The role of gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire in the Republic of Macedonia.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY: Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a common disease with a multifactorial pathogenesis. Our aim was to analyse the role of the Gastroesophageal Disease Questionnaire in diagnosing reflux disease in the population of the Republic of Macedonia. METHODS: The questionnaire on the severity of the symptoms related to GERD was used. An evaluation of the distal portion of the oesophagus was carried out in all patients with positive questionnaire results. All mucosal injury was classified by the Los Angeles criteria (LA). RESULTS: 642 patients were included. 58.73% females, with an average age of 37.5±8.2. Females had a higher BMI than males 26.8±4.1 vs. 24.9±3.8 p<0.001. Of the total number of examinees (642 patients), in those with erosive reflux disease and also in those with nonerosive reflux disease, as shown respectively in endoscopy, the sensitivity of the RDQ was 100%, and the specifity was 0%. The100 sensitivity means that the questionnaire verified/diagnosed patients with erosive reflux disease with 100% certainty. CONCLUSIONS: RESULTS were found in some studies comparing the positive Reflux Disease Questionnaire and the level of erosive esophagitis (LA classification). This study provides evidence that the RDQ represents a viable instrument for assessing symptom severity and response to treatment in clinical trials of patients with GERD, but in patients with a high score, endoscopic evaluation should not be excluded.

Acute abdominal pain with a spontaneous resolution as a mark to the diagnosis of hereditary angioedema.

Accurate and timely diagnostics of acute abdominal pain, a common emergency, is crucial in decreasing unnecessary surgical interventions. We present the case of a patient, Xh. M. aged 21, transported to emergency after being wakened from sleep by severe, acute abdominal pain. The pain was non-radiating, colic, and associated with flatulence, nausea and vomiting. The family history was negative regarding Angioedema, which decreases but does not exclude the possible appearance of hereditary Angioedema. All laboratory and imaging findings were normal, besides the low levels of C4 complement component were 4.56 mg/dl (normal values 10-40), functional C1-esterase INH was 10.29% (normal values 80-130) C1-estrease inhibitor (protein) 4.58 mg/dl (normal values 16-33), indicating HAE typ I. Regardless of negative medical history in the family of hereditary angioedema, de novo mutation most probably led to her being the first case in the family. The case we have presented confirms the need to include hereditary angioedema as a differential diagnostic possibility in patients with acute abdominal pain, even more so as timely and precise diagnostics enable avoidance of unnecessary surgical interventions.