A retrospective study of pediatric endoscopy as performed in an adult endoscopy unit.

Gastrointestinal endoscopy is a safe, efficient technique with minimal complications, and a useful diagnostic tool for the pediatric population. Under ideal conditions endoscopies for children should be performed by experienced pediatric endoscopists. In this study we report our experience with pediatric endoscopy at the general adult endoscopy unit in our hospital. Our goal is to quantify the number of endoscopies performed in children, as well as their indications and findings, the type of sedation or anesthesia used, and the time waiting for the test to occur. Our experience demonstrates that endoscopists in a general adult gastroenterology department, working together with pediatricians, may perform a relevant number of endoscopies in children in a fast, safe, effective manner.

Risk of development of the metabolic syndrome after orthotopic liver transplantation.

Longer survival for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) patients over the last decade has focused emphasis on the metabolic complications that contribute to patient morbidity and mortality. The aim of our study was to analyze the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) and other risk factors after OLT among our patients at 1 year follow-up. From 2001 to 2008, we performed OLT in 210 patients with 62 exclusions leaving 148 patients for the study. We recorded age, gender, liver disease, smoking status, pre- and post-OLT body mass index, pre- and post-OLT arterial blood pressure, pre- and post-OLT fasting blood glucose, pre- and post-OLT high-density lipoproteins and triglycerides, family history of diabetes, hepatitis B and C virus status, immunosuppressive therapy, and corticosteroid bolus for rejection episodes. The MS was defined according to modified ATP III criteria. At month 12 after OLT, 29/148 patients (19.6%) developed the MS. The associated factors were obesity and hyperlipidemia pre-OLT, familial and personal history of diabetes as well as alcoholic cirrhosis. By multivariate analysis, pre-OLT body mass index (odds ratio, 3.7 [1.3-10.5]) and pre-OLT diabetes (odds ratio, 2.9 [1.1-7.9]) were independent risk factors.

Estudio retrospectivo sobre la endoscopia pediátrica desarrollada en un servicio de endoscopias de adultos / A retrospective study of pediatric endoscopy as performed in an adult endoscopy unit

La endoscopia gastrointestinal es una técnica segura y eficientecon mínimas complicaciones, así como una útil herramienta diagnósticaen la población pediátrica. En condiciones ideales, las endoscopiasen niños deberían ser realizadas por endoscopistas pediátricosexperimentados. En este estudio reportamos nuestraexperiencia en la realización de endoscopias pediátricas en la Unidadde Endoscopias general de adultos de nuestro hospital.El objetivo es cuantificar la cantidad de endoscopias realizadasen niños, así como las indicaciones y hallazgos de las mismas, eltipo de sedación o anestesia empleado y el tiempo de espera parala realización de la prueba. Nuestra experiencia demuestra que losendoscopistas de un servicio de gastroenterología general de adultos,en colaboración con pediatras, pueden realizar un númeroimportante de endoscopias a niños, de forma rápida, segura y eficaz(AU)

Gastrointestinal endoscopy is a safe, efficient technique withminimal complications, and a useful diagnostic tool for the pediatricpopulation. Under ideal conditions endoscopies for childrenshould be performed by experienced pediatric endoscopists. Inthis study we report our experience with pediatric endoscopy atthe general adult endoscopy unit in our hospital. Our goal is toquantify the number of endoscopies performed in children, as wellas their indications and findings, the type of sedation or anesthesiaused, and the time waiting for the test to occur. Our experiencedemonstrates that endoscopists in a general adult gastroenterologydepartment, working together with pediatricians, mayperform a relevant number of endoscopies in children in a fast,safe, effective manner(AU)

FibroScan evaluation of liver fibrosis in liver transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Liver biopsy remains the gold standard to evaluate fibrosis. However, it is invasive and uncomfortable as well as associated with complications. Transient elastography (FibroScan) is a simple and noninvasive method to assess liver fibrosis by measuring liver stiffness in kilopascals. Body mass index (BMI) greater than 28 is associated with high rates of invalid tests. Liver transplant patients show increased rates of obesity. We do not yet have many data about the usefulness of FibroScan in liver transplantation. AIMS: To analyze the applicability of FibroScan to assess fibrosis in liver transplantation and study the association between obesity and valid tests. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We prospectively assessed the performance of transient elastography in 29 liver transplant patients from February to May 2008. We prospectively studied the success rate, the elasticity (stiffness) in kilopascals, and the BMI. RESULTS: The BMI was greater than 30 kg/m(2) in four patients; 25 to 30 kg/m(2) in eight; and 17 had BMI < 25 kg/m(2). The overall success of FibroScan was 24/29 (82.7%). However, among patients with BMI > 30 kg/m(2), it was 2/4 (50%), whereas for BMI <25 kg/m(2) it climbed to 100%. The average duration of the procedure was 211.52 seconds for BMI <25 kg/m(2); 236 seconds for BMI between 25 and 30 kg/m(2); and 361 seconds in patients with a BMI > 30 kg/m(2)-differences that were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: FibroScan seemed to be a promising approach to assess liver fibrosis.BMI is a limiting factor toward achieving a valid test; FibroScan had limited usefulness in obese patients.

