Arab Journal of Gastroenterology

Editorial Board

2011-12-01

A note from the Editor’s desk

2011-12-01

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome in patients with liver cirrhosis

Ehab E. Abdel-Khalek, Ashraf El-Fakhry, Mohamed Helaly, Magdy Hamed, Osama Elbaz — 2011-12-22

Abstract: Background and study aims: Patients with liver cirrhosis present an increased susceptibility to the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), which is considered the cause of hospital admission in about 10% of patients and is present in about 40% of those admitted for ongoing complications. We tried to assess the prevalence of the SIRS with the possible effects on the course of the disease during hospital stay.Patients and methods: Two hundred and three patients with liver cirrhosis were examined and investigated with close monitoring during hospital stay. The main clinical endpoints were death and the development of portal hypertension-related complications.Results: Eighty-one patients met the criteria of SIRS (39.9%). We found significant correlations between SIRS and jaundice (p=0.005), bacterial infection (p=0.008), white blood cell count (p<0.001), low haemoglobin concentration (p=0.004), high serum creatinine levels (p<0.001), high alanine aminotransferase levels (p<0.001), serum bilirubin levels (p<0.001), international normalised ratio (p<0.001), serum albumin levels (p=0.033), high Child-Pugh score (p<0.001). During the follow-up period, 26 patients died (12.8%), 15 developed portal hypertension-related bleeding (7.3%), 30 developed hepatic encephalopathy (14.7%), and 9 developed hepatorenal syndrome type-1 (4.4%). SIRS showed significant correlations both to death (p<0.001) and to portal hypertension-related complications (p<0.001).Conclusion: The systemic inflammatory response syndrome occurs in patients with advanced cirrhosis and is associated with a bad prognosis.

Clinico-laboratory study on children with auto-immune hepatitis in Upper Egypt

Nagla H. Abu Faddan, Laila Abdel-Baky, Sherin A. Aly, Hebat-allah G. Rashed — 2011-12-29

Abstract: Background and study aims: Auto-immune hepatitis (AIH) in children is a rare chronic progressive liver disorder. It is characterised serologically by high aminotransferase levels, elevated immunoglobulin G (IgG) and the presence of autoantibodies. AIH is divided into two types according to the autoantibody profile. This study aims to assess frequency, clinical manifestations, biochemical features and outcome of AIH in children attending Assuit University Hospitals in Upper Egypt with acute icteric hepatitis and seronegative viral markers (anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) IgM, HbsAg, anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) Ab).Patients and methods: The study includes 34 children with AIH, diagnosed on the basis of the International Scoring Criteria of Auto-immune Hepatitis, recruited from Assuit University Hospitals, during the period from January 2005 to December 2009. All patients received prednisolone 2mgkg–1day–1. Follow-up was done for 1year.Results: Among 34 children diagnosed as AIH, 24 were females (70.5%) and 10 were males (29.5%). Jaundice represented the most consistent finding in all patients. According to the autoantibody profile, 25 children were classified as type 1 and nine children were classified as type 2. Corticosteroid therapy was started. Complete remission was observed in 67.6% of patients and partial remission in 17.6%. There was no significant statistical difference in clinical and biochemical features of AIH in patients regarding the response to treatment. Mild side effects of steroid therapy were encountered in 48.2% of patients. After complete withdrawal of corticosteroids, six patients (20.7%) developed relapse.Conclusion: AIH type 1 was the main form of AIH in children referred to Assiut University Hospitals. Girls were more affected than boys. AIH type 1 exhibited a more active, ongoing immunologic process. Steroid alone can be used successfully in most cases. Children with AIH type 2 had a higher frequency of relapse after corticosteroid withdrawal. Further studies on a larger number of cases and long-term follow-up are recommended.

Portal hypertensive colopathy and haematochezia in cirrhotic patients: An endoscopic study

Yahia Z. Gad, Adel A. Zeid — 2011-12-22

Abstract: Background and study aims: In patients with liver cirrhosis, portal hypertensive colopathy (PHC) and anorectal varices (ARVs) are thought to cause lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. In the present work, we studied the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy in cirrhotic patients and haematochezia.Patients and methods: The current study was conducted on 77 consecutive cirrhotic patients who underwent colonoscopy at Mansoura Emergency Hospital, Egypt, between May 2007 and May 2011. Following rapid evaluation and adequate resuscitation, a thorough history was obtained with complete physical examination including digital rectal examination and routine laboratory investigations. Colonoscopic evaluation was performed for the included patients by recording endoscopic abnormalities and obtaining biopsies from lesions.Results: There was no significant difference between the PHC-positive group when compared with the PHC-negative group regarding patients’ age, sex, severity of haematochezia, positive family history and the history of intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Significant difference was noted regarding the Child–Pugh class (p<0.05), history of splenectomy (p<0.05), prior history of endoscopic sclerotherapy (EST) or endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) (p<0.05), prior history of upper gut bleeding (p<0.05), the presence of gastric varices (GVs) (p<0.05), presence of portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) (p<0.05), presence of haemorrhoids (p<0.05) and rectal varices (<0.05) and therapy with β-blockers (p<0.05). Regarding the laboratory parameters, the platelet count only was markedly reduced in the PHC-positive group (p<0.05). All the PHC-related sources of bleeding (7/32 cases (21.87%)) were successfully managed with argon plasma coagulation.Regarding the laboratory parameters, the platelet count only was markedly reduced in the PHC-positive group (p<0.05).All the PHC-related sources of bleeding (7/32 cases (21.87%)) were successfully managed with argon plasma coagulation.Conclusion: Our data revealed that it is not only PHC which is involved in haematochezia in cirrhotic patients despite the significant association. Instead, a high prevalence of inflammatory lesions came on the top of the list. Complete colonoscopy is highly advocated to detect probable proximal neoplastic lesions.

