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Background The effectiveness of the switch to another anti–tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agent is not known. The aim of this study was to analyze the effectiveness and safety of treatment with a second and third anti-TNF drug after intolerance to or failure of a previous anti-TNF agent in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Methods We included patients diagnosed with IBD from the ENEIDA registry who received another anti-TNF after intolerance to or failure of a prior anti-TNF agent. Results A total of 1122 patients were included. In the short term, remission was achieved in 55% of the patients with the second anti-TNF. The incidence of loss of response was 19% per patient-year with the second anti-TNF. Combination therapy (hazard ratio [HR], 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8–3; P < 0.0001) and ulcerative colitis vs Crohn’s disease (HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1–2.1; P = 0.005) were associated with a higher probability of loss of response. Fifteen percent of the patients had adverse events, and 10% had to discontinue the second anti-TNF. Of the 71 patients who received a third anti-TNF, 55% achieved remission. The incidence of loss of response was 22% per patient-year with a third anti-TNF. Adverse events occurred in 7 patients (11%), but only 1 stopped the drug. Conclusions Approximately half of the patients who received a second anti-TNF achieved remission; nevertheless, a significant proportion of them subsequently lost response. Combination therapy and type of IBD were associated with loss of response. Remission was achieved in almost 50% of patients who received a third anti-TNF; nevertheless, a significant proportion of them subsequently lost response.

Resumen Objetivo Valorar los recursos disponibles en los hospitales comarcales catalanes para la asistencia urgente de la hemorragia digestiva alta. Metodo Se analiza una encuesta enviada a 32 hospitales, sobre la existencia, composicion y recursos del turno de guardia (TDG) de endoscopia, referida al ano 2009. Resultados Respondieron 24 centros, que cubrian la asistencia de 3.954.000 habitantes. Tenian TDG 12 hospitales. No disponian de TDG en su centro de referencia 1.483.000 habitantes. Los centros con TDG tenian mas camas y cubrian mas poblacion. Los TDG estaban formados por 4,5 endoscopistas (rango 2-11), que cubrian 82,1 (33,2-182,5) guardias/ano. Diecisiete centros reportaban 1.571 episodios (51 por centro, rango 3-280, 39,68/100.000 hab.). Los centros con TDG reportaban mas casos (76 vs. 43, p = 0,047). Los que no disponen de TDG derivaron mas pacientes (147 vs . 17, p= 0,001). Los pacientes en urgencias estaban a cargo de medicina interna en 4 centros, de cirugia en 14 y repartidos entre ambos servicios en 6. Si ingresaban, quedaron a cargo de Digestivo solo en 6 hospitales. Los recursos mas utilizados eran la ligadura en la hemorragia varicosa y las terapias de inyeccion en la no varicosa. Un 21% de centros no realizaban tratamiento combinado. Conclusiones Una proporcion significativa de la poblacion no dispone de endoscopista de guardia en su centro de referencia. La constitucion de TDG en hospitales comarcales supone importantes cargas asistenciales. La coordinacion entre profesionales y centros permitiria la aplicacion eficiente de los recursos terapeuticos y el establecimiento de TDG en centros que no tienen.

We report the case of a 40-year-old man with underlying alcoholic liver disease who presented with prolonged fever, jaundice and liver failure associated with Coxiella burnetii infection. After diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment, the patient made a complete recovery. We describe aspects of this case and provide a practical review of the literature on the topic. We also discuss the importance of this infection and the need for its inclusion in the differential diagnosis of this clinical picture.

Resumen Fundamento y objetivo La colaboracion entre medicos de familia (MF) y especialistas se considera indispensable para una asistencia sanitaria de calidad. El objetivo del presente estudio es analizar la relacion entre los gastroenterologos (GAS) y los MF en el ambito de los hospitales comarcales de Cataluna y sus centros de atencion primaria de referencia. Material y metodos Estudio descriptivo, observacional y transversal, realizado mediante cuestionario anonimo entre los meses de enero y abril de 2008. Resultados Se recogieron 314 encuestas (261 MF y 53 GAS). La valoracion global de la relacion se considero muy deficiente o insuficiente por el 62,3% de los GAS (IC95%, 47,9–74,9) y por el 55,6% de MF (IC95%, 49,3–61,7). El 56,6% de GAS no conoce o conoce a pocos MF y lo mismo sucede con el 80,4% de MF. El 64% de GAS considera que la calidad asistencial para la patologia digestiva en AP es muy deficiente o insuficiente. Por su parte, el 21,1% de MF considera muy deficiente o insuficiente la calidad asistencial por parte de GAS. La percepcion de la calidad de la asistencia tanto en atencion especializada como en AP mejora significativamente cuando el grado de conocimiento personal entre GAS y MF es alto o muy alto. Conclusiones Los profesionales perciben como insuficiente el nivel de relacion entre niveles asistenciales. Ademas, los GAS evaluan como deficiente el manejo de la patologia digestiva en atencion primaria. La existencia de una relacion personal mejora significativamente la valoracion mutua.

