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Biomedical subjects

G Brandstätter

Publications and source records attributed to G Brandstätter.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Intraductal papillary-mucinous tumors of the pancreas: presentation of eight cases.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The mucinsecreting intraductal papillary-mucinous tumors of the pancreas are a rare entity with characteristic duodenoscopic and radiological features. These tumors have a broad spectrum of presentation. The diagnosis requires highly experienced and attentive endoscopists. Once diagnosed, resection of the tumor is recommended to prevent progression to malignancy. This surgical procedure has a low acceptance, mainly in the elderly patients. Therefore, a "wait and see" strategy may be necessary in those patients refusing operation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1996 and 2000, intraductal papillary-mucinous tumors of the pancreas were diagnosed in eight patients (5 females, 3 males) using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and confirmed by brush cytology and/or histology and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The patients showed typical endoscopic and radiological findings: dilatation and mucin extrusion of the papillary orifice, easy passage of instruments into the dilated main pancreatic duct, which showed patchy filling defects after application of contrast medium. Patients were informed about the diagnosis in detail. Two patients were inoperable. Surgery was recommended to the other six patients. Two of the six patients agreed to surgical treatment. The remaining four patients were included in a follow-up protocol. These patients were observed for up to 5 years. Only one patient showed minor progression of ERCP-findings. CONCLUSION: Intraductal papillary-mucinous tumors of the pancreas can be well characterized by means of endoscopy and radiology. Poor compliance to surgical treatment makes individual multidisciplinary management and follow-up necessary.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗
PubMed2000

Primary gastric B-cell lymphoma: results of a prospective multicenter study. The German-Austrian Gastrointestinal Lymphoma Study Group.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Appropriate management of primary gastric lymphoma is controversial. This prospective, multicenter study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of endoscopic biopsy diagnosis and clinical staging procedures and assess a treatment strategy based on Helicobacter pylori status and tumor stage and grade. METHODS: Of 266 patients with primary gastric B-cell lymphoma, 236 with stages EI (n = 151) or EII (n = 85) were included in an intention-to-treat analysis. Patients with H. pylori-positive stage EI low-grade lymphoma underwent eradication therapy. Nonresponders and patients with stage EII low-grade lymphoma underwent gastric surgery. Depending on the residual tumor status and predefined risk factors, patients received either radiotherapy or no further treatment. Patients with high-grade lymphoma underwent surgery and chemotherapy at stages EI/EII, complemented by radiation in case of incomplete resection. RESULTS: Endoscopic-bioptic typing and grading and clinical staging were accurate to 73% and 70%, respectively, based on the histopathology of resected specimens. The overall 2-year survival rates for low-grade lymphoma did not differ in the risk-adjusted treatment groups, ranging from 89% to 96%. In high-grade lymphoma, patients with complete resection or microscopic tumor residuals had significantly better survival rates (88% for EI and 83% for EII) than those with macroscopic tumor residues (53%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There is a considerable need for improvement in clinical diagnostic and staging procedures, especially with a view toward nonsurgical treatment. With the exception of eradication therapy in H. pylori-positive low-grade lymphoma of stage EI and the subgroup of locally advanced high-grade lymphoma, resection remains the treatment of choice. However, because there is an increasing trend toward stomach-conserving therapy, a randomized trial comparing cure of disease and quality of life with surgical and conservative treatment is needed.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Famotidine versus omeprazole in combination with clarithromycin and metronidazole for eradication of Helicobacter pylori--a randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: One-week low-dose triple therapy is currently considered the gold standard regimen for treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. However, the mechanisms involved in the synergy between antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors are controversial. AIMS: To test the hypothesis that acid suppression represents the crucial mechanism by which the antibacterial activity of antibiotics can be enhanced, and to assess the impact of primary resistance on treatment outcome. METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients with H. pylori infection and duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer or non-ulcer dyspepsia were randomly assigned to a 1 week course of either famotidine 80 mg b.d., clarithromycin 250 mg b.d. and metronidazole 500 mg b.d. (FCM group; n = 60) or omeprazole 20 mg o.d., clarithromycin 250 mg b.d. and metronidazole 500 mg b.d. (OCM group; n = 60). Gastroscopy was performed at baseline and 5 weeks after completion of treatment. H. pylori status was assessed by biopsy urease test, histology and culture. RESULTS: In the intention-to-treat analysis, eradication of H. pylori was achieved in 47 of 60 patients (78%; 95% CI: 66-88%) in the FCM group, compared to 44 of 60 patients (73%; 95% CI: 60-84%) in the OCM group (N.S.). Using per protocol analysis, eradication therapy was successful in 47 of 52 patients (90%; 95% CI: 79-97%) treated with FCM and 44 of 57 patients (77%; 95% CI: 64-87%) treated with OCM (N.S.). Primary metronidazole resistance was present in 27% and primary clarithromycin resistance in 8% of strains. Overall per protocol eradication rates in strains susceptible to both antibiotics and strains with isolated metronidazole resistance were 93% and 84%, respectively. No patient with clarithromycin resistance responded to treatment. CONCLUSIONS: High-dose famotidine and omeprazole, combined with clarithromycin and metronidazole, are equally effective for eradication of H. pylori. In 1-week low-dose triple therapy, metronidazole resistance has no major impact on eradication rates whereas clarithromycin resistance is associated with a poor treatment outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori by a 1-week course of famotidine, amoxicillin and clarithromycin.

