Middle East Journal of Digestive Diseases
Volume:6 Issue: 3, Jul 2014

Vascular complications by compromising the blood flow to the allograft can have significant and sometimes life-threating consequences for the patient. High level of suspicion and aggressive utilization of diagnostic modalities can lead to early diagnosis and salvage of the allograft. This review will summarize the current trends in the management of vascular complications after liver transplantation. Current trends show an increase in the utilization of endovascular interventions initially to address vascular complications after liver transplantation. Operative repair still has its major role, especially if endovascular procedures fail.

Recent guidelines have proposed that there is a correlation between tissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibody titers and degrees of duodenal biopsy, and that duodenal biopsy can be omitted in some patients with high levels of tTG antibody. Using data of registered patients in a gastrointestinal clinic we aimed to assess the correlation between tissue transglutaminase antibody with duodenal histologic Marsh grading in Iranian patients with celiac disease.We retrospectively reviewed hospital files of registered patients in the gastrointestinal clinic of Firoozgar Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Demographic, laboratory, and histology data of those who had tTG titer and pathology reports of duodenal biopsy based on the modified Marsh classification were extracted and used for the study.159 patients with available tTG titer and pathology reports were enrolled in our study. Mean ±SD of the patients was 35.6±15.2 and 100 (62.9%) of them were women. 133 out of 153 patients had villous atrophy (Marsh IIIa-IIIc). Anemia was the most common sign and bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea were the first three common symptoms in these patients. Mean tTG titers was significantly higher in patients graded as Marsh III (P for trend=0.003). Our results showed that tTG titer more than 9 folds higher than the kit’s cut-off value was about 97.2% sensitive for Marsh II and more duodenal damage.There was a correlation between tTG titers and degrees of duodenal damage in patients with celiac disease. Duodenal biopsy is not always necessary for diagnosing celiac disease and when tTG level is more than 9 folds higher than the manufacture’s recommended cut-off value it can be avoided. Meanwhile small intestinal biopsy should always be considered in case of high clinical suspicion, regardless of the results of serologic testing.

The appropriate dose of proton pump inhibitors for treatment of patients with upper (GI) bleeding remains controversial. This study compares high-dose versus low-dose intravenous proton pump inhibitor (PPI) infusion for prevention of GI bleeding complications.A total of 166 patients with bleeding peptic ulcers underwent therapeutic endoscopy using concomitant therapy by argon plasma coagulation (APC) and diluted epinephrine injection. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: high-dose pantoprazole (80 mg bolus, 8 mg per hour) and low-dose pantoprazole (40 mg bolus, 4 mg per hour) infused for three days. Initial outcomes were rebleeding, need for surgery, hemoglobin drop more than two units, and hospitalization for more than five days. Secondary outcome included mortality rate. Overall, 166 patients (83 patients per group) enrolled in the study. The average age of patients in the high-dose group was 59.5±15.6 years and 52.3±13.3 years in the low-dose group (p=0.58). Males comprised 69.7% of patients. In the high-dose group, the mean number of units of transfused blood was 3.3±1.71 and in the low-dose group, it was 2.82±1.73 (p=0.50). There were 36 (43.37%) patients in the high-dose group and 40 (48.19%) in the low-dose group who were hospitalized for more than 5 days (p=0.53). Rebleeding was observed in 27 (32.53%) patients in the high-dose group and in 21 (25.30%) in the low-dose group (p=0.30). There were no significant differences observed in drop in hemoglobin of more than two units (p=0.15), mortality (p=0.99) and surgery (p=0.75) between the two groups.For controlling peptic ulcer bleeding, there is no difference between high dose and low dose pantoprazole infusion.

