Microscopic esophagitis in gastro-esophageal reflux disease: individual lesions, biopsy sampling, and clinical correlations.

Patients with non-erosive reflux disease may show microscopic damage. This study is aimed to describe distribution, sensitivity, and specificity of histological lesions (i.e., basal cell hyperplasia-BH, papillae elongation-PE, dilatation of intercellular spaces-DIS, intraepithelial eosinophils-IE, neutrophils, and erosions) and sampling criteria. Four groups were identified on the basis of symptoms, endoscopy, and pH monitoring: (1) erosive esophagitis (n = 48), (2) non-erosive esophagitis with abnormal pH (n = 59), (3) non-erosive esophagitis with normal pH (n = 12), and (4) controls (n = 20). Biopsies were taken at the Z-line and 2 and 4 cm above it. BH, PE, DIS, IE, neutrophils, and erosions were assessed. A global severity score was calculated on the basis of the above parameters and allowed the distinction of patients from controls with 80% sensitivity and 85% specificity. Lesions were more severe at Z-line than proximally and more expressed in erosive than in non-erosive disease, although more than 70% of latter patients still showed histological damage. Esophageal biopsy seems very attractive in non-erosive disease where it may contribute to diagnosis and play a role in the comparative evaluation of different therapies.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in rosacea: clinical effectiveness of its eradication.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: To better understand the role of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in rosacea, we aimed to assess the presence of SIBO in patients with rosacea and the clinical effectiveness of its eradication. METHODS: We enrolled 113 consecutive rosacea ambulatory patients (31 M/82 F; mean age, 52 +/- 15 years) and 60 healthy controls who were sex- and age-matched. Patients and controls underwent lactulose and glucose breath tests (BTs) to assess the presence of SIBO. Patients positive for SIBO were randomized to receive rifaximin therapy (1200 mg/day for 10 days) or placebo. A group of patients with negative BTs were also treated with rifaximin. Eradication was assessed 1 month after the end of therapy. Two dermatologists, unblinded on therapy, evaluated rosacea patients before and after treatment on the basis of an objective scale. RESULTS: The prevalence of SIBO was higher in patients than controls (52/113 vs 3/60, P < .001). After eradication, cutaneous lesions cleared in 20 of 28 and greatly improved in 6 of 28 patients, whereas patients treated with placebo remained unchanged (18/20) or worsened (2/20) (P < .001). Placebo patients were subsequently switched to rifaximin therapy, and SIBO was eradicated in 17 of 20 cases. Fifteen had a complete resolution of rosacea. After antibiotic therapy, 13 of 16 patients with negative BTs for SIBO remained unchanged, and this result differed from SIBO-positive cases (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that rosacea patients have a significantly higher SIBO prevalence than controls. Moreover, eradication of SIBO induced an almost complete regression of their cutaneous lesions and maintained this excellent result for at least 9 months.

Platelet count/spleen diameter ratio for the noninvasive diagnosis of esophageal varices: results of a multicenter, prospective, validation study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Noninvasive assessment of esophageal varices (EV) may improve the management of patients with cirrhosis and decrease both the medical and financial burden related to screening. In this multicenter, international study, our aim was to prospectively validate the use of the platelet count/spleen diameter ratio for the noninvasive diagnosis of EV. METHODS: A total of 218 cirrhotic patients underwent screening endoscopy for EV. Platelet count/spleen diameter ratio ((N/mm3)/mm) was assessed in all patients and its diagnostic accuracy was calculated. On the basis of previous results, a platelet count/spleen diameter ratio cutoff of 909 was applied to this population. The diagnostic accuracy of the platelet count/spleen diameter ratio was further evaluated for both severity and etiology of disease subgroups. RESULTS: Prevalence of EV was 54.1%. The platelet count/spleen diameter ratio had 86.0% (95% CI, 80.7-90.4%) diagnostic accuracy for EV, which was significantly greater as compared with either accuracy of platelet count alone (83.6%, 95% CI 78.0-88.3%, P= 0.038) or spleen diameter alone (80.2%, 95% CI 74.3-85.3%, P= 0.018). The 909 cutoff had 91.5% sensitivity (95% CI 85.0-95.9%), 67.0% specificity (95% CI 56.9-76.1%), 76.6% positive predictive value, 87.0% negative predictive value, 2.77 positive likelihood ratio, and 0.13 negative likelihood ratio for the diagnosis of EV. Accuracy of the platelet count/spleen diameter ratio was maintained for both severity and etiology of disease subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: The platelet count/spleen diameter ratio may be proposed as a safe and reproducible means to improve the management of cirrhotic patients who should undergo screening endoscopy for EV.