OBJECTIVES: The combination of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) such as omeprazole with amoxicillin and clarithromycin constitutes one of the most effective treatments for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori. Nevertheless, the mechanisms of interaction between these drugs remain unclear. It has been shown that minimal inhibitory concentration values of both antibiotics are considerably lower at neutral pH levels than in an acid environment. Further, omeprazole possesses bacteriostatic activity. To evaluate the significance of these mechanisms we replaced omeprazole with famotidine, a drug which only suppresses acid production, but has no intrinsic antimicrobial activity. METHODS: We evaluated the efficacy of a 1-week course of famotidine 80 mg b.i.d., amoxicillin 1000 mg b.i.d. and clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d. in a pilot study (20 patients), and then confirmed our results in a larger replication study (87 patients). A total of 107 patients with H. pylori-associated duodenal ulcer (n = 54), gastric ulcer (n = 14) or non-ulcer dyspepsia (n = 39) were included. Endoscopy was performed at baseline and 4-6 weeks after discontinuation of treatment. H. pylori status was assessed by the urease test and histology. RESULTS: H. pylori was successfully eradicated in 94 of 104 patients who completed the study (90.4%; CI 95%, 83.0-95.3%). By intention-to-treat analysis, the eradication rate was 87.9% (CI 95%, 80.1-93.4%). Ulcer healing was observed in 98.1% of duodenal ulcers and 92.9% of gastric ulcers (based on per-protocol analysis). Mild side effects that did not require termination of treatment were reported by seven patients (6.7%). CONCLUSION: A 1-week course of famotidine, amoxicillin and clarithromycin is a highly effective, simple and safe eradication regimen. Our data indicate that acid suppression is the crucial mechanism by which the activity of amoxicillin and clarithromycin against H. pylori is enhanced, whereas additional antimicrobial activity or other specific effects of PPIs seem to be less important.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Hormonal therapy in chronic radiation colitis.

Severe gastrointestinal bleeding is a rare complication of radiation therapy that requires frequent transfusions. This case report describes a patient with severe bleeding from radiation colitis after treatment of bladder cancer. During 5 months of therapy with multiple drugs, the patient needed 26 units of packed red cells. A subsequent hormone therapy consisting of an estrogen-progesterone combination significantly reduced the need for blood transfusions and hospitalization. We conclude that hormones might provide a promising new additional symptomatic therapy for bleeding radiogenic colitis.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Double-blind study of the effect of cisapride on constipation and abdominal discomfort as components of the irritable bowel syndrome.

