Category Archives: Gastroenterology

Trying to Understand Gastroparesis

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…all I know is that I know nothing. –Socrates

Perhaps Socrates was a gastroenterologist.  So much of what we think we know, we are finding out is poorly understood.  This applies to gallbladder dyskinesia, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and now gastroparesis.

A recent study (PJ Pasricha et al. Gastroenterol 2015; 149: 1762-74, commentary 1666-68) and commentary show how little we understand about gastroparesis.

The study was a large prospective surgery of 262 adult patients with gastroparesis (either diabetic or idiopathic).

Key findings:

  • 28% had improvement in the gastroparesis cardinal symptom index (GCSI) at 48 weeks.  Beyond 48 weeks, there were no significant reductions through week 192.
  • Favorable characteristics: male gender, age 50 and older, initial infectious prodrome (18% of cohort), antidepressant usage, and 4-hour gastric retention greater than 20%.
  • Unfavorable characteristics: obesity, smoking, use of pain modulators, moderate to severe abdominal pain, severe reflux, and moderate to severe depression.

The commentary suggests that those with the higher GCSI improved, in part, because of a regression toward the mean bias.  Other important commentary:

  • “More severely delayed gastric emptying was associated with a greater likelihood of improvement”
  • “There was no differences in outcome between diabetic or idiopathic gastroparesis.”
  • Gastric emptying tests are not reliable:  “Pathophysiologic tests are useful in clinical practice if they are reproducible, explain the symptoms, guide therapeutic choices, and determine response to therapy and long-term prognosis.  Despite its popularity, the gastric emptying test scores low on most of these criteria.”
  • “A metaanalysis found no correlation between the change in gastric emptying rate and the symptom response during prokinetic therapy…A 5-year prospective follow-up study of …functional dyspepsia…found that more than 50% improved…with no relation to the presence of delayed gastric emptying.”
  • “Using the term gastroparesis also can lead to premature closure in our efforts to understand the pathophysiology of symptoms…can lead to botulinum injections into the pylorus or placement of gastric stimulators (formerly called gastric pacemakers) for gastroparesis, both of which have been shown to be nonefficacious in controlled trials.”

My take: It is unclear “when to consider gastric emptying testing and how to use it in patient management.”  For the pediatric population, gastroparesis is more likely to be associated with a prodromal infection which increases the likelihood of recovery.

Related blog posts:

Banning Mills

Banning Mills

NEJM: Functional Dyspepsia

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A recent NEJM had a concise review of functional dyspepsia (Talley NJ, Ford AC. NEJM 2015; 373: 1853-63).

With regard to functional dyspepsia in adults, the authors note that using the Rome III criteria, the global prevalence is between 5% and 11%.

While symptoms do not reliably distinguish organic and functional dyspepsia, they note that “with a relatively low rate of identification of organic disease, it is neither desirable nor realistic to perform this test [upper gastrointestinal endoscopy] in all patients with dyspepsia.”

Their review suggests several criteria to consider to help determine who needs endoscopy including age >55 yrs, GI bleeding, dysphagia, persistent vomiting, unintentional weight loss, family history of gastric or esophageal cancer, and iron-deficiency anemia.

With regard to workup, they suggest testing for H pylori non invasively with either breath testing or stool antigen testing.  The review covers treatment approaches including acid suppression (“effect is modest”), antidepressants (“tricyclic antidepressants…should be preferred over selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors”), prokinetic agents, psychological treatments, and complementary approaches.  Figure 3 provides a helpful algorithm.

With regard to prognosis, “approximately 15 to 20% of people with functional dyspepsia have persistent symptoms and 50% have resolution of symptoms; in the remaining 30 to 35% of patients symptoms will fluctuate and meet the criteria for another functional gastrointestinal disorder.”

Briefly noted: “Acute Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders are Associated with Impaired Gastric Accommodation in Patients with Functional Dyspepsia” HG Ly et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2015; 13: 1584-91.

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Sunrise in Sandy Springs

Sunrise in Sandy Springs

Which Diet is Best for Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

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As noted in this blog previously, there has been increasing evidence that a low FODMAPs (fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols) diet is an effective option for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adults and children. Now, a study (L Bohn et al. Gastroenterol 2015; 149: 1399-1407) directly compares a low FODMAPs diet with an IBS diet in a multicenter, parallel, single-blind study of 75 patients (adults) with Rome III criteria for IBS.

The comparison IBS diet recommended regular meal patterns, avoidance of large meals, reduced intake of fat and reduced insoluble fibers, caffeine, and gas-producing foods, such as beans, cabbage and onions.  In addition, this diet recommended avoidance of spicy foods, coffee, alcohol, soft drinks, and sweeteners that end with “-ol.” This diet has been recommended by the British Dietetic Association and by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).  NICE Guidelines for IBS

Key findings:

  • 67 patients completed the study.  The severity of IBS symptoms improved in both groups (P<.0001) without a difference between the two groups
  • 19 (50%) of low FODMAPs had reductions in IBS severity scores of >50 compared with baseline and 17 patients (46%) in the ‘traditional’ IBS diet group had this degree of improvement.