It is important to identify the best initial work-up in patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia because of its epidemiological and economical relevance. The objective of the study was to assess systematically the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of invasive and non-invasive strategies for the management of dyspepsia.A decision analysis was performed to compare prompt endoscopy, score and scope, test and scope, test and treat, and empirical antisecretory treatment. Published and local data on the prevalence of different diagnoses, rates of Helicobacter pylori infection, accuracy values of diagnostic tests, and effectiveness of drug treatments were used. The perspective of analysis was that of the public healthcare payer, and only direct costs were included, with a one-year post-therapy time horizon. The main outcome measure was cost per asymptomatic patient, valued in 2003 Euros.Endoscopy was found to be the most effective strategy for the management of dyspepsia (38.4% asymptomatic patients), followed by test and scope (35.5%), test and treat (35.3%), score and scope (34.7%), and empirical treatment (28.5%). Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios showed that score and scope was the most cost-effective alternative (483.17 Euros per asymptomatic patient), followed by prompt endoscopy (1396.85 Euros). Sensitivity analyses showed variations when varying the values of prevalence of duodenal ulcer, and the values of healing of functional dyspepsia with antisecretory and eradication drugs. There were no changes when varying the prevalence of H. pylori in dyspepsia.We would recommend stratifying patients by a score system, referring first to endoscopy those patients at higher risk of organic dyspepsia.

Fundamento y objetivo Los modelos predictivos basados en un conjunto de sintomas pueden ser utiles para seleccionar a los pacientes con dispepsia candidatos a endoscopia. Un estudio previo realizado por gastroenterologos obtuvo tres escalas de sintomas con alto valor predictivo para dispepsia organica, ulcera peptica y esofagitis. El objetivo del presente estudio fue validar de forma prospectiva la reproducibilidad de dichos modelos al ser utilizados por medicos de atencion primaria o por otros gastroenterologos. Pacientes y metodo Estudio clinico prospectivo en 230 pacientes del area del hospital de Viladecans (120 de atencion primaria y 110 de consulta de gastroenterologia) a los que se aplicaron las tres escalas a validar. Posteriormente se realizo una endoscopia que clasifico a los pacientes en dispepsia organica (ulcera, esofagitis, cancer) o funcional. La capacidad discriminante para dispepsia organica, ulcera y esofagitis del medico de primaria y del gastroenterologo al aplicar cada una de las escalas se calculo mediante el estadistico c. Resultados Las capacidades discriminantes fueron 0,75 y 0,82 para dispepsia organica, 0,78 y 0,86 para ulcera, y 0,78 y 0,82 para esofagitis, para medicos de atencion primaria y para gastroenterologos, respectivamente. El punto de corte optimo para discriminar dispepsia organica, el que combina la mayor sensibilidad con la mayor especificidad, subio de 6 a 7 puntos en esta validacion con respecto al estudio inicial. Conclusiones La confirmacion de la reproducibilidad y transferibilidad de un modelo predictivo sencillo de dispepsia organica abre la posibilidad de utilizar este tipo de instrumentos para conseguir un abordaje mas eficiente de la dispepsia.

Neuroendocrine tumors of the gastrointestinal tract are highly infrequent. We report the case of a 57-year-old woman who presented with toxic syndrome, vomiting and a 3-month history diarrhea, with a final diagnosis of poorly-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor. Based on this case, we review the clinical characteristics, diagnostic procedures, prognostic factors and therapeutic possibilities in this type of tumor. Neuroendocrine tumors should be considered in the diagnosis of colonic tumors with hyperechoic liver metastases.

