Tuberculosis Week

Research findings from University of Sao Paulo update understanding of gastrointestinal bleeding

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"Twenty patients had occult or obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. The source of bleeding was identified in 15/20 (75%): multiple angiodysplasias in four, arterial-venous malformation beyond the ligament of Treitz in two that could be treated with injection successfully. Other diagnoses included: duodenal adenocarcinoma, jejunal tuberculosis, erosions and ulcer of the jejunum. Of 24 patients with other indications, the diagnosis could be achieved in 18 of them (75%), including: two lymphomas, plasmocytoma, Gardner's syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers' syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, Behcet's disease, jejunal submucosal lesion, lymphangiectasia due to blastomycosis and unspecific chronic jejunitis. Of three cases with Roux-en-Y reconstruction, two underwent DBE in order to perform biopsies of the excluded duodenum. Additionally, two patients underwent DBE to exclude Crohn's disease and lymphoma of the small bowel. The mean length of small bowel examination was 240 +/- 50 cm during a single approach. The diagnostic yield was 75% (33/44 cases) and therapeutic yield was 63.6%," wrote A.V. Safatleribeiro and colleagues, University of Sao Paulo.

The researchers concluded: "No major complications were observed, only minor complication such as sore throat in 4/44 (9.1%). 1. DBE is a safe and and accurate method to diagnose small bowel disorders; 2. this method permits chromoscopy, biopsies and treatment of the lesions."

Safatleribeiro and colleagues published the results of their research in Surgical Endoscopy and Other Interventional Techniques (Is double-balloon enteroscopy an accurate method to diagnose small-bowel disorders? Surgical Endoscopy and Other Interventional Techniques, 2007;21(12):2231-2236).

For additional information, contact A.V. Safatleribeiro, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The publisher of the journal Surgical Endoscopy and Other Interventional Techniques can be contacted at: Springer, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA.

Keywords: Brazil, Sao Paulo, Adenocarcinoma, Bowel Disorders, Crohn Disease, Cutaneous Tuberculosis, Diarrhea, Duodenal Cancer, Duodenal Carcinoma, Endoscopy, Enteroscopy, Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Mycobacteria, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Oncology, Surgery, Surgical Endoscopy, Weight Loss, University of Sao Paulo.

This article was prepared by Tuberculosis Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Tuberculosis Week via NewsRx.com.