Intralesional steroid is beneficial in benign refractory esophageal strictures:A meta-analysis

AIM To analyze the effect of intralesional steroid injections in addition to endoscopic dilation of benign refractory esophageal strictures.METHODS A comprehensive search was performed in three databases from inception to 10 April 2017 to identify trials, comparing the efficacy of endoscopic dilation to dilation combined with intralesional steroid injections. Following the data extraction, meta-analytical calculations were performed on measures of outcome by the randomeffects method of Der Simonian and Laird. Heterogeneity of the studies was tested by Cochrane's Q and I^2 statistics. Risk of quality and bias was assessed by the Newcastle Ottawa Scale and JADAD assessment tools.RESULTS Eleven articles were identified suitable for analyses, involving 343 patients, 235 cases and 229 controls in total. Four studies used crossover design with 121 subjects enrolled. The periodic dilation index(PDI) was comparable in 4 studies, where the pooled result showed a significant improvement of PDI in the steroid group(MD:-1.12 dilation/month, 95% CI:-1.99 to -0.25 P = 0.012; I^2 = 74.4%). The total number of repeat dilations(TNRD) was comparable in 5 studies and showed a non-significant decrease(MD:-1.17, 95%CI:-0.24-0.05, P = 0.057; I^2 = 0), while the dysphagia score(DS) was comparable in 5 studies and did not improve(SMD: 0.35, 95%CI:-0.38, 1.08, P = 0.351; I^2 = 83.98%) after intralesional steroid injection.CONCLUSION Intralesional steroid injection increases the time between endoscopic dilations of benign refractory esophageal strictures. However, its potential role needs further research.

Chronic kidney disease severely deteriorates the outcome of gastrointestinal bleeding: A meta-analysis

AIM To understand the influence of chronic kidney disease(CKD) on mortality, need for transfusion and rebleeding in gastrointestinal(GI) bleeding patients.METHODS A systematic search was conducted in three databases for studies on GI bleeding patients with CKD or endstage renal disease(ESRD) with data on outcomes of mortality, transfusion requirement, rebleeding rate and length of hospitalization(LOH). Calculations were performed with Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software using the random effects model. Heterogeneity was tested by using Cochrane's Q and I2 statistics. Mean difference(MD) and OR(odds ratio) were calculated.RESULTS1063 articles(EMBASE: 589; PubM ed: 459; Cochrane: 15) were found in total. 5 retrospective articles and 1 prospective study were available for analysis. These 6 articles contained data on 406035 patients, of whom 51315 had impaired renal function. The analysis showed a higher mortality in the CKD group(OR = 1.786, 95%CI: 1.689-1.888, P < 0.001) and the ESRD group(OR = 2.530, 95%CI: 1.386-4.616, P = 0.002), and a rebleeding rate(OR = 2.510, 95%CI: 1.521-4.144, P < 0.001) in patients with impaired renal function. CKD patients required more unit red blood cell transfusion(MD = 1.863, 95%CI: 0.812-2.915, P < 0.001) and spent more time in hospital(MD = 13.245, 95%CI: 6.886-19.623, P < 0.001) than the controls.CONCLUSION ESRD increases mortality, need for transfusion, rebleeding rate and LOH among GI bleeding patients. Prospective patient registries and observational clinical trials are crucially needed.