AIM: To determine the efficacy of our therapeutic strategy for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication and to identify predictive factors for successful eradication. METHODS: From April 2006 to June 2010, we retro...AIM: To determine the efficacy of our therapeutic strategy for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication and to identify predictive factors for successful eradication. METHODS: From April 2006 to June 2010, we retrospectively assessed 2428 consecutive patients (1025 men, 1403 women; mean age 55 years, age range 18-92 years) with gastric histology positive for H. pylori infection referred to our unit for 13-C urea breath test(UBT), after first-line therapy with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) b.i.d. + amoxicillin 1 g b.i.d. + clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d. for 7 d. Patients who were still positive to UBT were recommended a second-line therapy (PPI b.i.d. + amoxicillin 1 g b.i.d. + tinidazole 500 mg b.i.d. for 14 d). Third choice treatment was empirical with PPI b.i.d. + amoxicillin 1 g b.i.d. + levofloxacin 250 mg b.i.d. for 14 d. RESULTS: Out of 614 patients, still H. pylori-positive after first-line therapy, only 326 and 19 patients respectively rechecked their H. pylori status by UBT after the suggested second and third-line regimens. "Per protocol" eradication rates for first, second and thirdline therapy were 74.7% (95% CI: 72.7%-76.4%), 85.3% (95% CI: 81.1%-89.1%) and 89.5% (95% CI: 74.9%-103%) respectively. The overall percentage of patients with H. pylori eradicated after two treatments was 97.8% (95% CI: 97.1%-98.4%), vs 99.9% (95% CI: 99.8%-100%) after three treatments. The study found that eradication therapy was most effective in patients with ulcer disease (P < 0.05, P = 0.028), especially in those with duodenal ulcer. Smoking habits did not significantly affect the eradication rate. CONCLUSION: First-line therapy with amoxicillin and clarithromycin produces an H. pylori eradication rate comparable or superior to other studies and secondline treatment can still be triple therapy with amoxicillin and tinidazole.展开更多
AIM:To investigate endoscopic findings in patients with Schatzki rings(SRs) with a focus on evidence for eosinophilic esophagitis(EoE).METHODS:We consecutively approached all adult patients scheduled for elective outp...AIM:To investigate endoscopic findings in patients with Schatzki rings(SRs) with a focus on evidence for eosinophilic esophagitis(EoE).METHODS:We consecutively approached all adult patients scheduled for elective outpatient upper endoscopy for a variety of indications at the German Diagnostic Clinic,Wiesbaden,Germany between July 2007 and July 2010.All patients with endoscopically diagnosed SRs,defined as thin,symmetrical,mucosal structures located at the esophagogastric junction,were prospectively registered.Additional endoscopic findings,clinical information and histopathological findings with a focus on esophageal eosinophilia(≥ 20 eosinophils/high power field) were recorded.The criteria for active EoE were defined as:(1) eosinophilic tissue infiltration ≥ 20 eosinophils/hpf;(2) symptoms of esophageal dysfunction;and(3) exclusion of other causes of esophageal eosinophilia.Gastroesophageal reflux disease was excluded by proton pump inhibitor treatment prior to endoscopy.The presence of ≥ 20 eosinophils/hpf in esophageal biopsies in patients that did not fulfil the criteria of EoE was defined as esophageal hypereosinophilia.RESULTS:A SR was diagnosed in 171(3.3%;128 males,43 females,mean age 66 ± 12.9 years) of the 5163 patients that underwent upper gastrointestinalendoscopy.Twenty of the 116 patients(17%) from whom esophageal biopsies were obtained showed histological hypereosinophilia(≥ 20 eosinophils/hpf).Nine of these patients(8 males,1 female,mean age 49 ± 10 years) did not fulfill all diagnostic criteria of EoE,whereas in 11(9%) patients with ≥ 20 eosinophils/hpf,a definite diagnosis of EoE was made.Three of the 11 patients(27%) with definite EoE had no suspicious endoscopic features of EoE.In contrast,in the 25 patients in whom EoE was suspected by endoscopic features,EoE was only confirmed in 7(28%) patients.Patients with EoE were younger(mean age 41.5 ± 6.5 vs 50.5 ± 11.5 years,P = 0.012),were more likely to have a history of allergies(73% vs 29%,P = 0.007) and complained more often of dysphagia(91% vs 34%,P = 0.004) and food impaction(36% vs 6%,P = 0.007) than patients without EoE.Endoscopically,additional webs were found significantly more often in patients with EoE than in patients without EoE(36% vs 11%,P = 0.04).Furthermore,the SR had a tendency to be narrower in patients with EoE than in those without EoE(36% vs 18%,P = 0.22).The percentage of males(73% vs 72%,P = 1.0) and frequency of heartburn(27% vs 27%,P = 1.0) were not significantly different in both groups.The 9 patients with esophageal hypereosinophilia that did not fulfil the diagnostic criteria of EoE were younger(mean age 49 ± 10 years vs 58 ± 6 years,P = 0.0008) and were more likely to have a history of allergies(78% vs 24%,P = 0.003) than patients with < 20 eosinophils/hpf.Predictors of EoE were younger age,presence of dysphagia or food impaction and a history of allergies.CONCLUSION:A significant proportion of patients with SRs also have EoE,which may not always be suspected according to other endoscopic features.展开更多
