Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Proctitis”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 595 records · Page 33Linked to original sources

Coloanal anastomosis for benign lesions: long term functional results in 11 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the indications, morbidity, and long-term functional results of rectal resection and coloanal anastomosis for benign rectal lesions. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Teaching hospital, France. SUBJECTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Eleven patients were operated on for villous adenoma (n = 5), radiation proctitis (n = 2), solitary rectal ulcer (n = 2), rectal stenosis (n = 1) and rectovaginal fistula (n = 1). MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Morbidity, mortality, and long-term results. RESULTS: There were no postoperative deaths. 2 patients (18%) developed major postoperative complications: one pelvic abscess was treated conservatively and one anastomotic fistula required a diverting colostomy. The mean (SD) follow-up period was 89 (35) months. Functional results were judged as perfect (n = 4), good (n = 1), or acceptable (n = 2) (mean stool frequency: 1.4), including the five with villous adenoma, one with radiation proctitis, and the one with a rectovaginal fistula. By the end of the follow-up period, 4 patients (36%) had permanent colostomies (including the two patients with solitary rectal ulcers). Two of them were required soon after operation, and two following failure 5 and 2 years later, respectively, after initially good functional results. CONCLUSION: Rectal resection with coloanal anastomosis can safely be proposed for selected patients with benign rectal lesions including diffuse villous adenoma, rectovaginal fistula, and radiation proctitis without deterioration of the anal sphincter. The poor results in the 2 cases of solitary rectal ulcer suggest that for this condition coloanal anastomosis should be done only after the failure of previous surgical treatment.

Adenoma, Villous↗

Rectal compliance as a routine measurement: extreme volumes have direct clinical impact and normal volumes exclude rectum as a problem.

PURPOSE: The clinical impact of rectal compliance and sensitivity measurement is not clear. The aim of this study was to measure the rectal compliance in different patient groups compared with controls and to establish the clinical effect of rectal compliance. METHODS: Anorectal function tests were performed in 974 consecutive patients (284 men). Normal values were obtained from 24 controls. Rectal compliance measurement was performed by filling a latex rectal balloon with water at a rate of 60 ml per minute. Volume and intraballoon pressure were measured. Volume and pressure at three sensitivity thresholds were recorded for analysis: first sensation, urge, and maximal toleration. At maximal toleration, the rectal compliance (volume/pressure) was calculated. Proctoscopy, anal manometry, anal mucosal sensitivity, and anal endosonography were also performed as part of our anorectal function tests. RESULTS: No effect of age or gender was observed in either controls or patients. Patients with fecal incontinence had a higher volume at first sensation and a higher pressure at maximal toleration (P = 0.03), the presence of a sphincter defect or low or normal anal pressures made no difference. Patients with constipation had a larger volume at first sensation and urge (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.01). Patients with a rectocele had a larger volume at first sensation (P = 0.004). Patients with rectal prolapse did not differ from controls; after rectopexy, rectal compliance decreased (P < 0.0003). Patients with inflammatory bowel disease had a lower rectal compliance, most pronounced in active proctitis (P = 0.003). Patients with ileoanal pouches also had a lower compliance (P < 0.0001). In the 17 patients where a maximal toleration volume < 60 ml was found, 11 had complaints of fecal incontinence, and 6 had a stoma. In 31 patients a maximal toleration volume between 60 and 100 ml was found; 12 patients had complaints of fecal incontinence, and 6 had a stoma. Proctitis or pouchitis was the main cause for a small compliance. All 29 patients who had a maximal toleration volume > 500 ml had complaints of constipation. No correlation between rectal and anal mucosal sensitivity was found. CONCLUSION: Rectal compliance measurement with a latex balloon is easily feasible. In this series of 974 patients, some patient groups showed an abnormal rectal visceral sensitivity and compliance, but there was an overlap with controls. Rectal compliance measurement gave a good clinical impression about the contribution of the rectum to the anorectal problem. Patients with proctitis and pouchitis had the smallest rectal compliance. A maximal toleration volume < 60 ml always led to fecal incontinence, and stomas should be considered for such patients. A maximal toleration volume > 500 ml was only seen in constipated patients, and therapy should be given to prevent further damage to the pelvic floor. Values close to or within the normal range rule out the rectum as an important factor in the anorectal problem of the patient.

