Relationship between Helicobacter pylori status and serum pepsinogens as serologic markers in atrophic gastritis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Serum pepsinogen levels are considered as a non-endoscopic blood test in the diagnosis of atrophic gastritis. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether there is any difference between pepsinogen levels in Helicobacter pylori-positive and -negative patients with atrophic gastritis, and to analyze the relationship between histopathology and pepsinogen levels after treatment in H. pylori-positive patients with atrophic gastritis. METHODS: The study enrolled a total of 30 cases with atrophic gastritis (18 H. pylori-positive and 12 H. pylori-negative). The H. pylori-positive cases received a one-week eradication treatment. Initially for all and after the treatment for H. pylori-positive cases, serum pepsinogen I and II levels, anti-H. pylori IgG titration and histopathologic analysis were carried out. RESULTS: In the H. pylori-positive patients with atrophic gastritis, the levels of pepsinogen I and pepsinogen I/II ratio were lower while the levels of pepsinogen II were higher compared to the H. pylori-negative patients (p<0.05 for all). The post-treatment serum pepsinogen I levels and pepsinogen I/II ratios did not change in the H. pylori-positive group, while the levels of pepsinogen II, H. pylori antibody titration and gastric atrophy degree remarkably decreased (p<0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: In atrophic gastritis, the levels of serum pepsinogen and pepsinogen I/II ratio show a difference in H. pylori-negative versus -positive cases. Additionally, the usage of pepsinogen II as a serum marker in predicting the eradication of H. pylori with atrophic gastritis could be more reliable than pepsinogen I or the I/II ratio.

Intussusception of vermiform appendix with microscopic melanosis coli: a case report.

Intussusception of the appendix is a rare occurrence. Due to the similarity of its symptoms with appendicitis, preoperative diagnosis of this condition is extremely difficult. In this report, we present appendiceal intussusception with histological melanosis coli that occurred in a patient on long-term anthranoid laxative use for chronic constipation. Melanosis coli in the appendiceal tissue, as an indicator of chronic laxative intake, may be a clue implying that the appendical exposure to hyperperistalsis for a long time in our case led to the intussusception. We conclude that colonoscopy may help in preoperative diagnosis of appendiceal intussusception in patients with suspicious appendicitis, particularly in those using laxative medication.

Clinical presentation of abdominal tuberculosis in HIV seronegative adults.

BACKGROUND: The accurate diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis usually takes a long time and requires a high index of suspicion in clinic practice. Eighty-eight immune-competent patients with abdominal tuberculosis were grouped according to symptoms at presentation and followed prospectively in order to investigate the effect of symptomatic presentation on clinical diagnosis and prognosis. METHODS: Based upon the clinical presentation, the patients were divided into groups such as non-specific abdominal pain & less prominent in bowel habit, ascites, alteration in bowel habit, acute abdomen and others. Demographic, clinical and laboratory features, coexistence of pulmonary tuberculosis, diagnostic procedures, definitive diagnostic tests, need for surgical therapy, and response to treatment were assessed in each group. RESULTS: According to clinical presentation, five groups were constituted as non-specific abdominal pain (n = 24), ascites (n = 24), bowel habit alteration (n = 22), acute abdomen (n = 9) and others (n = 9). Patients presenting with acute abdomen had significantly higher white blood cell counts (p = 0.002) and abnormalities in abdominal plain radiographs (p = 0.014). Patients presenting with alteration in bowel habit were younger (p = 0.048). The frequency of colonoscopic abnormalities (7.5%), and need for therapeutic surgery (12.5%) were lower in patients with ascites, (p = 0.04) and (p = 0.001), respectively. There was no difference in gender, disease duration, diagnostic modalities, response to treatment, period to initial response, and mortality between groups (p > 0.05). Gastrointestinal tract alone was the most frequently involved part (38.5%), and this was associated with acid-fast bacteria in the sputum (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Gastrointestinal tract involvement is frequent in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. Although different clinical presentations of patients with abdominal tuberculosis determine diagnostic work up and need for therapeutic surgery, evidence based diagnosis and consequences of the disease does not change.

A Peutz-Jeghers syndrome case with iron deficiency anemia and jejuno-jejunal invagination.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is an autosomal dominantly inherited rare syndrome characterized by mucocutaneous pigmentations, with intestinal and extraintestinal polyps. It is accepted to be a precancerous syndrome. The polyps can cause anemia and intestinal obstruction and intussuception. We present a young patient admitted to our clinic with a history of recent gastrointestinal bleeding. Upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopic examinations revealed multiple polyps located in the stomach, jejunum, rectum and terminal ileum. In addition, there were many mucocutaneous pigmentations on the lips, buccal mucosa and finger and toe nails. Jejunal polyps were found to be the cause of jejuno-jejunal invagination and iron deficiency anemia. Histopathological evaluation of the polyps revealed hamartomatous polyps of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and this diagnosis was supported by a dermatology specialist. It is suggested that any patient presenting with ileus attacks and findings of anemia should be investigated for polyps and mucocutaneous pigmentations of the precancerous Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.