An enigma of eosinophilic esophagitis.

Introduction: Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic immunogenic-antigen mediated disease of the esophagus, characterized by symptoms related to esophagus dysfunction, histologically defined by over 15 eosinophil counts seen in high-power microscopic field, without gastroesophageal reflux disease. In adults, the most common clinical manifestations are dysphagia, reflux, chest pain, regurgitation and bolus impaction. Case report: We presented the case of a female patient, hospitalized for a serious form of pancreatitis with complications, which required artificial ventilation and enteral feeding, after the initial esophagoscopy verified reflux esophagitis. Further treatment cured the primary illness, and peroral feeding was reintroduced. However, dysphagia with regurgitation occurred, and endoscopic and radiological tests verified esophagus stenosis, which histopathologically corresponded to erosive esophagitis. Two months of treatment by a double dosage of proton pump inhibitors led to no regression of disorders, and the repeated biopsies from the stenotic segments resulted in over 30 eosinophil counts in the high-power microscopic field, which histologically corresponds to eosinophilic esophagitis. Subsequent therapy included fluticasone 880 µg/day orally for a period of eight weeks, which led to complete regression of disorders, and endoscopic and histopathologic remission. Conclusion: In case of irresponsiveness to the conventional therapy by proton pump inhibitors, repeated esophagoscopy and histopathological analyses of esophagus mucosa biopsy can point to the diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis, and a good therapeutic response to topical corticosteroids can be regarded as the clinical confirmation of the diagnosis.

Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

INTRODUCTION: Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding accounts for approximately 20% of all acute gastrointestinal hemorrhages, and they are the most common urgent cases in gastroenterology. The aim of this study was to determine the most common etiology, efficacy in diagnostics and therapy, and the outcome in patients with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were collected from the medical records of 86 patients who had been hospitalized for acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding in 2009 at the Ward of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Clinical Centre of Vojvodina. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 70.4 years (ranging from 37 to 88), and the largest number of patients 41/86 (47.7%) were between the ages 71 and 80. Colon diverticulosis was the most common cause of bleeding, and it occurred in 21 patients from the study sample (24.4%), and the other causes were malignant tumors (12/86, i.e. 13.9%), polyps (10/86, i.e. 11.6%), anorectal diseases (7/86, i.e. 8.3%/0) and colitis (8/86, i.e. 9.3%). No diagnostic procedures were performed in 15 patients (17.4%) due to their poor medical condition and comorbidities. The total mortality rate was 6/86 (6.9%), and the largest number of deaths occurred (5/86 i.e. 5.8%) due to a multisystem organ failure and underlying diseases which were not associated with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Uncontrolled bleeding was the cause of death in only 1 patient (1.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding is most commonly found in the older population, whose age, comorbidities, and ongoing therapy have impact on bleeding lesions, diagnostic and therapeutic modalities and the outcomes of bleeding. Endoscopic procedures are still the gold standard in diagnostics.