Cure of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with reflux oesophagitis treated with long term omeprazole reverses gastritis without exacerbation of reflux disease: results of a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori gastritis may progress to glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia, conditions that predispose to gastric cancer. Profound suppression of gastric acid is associated with increased severity of H pylori gastritis. This prospective randomised study aimed to investigate whether H pylori eradication can influence gastritis and its sequelae during long term omeprazole therapy for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). METHODS: A total of 231 H pylori positive GORD patients who had been treated for > or =12 months with omeprazole maintenance therapy (OM) were randomised to either continuation of OM (OM only; n = 120) or OM plus a one week course of omeprazole, amoxycillin, and clarithromycin (OM triple; n = 111). Endoscopy with standardised biopsy sampling as well as symptom evaluation were performed at baseline and after one and two years. Gastritis was assessed according to the Sydney classification system for activity, inflammation, atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, and H pylori density. RESULTS: Corpus gastritis activity at entry was moderate or severe in 50% and 55% of the OM only and OM triple groups, respectively. In the OM triple group, H pylori was eradicated in 90 (88%) patients, and activity and inflammation decreased substantially in both the antrum and corpus (p<0.001, baseline v two years). Atrophic gastritis also improved in the corpus (p<0.001) but not in the antrum. In the 83 OM only patients with continuing infection, there was no change in antral and corpus gastritis activity or atrophy, but inflammation increased (p<0.01). H pylori eradication did not alter the dose of omeprazole required, or reflux symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Most H pylori positive GORD patients have a corpus predominant pangastritis during omeprazole maintenance therapy. Eradication of H pylori eliminates gastric mucosal inflammation and induces regression of corpus glandular atrophy. H pylori eradication did not worsen reflux disease or lead to a need for increased omeprazole maintenance dose. We therefore recommend eradication of H pylori in GORD patients receiving long term acid suppression.

Effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on chronic gastritis during omeprazole therapy.

BACKGROUND: We have previously observed that profound acid suppressive therapy in Helicobacter pylori positive patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease is associated with increased corpus inflammation and accelerated development of atrophic gastritis. AIM: To investigate if H pylori eradication at the start of acid suppressive therapy prevents the development of these histological changes. PATIENTS/METHODS: In a prospective randomised case control study, patients with reflux oesophagitis were treated with omeprazole 40 mg once daily for 12 months. H pylori positive patients were randomised to additional double blind treatment with omeprazole 20 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg and clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily or placebo for one week. Biopsy sampling for histology, scored according to the updated Sydney classification, and culture were performed at baseline, and at three and 12 months. RESULTS: In the persistently H pylori positive group (n=24), active inflammation increased in the corpus and decreased in the antrum during therapy (p=0.032 and p=0.002, respectively). In contrast, in the H pylori positive group that became H pylori negative as a result of treatment (n=33), active and chronic inflammation in both the corpus and antrum decreased (p

Does analysis of the antigenic specificities of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies contribute to their clinical significance in the inflammatory bowel diseases?

BACKGROUND: The clinical relevance of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in inflammatory bowel diseases is unclear. Definition of their antigenic specificities may improve their diagnostic significance. METHODS: We studied the target antigens of ANCA in 96 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 112 patients with Crohn disease (CD) by indirect immunofluorescence, antigen-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and immunodetection on Western blot. We related the presence of antibodies of defined specificity to clinical symptoms. RESULTS: By indirect immunofluorescence, ANCA were present in 58% of UC patients and in 21% of CD patients. Major antigens were catalase, alpha-enolase, and lactoferrin. In UC, ANCA titers correlated with disease activity. In CD, both ANCA, by indirect immunofluorescence, and antibodies to lactoferrin were associated with colonic localization of the disease. Neither ANCA, by indirect immunofluorescence, nor antibodies of defined specificity were associated with duration of disease, use of medication, or a history of bowel resection. CONCLUSIONS: ANCA are useful as markers for UC and colonic localization in CD. Definition of the antigenic specificities of ANCA in inflammatory bowel disease does not significantly contribute to their clinical significance.

Titres of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in inflammatory bowel disease are not related to disease activity.