文摘AIM: To determine the efficacy of our therapeutic strategy for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication and to identify predictive factors for successful eradication. METHODS: From April 2006 to June 2010, we retrospectively assessed 2428 consecutive patients (1025 men, 1403 women; mean age 55 years, age range 18-92 years) with gastric histology positive for H. pylori infection referred to our unit for 13-C urea breath test(UBT), after first-line therapy with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) b.i.d. + amoxicillin 1 g b.i.d. + clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d. for 7 d. Patients who were still positive to UBT were recommended a second-line therapy (PPI b.i.d. + amoxicillin 1 g b.i.d. + tinidazole 500 mg b.i.d. for 14 d). Third choice treatment was empirical with PPI b.i.d. + amoxicillin 1 g b.i.d. + levofloxacin 250 mg b.i.d. for 14 d. RESULTS: Out of 614 patients, still H. pylori-positive after first-line therapy, only 326 and 19 patients respectively rechecked their H. pylori status by UBT after the suggested second and third-line regimens. "Per protocol" eradication rates for first, second and thirdline therapy were 74.7% (95% CI: 72.7%-76.4%), 85.3% (95% CI: 81.1%-89.1%) and 89.5% (95% CI: 74.9%-103%) respectively. The overall percentage of patients with H. pylori eradicated after two treatments was 97.8% (95% CI: 97.1%-98.4%), vs 99.9% (95% CI: 99.8%-100%) after three treatments. The study found that eradication therapy was most effective in patients with ulcer disease (P < 0.05, P = 0.028), especially in those with duodenal ulcer. Smoking habits did not significantly affect the eradication rate. CONCLUSION: First-line therapy with amoxicillin and clarithromycin produces an H. pylori eradication rate comparable or superior to other studies and secondline treatment can still be triple therapy with amoxicillin and tinidazole.
文摘AIM:To investigate endoscopic findings in patients with Schatzki rings(SRs) with a focus on evidence for eosinophilic esophagitis(EoE).METHODS:We consecutively approached all adult patients scheduled for elective outpatient upper endoscopy for a variety of indications at the German Diagnostic Clinic,Wiesbaden,Germany between July 2007 and July 2010.All patients with endoscopically diagnosed SRs,defined as thin,symmetrical,mucosal structures located at the esophagogastric junction,were prospectively registered.Additional endoscopic findings,clinical information and histopathological findings with a focus on esophageal eosinophilia(≥ 20 eosinophils/high power field) were recorded.The criteria for active EoE were defined as:(1) eosinophilic tissue infiltration ≥ 20 eosinophils/hpf;(2) symptoms of esophageal dysfunction;and(3) exclusion of other causes of esophageal eosinophilia.Gastroesophageal reflux disease was excluded by proton pump inhibitor treatment prior to endoscopy.The presence of ≥ 20 eosinophils/hpf in esophageal biopsies in patients that did not fulfil the criteria of EoE was defined as esophageal hypereosinophilia.RESULTS:A SR was diagnosed in 171(3.3%;128 males,43 females,mean age 66 ± 12.9 years) of the 5163 patients that underwent upper gastrointestinalendoscopy.Twenty of the 116 patients(17%) from whom esophageal biopsies were obtained showed histological hypereosinophilia(≥ 20 eosinophils/hpf).Nine of these patients(8 males,1 female,mean age 49 ± 10 years) did not fulfill all diagnostic criteria of EoE,whereas in 11(9%) patients with ≥ 20 eosinophils/hpf,a definite diagnosis of EoE was made.Three of the 11 patients(27%) with definite EoE had no suspicious endoscopic features of EoE.In contrast,in the 25 patients in whom EoE was suspected by endoscopic features,EoE was only confirmed in 7(28%) patients.Patients with EoE were younger(mean age 41.5 ± 6.5 vs 50.5 ± 11.5 years,P = 0.012),were more likely to have a history of allergies(73% vs 29%,P = 0.007) and complained more often of dysphagia(91% vs 34%,P = 0.004) and food impaction(36% vs 6%,P = 0.007) than patients without EoE.Endoscopically,additional webs were found significantly more often in patients with EoE than in patients without EoE(36% vs 11%,P = 0.04).Furthermore,the SR had a tendency to be narrower in patients with EoE than in those without EoE(36% vs 18%,P = 0.22).The percentage of males(73% vs 72%,P = 1.0) and frequency of heartburn(27% vs 27%,P = 1.0) were not significantly different in both groups.The 9 patients with esophageal hypereosinophilia that did not fulfil the diagnostic criteria of EoE were younger(mean age 49 ± 10 years vs 58 ± 6 years,P = 0.0008) and were more likely to have a history of allergies(78% vs 24%,P = 0.003) than patients with < 20 eosinophils/hpf.Predictors of EoE were younger age,presence of dysphagia or food impaction and a history of allergies.CONCLUSION:A significant proportion of patients with SRs also have EoE,which may not always be suspected according to other endoscopic features.
