Management of Patients With Gastric Varices.

Management of patients with gastric varices represents a unique challenge for clinicians. The broad range of endoscopic and endovascular techniques currently available is in stark contrast with the limited evidence available to inform the optimal management of these patients. This article describes the classification, pathophysiology, and natural history of gastric varices; summarizes the available evidence regarding medical, endoscopic, and endovascular management of gastric varices; and provides recommendations on how to integrate these options. Management of these patients ultimately requires a multidisciplinary approach involving hepatologists, therapeutic endoscopists, and interventional radiologists, with consideration given to patient characteristics and local expertise.

Vedolizumab-Induced De Novo Extraintestinal Manifestations.

Background: Vedolizumab is an α4ß7 integrin antagonist with gut-specific effects on lymphocyte and monocyte trafficking. Although the treatment is beneficial for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the effects of vedolizumab on extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) have not been well described. The gut-specific effects of the medication may have diverse outcomes on EIMs. We hypothesize that EIMs may be unmasked by systemic availability of gut-homing effector cells. Aim: The goal of this study is to describe de novo EIMs of IBD patients who were started on vedolizumab. Methods: A retrospective chart review of 71 patients from January 2011 to October 2017, including clinical and medication history and colonoscopy results, was performed. Results: EIMs occurred in 26.7% of patients who were started on vedolizumab. The most common EIMs were arthralgias, perianal fistula, and pyoderma gangrenosum. There was a trend toward a greater occurrence of EIMs in patients with Crohn's disease compared to ulcerative colitis. Conclusion: Our retrospective study suggests that inhibition of gut-specific effector cells results in activated lymphocytes and/or monocytes that cause inflammation in other tissues. More studies are needed to confirm these observations and to develop biomarkers that predict patients at risk for EIMs and perianal fistulas while on vedolizumab.

Sucrase-Isomaltase Deficiency as a Potential Masquerader in Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) frequently have meal-related symptoms and can recognize specific trigger foods. Lactose intolerance is a well-established carbohydrate malabsorption syndrome that causes symptoms similar to IBS such as bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. However, the prevalence of sucrase-isomaltase deficiency (SID) in this population is poorly defined. SID is a condition in which sucrase-isomaltase, an enzyme produced by brush border of small intestine to metabolize sucrose, is deficient. Just like lactase deficiency, SID causes symptoms of maldigestion syndromes including abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea. In this study, we aim to determine the prevalence of SID in patients with presumed IBS-D/M and characterize its clinical presentation. METHODS: Patients with a presumed diagnosis of IBS-D/M based on symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and/or bloating who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy with duodenal biopsies and testing for disaccharidase deficiency were included. Patients with a history of inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal malignancy, or celiac disease were excluded. Odds ratio was calculated for abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloating in patients with versus without SID. RESULTS: A total of 31 patients with clinical suspicion for IBS-D/M were included with a median age of 46 years (IQR 30.5-60) and with 61% females. SID was present in 35% of patients. Among patients with SID, 63.6% had diarrhea, 45.4% had abdominal pain, and 36.4% had bloating. Patients with SID were less likely than controls to have abdominal pain (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.03-0.81, p = 0.04) although no difference in diarrhea or bloating was found. Only two patients with SID underwent sucrose breath testing of which only one had a positive result. However, this patient also had a positive glucose breath test and may have had small intestinal bacterial overgrowth as a confounder. CONCLUSION: SID was found in 35% of patients with presumed IBS-D/M and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with abdominal pain, diarrhea, or bloating. Further studies should better characterize the clinical features of SID and investigate the effects of dietary modification in this group of patients.

Nutrition in Patients With Cirrhosis.

Malnutrition is a common complication of cirrhosis, increases in frequency with Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score, and is associated with an increased morbidity and mortality. Although malnutrition is easily recognized in chronically ill patients with CTP class C cirrhosis, it is present but often unrecognized in up to 50% of patients with CTP class A cirrhosis; thus, all patients with cirrhosis, regardless of etiology or severity, should be screened for malnutrition. A nutritional screening should be incorporated into the routine clinical care of patients with cirrhosis, with a more extensive nutritional assessment that includes a detailed history, dietary recall, baseline nutrition laboratory tests, and evaluation of sarcopenia using imaging modalities or strength testing to determine the degree of frailty. A thorough assessment will allow for a personalized treatment plan that provides the patient with total daily caloric intake goals with an emphasis on quality protein, education on timing of oral intake with a reduction in periods of fasting, identification and treatment of micronutrient deficiencies, and recommendation of safe and realistic exercise programs to help prevent and/or reduce sarcopenia and improve frailty.