Adolescent↗

Prevention of acute radiation-induced proctosigmoiditis by balsalazide: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial in prostate cancer patients.

PURPOSE: A common complication of pelvic radiotherapy (RT) is acute radiation-induced proctosigmoiditis (RIPS), for which a multitude of therapies have been tried. The 5-aminosalicylates (5-ASA), which are traditionally used to treat inflammatory bowel disease, have been tested; however, all but one prior randomized attempt to limit or prevent RIPS with 5-ASA-type agents have failed. We sought to evaluate balsalazide, a new 5-ASA drug, for its potential to prevent or limit RIPS in patients undergoing RT for carcinoma of the prostate, as a representative sample of pelvic RT patients. Balsalazide has a unique delivery system in that 99% of ingested drug is delivered to and activated in the colon, a higher yield than all other oral agents currently available in this class. Furthermore, it lacks the antigenic sulfa moiety present in sulfasalazine, the only other 5-ASA with demonstrated benefit in this setting. Thus, it was deemed an ideal candidate for preventing or limiting RIPS. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Eligible patients included prostate cancer patients, American Joint Committee on Cancer Stage T1-3, M0 being treated with external beam radiotherapy in the University of Kentucky Department of Radiation Medicine. Between January 1, 2003 and July 1, 2004, 27 eligible patients were enrolled in the study. Patients were administered 2250 mg of balsalazide or an identical-appearing placebo twice daily beginning 5 days before RT and continuing for 2 weeks after completion. Toxicities were graded weekly according to National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria v. 2.0 for each of the following: proctitis, diarrhea, dysuria, weight loss, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. A symptom index was formulated for each toxicity consisting of the toxicity's numeric grade multiplied by the number of days it was experienced, and summed for each grade experienced throughout the course of RT. RESULTS: With the exception of nausea or vomiting, seen in 3 patients on balsalazide and 2 on placebo, all toxicities were appreciably lower in patients taking balsalazide. Proctitis was prevented most significantly with a mean proctitis index of 35.3 in balsalazide patients and 74.1 in placebo patients (p = 0.04). Placebo patients lost an average of 2.7 pounds, whereas balsalazide patients on average gained weight. Unexpectedly, dysuria was also lower in balsalazide-treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Balsalazide is a new-generation 5-ASA drug that yields a high concentration of active drug to the distal colon. Results of this pilot study suggest that it is able to prevent or reduce symptoms of RIPS in patients undergoing RT for prostate cancer. We feel that these results justify the formation of a cooperative group trial to assess its efficacy in a multi-institutional setting.

Acute Disease↗

Prostate brachytherapy: treatment strategies.