In the systemic vasculitides, serial measurement of titres of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) is useful for follow-up of disease activity and prediction of relapses. ANCA have been detected in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, but their relation to disease activity in these diseases is unclear. We analysed the relation between disease activity and ANCA titres as determined by indirect immunofluorescence in paired samples obtained during active disease and at remission from individual patients with ulcerative colitis (n=60) and Crohn's disease (n=101). In addition, patients were followed prospectively, to study the fluctuations of ANCA with time in relation to disease activity. We did not detect a correlation between disease activity and ANCA titres, either in paired samples from active disease and remission, or in serial samples, either in ulcerative colitis or in Crohn's disease. In contrast to the ANCA-associated systemic vasculitides, serial measurement of ANCA titres is not useful in the monitoring of disease activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Atrophic gastritis during long-term omeprazole therapy affects serum vitamin B12 levels.

BACKGROUND: Omeprazole maintenance therapy for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been associated with an increased incidence of atrophic gastritis in H. pylori-infected patients and with a decreased absorption of protein-bound, but not of unbound cobalamin. AIM: : To test the hypothesis that the combination of decreased cobalamin absorption and atrophic gastritis decreases serum cobalamin levels during omeprazole therapy. METHODS: Forty-nine H. pylori-positive GERD patients were treated with omeprazole for a mean (+/- s.d.) period of 61 (25) months. At the start of omeprazole treatment (T0) and at the latest follow-up visit (T1), serum was obtained for measurement of cobalamin. Corpus biopsy specimens were obtained at entry and follow-up for histopathological scoring according to the updated Sydney classification. RESULTS: At inclusion, none of the 49 patients had signs of atrophic gastritis. During follow-up, 15 patients (33%) developed atrophic gastritis, nine of whom had moderate to severe atrophy. These 15 patients did not differ from the other 34 patients with respect to age, serum cobalamin at T0 or the duration of follow-up. During follow-up, no change was observed in the median serum cobalamin level in the 34 patients without atrophy; (T0) 312 (136-716) vs. (T1) 341 (136-839) pmol/L (P=0.1). In the 15 patients who developed atrophy, a decrease in cobalamin was seen from 340 (171 to 787) at baseline to 285 (156-716) at latest follow-up (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The development of atrophic gastritis during omeprazole treatment in H. pylori-positive GERD patients is associated with a decrease of serum vitamin B12 levels.

Hypergastrinaemia during long-term omeprazole therapy: influences of vagal nerve function, gastric emptying and Helicobacter pylori infection.

AIM: elucidate the mechanisms that lead to severe hypergastrinaemia during long-term omeprazole therapy for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 26 GERD patients were studied during omeprazole maintenance therapy. Twelve patients with severe hypergastrinaemia (gastrin > 400 ng/L) were compared with 14 control patients (gastrin < 300 ng/L). Helicobacter pylori serology and a laboratory screen were obtained in all patients. Gastric emptying was scored by the evidence of food remnants upon endoscopy 12 h after a standardized meal. Gastric antrum and corpus biopsies were analysed for histological parameters, as well as somatostatin and gastrin concentrations. All patients underwent a meal-stimulated gastrin test and the hypergastrinaemia patients also underwent a vagal nerve integrity assessment by pancreatic polypeptide testing (PPT). RESULTS: Severe hypergastrinaemia patients had a longer duration of treatment (80 vs. 55 months; P = 0.047) and were characterized by a higher prevalence of H. pylori infection (9/12 vs. 2/14, P = 0.004), corpus mucosal inflammation and atrophic gastritis (P < 0.04). This was reflected in lower serum pepsinogen A concentrations (mean +/- S.E.M. 53.6 +/- 17.9 vs. 137 +/- 16.0 mg/L, P = 0.03), pepsinogen A/C ratio (1.8 +/- 0.3 vs. 4.1 +/- 0.6, P = 0.005) and mucosal somatostatin concentrations (2.75 +/- 0.60 vs. 4.48 +/- 1.08 mg/g protein, P = 0.038). Two patients in the hypergastrinaemia group had signs of delayed gastric emptying, but none in the normogastrinaemia group did (P = N.S.). In addition, both groups had a normal meal-stimulated gastrin response. CONCLUSION: Severe hypergastrinaemia during omeprazole maintenance therapy for GERD is associated with the duration of therapy and H. pylori infection, but not with abnormalities of gastric emptying or vagal nerve integrity.