A comparison between sodium alginate and magaldrate anhydrous in the treatment of patients with gastroesophageal reflux symptoms.

The aims of the present study were to compare effects of sodium alginate and the antacid magaldrate anhydrous in adults with gastroesophageal reflux (GOR) symptoms. Patients with heartburn and/or acid regurgitation for at least 3 days in the week before the study started (n=203) were randomized to receive a single dose of sodium alginate or magaldrate anhydrous at the onset of symptoms during a 3-day run-in period. Patients with symptoms during the run-in (n=191) were rerandomized to receive a 14-day treatment with either drug given as four daily doses. A speed of action < or =30 min was significantly more frequent among patients in the alginate group (49.4% vs. 40.4%; P=0.0074). A trend toward a more prolonged duration of action (median: 16.5 vs. 12.7 hr) and a greater sum of the symptom intensity difference (median: 40.0 vs. 31.0) was observed in the sodium alginate group. Total disappearance of symptoms was reported in 81.6% and 73.9% of patients in the sodium alginate group and magaldrate group, respectively. We conclude that sodium alginate was faster than magaldrate in relieving GRO symptoms and showed a tendency toward a more prolonged duration of action and a higher level of efficacy.

Can Helicobacter pylori eradication regimens be shortened in clinical practice? An open-label, randomized, pilot study of 4 and 7-day triple therapy with rabeprazole, high-dose levofloxacin, and tinidazole.

BACKGROUND: Rabeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor which is particularly suitable for use in short-term Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment. Levofloxacin-based H. pylori eradication regimens have shown good efficacy and very few side effects. Shorter treatment and absence of significant side effects should improve compliance to therapy and increase the Hp H. pylori eradication rate. AIMS: To evaluate the effectiveness of 2 rabeprazole-based H. pylori eradication regimens in an open-label, randomized study carried out in a clinical practice setting. METHODS: One hundred sixty-nine consecutive, treatment-naive patients with H. pylori infection were randomized to receive rabeprazole (20 mg, bid), levofloxacin (500 mg, bid), and tinidazole (500 mg, bid) for either 4 [4-d rabeprazole, levofloxacin, tinidazole (RLT), n=85] or 7 days (7-d RLT, n=84). Before treatment, all patients underwent upper digestive endoscopy. Cure rates were assessed by means of C-urea breath test. and were compared with the eradication rate obtained with standard triple therapy in our Unit (ie, 78%) and average eradication rate reported in the literature (ie, 79%). RESULTS: The intention-to-treat eradication rates were 94% [87% to 98%, 95% confidence interval (CI)] and 95% (88% to 99%, 95% CI) in the 4-day RLT and 7-day RLT regimens, respectively, whereas per-protocol eradication rates were 95% (88% to 99%, 95% CI) in the 4-day RLT and 96% (90% to 99%, 95% CI) in the 7-day RLT. Both treatment regimens obtained significantly higher eradication rates as compared with standard triple therapy. The 4-day RLT showed significantly fewer side effects. CONCLUSIONS: In a clinical practice setting, both 4-day and 7-day rabeprazole, high-dose levofloxacin, tinidazole-based regimens achieved relevant H. pylori eradication rates in treatment-naive patients. The lower number of side effects makes the shorter treatment regimen preferable over the conventional 7-day treatment.

Role of partially hydrolyzed guar gum in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the world's most common gastrointestinal functional disorder and is associated with several social and economic costs. Health-related quality of life is often impaired in patients with IBS. The pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying IBS remain poorly defined. The therapeutic approach to patients with IBS is based on symptoms, and fibers may play an important role in treatment. Among the various types of fiber, water-soluble, non-gelling fibers seem to be a promising option for treatment of IBS. Partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) is a water-soluble, non-gelling fiber that has provided therapeutic benefits. In clinical trials, PHGG decreased symptoms in constipation-predominant and diarrhea-predominant forms of IBS and decreased abdominal pain. Further, an improvement in quality of life was observed in patients with IBS during and after treatment with PHGG. Moreover, PHGG seems to have prebiotic properties because it increases the colonic contents of short-chain fatty acids, Lactobacilli, and Bifidobacteria.

Reassessment of the diagnostic value of histology in patients with GERD, using multiple biopsy sites and an appropriate control group.