Comparison of Doppler-guided haemorrhoidal artery ligation without mucopexy and rubber band ligation for haemorrhoids

2011-12-22

Abstract: Background and study aims: Recurrences after Doppler-guided haemorrhoidal artery ligation (DG-HAL) tend to occur in patients with concurrent mucosal prolapse. We retrospectively compared the results of DG-HAL and rubber band ligation (RBL) for the treatment of haemorrhoidal disease.Patients and methods: From 2005 to 2009, all patients who underwent either a DG-HAL procedure or RBL were selected. Follow-up was done by telephone using a standardised questionnaire survey to assess patient satisfaction and complaints. When recurrent disease was suspected, patients revisited the clinic for further examination and treatment.Results: A total of 239 DG-HAL patients and 47 RBL patients were analysed. Sixty-seven percent in the DG-HAL group and 79% in the RBL group had an improvement in symptoms after one treatment (p=0.22). Forty-six DG-HAL patients (19%) needed a second procedure versus three patients (6%) in the RBL group (p<0.05). Cox regression analysis showed a significant difference in disease recurrence in favour of RBL (hazard ratio (HR) 3.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13–12.2). Patients in the DG-HAL group with recurrent haemorrhoids had a higher incidence of mucosal prolapse.Conclusion: DG-HAL seems very effective in treating lower-grade haemorrhoids. In more advanced disease, recurrence occurs due to persisting mucosal prolapse. RBL seems much more effective in reducing the prolapse and the chance of recurrence.

The pathogenic role of different Blastocystis hominis genotypes isolated from patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Shawky A. Fouad, Maha M.A. Basyoni, Reham A. Fahmy, Mohamed H. Kobaisi — 2011-12-22

Abstract: Background and study aims: The pathogenic role of Blastocystis hominis is still regarded by some as controversial. Studies have been in progress for years to evaluate the role of blastocystosis in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and demonstrated that faecal carriage of B. hominis was frequent in these patients. This study attempted to distinguish different genotypes of B. hominis isolates obtained from patients with IBS and to evaluate their pathogenic potentials.Patients and methods: One hundred subjects (51 patients with IBS and 49 asymptomatic infected subjects) harbouring B. hominis were investigated by a direct smear examination and in vitro culture of stool samples followed by genotyping of B. hominis by PCR using STS primers. Sigmoidoscopy was done in all subjects and biopsies were taken and subjected to histopathologic examination.Results: Genotyping proved that only four genotypes of B. hominis were identified. In patients with IBS, genotypes III, I, and IV were detected (28, 15 and 14 isolates, respectively). On the other hand, genotypes III, IV, and II were identified in asymptomatic infected individuals (21, 19 and 13 isolates, respectively). The degrees of chronic inflammatory changes in sigmoidoscopic biopsies caused by B. hominis genotypes among IBS patients revealed that severe inflammation was present mainly in patients harboring genotype I isolates (4/15) (26.66%), while genotype III caused severe inflammation only in 9.09%. Genotype II isolates were not detected in IBS cases. Asymptomatic infected individuals harboring genotypes II, III and IV exhibited mild to moderate inflammatory changes. Genotype I isolates were not detected in asymptomatic infected group. The correlation between different B. hominis genotypes and degree of inflammation was statistically insignificant.Conclusion: Genotype I was the most pathogenic genotype of B. hominis isolates in patients with IBS while genotype II was not detected among those patients. Also, our results suggest the presence of pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains among genotypes III and IV.

Erosive gastritis mimicking watermelon stomach in a child

Omar I. Saadah — 2011-12-19

Abstract: Watermelon stomach is the description usually given to the endoscopic appearance of gastric antral vascular ectasia. The classical histopathological features of gastric antral vascular ectasia include; hyperplasia of the surface epithelium and the fibromuscular layer of the lamina propria associated with the presence of dilated submucosal venous channels and thrombosed capillaries. This condition can be associated with liver cirrhosis, chronic renal failure and autoimmune disorders. Herein, we report the watermelon endoscopic appearance of the gastric mucosa in a 12-year-old Saudi girl with erosive gastritis.

Unique endoscopic findings in lymphocytic colitis

Anastasios Koulaouzidis — 2011-05-13

A 50-year-old female presented to her general practitioner with few months’ history of watery, non-bloody diarrhoea and occasional mucus excretion. She had an unremarkable past medical history and eventually underwent a colonoscopy.

AMAGE next congress: The sixth AMAGE congress of the African Middle East Association of Gastroenterology (AMAGE) Nigeria 21–25 November 2012 (Calabar “Tipana”)

Hussein Abdel-Hamid — 2011-12-01

The African Middle East Association of Gastroenterology (AMAGE) is one of the four global branches of the world Gastroenterology Organization (WGO). The other 3 branches are The Asian Pacific Association of Gastroenterology (APAGE), the Interamerican Association of Gastroenterology (AIGE), and the Association of National European and Mediterranean Societies of Gastroenterology (ASNEMGE).

Thankyou to Reviewers

2011-12-01