PURPOSE: Patients who present with localized and locally advanced prostate cancer may be candidates for prostate brachytherapy. We evaluated the treatment outcomes in a diverse group of prostate cancer patients who presented with low, moderate and high risk features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 301 patients who presented with T1 to T3 prostate cancer were treated with brachytherapy alone or combined with hormonal therapy and/or external beam irradiation. Of these patients 109 at low risk with prostate specific antigen (PSA) 10 ng./ml. or less, Gleason score 6 or less and clinical stage T2a or less were treated with 125iodine alone, 152 at moderate risk with PSA greater than 10 ng./ml., Gleason score greater than 6 or stage T2b or greater were treated with 125iodine or 103palladium or combined implant alone with 5 months of hormonal therapy, and 40 at high risk with PSA greater than 15 ng./ml., Gleason 8 or greater, clinical stage T2c to T3 or positive seminal vesicle biopsy (20) were treated with combination brachytherapy, external beam irradiation and 9 months of hormonal therapy. Patients with a positive seminal vesicle biopsy (T3c disease) and negative pelvic lymph nodes were included in the high risk group, and the walls of the seminal vesicles were also treated with implantation. Followup was performed every 6 months with digital rectal examination and ultrasound evaluation. Prostate biopsy was routinely recommended 2 years after completion of the radiation. Failure was defined as PSA increase on 2 consecutive determinations above 1 ng./ml. or evidence of local recurrence on digital rectal examination, transrectal ultrasound or biopsy. Kaplan-Meier projections were used to calculate progression-free survival rates. RESULTS: Of the 109 patients at low risk followed from 1 to 7 years (median 18 months) 91% were free of PSA failure at 4 years. No patient experienced urinary incontinence following implantation, although grade 1 to 2 radiation proctitis occurred in 5 (4.5%). Of the 152 patients at moderate risk 73 received implantation and 79 received implantation combined with hormonal therapy. The 4-year biochemical freedom from failure rate for the hormone group was 85% versus 58% for the no hormone group (p = 0.08). The difference was more significant for those with Gleason score 7 or greater (90 versus 43%, p = 0.01) and for those with PSA greater than 10 ng./ml. (87 versus 59%, p = 0.04). Grade 1 to 2 radiation proctitis occurred in 1 of the 79 patients (1.3%) receiving hormonal therapy and in 3 (4%) treated with implantation only. There were no cases of urinary incontinence. Of the 40 patients at high risk 71% were free of biochemical failure at 3 years. Of the 4 patients with failure (10%) 3 (75%) originally had positive seminal vesicle biopsies. Five patients experienced gastrointestinal complications, although none was grade 3 or 4. The actuarial freedom from grade 2 proctitis was 82%. No patient experienced urinary incontinence. Prostate biopsies were negative in 87% of the low risk, 96.8 (hormone group) versus 68.6% (no hormone group) of the moderate risk (p = 0.0023) and 86% of the high risk patients. CONCLUSIONS: Brachytherapy appears to offer comparable results to external beam irradiation and radical prostatectomy when patients are stratified by disease extent. Adopting a strategy of implant alone, implant with hormonal therapy or implant with hormonal therapy and external beam irradiation in patients who present with low to high risk features can improve the overall results in the more advanced cases.

Brachytherapy↗

Evolution of the concept of proctosigmoiditis: clinical observation.

Proctosigmoiditis, or distal colon ulcerative colitis, has been recognized as a clinical entity for over 50 years and considerable information has emerged from the study of the clinical course of patients with distal colon ulcerative colitis who are followed for a period of years. For most patients the condition is benign, although periods of exacerbation can occur between remissions, characterized by rectal bleeding. However, extension of the disease, development of cancer, and the requirement of surgery are all relatively unusual. It has recently been recognized that there are many other causes of proctitis than the idiopathic form, and this has raised important questions in differential diagnosis, particularly in the proctitis occurring in homosexual males. Proctitis, proctosigmoiditis, and distal colon ulceratice colitis and not Crohn's disease; conversely perianal fistulae and abscesses are rare in distal colon ulcerative colitis. Treatment with various forms of topical agents has often been satisfactory.

Colitis↗

Association of rectal toxicity with thermal dose parameters in treatment of locally advanced prostate cancer with radiation and hyperthermia.

PURPOSE: Although hyperthermia has been used for more than two decades in the treatment of pelvic tumors, little is known about the potential impact of heat on rectal toxicity when combined with other treatment modalities. Because rectal toxicity is a concern with radiation and may be exacerbated by hyperthermia, definition of the association of thermal dose parameters with rectal toxicity is important. In this report, we correlate rectal toxicity with thermal dose parameters for patients treated with hyperthermia and radiation for prostate cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Thirty patients with T2b-T3b disease (1992 American Joint Committee On Cancer criteria) enrolled in a Phase II study of external beam radiation +/- androgen-suppressive therapy with two transrectal ultrasound hyperthermia treatments were assessed for rectal toxicity. Prostatic and anterior rectal wall temperatures were monitored for all treatments. Rectal wall temperatures were limited to 40 degrees C in 19 patients, 41 degrees C in 3 patients, and 42 degrees C in 8 patients. Logistic regression was used to estimate the log hazard of developing National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria Grade 2 toxicity based on temperature parameters. The following were calculated: hazard ratios, 95% confidence intervals, p values for statistical significance of each parameter, and proportion of variability explained for each parameter. RESULTS: Gastrointestinal toxicity was limited to Grade 2. The rate of acute Grade 2 proctitis was greater for patients with an allowable rectal wall temperature of >40 degrees C. In this group, 7 of 11 patients experienced acute Grade 2 proctitis, as opposed to 3 of 19 patients in the group with rectal wall temperatures limited to 40 degrees C (p = 0.004). Preliminary assessment of long-term toxicity revealed no differences in toxicity. Hazard ratios for acute Grade 2 proctitis for allowable rectal wall temperature, average rectal wall Tmax, and average prostate Tmax were 9.33 (p = 0.01), 3.66 (p = 0.03), and 2.29 (p = 0.08), respectively. A model combining these three parameters explained 48.6% of the variability among groups. CONCLUSION: Rectal toxicity correlates with maximum allowable rectal wall temperature, average rectal wall Tmax, and average prostate Tmax for patients undergoing transrectal ultrasound hyperthermia combined with radiation for treatment of advanced clinically localized prostate cancer. Further definition of this association of thermal dose parameters with rectal toxicity in treatment of pelvic malignancies with hyperthermia should advance the goal of delivering thermal therapy in an effective yet safe manner.

