Biomedical subjects

Justin C Y Wu

Publications and source records attributed to Justin C Y Wu.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Cost-effectiveness of Helicobacter pylori "test and treat" for patients with typical reflux symptoms in a population with a high prevalence of H. pylori infection: a Markov model analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with typical reflux symptoms may have underlying peptic ulcer disease (PUD) in a population with a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection. In the present study we sought to compare the cost-effectiveness of the H. pylori "test and treat" strategy with that of empirical proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy and endoscopy in patients with typical reflux and a high prevalence of H. pylori infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A Markov model was designed to compare the outcomes of three treatment strategies over 12 months among a hypothetical cohort of patients presenting with typical reflux symptoms. There were four exclusive underlying H. pylori- and PUD-related comorbidities in the hypothetical cohort: (1) H. pylori-related PUD, (2) H. pylori infection without PUD, (3) PUD without H. pylori infection and (4) absence of both PUD and H. pylori infection. The transition probabilities and resource utilization were derived from the literature. Percentage of PUD patients treated, total number of symptom-free patient-years gained and total direct medical cost were estimated. RESULTS: By comparing each strategy individually with the no therapy strategy, it was found that the incremental costs per ulcer treated for H. pylori "test and treat", endoscopy and empirical PPI therapy were USD 1778, USD 1797 and USD 2158, respectively. The results of the model were sensitive to the prevalence of H. pylori infection. CONCLUSIONS: Both the H. pylori "test and treat" and initial endoscopic strategies were shown to be more cost-effective than empirical PPI therapy for treating undiagnosed PUD among patients presenting with typical reflux symptoms. The H. pylori "test and treat" strategy appeared to be only slightly more cost-effective than initial endoscopy in a population with a high prevalence of H. pylori infection.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗

