Lichen Planus Is an Uncommon Cause of Nonspecific Proximal Esophageal Inflammation

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Esophageal lichen planus (LP) has been described as a cause of nonspecific esophagitis that may cause dysphagia, but its incidence is unknown. We aimed to estimate the incidence of esophageal LP in a defined geographic region and describe the clinical characteristics of affected patients. METHODS: A histopathology database for a population of 1 million people was searched for all esophageal mucosal biopsy results over an 8-year period. Cases showing inflammation or abnormalities without a diagnosis after three or more biopsies were reviewed for findings of LP. RESULTS: Of 13,589 esophageal biopsies, only one received a diagnosis of LP. Seven patients (four male; mean age, 59 years; range, 39 to 76 years) were identified as having chronic dysphagia and nonspecific proximal esophagitis for which no diagnosis could be made. All patients had proximal inflammation, and six of seven had full-thickness lymphocytic infiltration. Elongation of the lamina propria papillae was noted in all patients, whereas six patients had parakeratosis and ballooning. Only one patient had findings potentially consistent with, but not sufficient for, a diagnosis of esophageal LP. CONCLUSIONS: Esophageal LP appears to be extremely uncommon in this North American population, and esophageal biopsy alone is likely not sufficient to establish a diagnosis of LP.

Plasma levels of somatostatin and gastrin in different states of peptic ulcer patients / 中国病理生理杂志

The plasma levels of somatostatin (SS) and gastrin (Gas) were investigated in 55 cases of gastric ulcer (GU) and duodenal ulcer (DU) patients. The SS concentration increased significantly as compared with controls. No difference exists between the GU and DU group. The Gas concentration of ulcer patients did not differ from that in controls. There was no significant correlation of the SS and Gas levels. Neither SS nor Gas changed further in the states of ulcer bleeding, helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and H_2-receptor antagonist treatment.