Digestive System↗

[Incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in children in Brittany (1994-1997). Breton association of study and research on digestive system diseases (Abermad)].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this work was to determine in Brittany the incidence and main clinical pattern of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) occurring during childhood. These data are compared to the previous epidemiologic data available from the Northern France registry or around the world. METHODS: Private and public Brittany gastroenterologists (2,836,418 inhabitants including 618,049 children under 17 years of age) referred all patients consulting for inflammatory bowel disease from January 1994 to December 1997. An interviewer-practitioner completed at the gastroenterologist's office a standard questionnaire for each patient. Each case was independently reviewed by four experts in a blind manner and made a final diagnosis of Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), or ulcerative proctitis and acute colitis (onset of symptoms < 6 weeks) or unclassified chronic colitis. RESULTS: Among 1,309 cases recorded, 88 were under 17 years of age (6.7%): 43 (49%) had CD (including three possible cases), 14 (16%) had UC (including three proctitis), 24 (27%) acute colitis and 7 (8%) unclassified chronic colitis. The crude mean annual incidence (per 100,000 children) based on definite and probable cases only was 2.5 for IBD, 1.6 for CD and 0.57 for UC, without variation between 1994 and 1997. The male/female ratio was 2.3 for CD and 1.3 for UC. The mean time between onset of disease and diagnosis was equal to 7.2 and 8.6 months for CD and UC respectively (median: 3 and 5 months). A familial history of IBD was present in 5 cases (8%). In CD, the small and large bowel were involved in 58% of patients, whereas an isolated involvement of small or large bowel occurred in 15% and 23% of cases. Among the 14 UC, there were three proctitis and four pancolitis. Among 43 CD, a granuloma was present in 48% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: In Brittany the incidence of CD and UC in childhood was similar to the published data from Northern France. Clinical presentation and symptoms were not different. However, the rate of acute colitis was higher and the accurate incidence of IBD could be underestimated, requiring a follow-up to classify these cases.

Adolescent↗

Radiation injury of the rectum: evaluation of surgical treatment.

One hundred four patients, 80 women and 24 men, with radiation injury of the rectum following treatment for gynecologic and urologic malignancy were studied. In 50 patients, the rectal injury was treated surgically; 54 patients were treated conservatively. The age and sex distributions were the same in each group. In 63 patients, symptoms developed one month to one year after radiotherapy. The longest latent interval was 17 years. Of the 50 surgical patients, 23 had associated small bowel injury. The indications for surgery for the rectal injury were 1) proctitis unresponsive to conservative measures in 14 patients, 2) rectal stricture or fistula or both in 32, and 3) rectosigmoid perforation in four. Forty-one patients had external diversions. Eleven had intestinal continuity restored; six of the 11 had required the stoma for proctitis unresponsive to medical measures. Nineteen patients did not undergo colostomy closure, although symptoms wer greatly improved. Diversion alone was insufficient treatment in the remaining 11 patients. Twenty-six patients died. The 12 deaths in the surgical group comprised four due to residual malignancy, four from postoperative complications, and four from unrelated causes. Of the 14 deaths in the nonsurgical group, 11 died of the primary malignancy and three of unrelated causes. Diversion is considered the safest form of treatment for rectovaginal fistulae, rectal strictures, and proctitis unresponsive to medical measures. Intestinal resection resulted in sharp rise in the morbidity and mortality rates.