PubMed2006

Helicobacter pylori infection in 1st degree relatives of Chinese gastric cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: Familial aggregation of gastric cancer has been linked to familial clustering of Helicobacter pylori infection. Patterns and risk factors associated with H. pylori infection were investigated in 1st degree relatives of Chinese gastric cancer patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Gastric cancer relatives were invited for screening endoscopy. H. pylori infection was diagnosed by endoscopic and serological methods. RESULTS: Among the 270 cancer relatives examined, 161 (59.6%) were found to be infected with H. pylori. The prevalence of infection in cancer relatives was significantly higher than age- and gender-matched dyspeptic control (45.5%, p=0.0006). The mean age of H. pylori-infected relatives was significantly older than that of non-infected relatives (43.9 versus 38.3 years; p<0.001). The prevalence of H. pylori infection was higher in those with more siblings (p=0.013, chi(2) test for trend). Moreover, individuals whose siblings had stomach cancer were more likely to have H. pylori infection than those with a parental history of cancer (68.2% versus 51.8%, p=0.007). In contrast, the youngest sibling had a significantly lower H. pylori infection rate than other siblings (39.2% versus 64.2%, p=0.001). Using multiple logistic regression, it was found that age >45 years (OR=1.8; 95% CI, 1.02-3.3) and a history of gastric cancer in siblings (OR=1.9; 95% CI, 1.06-3.3) were independent risk factors for H. pylori infection, and that the youngest sibling in the family had a reduced risk (OR=0.45; 95% CI, 0.24-0.84). CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies the patterns and risk factors for H. pylori in gastric cancer relatives, which may shed light on the evolving epidemiology of H. pylori infection in Chinese patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome with traditional Chinese herbal medicine: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: As there is no effective treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), many patients turn to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for possible cure. We investigated the therapeutic efficacy of an ancient herbal Chinese formula in patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS. METHODS: This was a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial. Chinese IBS patients with predominant diarrhea symptoms that fulfilled Rome II criteria were recruited. The diagnosis was verified by a TCM herbalist using TCM criteria. Eligible patients were randomized to receive a standard preparation of TCM extracts that contained 11 herbs or placebo with similar appearance and taste for 8 wk after a 2-wk run-in period. Patients were followed up for an additional 8 wk post-treatment. Primary outcome was patient's global symptom assessment. Other outcome measures included individual IBS symptom scores and health-related quality of life (short form 36). RESULTS: One hundred nineteen patients were randomized: 60 to receive TCM and 59 to receive placebo. There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients with global symptom improvement between the TCM and placebo groups at week 8 (35% vs 44.1%, p = 0.38) and at week 16 (31.7% vs 33.9%, p = 0.62). Moreover, there was no difference in individual symptom scores and the quality-of-life assessment between the two groups at all time points. BACKGROUND: The use of this herbal formulation for diarrhea-predominant IBS did not lead to global symptom improvement. Further controlled clinical studies may be necessary to characterize the role of TCM in the management of IBS.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Clopidogrel versus aspirin and esomeprazole to prevent recurrent ulcer bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Concurrent therapy with a proton-pump inhibitor is a standard treatment for patients receiving aspirin who are at risk for ulcer. Current U.S. guidelines also recommend clopidrogel for patients who have major gastrointestinal intolerance of aspirin. We compared clopidogrel with aspirin plus esomeprazole for the prevention of recurrent bleeding from ulcers in high-risk patients. METHODS: We studied patients who took aspirin to prevent vascular diseases and who presented with ulcer bleeding. After the ulcers had healed, we randomly assigned patients who were negative for Helicobacter pylori to receive either 75 mg of clopidogrel daily plus esomeprazole placebo twice daily or 80 mg of aspirin daily plus 20 mg of esomeprazole twice daily for 12 months. The end point was recurrent ulcer bleeding. RESULTS: We enrolled 320 patients (161 patients assigned to receive clopidogrel and 159 to receive aspirin plus esomeprazole). Recurrent ulcer bleeding occurred in 13 patients receiving clopidogrel and 1 receiving aspirin plus esomeprazole. The cumulative incidence of recurrent bleeding during the 12-month period was 8.6 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 4.1 to 13.1 percent) among patients who received clopidogrel and 0.7 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 0 to 2.0 percent) among those who received aspirin plus esomeprazole (difference, 7.9 percentage points; 95 percent confidence interval for the difference, 3.4 to 12.4; P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with a history of aspirin-induced ulcer bleeding whose ulcers had healed before they received the study treatment, aspirin plus esomeprazole was superior to clopidogrel in the prevention of recurrent ulcer bleeding. Our finding does not support the current recommendation that patients with major gastrointestinal intolerance of aspirin be given clopidogrel.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Long-term outcome of Helicobacter pylori-negative idiopathic bleeding ulcers: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Helicobacter pylori-negative idiopathic ulcers are increasingly recognized. The secular trend and long-term outcome of this condition are unknown. METHODS: We prospectively studied consecutive patients with bleeding gastroduodenal ulcers from January to December 2000. The incidence and etiology of ulcers during this period were compared with that between September 1997 and August 1998. H. pylori-negative idiopathic ulcers were defined as negative tests for H. pylori, no exposure to analgesics within 4 weeks, and absence of other risk factors for ulcers. After the ulcers had healed, patients with H. pylori-negative idiopathic ulcers and patients with H. pylori ulcers who received eradication therapy were followed up for 12 months without anti-ulcer drugs. RESULTS: Six hundred thirty-eight patients had bleeding ulcers: 213 (33.4%) were H. pylori ulcers, and 120 (18.8%) were H. pylori-negative idiopathic ulcers (vs 480 [50.3%] H. pylori ulcers and 40 [4.2%] H. pylori-negative idiopathic ulcers in 1997-1998; P < .001). H. pylori-negative idiopathic ulcers accounted for 16.1% of patients who were admitted for bleeding and 42.4% of patients who bled while in the hospital (P < .0001); 28.3% of patients with H. pylori-negative idiopathic ulcers had histologic evidence of past H. pylori infection. The probability of recurrent ulcer complications in 12 months was 13.4% (95% CI: 7.3%-19.5%) in patients with H. pylori-negative idiopathic ulcers and 2.5% (95% CI: 0.4%-4.6%) in patients with H. pylori ulcers who received eradication therapy (P = .0002). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of H. pylori-negative idiopathic bleeding ulcers is rising. These ulcers are prone to recurrent complications.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Esophageal bleeding disorders.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Management of esophageal bleeding disorder remains a challenging problem. This review focuses on studies published in previous 12 months that provided further understanding on the appropriate treatment of various esophageal bleeding disorders. Other uncommon causes of esophageal bleeding will also be discussed in this review. RECENT FINDINGS: With the advances in endoscopic and pharmacological treatments, mortality of variceal hemorrhage has been substantially reduced. Apart from its major role in initial treatment of variceal bleeding, mounting evidence shows that band ligation is a safe alternative to beta-blocker for primary prophylaxis and may even be used as an adjunct to the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt to obviate the need of long-term surveillance. While vasoactive agents remain the most important pharmacological treatment of esophageal variceal bleeding, antibiotic prophylaxis is also increasingly recognized to play a role in prevention of variceal rebleeding. The benefit of beta-blocker has now been extended to halt the progression of esophageal varices and combination of beta-blocker and band ligation remains the most cost-effective treatment strategy for secondary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding. Other new treatments such as endoloop and recombination factor VII have produced promising results. The clinical courses of variceal bleeding in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and acute necrotizing esophagitis are now better defined. SUMMARY: There are significant advances in the treatment of esophageal variceal bleeding and further understanding on the management and clinical courses of various esophageal bleeding disorders.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

