotransferase levels were less than 5 times above normal in over two-thirds of the patients. The highest alanine aminotransferase values were observed in patients with hepatitis D virus infection whereas the lowest were seen in patients with non-A, non-B related chronic active hepatitis. Histological examination revealed bridging necrosis in 40 (91%) patients with chronic active hepatitis indicating a severe form of disease. Replication of the hepatitis B virus was seen in 13 patients with chronic hepatitis, 5 of whom had hepatitis D virus-induced chronic hepatitis. Patients with hepatitis B virus replication had higher alanine aminotransferase values and more severe bridging necrosis than patients who did not have replicating viruses. Higher alanine aminotransferase values, ascites and oesophageal varices were encountered more frequently in patients with hepatitis B and D virus than in those with non-A, non-B related chronic hepatitis. CONCLUSION. Chronic hepatitis is not uncommon in India. It presents with evidence of severe disease and, as elsewhere, is most frequently caused by the hepatitis B virus.

A preliminary open trial on interferon stimulator (SNMC) derived from Glycyrrhiza glabra in the treatment of subacute hepatic failure.

The efficacy of the interferon stimulator named Stronger Neo Minophagen-C (SNMC) derived form the plant G. glabra was studied at a dose of 40 or 100 ml daily for 30 days followed by thrice weekly intravenously for 8 wk in 18 patients of subacute hepatic failure due to viral hepatitis. The survival rate amongst these patients was 72.2 per cent, as compared to the earlier reported rate of 31.1 per cent in 98 patients who received supportive therapy (P < 0.01). Death in four of the five patients was due to associated infections leading to hepatorenal failure and terminal coma. Further studies are necessary to standardize the dose and duration of therapy with SNMC in subacute hepatic failure.

Pancreatic abscess: is there a role for conservative therapy?

Pancreatic abscess is a serious complication of acute pancreatitis and non-operative management has been reported to carry a mortality of nearly 100%. We present five patients with pancreatic abscess, who were successfully treated with antibiotics alone. All 5 patients had acute pancreatitis followed by prolonged fever and development of an abdominal mass. The diagnosis was confirmed in each of them by a contrast enhanced CT scan and an ultrasound guided aspiration of pus from the pancreatic mass. The choice of antibiotics was decided by the culture reports in two cases and by Gram's staining in the remaining three patients. We attribute the success of antibiotic therapy in our patients to early diagnosis by CT scan and guided aspiration as well as the absence of any unfavourable risk factors. This study suggests that a select group of patients with pancreatic abscess may be managed conservatively with antibiotics.

Amoebic liver abscess.

Sonography is a major advance in the diagnosis of ALA. Identification of amoebic antigen in the pus is a specific immunodiagnostic test. Medical therapy with a single drug (metronidazole) is adequate in most instances. Routine needle aspiration or surgical drainage are not indicated. The abscess cavity may take up to 18 months for resolution and demonstration of such a lesion does not warrant repeated therapy unless clinical evidence of recurrence is present. Recurrences are rare. Clinical and laboratory evidences of poor prognosis are being identified, and may guide the treatment modality to be selected.