Adult↗

Association between IL-18 gene promoter polymorphisms and inflammatory bowel disease in a Japanese population.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a pleiotropic cytokine that induces the production of interferon (IFN)-gamma and also to regulate Th2 cytokines. Recently, association studies between IL-18 gene promoter polymorphisms and several Th1- or Th2-mediated inflammatory diseases were reported. In inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), recent evidence suggests that IL-18 is involved in the pathogenesis. METHODS: Using DNA direct sequencing, we investigated IL-18 gene promoter polymorphisms at -607C/A and -137G/C. Allele, genotype, and haplotype frequencies were determined in 210 Japanese patients with UC, 205 patients with CD, and 212 controls. RESULTS: In UC, the -137C allele frequency was significantly higher in the proctitis-type patients than in controls (Pc = 0.0068). The -137 genotype frequency was also significantly different in the proctitis-type patients than in controls (Pc = 0.032). No other allele and genotype frequencies were significantly associated with UC after Bonferroni correction. Furthermore, the frequency of haplotype 2 (-607A, -137C), which had a lower promoter activity and IFN-gamma mRNA level than the other haplotypes as previously reported, was significantly higher in the proctitis-type patients than in controls (Pc = 0.01). In CD, we could not find any significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: IL-18 gene promoter polymorphisms may not be associated with disease susceptibility but related to the extent of disease in UC.

Adolescent↗

Chlamydia trachomatis infections in the female rectums.

One hundred and fifteen consecutive new women patients were examined in a department of genitourinary medicine for evidence of infection with Chlamydia trachomatis in the rectum, in addition to the routine screening tests performed. An impression smear of the rectal mucosa was made as a semiquantitative assessment of the degree of proctitis, and details of bowel habit and symptoms and of sexual practice were noted. Chlamydial infection was found in the cervices of 15 (13%) and the rectums of six (5%). Rectal infection was significantly associated with rectal bleeding and microscopic evidence of proctitis, but not with diarrhoea or macroscopic proctitis.

Adolescent↗

Faecal DL-lactate concentration in 100 gastrointestinal patients.

The relation between faecal DL-lactate and intestinal inflammation or malabsorption was evaluated in 100 nonselected inpatients at a referral center for gastrointestinal disorders. Twenty-one (21%) had DL-lactate concentrations (range, 8-95 mmol/l) above the 95% limit (6.1 mmol/l) in healthy individuals. Inflammatory bowel disease with active proctitis was associated with increased faecal DL-lactate in 11 of 15 patients (73%) (mean, 32 mmol/l; range, 8-95 mmol/l) and in the 1 patient with pouchitis (8 mmol/l), whereas only 1 of 8 patients (13%) with active inflammatory bowel disease without proctitis had L-lactate elevation (25 mmol/l). Among 26 patients with malabsorption and quiescent or noninflammatory bowel disease, 3 of 17 (18%) with preserved colonic function and 3 of 9 (33%) with jejunostomy had increased faecal lactate. Only 2 of 50 (4%) patients with neither active inflammatory bowel disease nor malabsorption had faecal DL-lactate elevation. In vitro bacterial fermentation of most dietary polysaccharides did not cause accumulation of lactate, corresponding to a lack of correlation between faecal carbohydrate excretion and lactate accumulation. An isolated increase in faecal L-lactate was observed in 6 of 13 patients with inflammatory bowel disease, whereas D-lactate was not increased without a simultaneous increase of the L-lactate isomer. In conclusion, the faecal lactate concentration was frequently increased in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and proctitis, occasionally increased in patients with severe malabsorption, and often normal in patients with quiescent inflammatory bowel disease or localized Crohn's ileitis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[Ulcerative colitis and eosinophilic corpus gastritis].