AIM: To study the effect of prokinetic treatment with cisapride in patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-six patients were randomly assigned to treatment with either cisapride 5 mg three times daily or placebo three times daily for a period of 12 weeks. The dosage could be doubled after 4 weeks. Presence of the target symptoms abdominal pain, constipation and abdominal bloating was an obligatory criterion for inclusion in the study. RESULTS: After 12 weeks of treatment, 31%, 56% and 27% of the cisapride treated patients were found to be without the three target symptoms (P < 0.05). The corresponding percentages for the placebo-treated patients were 31%, 58% and 19%, respectively, (P < 0.05). The visual analogue scale (VAS) symptom scores assessed by the patients for global rating of bowel disease, general well-being and frequency of stool passage improved significantly within each treatment group (P < 0.05). Evaluation of efficacy parameters using intention-to-treat analysis showed no statistically significant differences between the groups. Using efficacy analysis, the difficulty of stool passage showed a significantly higher improvement with cisapride (P < or = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that cisapride is not superior to placebo in the treatment of constipation and abdominal discomfort as components of irritable bowel syndrome. It may, however, be of use in improving the difficulty of stool passage.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1996

Influence of spasmolytic analgesics on motility of sphincter of Oddi.

The effects on the sphincter of Oddi of intravenous administration of dipyrone, 2.5 g; tramadol, 50 mg; indomethacin, 75 mg; N-butylscopolamine, 20 mg; and nitroglycerin, 1 mg, in comparison to physiological saline were assessed in a single-blind study in 36 patients hospitalized with upper abdominal pain. Basal sphincter pressure and sphincter motility were measured for a 5-min period after treatment by endoscopic manometry. Nitroglycerin and dipyrone both caused a significant fall in basal sphincter pressure, while N-butylscopolamine and nitroglycerin produced a significant decrease in contraction frequency. Therefore, dipyrone, in contrast to tramadol and indomethacin, exhibits spasmolytic activity in addition to analgesia in biliary pain.

Analgesics, Opioid↗
PubMed1994

Malignant bile-duct obstruction: experience with self-expanding metal endoprostheses (Wallstents) in Austria.

Fifty-two patients in nine Austrian hospitals were treated with biliary self-expanding metal endoprostheses (Wallstents) for malignant biliary obstruction, and followed up retrospectively using questionnaires, answered by the endoscopists. Stent placement was successful in all patients. The technical failure rate at the first attempt was 7.7%, and stenting-associated mortality was 3.8% due to mispositioning of stents, leading in two cases to death. The 30-day mortality was 13.5%, and early complications occurred in 15.4%. The median survival was 216 days, and the median stent patency was 291 days. During follow-up, stent occlusion was observed in ten patients, acute cholangitis in 12 patients, acute pancreatitis in three patients, acute cholecystitis in one patient, and duodenal ulceration due to stent erosion in one patient. Routine use of biliary self-expanding metal endoprostheses by averagely experienced endoscopists can be recommended. Attention has to be paid to the correct placement of the guidewire and stent.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Effect of ranitidine and amoxicillin plus metronidazole on the eradication of Helicobacter pylori and the recurrence of duodenal ulcer.

BACKGROUND: Persistent infection with Helicobacter pylori is associated with the recurrence of duodenal ulcer. Whether the efficacy of bismuth therapy in reducing the rate of recurrence of duodenal ulcer is due to its antimicrobial effects on H. pylori or to a direct protective action on the mucosa is still a matter of debate. METHODS: To study the effect of the eradication of H. pylori on the recurrence of duodenal ulcer, we treated 104 patients with H. pylori infection and recurrent duodenal ulcer with either amoxicillin (750 mg three times daily) plus metronidazole (500 mg three times daily) or identical-appearing placebos, given orally for 12 days. All patients also received ranitidine (300 mg each night) for 6 or 10 weeks. Endoscopy was performed before treatment and periodically during follow-up for up to 12 months after healing. RESULTS: Among the 52 patients given antibiotics, H. pylori was eradicated in 46, as compared with 1 of the 52 given placebo (89 percent vs. 2 percent, P < 0.001). After six weeks, the ulcers were healed in 48 patients given antibiotics and 39 given placebo (92 percent vs. 75 percent, P = 0.011). Side effects, mainly diarrhea, occurred in 15 percent of the patients given antibiotics. Among the patients followed up for 12 months, duodenal ulcers recurred in 4 of 50 patients given antibiotics and 42 of 49 given placebo (8 percent vs. 86 percent, P < 0.001). Ulcers recurred in 1 of 46 patients in whom H. pylori had been eradicated, as compared with 45 of 53 in whom H. pylori persisted (2 percent vs. 85 percent, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with recurrent duodenal ulcer, eradication of H. pylori by a regimen that does not have any direct action on the mucosa is followed by a marked reduction in the rate of recurrence, suggesting a causal role for H. pylori in recurrent duodenal ulcer.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Effect of cisapride on relapse of esophagitis. A multinational, placebo-controlled trial in patients healed with an antisecretory drug. The Italian Eurocis Trialists.