My take: Diet changes often result in symptom improvement in IBS.  Both of these diets can be recommended in patients with IBS.

Atlanta Sky

Atlanta Sky

The Latest on Lynch Syndrome

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Briefly Noted:

AGA Guidelines on Diagnosis and Management of Lynch Syndrome: JH Rubenstein et al. Gastroenterol 2015; 149: 777-82. Technical Review 783-813. Patient Guideline Summary 814-14.

MB Yurgelun et al. Gastroenterol 2015; 149: 604-13.  Multigene panel testing from 1260 individuals with clinical Lynch syndrome.  9% had Lynch syndrome mutations identified, 5.6% had other cancer predisposing genes (eg. BRCA1) identified, and 479 had variants of uncertain clinical significance.

Related blog post:

 

“Men Sometimes See Exactly What They Wish To See” and Gluten Sensitivity

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For me, a recent study (AD Sabatino et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2015; 13: 1604-12, editorial 1613-15) was particularly interesting.  While it had “positive results,” these findings were based almost entirely on the results of three patients.

In brief, this study examined 61 adults (w/o celiac disease) who believed that gluten induced intestinal and extraintestinal symptoms.  These individuals were randomized to receive either 4.375 g/day of gluten or rice starch via capsules.  This amount of gluten is equivalent to 1 sandwich or 2 slices of bread.

Findings:

  • Overall, intake of gluten significantly increased symptoms compared to placebo (P=.034), including bloating, pain, foggy mind, depression, and aphthous stomatitis.
  • Looking at a scatterplot (Figure 4), it is abundantly clear that all of these findings are driven by 3 patients.
  • “In the vast majority of patients the clinical weight of gluten-dependent symptoms was irrelevant in light of the comparable degree of symptoms experienced with placebo”
  • “Our study did not provide any progress in identifying possible biomarkers of NCGS [non-celiac gluten sensitivity]”

This type of study, with mixed conclusions, led the editorialists to quote Spock (from Star Trek):

“In critical moments, men sometimes see exactly what they wish to see.”

Then, the editorial provides a historical context of NCGS with a review of the relevant prior studies.  Other comments:

  • “These findings can be a Rorschach test of sorts, in which the viewer draws interpretations that are  based on his or her prior beliefs about NCGS.”
  • The authors note that both the gluten and the control arm likely had a significant nocebo effect (negative placebo effect),
  • “This trial, like its predecessors, seems only to contribute to the uncertainty about NCGS.”

Related blog posts:

Yellowstone Canyon

Yellowstone Canyon

 

A 6-Year Study of Amitriptyline, Escitalopram, and Functional Dyspepsia

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A recent theme on this blog has been the difficulty of studying inexpensive therapies.  The issue is that there are not strong incentives for pharmaceutical companies to invest in treatment trials when the potential for profits is meager.  Fortunately, there are other funding mechanisms.  A recent study (NJ Talley et al. Gastroenterol 2015; 149:340-9), sponsored by the NIH, still was challenging.  One of the reasons is that when medicines are already approved by the FDA that can be used off-label and this can undermine recruitment.

Due to difficulty with enrollment, the researchers of this current study expanded to a total of 8 sites (initially 5) and settled for 292 patients rather than their goal of 400.  After a baseline washout of 2- to 4-week with assessment, patients with Rome II criteria for functional dyspepsia (FD) were assigned in a randomized, double-blind trial to either placebo, amitriptyline 50 mg, or escitalopram 10 mg for 10 weeks.

Exclusion criteria:

  • History of depression and not using antidepressants.
  • Anxiety
  • Symptom resolution with antisecretory therapy (eg. proton pump inhibitors)
  • History of esophagitis, ulcers, or organic gastrointestinal disease
  • Major physical illness
  • Drug/alcohol abuse
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Inclusion criteria:

  • Required: previous normal EGD within 5 years
  • 18-75 years

Key terms:

  • “ulcer-like dyspepsia” pain centered in the upper abdomen is the predominant symptom
  • “dysmotility-like dyspepsia” non pain symptom predominates: fullness, bloating, early satiety, and nausea

Key Findings:

  • Adequate relief was noted in 40% of placebo-treated, 53% of amitriptyline-treated, and 38% of escitalopram-treated patients
  • Ulcer-like FD given amitriptyline were >3-fold more likely to report adequate relief compared with placebo for odds ratio of 3.1
  • Delayed gastric emptying was associated with being less likely to report adequate relief with an odds ratio of 0.4
  • Safety: while adverse effects were common, “there was no overall difference between the 3 arms (except in neurologic symptoms, with highest rates in the escitalopram arm) suggesting that…TCAs will be generally well tolerated at low doses.”

The associated editorial (pages 270-2) notes that the overall benefits of amitriptyline were modest.  They also reviewed the NORIG study (JAMA 2013; 310: 2640-9) which examined nortriptyline and placebo for idiopathic gastroparesis (n=130).  Similar to this study from Talley et al, the NORIG study found a lack of response to tricyclic antidepressants in this cohort with delayed gastric emptying and dysmotility; “the lack of efficacy in patients with dyspepsia with delayed gastric emptying suggests the possible utility of scintigrahic testing to select patients” for amitriptyline therapy.