Neuroendocrine tumors of the gastrointestinal tract are highly infrequent. We report the case of a 57-year-old woman who presented with toxic syndrome, vomiting and a 3-month history diarrhea, with a final diagnosis of poorly-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor. Based on this case, we review the clinical characteristics, diagnostic procedures, prognostic factors and therapeutic possibilities in this type of tumor. Neuroendocrine tumors should be considered in the diagnosis of colonic tumors with hyperechoic liver metastases.

To evaluate the resources available in Catalan regional hospitals for the emergency care of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.We analyzed a survey sent to 32 hospitals on the availability, composition and resources of a duty endoscopy service for the year 2009.Responses were obtained from 24 centers, covering 3,954,000 inhabitants. Duty endoscopists were available in 12 hospitals. A total of 1,483,000 inhabitants were unable to access a duty endoscopist in the referral center. Centers with duty endoscopists had more beds and had a larger catchment area. Duty services were composed of 4.5 endoscopists (range 2-11), covering 82.1 (33.2-182.5) duty shifts/year. Seventeen centers reported 1,571 episodes (51%, range: 3-280, 39.68/100,000 inhabitants). Centers with a duty service reported a greater number of cases (76 vs. 43, p=0.047). Centers without this service referred a greater number of patients (147 vs. 17, p=0.001). Patients in the emergency department were under the care of the internal medicine department in four centers, the surgery department in 14 centers and under the care of both departments in six. Admitted patients were under the care of the gastroenterology department in only six hospitals. The most widely used procedures were ligation of varicose bleeding and injection therapies in non-varicose bleeding. Twenty-one percent of centers did not perform combined treatment.A significant proportion of the population does not have access to a duty endoscopist in referral centers. Duty shifts represent significant workload in regional hospitals. Coordination among health professionals and centers would allow the efficient application of therapeutic resources and a duty endoscopy service to be established in centers lacking this resource.

Collaboration between general practitioners (GPs) and specialists is considered crucial to provide high-quality healthcare. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between gastroenterologists and GPs in regional hospitals and their referring primary care centers in Catalonia (Spain).A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study was carried out using anonymous questionnaires between January and April 2008.A total of 314 surveys were administered (261 GPs and 53 gastroenterologists). The overall relationship was considered highly deficient or insufficient by 62.3% of gastroenterologists (95% CI, 47.9-74.9) and by 55.6% of GPs (95% CI, 49.3-61.7). More than half (56.6%) of the gastroenterologists did not know any GPs, or only a very few, and the situation was the same for 80.4% of GPs. Sixty-four percent of gastroenterologists considered that the quality of care for digestive diseases in primary care was highly deficient or insufficient while 21.1% of GPs considered that the care provided by gastroenterologists was highly deficient or insufficient. The perception of healthcare in both primary and specialized settings was substantially better when there was good interaction between gastroenterologists and GPs.Practitioners acknowledge that the degree of interaction between different levels of healthcare is insufficient. Moreover, gastroenterologists consider that the management of digestive diseases in primary care is deficient. Establishing a personal relationship between the two types of practitioners substantially improves mutual assessment.

We report the case of a 40-year-old man with underlying alcoholic liver disease who presented with prolonged fever, jaundice and liver failure associated with Coxiella burnetii infection. After diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment, the patient made a complete recovery. We describe aspects of this case and provide a practical review of the literature on the topic. We also discuss the importance of this infection and the need for its inclusion in the differential diagnosis of this clinical picture.

Limited information suggests the existence of a high prevalence of hepatitis B (HBV) and C virus (HCV) infection in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This knowledge is relevant because the viruses may reactivate under immunosuppressive therapy. The objectives of this study are to assess the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection in IBD, in a nationwide study, and to evaluate associated risk factors.This cross-sectional multicenter study included 2,076 IBD patients, consecutively recruited in 17 Spanish hospitals. Factors related to IBD (severity, invasive procedures, etc.) and to infection (transfusions, drug abuse, etc.) were registered. Independent risk factors for viral infection were evaluated using logistic regression analysis.Present and/or past HBV and HCV infection was found in 9.7% of patients of both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) (UC: HBsAg 0.8%, anti-HBc 8%, anti-HCV 1.3%; CD: HBsAg 0.6%, anti-HBc 7.1%, anti-HCV 2.3 %). Effective vaccination (anti-HBs, without anti-HBc) was present in 12% of patients. In multivariate analysis, age (odds ratio (OR) 1.04; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.06; P=0.000), family history of hepatitis (OR 2.48; 95% CI 1.3-4.74; P=0.006) and moderate-to-severe IBD disease (OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.02-6.15; P=0.046) were significantly related to HBV, whereas transfusions (OR 2.66; 95% CI 1.2-5.87; P=0.015) and antibiotic use (OR 2.66; 95% CI 1.1-6.3; P=0.03) were significantly related to HCV. The significance for transfusions was lost if they were administered after 1991, when HCV markers became mandatory in blood banks.Prevalence of HBV and HCV infection in IBD is similar to that of the general population of reference and lower than that in previously published series. This fact, in addition to the lack of association with invasive procedures, suggests the existence of adequate preventive measures in centers attending to these patients. The low percentage of effective vaccination makes it mandatory to intensify B virus vaccination in IBD.