PubMed2004

Magnetic resonance colonography in the detection of colonic neoplasm in high-risk and average-risk individuals.

OBJECTIVES: Magnetic resonance colonography (MRC) is a new noninvasive diagnostic modality for colorectal cancer. However, the use of MRC in the detection of colorectal neoplasm in average-risk individuals remains unknown. This study determined the performance and the patient's preference of MRC in the detection of colorectal neoplasm. METHODS: Both high-risk (i.e., symptoms suggestive of colorectal neoplasm, positive fecal occult blood test, history of colorectal cancer in one or more first-degree relatives) and average-risk (i.e., asymptomatic individuals >50 yr) individuals were recruited. MRC was performed immediately prior to conventional colonoscopy (CC) by using air inflation without contrast. The finding on CC together with histology was used as a gold standard. Patients' pain and discomfort score were recorded immediately and 24 h after the procedure. They were also asked about their preferences for the two procedures. RESULTS: A total of 165 patients (79 average risk and 86 high risk) were recruited. Eight patients had incomplete MRC and one patient had failed CC. Of the remaining 156 patients, 4 were found to have colonic cancer and 31 were found to have 67 polyps. MRC correctly identified 3 cancers (sensitivity 75%, specificity 99.3%) and 4 patients with colonic polyps (sensitivity 12.9% and specificity 97.6%). Sensitivity of MRC tended to be lower in polyps <10 mm in size and in average-risk individuals. The mean procedure time of CC was significantly shorter than MRC (13.6 +/- 6.7 vs 20.6 +/- 2.7 min, p < 0.001). Although there was no significant difference in the pain and discomfort scores of the 2 procedures, 75% of patients preferred CC to MRC. CONCLUSIONS: The performance of MRC when used in the detection of colonic neoplasm in average-risk individuals is unsatisfactory.

Colon↗

PubMed2004

Celecoxib versus diclofenac plus omeprazole in high-risk arthritis patients: results of a randomized double-blind trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The gastric safety of cyclooxgenase-2 inhibitors and prophylactic antisecretory therapy in high-risk arthritis patients is unclear. We studied the ulcer incidence and factors predicting ulcer recurrence in a prospective, double-blinded trial. METHODS: We studied patients who presented with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-associated ulcer bleeding. After ulcer healing, patients who were negative for Helicobacter pylori were randomly assigned to celecoxib 200 mg twice a day plus omeprazole placebo once daily or diclofenac 75 mg twice daily plus omeprazole 20 mg once daily for 6 months. Patients underwent endoscopy if they developed recurrent bleeding. Those without recurrent events underwent endoscopy at their last follow-up visit. RESULTS: Two hundred eighty-seven patients were enrolled; 24 had recurrent gastrointestinal complications. Among 259 patients without events, 222 underwent endoscopy (116 received celecoxib and 106 received diclofenac plus omeprazole). The probability of recurrent ulcers in 6 months was 18.7% in the celecoxib group and 25.6% in the diclofenac plus omeprazole group (difference, -6.7%; 95% CI: -17.8% to 3.9%) (P = 0.21). Combining bleeding and endoscopic ulcers, 24.1% in the celecoxib group and 32.3% in the diclofenac plus omeprazole group had recurrent ulcers in 6 months (difference, -8.2%; 95% CI: -19.5% to 2.9%) (P = 0.15). Treatment-induced significant dyspepsia (hazard ratio, 5.3; 95% CI: 2.6-10.8), age > or =75 (hazard ratio, 2.0; 95% CI: 1.1-3.5), and comorbidity (hazard ratio, 2.1; 95% CI: 1.2-3.7) independently predicted ulcer recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with previous ulcer bleeding, neither celecoxib nor diclofenac plus omeprazole adequately prevents ulcer recurrence. Treatment-induced significant dyspepsia is an indication for endoscopic evaluation.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Esophageal bleeding disorders.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Esophageal varices and Mallory Weiss syndrome are the two major esophageal bleeding disorders. Although there have been major breakthroughs in the treatment of peptic ulcer bleeding, the management of esophageal bleeding disorders remains a challenging problem. This review focuses on studies published in the previous 12 months that provide further understanding of the appropriate treatment of various esophageal bleeding disorders. Other uncommon causes of esophageal bleeding are also discussed. RECENT FINDINGS: With the advances in endoscopic and pharmacologic treatments, mortality resulting from variceal hemorrhage has been substantially reduced. Band ligation is the first-line endoscopic treatment of esophageal variceal hemorrhage. Vasoactive agents such as somatostatin analog and terlipressin are both safe and effective pharmacologic treatments of esophageal variceal hemorrhage. Use of a nonselective beta-blocker is still the most widely accepted treatment for both primary and secondary prophylaxis. However, the effectiveness of beta-blockers is limited by intolerance and nonresponders in a significant proportion of patients. Thus, endoscopic band ligation is used increasingly as an alternative strategy for primary prophylaxis. A transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt should be reserved as rescue therapy for failure of medical and endoscopic treatments. In recent years, noninvasive surrogate markers have been reported to identify high-risk patients with large esophageal varices. Platelet count, spleen diameter, and their ratio are accurate predictors of esophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis. The endosonographic measurement of the cross-sectional surface area predicts the risk of variceal hemorrhage. For Mallory Weiss syndrome, endoscopic clipping is an emerging treatment modality, especially for deep laceration with risk of perforation. SUMMARY: A combination of various clinical, laboratory, and endosonographic parameters accurately predicts the risk of variceal hemorrhage. A streamlined screening strategy allows more cost-effective use of endoscopy and prompt prophylactic treatment for high-risk esophageal varices.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

