Colonic ulcers in propylthiouracil induced vasculitis with secondary antiphospholipid syndrome.

A 48 year old white woman was admitted to the hospital because of several bouts of migratory polyarthritis, weight loss, fever, and abdominal pain over a period of 15 months. She had been taking propylthiouracil 100 mg daily for three years for hyperthyroidism treatment. A test for antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) was positive with a perinuclear pattern of staining. Antiphospholipid antibodies were also detected. Colonoscopy showed several ulcers on intestinal mucosa and the biopsy specimen showed intense microscopic vasculitis. The patient is well after methylprednisolone pulse therapy and eight months of oral azathioprine. A surveillance colonoscopy showed complete healing of intestinal ulcers. No recurrence of symptoms has occurred and autoantibodies are negative, 10 months after treatment finished. The sequence of events suggests a propylthiouracil induced vasculitis p-ANCA positive and an antiphospholipid syndrome. This is the first report of colonic ulcers diagnosed and successfully treated in such circumstances.

[Epidemiology, clinical features and clinical course of Crohn's disease: a study of 60 cases]. / Epidemiologia, aspectos clínicos e evolutivos da doença de Crohn: um estudo de 60 casos.

The authors present their experience with the follow-up of 60 cases of Crohn's disease, from 1970 until 1998, in the city of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais state, a county of the Southeast region of Brazil, and analyse the epidemiology of disease to improve the understanding of its behaviour in the country. The incidence rates increased greatly in the last 28 years. In the group studied 53.3% were men, 90% white, 71.7% non-smokers, 93.3% non-alcoholics, and all, but two, lived in urban area; 58.3% had their symptoms started at the age between 11 and 30 years and 30% were in the second decade of life. Relatives with Crohn's disease were seen in 6.7%, and the most common symptoms observed at the beginning of disease were: abdominal pain (78.3%), diarrhea (68.3%), weight loss (26.7%) and small bowel obstruction or localized peritonitis (15%). The ileum was involved in 90% and five cases (8.3%) with lesions restricted to the colon were observed. Two patients died because they were non-responders despite any therapy schedule and had sepsis after surgery. The effect of several substances used in the treatment is described, being prednisone the most effective in controlling the active disease. Other drugs as aminosalicilates, metronidazol and immunomodulators are also considered to avoid the side-effects of long-term use of steroides. Comments are made about the clinical evolution, surgeries and response to many treatments adopted. The authors conclude that Crohn's disease is increasing its incidence rate in Brazil and probably in South America formerly considered as a region of low frequency.

[Intestinal parasitosis and hepatic cirrhosis]. / Parasitoses intestinais e cirrose hepática.

The authors describe their experience, in a prospective survey, with the prevalence rates of intestinal parasites in patients with hepatic cirrhosis admitted to the Gastroenterology Unit of University Hospital of Federal University in Juiz de Fora, Brazil, whose fresh stools were examined by Hoffman-Pons-Janner, Baermann-Moraes and Willis methods. They compare the results of stool exams with two control groups and look for a relation with cirrhosis' etiology. A higher prevalence of some parasites was observed in cirrhosis than in people with other digestive diseases (group I). mainly for the Strongyloides stercoralis, found in 40.2%, chiefly in alcoholic cirrhosis. Oddly no one of the group I admitted in the same period had strongyloidiasis. Another group including all the people who had stool samples examined in the same period at the hospital had 1.91% of that helmintic infection (group II). A comparison is also made with the prevalence in schoolchildren between the ages of 7 and 14 studies eight years before (13.16%). Other parasites were also observed in different incidence between those with cirrhosis and the other groups and the results are presented. They conclude that hepatic cirrhosis must be included in the list of conditions which increases the risk of Strongyloides stercoralis infection.

PIP: In a prospective study conducted between July 1995 and June 1996 the prevalence of intestinal parasites is described in 35 (32 male, 3 female) patients with hepatic cirrhosis, aged 13-77 years, who had been admitted to the gastroenterology unit of the Federal University in Juiz de Fora, Brazil. The causes of cirrhosis were: alcohol (19 cases), hepatitis B virus (HBV) (3 cases), hepatitis C virus (HCV) (5 cases), HBV and HCV (2 cases), cryptogenetics (3 cases), Wilson's disease (1 case), biliary cirrhosis (1 case), and Gaucher's disease (1 case). Another 45 patients who were hospitalized during this period served as controls (Group I). Group II was comprised of 1411 persons who underwent parasitological tests during December 1995 and May 1996. Comparison was also made with 7371 tests performed in children aged 7-14 years who had been studied in 1988. Stools were examined by the Hoffman-Pons-Janner, Baermann-Moraes, and Willis methods. The results of stool exams were compared with those of the two control groups. A higher prevalence of some parasites was observed in cirrhosis patients than in patients with other digestive diseases (Group I). Of the 35 cirrhosis patients, 19 presented with positive parasite tests. Strongyloides stercoralis was found in 40.2%, chiefly in alcoholic cirrhosis patients, which was significant when compared to the other two control groups, but not significant when compared to the patients with nonalcoholic cirrhosis (4 cases of strongyloidiasis out of 16 patients). None of the 45 patients in Group I had strongyloidiasis. Group II (including all the people who had stool samples examined during the same period in the hospital) had a 1.91% rate of helminthic infection. A rate of 13.16% was found in the children's group.

[Microcrystals and biliary sludge: pathogenesis and clinical significance]. / Microcristais e "barro biliar": patogênese e significado clínico.

Review of the literature concerning the pathogenesis and the clinical significance of microcrystals and biliary sludge. In addition, the advantages and limitations of the available methodology of identification of these microscopic precipitates and the clinical conditions in which the investigation of the bile composition, with respect to the presence of cholesterol and calcium bilirubinate microcrystals, are discussed. In conclusion, algorithms for treatment of bileopancreatic diseases caused by microcrystals and/or biliary sludge are proposed.

[Glucagonoma: case report and literature review]. / Glucagonoma: relato de caso e revisão de literatura.

Glucagonoma is a neuroendocrine tumor of pancreatic alpha cells manifested by necrolytic migratory erythema, hyperglucagonemia, glucose intolerance, weight loss, anemia and hypopaminoacidemia. We report a case of glucagonoma in a 38 years-old patient diagnosed by the presence of a pancreatic tumor, liver metastasis, weight loss, glucose intolerance, necrolytic migratory erythema, hyperglucagonemia (1400 pg/ml; normal < 200 pg/ml) and histologic demonstration of glucagon and neurospecific enolase by immunocytochemical reaction. Actual therapeutic of glucagonoma includes surgery, chemotherapy, somatostatin or octreotide for control of the symptoms, and more recently alpha-interferon was suggested.