The effect of a prokinetic agent, cisapride, on the relapse of reflux esophagitis was investigated in a randomized, double-blind trial conducted in 443 patients whose esophagitis had previously been healed with an acid antisecretory drug. Patients received cisapride, 20 mg at night, cisapride 10 mg twice daily, or placebo for 12 months or until endoscopic relapse was confirmed endoscopically. In 88% of all patients (respectively 133, 132, and 124), endoscopic data were available at discontinuation of treatment. In comparison with placebo, the two cisapride regimens prolonged both the time to endoscopically confirmed relapse (Kaplan-Meier analysis; P = 0.001) and the time to symptomatic relapse (P = 0.012). The life-table endoscopic relapse rates at 12 months were 51% for placebo, 32% for cisapride 20 mg at night (P = 0.005), and 34% for cisapride 10 mg twice daily (P = 0.02). Patients with more severe esophagitis before healing relapsed more rapidly during maintenance therapy, regardless of the treatment regimen. Adverse events were infrequent in all three groups. These findings indicate that maintenance treatment with the prokinetic drug cisapride prevents the relapse of esophagitis after it has been healed by acid antisecretory therapy.

Cisapride↗
PubMed1993

Kinetics of specific IgG antibodies for monitoring the effect of anti-Helicobacter pylori chemotherapy.

A total of 104 patients with recurrent duodenal ulcer were treated with either ranitidine plus amoxicillin plus metronidazole or ranitidine plus placebo. To study the effect of the eradication of Helicobacter pylori on the systemic immune response in an IgG ELISA, sera were drawn from all patients before the onset of therapy and at 6, 16 +/- 2, 32 +/- 2, and 60 +/- 2 weeks after therapy. In patients with eradication of the organism, a significant (P < .001) reduction of the specific IgG titer occurred. This was not observed in patients without bacterial eradication. If a titer reduction of > 50% was taken as an indicator for eradication of H. pylori, the sensitivity of the serologic test was 97.6%-99.7%. Its specificity increased with the interval to the onset of chemotherapy from 56.3% to 97.6%. Serologic tests are simple to perform and cause very little discomfort to the patient.

Amoxicillin↗
PubMed1993

Paraneoplastic polymyositis associated with a renal carcinoma.

A 56-year-old patient was admitted to hospital because of difficulties in swallowing and in opening his mouth. The serological transaminases were increased. Over the next 6 weeks a bioptically proven polymyositis (more proximally located) caused a respiratory insufficiency which had to be treated by artificial respiration. A tetraplegia connected with a large increase of creatine-kinase was also seen. The general investigations were focused on malign processes with a particular search for bronchial carcinoma. At first a kidney cyst detected by ultrasound but was classified as harmless by several investigators. Finally, a computer tomogram of the abdomen demonstrated a cystic degenerated renal carcinoma, which had been cytologically tested also. The clinical course showed a typical aspect of a paraneoplastic syndrome: after extended nephrectomy a distinct regression of the musculary symptoms developed, but with the development of metastases the symptoms increased again. The interdependence of polymyositis and primary renal carcinoma would appear to be proven.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗
PubMed1992

[Treatment of mild to moderate reflux esophagitis with the H2-blocker famotidine].