The effect of endoscopic therapy in patients receiving omeprazole for bleeding ulcers with nonbleeding visible vessels or adherent clots: a randomized comparison.

BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment of ulcers with nonbleeding visible vessels and adherent clots is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To compare intravenous omeprazole infusion plus endoscopic therapy with intravenous omeprazole infusion alone for prevention of recurrent bleeding from ulcers with nonbleeding visible vessels or adherent clots. DESIGN: Single-blind randomized study with blinded evaluation of study end points. SETTING: An endoscopy center in a university hospital in Hong Kong. PATIENTS: 156 persons with upper gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers showing nonbleeding visible vessels or adherent clots. INTERVENTION: Combination of endoscopic therapy and omeprazole infusion versus sham endoscopic therapy and omeprazole infusion. MEASUREMENTS: Recurrent ulcer bleeding before discharge and within 30 days. RESULTS: 78 patients were recruited in each group. Ulcer bleeding recurred before discharge in seven patients who received intravenous omeprazole alone (9%) and no patients who received combined therapy (difference, 9 percentage points [95% CI, 1.7 to 17.6 percentage points]; P = 0.01). The probability of recurrent bleeding within 30 days was 11.6% (9 patients) in the omeprazole-alone group and 1.1% (1 patient) in the combined therapy group (difference, 10.5 percentage points [CI, 1.7 to 19.8 percentage points]; P = 0.009). Patients in the combined therapy group required less transfusion (difference in median units of blood transfused, 1 unit [CI, 0 to 2 units]; P = 0.02). One patient in the combined therapy group had surgery for ulcer perforation. Four patients receiving omeprazole alone (5.1%) and two patients receiving combined therapy (2.6%) died within 30 days. CONCLUSION: The combination of endoscopic therapy and omeprazole infusion is superior to omeprazole infusion alone for preventing recurrent bleeding from ulcers with nonbleeding visible vessels and adherent clots.