Interleucina-18 (IL-18) y otros parámetros inmunológicos como marcadores de gravedad en la pancreatitis aguda / No disponible

Objetivo: se trata de comparar prospectivamente el comportamientodurante la primera semana del ingreso de los niveles de interleucina-18 (IL-18), y otros parámetros inmunológicos entre pacientescon pancreatitis aguda con y sin criterios de gravedad, así comoentre pacientes con y sin desarrollo ulterior de seudoquiste.Pacientes y métodos: se compararon en 36 pacientes conpancreatitis aguda los resultados de sTNF-RI, IL-1Ra, IL-6 e IL-18los días 1, 2, 3 y 7 desde el ingreso entre pancretitis leve, grave y ungrupo control (13 pacientes) con cólico biliar simple, así como entrepacientes con o sin seudoquiste.Resultados: al comparar pancreatitis leve con grave, IL-18 fuesignificativamente superior sólo el primer día en las pancreatitis gravesy los otros parámetros a partir del segundo día de forma mantenida.También en pacientes que desarrollaron seudoquiste, IL-18 estuvosignificativamente elevada el primer día.Conclusiones: IL-18 resultó el marcador más precoz de complicacionesy gravedad de la pancreatitis aguda a nivel sistémico y local(seudoquiste)

Objective: our aim was to prospectively compare the behaviorof interleukin 18 (IL-18) levels and other immunological parametersduring the first week of hospitalization between acute pancreatitispatients with and without severity criteria, as well asbetween patients with and without late pseudocyst development.Patients and methods: in 36 patients with acute pancreatitiswe compared sTNF-RI, IL-1Ra, IL-6, and IL-18 levels at days1, 2, 3 and 7 after hospitalization between mild pancreatitis, severepancreatitis, and a “control” group (13 patients) with uncomplicatedbiliary colic, as well as between patients with and withoutpseudocyst.Results: on comparing mild to severe pancreatitis, IL-18 wassignificantly higher only the first day in severe pancreatitis, whilethe other parameters were steadily higher after the second day. Inpatients developing pseudocyst, IL-18 was also noticeably higherthe first day.Conclusions: IL-18 appears to be the earliest marker of complicationsand severity in acute pancreatitis at both the systemicand local level (pseudocyst)

Esofagitis necrotizante aguda. Una patología poco conocida / No disponible

La esofagitis necrotizante aguda (ENA) es una rara entidadcuya etiología es desconocida, siendo el mecanismo patogénicomultifactorial, participando fundamentalmente el compromiso isquémico,la malnutrición y la obstrucción del tracto digestivo alto.Los hallazgos endoscópicos muestran una coloración negruzca dela mucosa esofágica con transición brusca a nivel de la unión esofagogástrica.El pronóstico depende de las enfermedades de base.Se revisan los casos de ENA, excluyendo los secundarios a caústicos,recogidos de forma retrospectiva durante los últimos 2 años.Se analizan los factores de riesgo, la presentación clínica, los hallazgosendoscópicos, la histología, el tratamiento y la evolución.En nuestro departamento, se han diagnosticado 7 casos de ENAen 6.003 gastroscopias realizadas en el periodo de estudio, representandoasí la ENA el 0,11% de la exploraciones

Acute esophageal necrosis is a rare disorder, and its etiology isunknown, the mechanism of damage being usually multifactorialand secondary to ischemic compromise, acute gastric outlet obstruction,and malnutrition. Endoscopic findings show circumferentialblack discoloration of the distal esophagus with proximal extensionending sharply at the gastroesophageal junction, which isthe most common presentation. Prognosis depends on comorbidillnesses. In this study we analyze all cases reported in a retrospectiveanalysis over a 2-year period to define risk factors, clinicalpresentation, endoscopic features, histological appearance, treatmentand outcome. Our department has recorded 7 cases from6,003 endoscopies performed in the last 2 years. The finding of a"black esophagus" represented 0.11% of cases

[Acute esophageal necrosis. An underdiagnosed disease]. / Esofagitis necrotizante aguda. Una patología poco conocida.

Acute esophageal necrosis is a rare disorder, and its etiology is unknown, the mechanism of damage being usually multifactorial and secondary to ischemic compromise, acute gastric outlet obstruction, and malnutrition. Endoscopic findings show circumferential black discoloration of the distal esophagus with proximal extension ending sharply at the gastroesophageal junction, which is the most common presentation. Prognosis depends on comorbid illnesses. In this study we analyze all cases reported in a retrospective analysis over a 2-year period to define risk factors, clinical presentation, endoscopic features, histological appearance, treatment and outcome. Our department has recorded 7 cases from 6,003 endoscopies performed in the last 2 years. The finding of a "black esophagus" represented 0.11% of cases.