Predictive symptomatic scoring models have been proposed to select patients with dyspepsia, who may be candidates to endoscopy. In a previous study performed by gastroentrologists from our group, we obtained three scales of symptoms to predict organic dyspepsia, peptic ulcer and esophagitis, respectively. Here we analyze the reproducibility of those scoring models of symptoms when used either by other gastroenterologists or general practitioners.It was a clinical prospective study of 230 patients from the Viladecans hospital area (120 from primary healthcare and 110 from the gastroenterologist's consultation). The three validation scales were performed in each patient. Then, we performed a diagnostic gastroscopy which allowed to classify patients into those with organic dyspepsia (ulcer, esophagitis, cancer) or those with functional dyspepsia. We calculated the overall predictive accuracy for the gastroenterologist and the general practitioner and for the three diagnoses (organic dyspepsia, ulcer or esophagitis) using the C statistic.Discriminative capacities were 0.75 and 0.82 for organic dyspepsia, 0.78 and 0.86 for ulcer disease, and 0.78 and 0.82 for esophagitis, for the general practitioner and the gastroenterologist, respectively. In this validation study, the best cut-off value, namely the one combining good sensitivity and specificity, was found to be 7.A correct predictive capacity of the symptomatic score models when used by other gastroenterologists or by primary healthcare practioners confirms its reproducibility and transferability. The use of predictive symptomatic score models in everyday clinical practice can allow to rationalize the referral for endoscopy in our local setting.

Introduccion Los inmunosupresores pueden aumentar la replicacion viral con exacerbacion de la hepatitis B (VHB) y C (VHC). Existe escasa informacion con respecto a la influencia del tratamiento inmunosupresor en pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (EII) e infeccion viral simultanea. En pacientes hematologicos sometidos a terapia antineoplasica, se demuestra reactivacion por el VHB que oscila del 14–78%, con un alto porcentaje de hepatitis fulminante (50% mortalidad), siendo la reactivacion por el VHC menos frecuente. Objetivo Evaluar la influencia del tratamiento inmunosupresor en la evolucion de la infeccion por el VHB y C en pacientes con EII. Metodos Estudio multicentrico retrospectivo que incluye todos los pacientes con EII e infeccion por el VHB y/o VHC actual o pasada y que hayan recibido tratamiento inmunosupresor en 18 hospitales espanoles. Se recopila informacion sobre el tipo y periodo de uso de los inmunosupresores utilizados y se evalua la funcion hepatica y marcadores virales pre, durante y postratamiento. Los datos se introducen en una base electronica ( www.repentina.com ), finalizando el reclutamiento el 31 marzo 2009. Resultados En el momento del envio del resumen, disponemos de datos de los marcadores virales de 77 pacientes; 43 de los cuales con serologia positiva para el VHB y 39 para el VHC. Cinco de estos tenian marcadores de ambas infecciones (antiHBc+AcVHC). En la tabla se muestra la evolucion de la infeccion de los pacientes HBsAg y RNA-VHC positivos, en relacion con la inmunosupresion. Casos Reactivacion No reactivacion Datos incompletos VHB (HBsAg) 13 53,8% (7/13) 46,1% (6/13) 0% (0/13) VHC (RNA) 23 8,7% (2/23) 52,2% (12/23) 39,1% (9/23) La reactivacion del VHB se observo en la mayoria de los casos con la utilizacion simultanea de 2 inmunosupresores (azatioprina+infliximab o esteroides), y se acompano de insuficiencia hepatica grave en 5 de 7 casos (71%). En 1 paciente con marcadores de infeccion pasada por VHB (antiHBc+antiHBs) y tratado con infliximab+azatioprina se detecto DNAVHB en dos ocasiones sin evidencia de reactivacion. Conclusiones 1) Igual como se ha descrito en otras situaciones de inmunosupresion, la reactivacion del VHB (HBsAg positivo) es mucho mas frecuente y grave que con el VHC. 2) La mayoria de las reactivaciones del VHB se producen con la administracion de 2 inmunosupresores simultaneos. 3) Los pacientes con marcadores de infeccion pasada por VHB deben ser controlados de forma estricta por la posibilidad de infeccion oculta.