Anti-Ulcer Agents↗

PubMed2003

Screening for colorectal cancer in Chinese: comparison of fecal occult blood test, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS), and colonoscopy are the most commonly recommended screening tests for colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy and safety of these 3 screening procedures in a general population of ethnic Chinese. METHODS: Asymptomatic adults older than 50 years were recruited from the general public through health exhibitions. All enrolled subjects were offered FOBT and full colonoscopy under sedation. Advanced colonic lesions (defined as adenoma > or = 10 mm, villous adenoma, adenoma with moderate or severe dysplasia, or invasive cancer) were recorded. Lesions at the distal 40 cm in the left colon and rectum were taken as findings of FS. RESULTS: A total of 505 subjects (56% women; mean age +/- SD, 56.5 +/- 5.4 years) were enrolled, and 476 (94.3%) had a complete colonoscopy. Advanced colonic neoplasms were documented in 63 subjects (12.5%), of which 45 had lesions in the distal colon and 26 in the proximal colon. Among the 385 subjects with a normal distal colon, 14 (3.6%) had advanced lesions in the proximal colon that would be missed by FS alone. The sensitivity and specificity of FOBT for advanced colonic lesions were 14.3% and 79.2% and the sensitivity and specificity of FS were 77.8% and 83.9%, respectively. Combining FOBT with FS would not significantly improve the results of FS alone. Among these 505 subjects who underwent colonoscopy and 148 who underwent polypectomy, there was no perforation and only one occurrence of postpolypectomy bleeding recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Colonoscopy is a safe and accurate method for the screening of colorectal neoplasms in Chinese subjects.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Celecoxib versus diclofenac and omeprazole in reducing the risk of recurrent ulcer bleeding in patients with arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines recommend that patients at risk for ulcer disease who require treatment for arthritis receive nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are selective for cyclooxygenase-2 or the combination of a nonselective NSAID with a proton-pump inhibitor. We assessed whether celecoxib would be similar to diclofenac plus omeprazole in reducing the risk of recurrent ulcer bleeding in patients at high risk for bleeding. METHODS: We studied patients who used NSAIDs for arthritis and who presented with ulcer bleeding. After their ulcers had healed, we randomly assigned patients who were negative for Helicobacter pylori to receive either 200 mg of celecoxib twice daily plus daily placebo or 75 mg of diclofenac twice daily plus 20 mg of omeprazole daily for six months. The end point was recurrent ulcer bleeding. RESULTS: In the intention-to-treat analysis, which included 287 patients (144 receiving celecoxib and 143 receiving diclofenac plus omeprazole), recurrent ulcer bleeding occurred in 7 patients receiving celecoxib and 9 receiving diclofenac plus omeprazole. The probability of recurrent bleeding during the six-month period was 4.9 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 3.1 to 6.7) for patients who received celecoxib and 6.4 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 4.3 to 8.4) for patients who received diclofenac plus omeprazole (difference, -1.5 percentage points; 95 percent confidence interval for the difference, -6.8 to 3.8). Renal adverse events, including hypertension, peripheral edema, and renal failure, occurred in 24.3 percent of the patients receiving celecoxib and 30.8 percent of those receiving diclofenac plus omeprazole. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with a recent history of ulcer bleeding, treatment with celecoxib was as effective as treatment with diclofenac plus omeprazole, with respect to the prevention of recurrent bleeding. Renal toxic effects are common in high-risk patients receiving celecoxib or diclofenac plus omeprazole.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

PubMed2002

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori and risk of peptic ulcers in patients starting long-term treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: a randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Whether Helicobacter pylori increases the risk of ulcers in patients taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is controversial. We hypothesised that eradication of H pylori infection would reduce the risk of ulcers for patients starting long-term NSAID treatment. METHODS: Patients were enrolled if they were NSAID naïve, had a positive urea breath test, had dyspepsia or an ulcer history, and required long-term NSAID treatment. They were randomly assigned omeprazole triple therapy (eradication group) or omeprazole with placebo antibiotics (placebo group) for 1 week. All patients were given diclofenac slow release 100 mg daily for 6 months from randomisation. Endoscopy was done at 6 months or if severe dyspepsia or gastrointestinal bleeding occurred. The primary endpoint was the probability of ulcers within 6 months. Analyses were by intention to treat. FINDINGS: Of 210 arthritis patients screened, 128 (61%) were positive for H pylori. 102 patients were enrolled, and 100 were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. H pylori was eradicated in 90% of the eradication group and 6% of the placebo group. Five of 51 eradication-group patients and 15 of 49 placebo-group patients had ulcers. The 6-month probability of ulcers was 12.1% (95% CI 3.1-21.1) in the eradication group and 34.4% (21.1-47.7) in the placebo group (p=0.0085). The corresponding 6-month probabilities of complicated ulcers were 4.2% (1.3-9.7) and 27.1% (14.7-39.5; p=0.0026). INTERPRETATION: Screening and treatment for H pylori infection significantly reduces the risk of ulcers for patients starting long-term NSAID treatment.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