Endoscopic and histological features of mycophenolate mofetil colitis in patients after solid organ transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is an immunosuppressive agent commonly used after organ transplantation. Gastrointestinal side effects occur in approximately 45% of patients. The spectrum of histologic features associated with MMF colitis has been well described, but data on the endoscopic features is lacking. The aim of the study was to describe the endoscopic features of MMF colitis in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) as well as the frequency of histologic features and identify associated risk factors. METHODS: A retrospective review of all SOTRs taking MMF and who underwent colonoscopy between 2000 and 2010 was performed. 36 cases of MMF colitis were identified and 361 patients served as controls. Descriptive statistics and data analysis looking for associated risk factors were performed. RESULTS: Among SOTRs taking MMF who underwent colonoscopy, MMF colitis was diagnosed in 9%. Endoscopic findings ranged from erythema (33%) to erosions/ulcers (19%). 47% of patients had a normal colonoscopy and everyone had rectal sparing. Histological findings included acute colitis-like findings (50%), inflammatory bowel disease-like characteristics (36%), ischemia-like findings (5.6%), and graft-versus-host disease-like features (8.3%). Diarrhea occurred in 83%. Kidney transplantation was associated with a higher risk of MMF colitis (OR 5.8 [2.86-11.86], P<0.0001) whereas liver transplantation was associated with a lower risk (OR 0.06 [0.03-0.16], P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: MMF colitis is fairly prevalent in SOTRs taking MMF who undergo colonoscopy. Diarrhea is the most common reason for colonoscopy referral (83%) and up to 47% of patients have normal colonoscopy, suggesting the need for routine biopsies to help confirm the diagnosis.

Effect of ethnicity on liver transplant for hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is increasing. We sought to compare tumor characteristics and outcomes after a liver transplant according to the cause of liver disease and ethnicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (292, 23%) out of all the liver transplant recipients (N=1266) at the University of Miami between 2000 and 2010. Liver disease was caused by hepatitis C virus in 221 patients (76%), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in 19 patients (6.5%), hepatitis B virus in 20 patients (7%), alcohol in 44 patients (15%), and other in 18 patients (6%). The median age was 57 years (range, 17 to 77 y), 218 were men (75%), 270 were white (92%), and 92 were Hispanic (31.5%). RESULTS: Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease were more likely to be older (64 vs 57; P = .0006), Hispanic (58% vs 30%; P = .018); nonsmokers (89% vs 65%; P = .041), diabetic (84% vs 26% P < .0001), hypertensive (63% vs 27%; P = .003), and using statins (32% vs 4%; P = .0004) compared with hepatocellular carcinoma without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Diabetes, hypertension, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease are significantly more common in Hispanics than in non-Hispanic persons with hepatocellular carcinoma. In persons without hepatocellular carcinoma, the proportion of Hispanics was similar between those with (n=84) and those without (n=1182) nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Hispanic ethnicity was not associated with worse tumor behavior or overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Patients transplanted for hepatocellular carcinoma and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease were older, and were more frequently Hispanic than were persons with hepatocellular carcinoma and without [corrected] nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Hispanic ethnicity may be a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Parámetros endoscópicos y clínicos en la evaluación del grado de hipertensión mortal. Valor de la gradiente de albúmina de suero-líquido ascítico / Endoscopics and clinics parameters in the portal hypertension degree

Se realizó un estudio prospectivo en treintiún (31) pacientes con diagnóstico de ascítis, hospitalizados en el servicio de Medicina del Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia (H.N.C.H). La finalidad del presente trabajo fue investigar la asociación entre el nivel de la gradiente de albúmina de suero-líquido ascítico elevada (GRAD-Alb alta) con el grado y desarrollo de várices esofágicas evaluadas por procedimientos endoscópicos. De igual manera, analizar la relación entre el nivel de la GRAD-Alb alta y el grado de disfunción hepática evaluada por la clasificación de Child-Pugh. En nuestra serie se demostró que el nivel de la GRAD-Alb alta permite detectar pacientes con várices esofágicas, obteniéndose como indicador de presencia de várices un valor de GRAD-Alb mayor de 1,435ñ0,015g./dl. Se obtuvo que el nivel de la GRAD-Alb elevada no se encuentra asociado al grado de disfunción hepática (según la clasificación de Child-Pugh), prolongación del tiempo de protrombina, nivel de bilirrubina sérica, grado de encefalopatía, ni grado de ascítis; sin embargo, se demostró asociación y correlación débil con el nivel de albúmina sérica