Catalase and alpha-enolase: two novel granulocyte autoantigens in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

In IBD, the target antigens of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) have not been fully identified, which limits the analysis of the diagnostic significance as well as of the possible pathophysiological role of these antibodies. In this study, we identify the target antigens of ANCA in large groups of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Apart from antibodies against lactoferrin and bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI), which have been reported before, antibodies against two novel granulocyte antigens were identified: antibodies against a 57/56-kD doublet were found in 38% of samples from UC patients and in 26% of samples from CD patients, whereas antibodies against a 47-kD protein were found in 10% of samples from UC patients and in 18% of samples from CD patients. Partial purification and amino acid sequence analysis identified the 57-kD protein as catalase and the 47-kD protein as alpha-enolase. This study is the first to report catalase and alpha-enolase as granulocyte antigens for autoantibodies in IBD.

[Acute disorders of intestinal perfusion; a nonrigid abdomen may still be acute]. / Acute doorbloedingsstoornissen van de darm: een soepele buik kan toch acuut zijn.

Three patients, a man aged 50 years and two women aged 46 and 45 years, with abdominal pains and an undistended abdomen, were found to have acute mesenteric ischaemia. The causes were: unknown, a thrombus in the descending aorta and severe atherosclerosis, respectively. In the male patient, only 30 cm of vital small intestine ultimately remained; in one woman embolectomy sufficed, in the other, resection of a limited portion of the jejunal tract. All three patients fully recovered. Acute mesenteric ischaemia is a potentially lethal disease. Diagnosis in the first reversible phase makes full recovery of the intestine possible. This may be difficult since the clinical signs and symptoms are not specific in this phase and invasive diagnostic procedures (angiography) are required for accurate diagnosis. By making an angiogram of the mesenteric vessels in each patient with severe abdominal pain, no signs of peritonitis and leukocytosis, without another diagnosis, reversible mesenteric ischaemia can be diagnosed and a vascular surgical reconstruction can be planned.

Dyspepsia as initial symptom of splanchnic vascular insufficiency.

A patient is reported with an unusual presentation of splanchnic ischaemia, causing gastritis. Although mesenteric ischaemia is well described in the literature, there is little information on gastric ischaemia resulting in gastritis. There was a considerable delay in diagnosis and treatment, adding to a complicated course of events. After revascularization the patient made a complete recovery.

Atrophic gastritis and Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with reflux esophagitis treated with omeprazole or fundoplication.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection plays an important part in the development of atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia, conditions that predispose patients gastric cancer. Profound suppression of gastric acid is associated with increased severity of gastritis caused by H. pylori, but it is not known whether acid suppression increases the risk of atrophic gastritis. METHODS: We studied patients from two separate cohorts who were being treated for reflux esophagitis: 72 patients treated with fundoplication in Sweden and 105 treated with omeprazole (20 to 40 mg once daily) in the Netherlands. In both cohorts, the patients were followed for an average of five years (range, three to eight). After fundoplication, the patients did not receive acid-suppressive therapy. The presence of H. pylori was assessed at the first visit by histologic evaluation in the fundoplication group and by histologic and serologic evaluation in the omeprazole group. The patients were not treated for H. pylori infection. Before treatment and during follow-up, the patients underwent repeated gastroscopy, with biopsy sampling for histologic evaluation. RESULTS: Among the patients treated with fundoplication, atrophic gastritis did not develop in any of the 31 who were infected with H. pylori at base line or the 41 who were not infected; 1 patient infected with H. pylori had atrophic gastritis before treatment that persisted after treatment. Among the patients treated with omeprazole, none of whom had atrophic gastritis at base line, atrophic gastritis developed in 18 of the 59 infected with H. pylori(P<0.001) and 2 of the 46 who were not infected (P=0.62). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with reflux esophagitis and H. pylori infection who are treated with omeprazole are at increased risk of atrophic gastritis.

Long-term sequelae of Helicobacter pylori gastritis.