PubMed2002

Empirical treatment based on "typical" reflux symptoms is inappropriate in a population with a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND: Empirical therapy or early endoscopy have been recommended as acceptable management options for GERD. The objective of this study was to determine whether diagnosis and empirical treatment based on reflux symptoms alone are appropriate as initial management for patients with gastroesophageal reflux. METHOD: Consecutive patients presenting with weekly reflux symptoms were evaluated with a structured questionnaire followed by endoscopy. Patients with dyspepsia as the predominant symptom, "alarm" symptoms (weight loss, dysphagia, or bleeding), history of peptic ulcer or gastric surgery, or recent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs intake were excluded. RESULTS: Four hundred sixty patients were studied: 82 (18%) were found to have peptic ulcer disease and 78 (95%) were infected with Helicobacter pylori. Concomitant erosive esophagitis was found in 26 (32%) of these patients with peptic ulcer disease. In the remaining 378 patients, 218 (58%) had erosive esophagitis and 1 had esophageal cancer. Among the 159 patients with no endoscopic lesion, 148 (93%) had relief of symptoms when treated with a proton pump inhibitor. Multivariate analysis showed that male gender (OR: 1.8, p = 0.03), age greater than 60 years (OR: 2.2, p = 0.01) and H pylori infection (OR: 3.6, p = 0.008) were significantly associated with a diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease. Coexisting dyspeptic symptom was not a predictor (p = 0.13) for peptic ulcer disease. CONCLUSIONS: In populations with a high prevalence of H pylori infection, a significant proportion of patients with GERD have concomitant peptic ulcer disease. Empirical treatment based on "typical" GERD symptoms alone may not be appropriate.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

EUS in the management of uninvestigated dyspepsia.

BACKGROUND: Management of dyspepsia often involves multiple diagnostic tests. By virtue of luminal and extraluminal imaging, EUS may be a satisfactory single test for the evaluation of patients with dyspepsia. METHODS: Patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia of more than 4 weeks duration were recruited. All underwent transabdominal US followed by EUS and EGD to look for both luminal and extraluminal lesions that could account for the dyspeptic symptoms. Each of these studies was performed by an independent operator blinded to the results of the other examinations. Patients were followed for 1 year to monitor clinical outcome. RESULTS: Two hundred patients were recruited. Compared with EGD, EUS had accuracies of 92% to 100% for the diagnosis of different luminal lesions. All gastric ulcers and cancers were detected by EUS, but 3 duodenal ulcers were missed. EUS also identified 48 pancreaticobiliary lesions, 23 of which were detected by US, that could account for the dyspeptic symptoms. Other extraintestinal lesions including mediastinal malignant lymphadenopathy and a dissecting aortic aneurysm were also diagnosed by EUS. Through the identification of extraluminal lesions, staging of tumors, and exclusion of pancreaticobiliary diseases, EUS altered clinical management in 50 patients (25%). CONCLUSION: EUS is a useful one-step investigation in patients with dyspepsia.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Update on treatment of variceal hemorrhage.

Variceal hemorrhage accounts for one third of all deaths related to cirrhosis. To date, many modalities of treating variceal bleeding have been devised, including pharmacological therapy. Treatment of variceal hemorrhage includes resuscitation, initial hemostasis, and prevention of complications and recurrent bleeding. Intravenous vasoactive agents such as terlipressin, somatostatin, octreotide, or vapreotide should be administered in patients with suspected variceal bleeding. Endoscopic treatment remains the mainstay of treatment. Endoscopic variceal ligation is safer and more efficacious than sclerotherapy as initial treatment of bleeding esophageal varices, whereas cyanoacrylate injection is the endoscopic treatment of choice for gastric varices. An adjuvant vasoactive agent is useful for the prevention of early rebleeding. Prophylactic antibiotics are increasingly used for prevention of infection, notably spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Follow-up endoscopic treatment is necessary in order to obliterate residual varices. The combination of a beta blocker and nitrate is an essential component of secondary prophylaxis for recurrent variceal bleeding. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt or surgery offers the best salvage therapy in patients with failed hemostasis or breakthrough recurrent bleeding despite medical and endoscopic therapy. Endoscopic ultrasonography is useful in the prediction of recurrence of varices and facilitates visualization and guidance of further treatment of gastric varices. Despite advances in the treatment of variceal bleeding, liver function remains the determining factor of patient survival. Liver transplantation is the only definitive treatment that can alter the course of the disease.

Esophageal and Gastric Varices↗