Morphologic and functional hepatic changes occur in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Patients with this disease often require the administration of artificial nutritional support. Liver function tests (LFT) derangement is a widely recognized side-effect of total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Therefore, the use of this modality of nutritional support may be an additional factor to cause hepatic damage in IBD patients. However whether or not the same occurs in patients receiving total enteral nutrition (TEN) is not well-established. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of TEN upon LFT in patients with moderate to severe acute attacks of IBD, by means of a prospective, controlled, and nonrandomized design. Forty-nine patients were included; 29 (11 patients with ulcerative colitis and 18 with Crohn's disease) received TEN, and 20 (11 with ulcerative colitis and 9 with Crohn's disease) did not. Both groups were homogeneous regarding age, sex, disease activity index, nutritional status, and length of the study (24.8 +/- 1.3 vs 23.9 +/- 16.8 days). In all cases, weekly measurements of serum alkaline phosphatase, GOT, and GPT were performed. There were no significant differences in LFT at the beginning of the study between groups. The percentage of patients showing derangement of some LFT during the study did not differ between both groups: six of 29 (20.6%) in TEN group vs three of 20 (15%) in control group. Six out of the nine patients (in both groups) who developed LFT derangement had one or more causes, other than TEN for explaining hepatic dysfunction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

To assess the effect of the addition of enteral tube feeding with polymeric diets to the standard treatment of acute attacks of inflammatory bowel disease a total of 43 patients admitted to hospital (23 with Crohn's disease and 20 with ulcerative colitis) were studied retrospectively. Total enteral nutrition was given to 26 as the sole nutritional supply and to 17 in conjunction with a normal ward diet, when appropriate, according to the severity of attack (control group). Nutritional state was assessed and classified in all patients at admission and at the end of the study, by measuring the triceps skinfold thickness, mid arm muscle circumference, and serum albumin concentration as representative of body fat, muscle protein, and visceral protein, respectively. At admission the three nutritional variables were not statistically different between the groups. There was a significantly positive effect on mid arm muscle circumference in patients on total enteral nutrition compared with the control group, but there was no effect on either triceps skinfold thickness or serum albumin concentration. The percentage of subjects requiring intravenous albumin infusion, however, was significantly less in the group fed enterally than in the control group. In addition, fewer patients in the group fed enterally required surgical treatment compared with the control group, despite the fact that one of the criteria for starting enteral nutritional support was the expectancy that surgery would be needed. Total enteral nutrition was well tolerated and no major side effects arose during its use in patients with acute exacerbations of inflammatory bowel disease.

Objective To prospectively assess the accuracy of a scoring system to predict organic diseases in dyspeptic patients in an area of South Europe, and to compare it with that of Helicobacter pylori testing in patients with dyspepsia in an environment with high prevalence of H. pylori infection. Methods Symptoms and demographic data were recorded in 501 consecutive dyspeptic patients referred to an outpatient gastroenterology clinic. A simple scoring system was constructed from the predictive factors obtained in a multi-variate logistic regression analysis. Overall predictive accuracy was assessed with the c statistic. The model was validated using bootstrap techniques. The accuracy of clinical judgement and H. pylori testing to predict endoscopic diagnosis was also assessed. Results Organic dyspepsia (peptic ulcer, oesophagitis or malignancies) was diagnosed in 45% of the patients. The test for H. pylori was positive in 68%, and 29% of infected patients had an ulcer. The organic dyspepsia predictive model had an accuracy of 0.79, which decreased to 0.77 after validation adjustment. The predictive accuracies for clinical judgement and H. pylori testing were 0.69 and 0.61, respectively. The addition of H. pylori testing to the scoring system resulted in a minor improvement of the predictive accuracy. Conclusion In an environment with a high rate of H. pylori infection and a low prevalence of peptic ulcer among infected patients, a scoring system has higher predictive accuracy for the diagnosis of organic disease than H. pylori testing. Moreover, in this setting, H. pylori testing adds a minimum value to the predictive capability of the scoring system.