Bottomline: This well-designed study supports the use of amitriptyline, but not escitalopram for the use of FD, mainly in those with pain-predominant symptoms.

Related blog posts:

Mt Washburn, Yellowstone

Mt Washburn, Yellowstone

Intervention in Gallbladder Disease

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A recent review (Baron TD, et al. NEJM 2015; 373: 357-65) provides a useful review of surgical and interventional approaches to gallbladder disease.

One recommendation in particular caught my attention:

“Recent data favor early laparoscopic cholecystectomy over medical management with delayed cholecystectomy. In one randomized trial involving patients with uncomplicated acute cholecystitis, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, when performed within 24 hours after the onset of cholecystitis, significantly reduced morbidity, length of hospital stay, and costs without increasing the need for conversion to open surgery.” (References: JAMA Surg 2015; 150: 129-36, Ann Surg 2013; 258: 385-93)

The authors’ Table 1 provides diagnostic guidelines and disease severity guidelines.

  • Grade 1 (mild): acute cholecystitis in otherwise healthy patient with mild local inflammatory changes and without organ dysfunction
  • Grade 2 (moderate) any of the following: leukocytosis >18K, palpable tender mass in RUQ, symptom duration >72 hr, marked local inflammation (gangrenous or emphysematous cholecystitis, pericholecystic or hepatic abscess, biliary peritonitis)
  • Grade 3 (severe) any of the following: hypotension requiring dopamine or norepinephrine, decreased consciousness, hypoxia, oliguria or creatinine >2.0 mg/dL, INR >1.5, or platelet count <100K

The review highlights the NOTES procedure, percutaneous cholecystotomy, and peroral endoscopic drainage (transpapillary vs. transmural).

Related blog post: Early Surgery For Acute Cholecystitis

Grand Tetons from Jackson Lodge

Grand Tetons from Jackson Lodge

What is an Entrustable Professional Activity?

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It has been said that the difference between a haircut and a coiffure is about $30.

When I was reviewing an article (Rose S, et al. Gastroenterol 2014; 147: 233-42 -thanks to Ben Gold for this reference), the previous joke came to mind.  While I’m sure that there has been a lot of hard work to improve the effectiveness of gastroenterology fellowship training, I find the term “entrustable professional activity” (EPA) to be a strange term to define specific goals for educational assessment and competency.

Bottomline: For those in training and for those doing the training, entrustable professional activity is the new buzzword.

Briefly noted -unrelated studies:

Wang H et al. J Pediatr 2015; 166: 1404-9.  This study examined 4976 among the “Children of 1997,” a prospective population-representative Chinese birth cohort.  They “did not find adiposity [to] be a factor in the development of emotional/behavioral problems in early adolescence” (age 11 years).

Niemi AK, et al. J Pediatr 2015; 166: 1455-61. Treatment of methymalonic academia by liver or combined liver-kidney transplantation. This study identified fourteen transplant recipients; the 6 who had isolated liver transplant underwent transplantation much earlier at an average age of 17 months whereas the mean age for transplantation was 8.2 years.  The mean serum MMA dropped from 1648 μmol/L to 305 μmol/L (at four months post-Tx).  This level is still 1000-fold elevated but was low enough to eradicate episodes of hyperammonemia.  In addition, it was associated with stabilization of neurocognitive development.

Another Way of Preventing Recurrent Clostridium Difficile

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I frequently tell families that Clostridium difficile is the ‘Forrest Gump’ of bacteria; it tends to do well when its competitors are decimated.  One of the problems with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has been recurrence.  This occurs in part because after treatment of CDI the microbiota of the host remains vulnerable to recurrence.  This has been one of the rationales behind the use of probiotics.  However, probiotics have not been very effective.  As such, more research has been directed in this area.  This includes a recent study (Gerding DN et al. JAMA 2015; 313: 1719-27) which showed that administration of spores of nontoxigenic Clostridium difficile can prevent recurrent CDI.

While fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been very effective in treating CDI, there is definitely a yuck factor.  In addition, more targeted therapy is desirable.  In this study, the authors enrolled 173 patients (157 completed treatment) at 44 study centers as part of a phase 2, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study.  After completion of antibiotics (metronidazole or vancomycin), participants received 1 of 4 treatments with a nontoxigenic C difficile strain M3 (NTCD-M3).

Key findings:

  • Recurrence of CDI were reported in 14 (11%) of NTCD-M3 patients compared with 13 (30%) placebo patients.
  • 69% of NTCD-M3 patients were colonized.  Recurrence in this group (n=86) occurred in 2 (2%) compared with 12 (31%) of NTCD-M3 non-colonized patients.
  • Fewer adverse events were noted in NTCD-M3 group compared with placebo patients with serious events occurring in 3% and 7% respectively.

Bottomline: These nontoxigenic oral spores of NCTD-M3 were well-tolerated and significantly reduced the risk of recurrent CDI.

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