The efficacy of a single daily dose of 40 mg famotidine was compared with that of the same dose administered twice daily for 4 and 8 weeks respectively, in the treatment of reflux oesophagitis of varying severity (oesophagitis stage I to III). A total of 20 patients took part in the trial; the rate of total recovery was 50%. A significant improvement was recorded in a further 10% of the patients, and no change was observed in 30%. In 5% of cases, a deterioration was seen, that is to say that the treatment was discontinued for 1 patient due to adverse reactions. Following a 4 week course of treatment, the rate of recovery was markedly better in the patient group given 40 mg twice daily, compared to the group receiving 40 mg once daily. After 8 weeks, taking into account the fact that 5 patients were withdrawn from the study, there was no significant difference in the rate of recovery. H2-blocker therapy would thus seem to be, as published, a potentially conservative treatment of mild to moderate forms of reflux oesophagitis. Higher daily dosages initially give better results.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗
PubMed1992

[Effect of pirenzepine on motility of Oddi's sphincter].

Pirenzepine (Gastrozepin) has a proven positive effect in the treatment of peptic ulcers by blocking the so called muscarinic acetylcholine receptors of the gastric glands. Reports of positive results with pirenzepine in the treatment of acute pancreatitis led to new discussions about its biological effects. It is thought that there are three ways by which pirenzepine acts in the pancreas. It decreases enzymatic secretion and it increases the secretion of sodium bicarbonate and water. Furthermore, it is said to have a spasmolytic effect on the sphincter of Oddi. To prove this spasmolytic effect we performed endoscopic manometry at the sphincter of Oddi with intubation of the pancreatic duct in 12 healthy patients. After two minutes of manometric registration of the normal sphincter activity 6 patients received 10 mg pirenzepine i.v. while a control group of 6 patients received 2 ml of 0.9% NaCl i.v. During the next 5 minutes the basal pressure of the sphincter, the amplitude of concentrations, as well as their frequency and duration were monitored. There were no changes noticed in the placebo group. However, pirenzepine caused a considerable decrease of the 4 manometric parameters of the sphincter of Oddi in all patients. Within 5 minutes the basal tonus fell from 14.3 +/- 5.1 mm of mercury to 9.0 +/- 6.0 (p less than 0.01). The frequency of contractions dropped from 5.8 +/- 2.7 per minute to 2.0 +/- 2.1 (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde↗
PubMed1991

[Dysfunction of the sphincter of Oddi as a cause of so-called postcholecystectomy syndrome].

In up to 30% of cases of the so-called postcholecystectomy syndrome functional disturbances of the sphincter of Oddi are responsible for the clinical picture. These pathological changes in pressure and motility at the sphincter can be identified by means of endoscopic manometry. We found dysfunction of the sphincter of Oddi in 4 out of 10 patients with so-called postcholecystectomy syndrome. In 2 patients in whom the basal pressure was higher than 40 mmHg endoscopic papillotomy was performed, after which the patients remained symptom-free. In one case tachyoddi was diagnosed and in another case the proportion of retrograde sphincter contractions exceeded 50%. Endoscopic manometry at the sphincter of Oddi enables many of the as yet unclarified postcholecystectomy symptoms to be identified.

Biliary Dyskinesia↗
PubMed1991

[Extracorporeal shockwave therapy in giant stones in the common bile duct--a case report].

A huge common bile duct stone of 6 to 3 cm in diameter in a 64 year old lady was approached by ESWL, after endoscopic therapy such as mechanical lithotripsy and removal with the Dormia basket had failed because of the extraordinary size of this stone. A surgical therapy was not possible because of pronounced vascular and cardiopulmonary risk, so ESWL was applied to this patient. The stone was fragmented in two sessions of ESWL under sonographic targeting and the fragments were removed endoscopically. After one month one fragment still remained in the common bile duct, which then was removed also endoscopically. Two months later the ERC showed a stone-free common bile duct. This case demonstrates, that even common bile duct stones of extraordinary size can be removed by combining ESWL with endoscopic techniques. Following the trend to minimally invasive therapy, sonography should be preferred over XRay in diagnosis before ESWL as well as during ESWL.

Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde↗