Chronic Helicobacter pylori gastritis has been put forward as a risk factor for development of gastric mucosal atrophy and gastric cancer. The purpose of our study was to investigate the long-term effects of H pylori gastritis on the gastric mucosa. We prospectively studied 49 subjects negative for H pylori and 58 positive subjects for a mean follow-up of 11.5 years (range 10-13 years). Serum samples were obtained at the initial and follow-up visits for determination of H pylori IgG antibodies. Gastroscopies with biopsy sampling were done in all patients at both visits. Biopsy specimens were used for assessment of H pylori infection and histology. Development of atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia occurred in 2 (4%) uninfected and 16 (28%) infected subjects. Regression of atrophy was noted in 4 (7%) infected subjects. Development of atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia was significantly associated with H pylori infection (p = 0.0014; odds ratio 9.0, 95% CI 1.9-41.3). The proportion of atrophic gastritis in the study population showed an annual increase of 1.15% (0.5-1.8%). We conclude that H pylori infection is a significant risk factor for development of atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia. Our findings support strongly the causative role of this infection in gastric carcinogenesis.

Does long-term inhibition of gastric acid secretion with omeprazole lead to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth?

OBJECTIVE: Gastric acid secretion and small intestinal motility are the main mechanisms of defense against bacterial overgrowth of the proximal digestive tract. Bacterial colonization of the stomach during gastric acid inhibition has been documented, but is probably without clinical consequence. However, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth can have serious clinical implications with malabsorption and diarrhoea. METHODS: We prospectively investigated small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in 40 patients receiving long-term omeprazole treatment using the [14C]glycocholic breath test. Tests were performed before omeprazole treatment, after 6 weeks treatment with 40 mg o.m. and after 26 weeks treatment with 20 mg; in the test each patient served as his own control. RESULTS: Breath tests, using individual curves, peak values, time at which the peak appeared and the area under the curve, did not differ significantly during treatment from those before treatment. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that long-term strong inhibition of gastric acid secretion does not lead to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in sera from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Relation to disease pattern and disease activity.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies producing a perinuclear fluorescence pattern on ethanol-fixed granulocytes (p-ANCA) were found in 33 of 67 patients (49%) with ulcerative colitis (UC) but also in 14 of 35 patients (40%) with Crohn's disease (CD). In the latter condition p-ANCA were equally present in subgroups with colonic, ileocolonic, or ileal involvement only. Titers of p-ANCA were higher in patients with UC compared to CD patients, in particular when comparing patients with active disease. In contrast to findings in CD, patients with active UC had higher titers of p-ANCA than patients with inactive UC. Although p-ANCA were incidentally directed to lactoferrin, both in UC and CD, and to proteinase-3 and myeloperoxidase in UC only, the antigenic nature of p-ANCA could not be identified in most of the cases. We conclude that, within the spectrum of inflammatory bowel disease, the presence of p-ANCA is not specific for UC. When titers of p-ANCA are taken into account, the presence of high-titered p-ANCA, however, suggests active UC.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in inflammatory bowel disease: characterization and clinical correlates.

ANCA were detected by indirect immunofluorescence in 34 out of 67 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC, 51%) and in 14 out of 35 patients with Crohn's disease (CD, 40%). All but one ANCA-positive sera produced a perinuclear pattern of fluorescence (P-ANCA) on ethanol-fixed neutrophils. On paraformaldehyde-fixed neutrophils 76% of P-ANCA-positive sera in UC and 50% of P-ANCA-positive sera in CD produced cytoplasmic fluorescence, indicating that, indeed, cytoplasmic antigens are recognized by a considerable number of these sera. By Western blot analysis using whole neutrophil extract as a substrate 46% of sera from patients with UC and 32% of sera from patients with CD showed reactivity with either lactoferrin, polypeptides occurring as a doublet of 66/67 kD mol. wt, or polypeptides occurring as a doublet of 63/54 kD mol. wt, respectively. Identical patterns of reactivity have been observed among P-ANCA-positive sera from patients with autoimmune liver disease and rheumatoid arthritis. These data suggest that ANCA of restricted specificities are not specific for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but are present in diverse conditions characterized by chronic idiopathic inflammation.

Antineutrophil antibodies in inflammatory bowel disease recognize different antigens.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) were observed in 31 out of 68 sera (45%) from Ulcerative Colitis (UC) patients and in 13 out of 38 Crohn's Disease (CD) sera (34%). The presence of ANCA was not related to disease activity, nor to the localization of the disease manifestations. By Western Blotting ANCA showed reactivity with either lactoferrin, polypeptides occurring as a doublet of 66/67 kD MW, or polypeptides occurring as a doublet of 63/54 kD MW.