[Interleukin 18 (IL-18) and other immunological parameters as markers of severity in acute pancreatitis]. / Interleucina-18 (IL-18) y otros parámetros inmunológicos como marcadores de gravedad en la pancreatitis aguda.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to prospectively compare the behavior of interleukin 18 (IL-18) levels and other immunological parameters during the first week of hospitalization between acute pancreatitis patients with and without severity criteria, as well as between patients with and without late pseudocyst development. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 36 patients with acute pancreatis we compared sTNF-RI, IL-1Ra, IL-6, and IL-18 levels at days 1, 2, 3 and 7 after hospitalization between mild pancreatitis, severe pancreatitis, and a "control" group (13 patients) with uncomplicated biliary colic, as well as between patients with and without pseudocyst. RESULTS: On comparing mild to severe pancreatitis, IL-18 was significantly higher only the first day in severe pancreatitis, while the other parameters were steadily higher after the second day. In patients developing pseudocyst, IL-18 was also noticeably higher the first day. CONCLUSIONS: IL-18 appears to be the earliest marker of complications and severity in acute pancreatitis at both the systemic and local level (pseudocyst).

Síndrome de Budd-Chiari y mutación heterozigótica de la metilenetetrahidrofolato-reductasa (MTHFR) / Budd-Chiari syndrome and heterozgotic mutation of metylenetetrahidrofolate reductase

No disponible

[Eosinophilic enteritis causing intestinal obstruction]. / Enteritis eosinofílica como causa de obstrucción intestinal.

Eosinophilic enteritis is an uncommon disorder of unknown etiology in which the digestive symptoms are associated with eosinophilic infiltration of the different layers of the intestinal wall. Clinical symptoms depend on the layers involved and are usually characterized by peripheral eosinophilia. Radiological findings depend on the layers involved. Definitive diagnosis is based on clinical and histopathological findings. Treatment of choice is currently with corticoids and prognosis is benign with relapses. The pathogenesis remains unclear. We report a patient who presented with intestinal obstruction and describe the follow-up.

[Increase of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase in patients with compensated hypoalphalipoproteinemia and type IIa dyslipidemias]. / Elevación de gammaglutamiltranspeptidasa en pacientes con hipoalfalipoproteinemia y dislipemias tipo IIa compensadas.

Twenty-one asymptomatic patients presenting isolated elevations of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) were studied over the previous 10 years with all the findings being accidental. No other analytical alterations were demonstrated. Ingestion of alcohol, drugs or another type of toxic substance, diabetes, neurologic disease or neoplasm were discarded. Echography of the liver and the biliary tract was normal. In the first nine patients studied, liver biopsy was performed being normal or with minimum unspecific alterations. In two patients endoscopic retrograde cholangiography was carried out with no alterations being observed. Lipid study was performed in all the patients with alpha hypolipoproteinemia being found in 15 patients, compensated type II lipid profile in 5 and a normal lipid profile in one. To the author's knowledge there have been no reports of this lipid disorder causing elevations in GGT. However, on being the only abnormality found in these patients the authors believe that this may be the cause although the mechanism is unknown.

[Symptomatic primary biliary stenosis without cholestasis]. / Cirrosis biliar primaria sintomática sin colestasis.

The case of a 59-years old patient with typical clinical manifestations of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC): pruritus, asthenia, arthralgias and dry syndrome, with skin pigmentation and AMA positivity, hypergammaglobulinemia and an elevation of IgM is presented. Liver biopsy was compatible with stage II PBC. No analytical data of cholestasis, has been seen over 26 months of follow up with normal transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and cholesterol. The absence of cholestasis in the presence of symptoms is of interest.

[Chronic functional dyspepsia or irritable colon]. / Dispepsia funcional crónica o colon irritable.

An attempt is made to synthesize the fundamental information concerning the pathogenesis of chronic functional digestive disorders, which should be designated as "chronic functional dyspepsia". At present the term "irritable colon" does not seem justified since the disorder affects the entire gastrointestinal tract. In the development of this disorder three types of fundamental pathogenic factors apparently participate: 1. Deficient protein nutrition leading to hypotrophy of the intestinal mucosa. 2. Alterations of intestinal motility related fundamentally to neurotic dysfunction. These are hyperreactive phenomena by the smooth muscle in response to normal stimuli on a background of generalized gastrointestinal hypotonia. They seem to be due to an excess of certain neurotransmitters, principally dopamine, at the level of the myenteric plexus. 3. Infectious factors of the infectious Crohn type provoked by intestinal bacterial overgrowth. These derive from motility alterations, with stasis or delayed transit, and hypotrophy due to deficient nutrition that alters the intraluminal ecological medium. This alteration impairs the development of the normal saprophytic flora and facilitates the proliferation of anaerobic colonic germs, leading to intestinal bacterial overgrowth.