Ulcerative colitis seldom associated with nutritive and/or salicylate allergy. Authors present a case of both allergic events at the course of the disease. In 1996 a 19-year-old girl was referred with a history of blood in stool as well as diarrhoea, suggesting ulcerative proctitis. Biopsy revealed ulcerative colitis of the rectum mucosa with eosinophilic infiltration and 20% peripheral eosinophilia was found. Allergic origin and worm infection were ruled out, and after tinidazol treatment, four year elapsed without any signs or symptoms. In December 2000 blood in stools and upper abdominal complaints developed without peripheral eosinophilia. Gastroscopy and biopsy showed a mild chronic gastritis. Olsalazine, budesonide enema and famotidin treatment were started, but then later changed to mesalazine and pantoprazol, because of the constant stomach complaints. The next five months passed without any symptoms. The patient had to break off her seashore journey in July 2000 because of stomach complaints, vomiting and exsiccosis. Peripheral eosinophilia (27.3%) was evident. Gastroscopy revealed erosive ulcers and the biopsy showed eosinophilic gastritis. Biopsies from the jejunum, duodenum and antrum as well as enteroscopy and biopsies from the rectum showed mild eosinophilic infiltration. An allergy test proved the presence of IgE against salicylate, egg protein, seafood protein and the lymphocyte transformation test was also positive against salicylate. Oral food challenges proved to be negative and the amino-salicylate treatment was stopped. After a temporary symptom free period, bloody stools reappeared in May 2003; the peripheral eosinophilia still existed, but had decreased (22.2%). Esomeprazol, and methyl-prednisolone containing enema (40 mg/day/2 weeks) followed by budesonide enema twice a week resulted in a symptom free period and peripheral eosinophilia became almost normalised (6.2%). The authors report a case having ulcerative proctitis first, than nutritive and salicylate allergy with eosinophilic gastritis and a proctitis flare-up thereafter.

Adult↗

Mesalamine and olsalazine: 5-aminosalicylic acid agents for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

The history, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical uses and efficacy, adverse effects, drug interactions, and dosage and administration of rectal mesalamine and oral olsalazine in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are reviewed. The high incidence of toxicity associated with sulfasalazine led to the development of the nonsulfonamide 5-aminosalicylic acid products mesalamine and olsalazine. The exact mechanism of action of these agents in the treatment of IBD is unknown. In clinical trials, mesalamine was shown to be as effective as or more effective than sulfasalazine or corticosteroids in treating active ulcerative colitis, proctitis, and proctosigmoiditis. Mesalamine is effective in the maintenance of remission in patients with ulcerative colitis. Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of olsalazine in the treatment of active mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. Olsalazine is also effective in the maintenance of remission of ulcerative colitis. The most common adverse effect associated with mesalamine enemas is perianal irritation or trauma secondary to insertion. The most common adverse effects associated with olsalazine are dose-dependent watery diarrhea and gastrointestinal upset. The recommended dosage of the mesalamine enema for the treatment of active mild to moderate ulcerative colitis is one 4-g (60-mL) retention enema daily for three to six weeks. The dosage of mesalamine suppositories for the treatment of active ulcerative proctitis is one 500-mg suppository inserted rectally twice daily for three to six weeks. The dosage of olsalazine is 1 g daily in divided doses for the maintenance of remission of ulcerative colitis. Both rectal mesalamine and oral olsalazine provide clinicians with an effective therapeutic option for the treatment of ulcerative colitis, proctosigmoiditis, and proctitis in patients unresponsive to or intolerant of the effects of sulfasalazine or corticosteroids.

Administration, Oral↗

[Idiopathic proctocolitis. Follow-up (1-13 years) of 71 patients].

Follow-up was possible in 71 of 74 patients with idiopathic proctocolitis diagnosed and/or assisted at the Department of Gastroenterology of the Centro Policínico de Almada, between 1973 and 1985. The aim of the present study was to verify the natural history of the disease and if there were statistically significant differences depending on the extension of the disease (proctitis versus colitis). Complications were present in 22 patients (31%): peri-anal (10%), local or intestinal (24%) and extra-intestinal (28%). Fifteen patients (21% of the cases) had hospital admission at least once, and 2 of them (3%) were submitted to surgery. No cases of cancer of the colon and rectum were detected and mortality was nil. Forty-one patients (58%) were assymptomatic at the last observation (45% with colitis and 75% with proctitis). There were statistically significant differences between the group of patients with ulcerative colitis and that of proctitis concerning the total number of complications (p less than 0.001), local complications (p less than 0.01), extra-intestinal complications (p less than 0.05), need for hospital admission (p less than 0.001) and absence of symptoms at the time of last observation (p less than 0.05), thus confirming a better prognosis of the disease when only the rectum is involved.