BACKGROUND: Histology is generally considered as a tool of limited value in the diagnosis of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). AIM: To reevaluate the diagnostic role of histological alterations in GERD, using multiple biopsy sites and an appropriate control group. METHODS: We studied 135 patients with typical and atypical symptoms of GERD. They underwent upper GI endoscopy and Los Angeles classification was used for grading cases with mucosal breaks. Biopsies were taken at the Z-line, 2 and 4 cm above it. Microscopic esophagitis was identified by necrosis/erosion, neutrophil/eosinophil intraepithelial infiltration, basal cell hyperplasia, elongation of papillae, dilation of intercellular spaces and a score (range: 0-2) was given for each lesion. Twenty-four-hour esophageal pH monitoring was performed in each patient. Twenty subjects without reflux symptoms, and with normal endoscopy and pH testing were considered as controls. RESULTS: Histological alterations were found in 100 of 119 GERD patients (84%) and in 3 of 20 controls (15%) with a significant difference (p < 0.00001). Histology was abnormal in 96% of patients with erosive esophagitis and in 76% of patients with nonerosive reflux disease (NERD). The sum of scores of microscopic lesions found in all biopsy sites ranged from 0 to 22 and we identified a cut-off value (score 2) that distinguished efficiently controls from GERD patients. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast with previous reports on the marginal role of histology in patients with GERD, our study shows that this technique can be a useful diagnostic tool, particularly in patients with NERD, when biopsies are taken at two sites including Z-line and 2 cm above it.

A 10-day levofloxacin-based therapy in patients with resistant Helicobacter pylori infection: a controlled trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Antibiotic resistance is a major issue in anti- Helicobacter pylori treatment. This study was aimed at assessing the efficacy of 2 therapies in patients with resistant H pylori infection. METHODS: Patients who had failed 1 or more eradication regimens underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and 2 antral and 2 corpus biopsy specimens were taken for histology and culture. Metronidazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin resistance were determined by E-test. Patients were randomly assigned to 2 therapies: 1 group received pantoprazole 40 mg, amoxicillin 1 g, levofloxacin 250 mg, all twice daily for 10 days, and the other group was treated with omeprazole 20 mg twice daily for the first week and omeprazole 20 mg twice daily, tetracycline 250 mg 4 times daily, metronidazole 500 mg twice daily, and bismuth subcitrate 240 mg twice daily for the second week. Therapeutic success was evaluated by 13C urea breath test after 4 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: We enrolled 44 patients in the levofloxacin-based regimen and 46 patients in the quadruple therapy. The former was successful in 31 of 44 (70%; 95% confidence interval: 53-87) and the latter in 17 of 46 (37%; 95% confidence interval: 23-47) patients, using intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis (P < .001). The rates of H pylori resistance to metronidazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin were 46%, 12%, and 0%, respectively. Resistance to both metronidazole and clarithromycin was found in 10% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Triple therapy containing levofloxacin was better than quadruple therapy. The 70% success rate observed indicates that 10 days of pantoprazole, amoxicillin, and levofloxacin should be considered in patients who had failed 1 or more eradication regimens.

Impact of long-term ranitidine and pantoprazole on accuracy of [13C]urea breath test.

No previous study has analyzed the impact of long-term antisecretory drugs on the precision of [13C]urea breath test (UBT). We assessed the rate of UBT conversion from positive to negative results during 60-day therapy with standard doses of ranitidine and pantoprazole. For this purpose, we recruited 60 dyspeptic patients with H. pylori infection ascertained on the basis of the concomitant results of CLO-test, histology, and UBT. Our patients were randomly assigned to receive ranitidine 300 mg at night or pantoprazole 40 mg in the morning for 60 days. UBT was performed at baseline and on days 14, 30, and 60, while patients were still taking antisecretory drugs. Patients with false-negative UBT on day 60 repeated the test every 3 days until conversion. After overnight fasting, duplicate breath test samples were taken from each patient before and 30 min after ingestion of 75 mg [13C]urea dissolved in 150 ml of 0.033 mol/liter citric acid. Four patients dropped out of the study. Both drugs induced similar false-negative UBTs on day 14 of dosing (P = 0.5). Afterwards, the three false-negative UBTs in the ranitidine group again became positive during therapy and particularly on day 30 of dosing. Of the four false-negative UBTs in the pantoprazole group at day 60, one became positive after 3 and three after 9 days of therapy cessation. Our findings show that the long-term use of ranitidine and pantoprazole at standard doses has different effects on the results of UBT. In the pantoprazole group patients again became positive within 3-9 days after stopping 60-day therapy, whereas in the ranitidine group patients reverted to positive on day 30 of dosing while they were still on treatment and this was likely due to development of tolerance. Therefore, patients taking pantoprazole need at least a 10-day withdrawal before UBT testing, while those taking ranitidine for at least 30 days can undergo UBT without the necessity of a wash-out period.