[2 patients with a non-Hodgkin lymphoma located in the pancreas]. / Twee patiënten met non-Hodgkin-lymfomen gelokaliseerd in het pancreas.

A small percentage (around 1.5%) of pancreatic malignancies are well treatable non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Two patients with this disease are described. One patient was treated with both surgery and chemotherapy, the other with chemotherapy only. The results in both patients were excellent with complete responses being achieved. The literature on pancreatic non-Hodgkin's lymphomas is reviewed.

Role of fructose-sorbitol malabsorption in the irritable bowel syndrome.

Because even after low doses of fructose and sorbitol, fructose-sorbitol malabsorption has been found in a high number of patients with the irritable bowel syndrome, an etiological role of fructose-sorbitol malabsorption in the irritable bowel syndrome has been suggested. However, these studies have been uncontrolled. Therefore, a controlled study of fructose-sorbitol malabsorption in the irritable bowel syndrome compared with healthy controls was performed. Seventy-three patients, 23 men and 50 women with a mean age 43.1 +/- 1.7 years (range, 18-66 years) with the irritable bowel syndrome were compared with 87 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Fructose-sorbitol malabsorption was determined by a breath-hydrogen test (Lactoscreen, Hoek Loos, Schiedam, The Netherlands) following an oral load of 25 g fructose and 5 g sorbitol after a 10-hour fast. Fructose-sorbitol malabsorption, as shown by an H2 peak of 20 ppm over basal values, was found in 22 (30.1%) of the patients and 35 (40.2%) of the control subjects. With a lower peak level of 10 ppm over basal values, these percentages were 45.2% and 57.5%, respectively. Also, the highest H2 peak values (15.2 +/- 2.3 ppm vs. 21.5 +/- 2.6 ppm), time to reach peak levels (110.7 +/- 5.4 min vs. 107.1 +/- 5.9 min), and area under the H2 curve (1310 +/- 219 ppm.min vs. 1812 +/- 255 ppm.min) did not discriminate between patients and controls. During the test, symptoms developed in 31 of 70 patients and in 3 of 85 control subjects (P less than 0.0001). Symptomatic patients did not differ from asymptomatic patients regarding the presence or absence of fructose-sorbitol malabsorption, H2 peak values, and area under the curve. No differences could be identified between male and female patients or controls. In conclusion, fructose-sorbitol malabsorption is frequently seen in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, but this is not different from observations in healthy volunteers. Therefore, fructose-sorbitol malabsorption does not seem to play an important role in the etiology of irritable bowel syndrome.

Anorexia, weight loss, and diarrhea as presenting symptoms of angiokeratoma corporis diffusum (Fabry-Anderson's disease).

Fabry-Anderson's disease or angiokeratoma corporis diffusum (ACD) is an X-linked sphingolipidosis with a systemic character and occurs in 2-5 per million births (1-3). The basic defect is the absence of a lysosomal enzyme x-galactosidase A. This enzyme is necessary for the metabolization of ceramide trihexoside (globotriglycosyl ceramide), a breakdown product of cell membranes (4, 5). Clinically the disease is characterized by cutaneous angiokeratoma's and severe pain in the limbs from the second decade, followed by progressive renal insufficiency and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular damage in the third or fourth decade (6-8). In patients with established ACD, gastrointestinal symptoms have been described incidentally, mainly mild diarrhea (9, 10). We describe a kindred with ACD showing two extraordinary clinical features: (1) Anorexia, weight loss, and diarrhea were the presenting symptoms and antedated limb pain by many years, which has not been described before. (2) The disease was associated with another rare X-linked disorder: hypoplastic amelogenesis imperfecta.

Safety profile of omeprazole. Adverse events with short-term treatment.

Omeprazole is a very potent inhibitor of gastric acid secretion and has proven to be efficacious in the healing of peptic ulcer and reflux oesophagitis. A search for adverse events during short-term treatment with omeprazole has been made, based on data from published comparative trials, data on file at the manufactor's (Hässle Research Laboratories, Mölndal, Sweden) and personal series. Omeprazole does not show more adverse events than drugs currently widely in use for the treatment of acid-related disorders. A change in a wide range of laboratory parameters has not been observed, except for a rise in basal and meal-stimulated serum gastrin which can be ascribed directly to the inhibition of acid secretion. For short-term treatment omeprazole can be considered as a safe drug.