Efficacy and Tolerability of 14-Day Tegoprazan- versus Rabeprazole-Based Triple Therapy for Eradication of Helicobacter pylori: A Real-World Evidence Study

Background/Aims@#Tegoprazan, a new, fast, and strong potassium-competitive acid blocker, has been approved for the treatment of gastric acid-related diseases in Korea. However, realworld clinical data regarding this drug are scarce. We aimed to compare the Helicobacter pylori eradication rates of tegoprazan- and rabeprazole-based triple therapy. @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed data from patients who received first-line treatment for H. pylori infection using tegoprazan- or rabeprazole-based triple therapy for 2 weeks (50 mg tegoprazan or 20 mg rabeprazole+1,000 mg amoxicillin+500 mg clarithromycin twice daily). The primary endpoint was the eradication rate as determined by intention-to-treat analysis. @*Results@#Of the 677 patients included in our study, 344 and 333 received tegoprazan-based and rabeprazole-based triple therapy, respectively. The eradication rate from intention-to-treat analysis was 76.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 72.1% to 81.0%) for tegoprazan-based triple therapy and 75.4% (95% CI, 70.5% to 79.8%) for rabeprazole-based triple therapy. There was no significant difference in the eradication rates between the two groups (p>0.999). Per-protocol analysis also revealed no significant difference between the eradication rates of the two groups (tegoprazan 83.4% [95% CI, 79.0% to 87.2%] vs rabeprazole 83.5% [79.0% to 87.4%], p>0.999).Furthermore, there was no significant difference in adverse event rates between the two groups (tegoprazan, 27.6%; rabeprazole, 25.8%; p=0.604). @*Conclusions@#The eradication rate of tegoprazan-based triple therapy was similar to that of rabeprazole-based triple therapy. Further studies on the dose-escalation effect of tegoprazan for H. pylori eradication and the efficacy of tegoprazan in regimens other than conventional triple therapy are needed.

Life-threatening Duodenal Ulcer Bleeding from a Ruptured Gastroduodenal Artery Aneurysm in a Patient with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 / 대한소화기학회지

Vasculopathy is rarely reported in neurofibromatosis type 1, but when it occurs it primarily involves the aorta and its main branches. Among vasculopathies, aneurysmal dilatation is the most common form. Although several case reports concerning aneurysms or pseudoaneurysms of visceral arteries in neurofibromatosis type 1 patients have been reported, there are no reports describing gastroduodenal artery aneurysms associated with neurofibromatosis type 1. We experienced a case of life-threatening duodenal ulcer bleeding from a ruptured gastroduodenal artery aneurysm associated with neurofibromatosis type 1. We treated our patient by transarterial embolization after initial endoscopic hemostasis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of its type. High levels of suspicion and prompt diagnosis are required to select appropriate treatment options for patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 experiencing upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Embolization of the involved arteries should be considered an essential treatment over endoscopic hemostasis alone to achieve complete hemostasis and to prevent rebleeding.

Catheter-related Candidemia Caused by Candida haemulonii in a Patient in Long-term Hospital Care

Candida haemulonii, one of the non-albicans Candida species, is an emerging yeast pathogen that is known to be resistant to amphotericin B and other antifungal agents such as azoles. These anti-fungal agents have often been associated with clinical treatment failure, so no treatment regimen has been clearly established for invasive C. haemulonii infections. We investigated a catheter-related infection of C. haemulonii candidemia in an adult patient in long-term hospital care. In the early stages, the candidemia remained persistent despite treatment with fluconazole. However, after changing the antifungal agent to caspofungin, the candidemia was resolved. Fluconazole and amphotericin B are not reliable empirical antifungal agents for invasive C. haemulonii infections, as shown in previous case reports. An echinocandin such as caspofungin may be an appropriate empirical choice of antifungal agent for an invasive C. haemulonii infection.

A Case of Colonic Obstruction Due to Phytobezoars / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Colonic phytobezoars are defined as conglomerate masses of fruit or vegetable matter in the colon, and these have rarely reported as a cause of colon obstruction. Because it is extremely rare, its correct diagnosis might be delayed even with the aid of abdominal computed tomography. We report here on a case of diagnosed colonic obstruction due to colonic phytobezoars in a 67-year-old female with diabetic end stage renal disease and chronic constipation. Although abdomino-pelvic computed tomography did not demonstrate the presence of phytobezoars, multiple phytobezoars impacted in the colon were found and these were removed by colonoscopy. This is a rare case in that colonic obstruction due to phytobezoar was diagnosed early and it was treated by colonoscopy.

Early Adenocarcinoma Arising from Traditional Serrated Adenoma in the Colon / 대한소화기내시경학회지

A serrated adenoma is a precursor lesion for some cases of microsatellite unstable colorectal carcinoma (CRC). The serrated neoplasia pathway has been associated with carcinogenesis of serrated adenoma, which is different from the traditional adenoma-carcinoma sequence. The serrated neoplasia pathway accounts for 10~15% of CRCs, and these tumors typically demonstrate microsatellite instability. Cases of a CRC arising from a serrated adenoma have been rarely identified with the recent recognition of the serrated neoplasia pathway. However, these cases are not frequently reported in Korea, because this concept has only been recently emphasized. We report a case of an early adenocarcinoma arising from a traditional serrated adenoma of the colon, which was diagnosed and treated by a colonoscopic polypectomy.

A Case of Chronic Neuropathic Pseudo-obstruction of the Colon / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Colonic pseudo-obstruction, which is characterized by repetitive episodes or continuous symptoms and signs of a bowel obstruction, is a rare disease that results in colorectal dilatation without any obstructing lesions. Cases with neuropathic chronic colonic pseudo-obstruction have rarely been reported in Korea. We report a case of neuropathic colonic pseudo-obstruction, which results in decreased number of interstitial cells of Cajal and hypoganglionosis, in a 50-year-old man with chronic constipation accompanied by megacolon.