Early diagnosis and endoscopic resection of adenomatous polyps is the main approach for screening and prevention of colorectal cancer (CRC). We aimed to assess polyp detection rate (PDR) and to characterize demographic, clinical, and pathological features of colorectal polyps in an Iranian population.We retrospectively analyzed the data from 5427 colonoscopies performed during 2007-2012 at Masoud Clinic, the main endoscopy center associated with Sasan Alborz Biomedical Research Center, in Tehran, Iran.Our sample included 2928 (54%) women and 2499 (46%) men, with the mean age of 48.3 years (SD=16.1). The most common reasons for colonoscopy included screening in 25.0%, and gastrointestinal bleeding in 15.2%. Cecal intubation was successful in 86% of patients. The quality of bowel preparation was good to excellent in 78.0% (n=4235) of colonoscopies. Overall PDR was 42.0% (95% CI: 40.6-43.3). The PDR in men (51.1%, 95% CI: 49.1-53.1) was significantly higher than women (34.2%, 95% CI: 32.4-35.9, p<0.001). Polyps were more frequently observed in patients after the 6th decade of life (F=3.2; p=0.004). CRC was detected in 2.9% (73/2499) of men and 1.9% (57/2928) of women (p=0.02). The mean age for patients with cancer was significantly higher than that for individuals with polyps, 60.9 (SD=13.4) year vs. 56.9 (SD=13.7) year, respectively (P=0.001). Almost 82.8% of the lesions were precancerous with tubular type predominance (62.3%) followed by tubulo-villous (10.3%), villous (6.6%), and serrated (3.6%). Hyperplastic/inflammatory polyps comprised 17.2% of lesions. About 50% of polyps more than 10 mm and 65% of colorectal cancers were in the rectum and sigmoid. These findings provide a great infrastructure for next preventive programs and have implications for colorectal cancer screening at population-level.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are rare tumors with variable malignant potential, prognosis, and survival. We aimed to assess the characteristics of patients with non- functional PNET in our hospital. From Nov 2010 to Nov 2013, all patients who came to endosonography unit of Shariati hospital, Tehran, Iran, and had pancreatic lesions were assessed. Tumor samples were obtained through fine needle aspiration. Various characteristics of the non- functional PNET were recorded and patients were followed up to three years.Twenty eight non func-PNET cases, aged 37-72 years were identified, 15 (53.6%) of whom were men. Fifteen (53.6%) tumors were located in the head and 5(17.8%) in the body of the pancreas. The mean tumor size was 3.9 Cm and 10.7%, 28.6%, 32.1%, and 28.6% of the patients were at stages I, II, III and IV, respectively. Of the patients, 12 (43%) underwent surgery, 3 (10.7%) received chemotherapy, and 13 (46.4%) received no treatment. During the mean follow-up of 16 months, the disease had progressed in 3 (10.7%) patients and 10 (35.7%) had died. In univariate analysis, tumor size>3Cm and Ki-67>20% were correlated with survival rate but not in multivariate analysis.Iranian patients with non- functional PNET present similar characteristics to world patients. There is a need to establish efficacy of tumor samples which are obtaining through fine needle aspiration for assessing tumor grading.

To estimate the total annual cost due to chronic hepatitis B (CHB)-related diseases imposed on each patient and his/her family in Iran.Economic burden of CHB-related diseases (CHB, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma) were examined. In this retrospective study, 100 Iranian patients were identified to obtain their socioeconomic status, utilization (direct and indirect costs) and costs of treatment, and work days lost due to illness with a structured questionnaire during 2012. Costs of hospital admissions were extracted from databases of Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz, Iran. The outpatient expenditure per patient was measured through the rate of outpatient visits and average cost per visit reported by the patients, while the inpatient costs were calculated through annual rate of hospital admissions and average expenditure.Self-medication and direct non-medical costs were also reported. The Human Capital Approach was used to measure the work loss cost.The total annual cost per patient for CHB, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma were US$ 3094.5, US$17483, and US$ 32958 during 2012, respectively.CHB-related diseases impose a substantial economic burden on patients,families, and the society. This study provides useful information on cost of treatment and work loss for different disease states, which can be further used in cost-effectiveness evaluations.

This case report demonstrates fatal gastrointestinal vasculitis as a rare presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus. A 34-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain and diarrhea. Anti nuclear antibody was positive and high titre of anti-ds DNA antibody was also reported. Treatment with corticosteroid and supportive cares were started; however, her condition worsened. Eventually, she was considered as a candidate for diagnostic laparoscopy. Immediately after laparoscopy, she developed respiratory distress along with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Soon after, the patient died because of disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Abdominal wall hernias are common problems found in patients with cirrhosis because of persistently high intra-abdominal pressure. When abdominal hernias are neglected in such patients, they may become larger and could result in cosmetic problems and pressure effects that are also difficult to treat. We found a voluminous mass in the anterior abdominal wall of a 40-year-old patient with cirrhosis. The patient was operated on for acute cholecystitis 12 years earlier. Abdominal computed tomography revealed an epigastric hernia presenting as a grossly distended hernia sac filled with serous fluid and intestinal loops. The patient was not operated on and was discharged with sodium-restricted diet and diuretics.