Adult↗

Surgery of aggressive idiopathic proctocolitis and principles of rectal preservation.

During 1969-1985 seventy-one patients with aggressive idiopathic disease of the large intestine (i.e. ulcerative and Crohn's proctocolitis) were treated by colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis (IRA). In sixty-two of them proctitis was associated with colitis and required topical preparation of the rectum. The use of an antiphlogistic drug (6-methylprednisolone or betamethasone) in saline solution by daily enemas was followed by proctitis regression and permitted a safe IRA. After the surgical procedure the rectal treatment with the same drugs in smaller doses continued, so as to prevent long-term side effects. In some patients the steroid was replaced periodically by sulphasalazine per os or by 5-ASA per rectum in a daily maintenance dosage. This rectal care for unlimitated time has proved able to prevent recurrences of proctitis, while the epithelial recovery with regression of dysplasia gives protection against the risk of cancer.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Evaluation of clinical patterns in ulcerative colitis: a long-term follow-up.

The aim of this prospective research was to compare, in a seven-year follow-up, the clinical outcome of ulcerative pancolitis with that of non-progressive ulcerative colitis. The activity of the disease was evaluated by a Clinical Activity Index and an Endoscopic Index. Of 112 cases of ulcerative colitis observed, 95 showed no change in extent and were studied as examples of non-progressive UC, and in this group the extension of the disease was: pancolitis in 19%, left-sided colitis in 39%, proctosigmoiditis in 17% and proctitis in 25%. A colectomy had to be performed in 5%. None of the enrolled cases developed a cancer during the follow-up. The patients with ulcerative pancolitis or left-sided colitis were treated with 5-ASA 1.6 g/day in a delayed-release formulation, while the cases with proctosigmoiditis or proctitis were treated with 5-ASA enemas 4 g/day. The cases with more than one relapse/year were 39%. The proportion of patients with only one relapse/year was 53%. The patients with steady remission for all the seven years of the trial were only 8%, but with a statistically significant difference between the groups with initial diagnosis of proctosigmoiditis or proctitis and the group with initial diagnosis of pancolitis or left-sided colitis (12% versus 5%). Among the cases with continuous remission, 37% showed colonic alterations, with an endoscopic score higher than 4 but a clinical score less than 6. Side-effects were observed in 6% patients but without treatment withdrawal. Non-progressive ulcerative colitis throughout the colon has a relatively good prognosis which seems to be independent of the location of the disease, even if we have found a statistically significant higher percentage of cases with steady remission among the patients with more distal disease.

Administration, Oral↗

[The defecographic and clinical aspects of the solitary rectal ulcer syndrome].

INTRODUCTION: Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome is a complex evacuation disorder characterized by a benign ulcerative lesion of the distal rectum; the main symptom is rectal bleeding, but mucus discharge and difficult evacuation may be associated. The clinical, endoscopic and radiologic findings of solitary rectal ulcer syndrome are evaluated in this study. The role of defecography in the diagnosis of mucosal ulceration and morphofunctional alterations such as rectal prolapse and intussusception are investigated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the last 5 years, 27 patients (19 women and 8 men; mean age: 38 years; range: 13-70 years) complaining of obstructed evacuation and rectal bleeding were examined with fibrosigmoidoscopy with biopsy, and defecography combined with videoproctography. Defecography was carried out sitting the patients on a defecographic chair with the pelvis in lateral projection. The images were acquired at rest, under straining, during squeezing and evacuation. RESULTS: Endoscopy and biopsy showed 21 cases of solitary ulcer (77.8%), 3 cases of multiple ulcers (11.1%), 2 cases of granular proctitis (7.4%) and 1 case of pseudopolyp of rectum (3.7%). Among anorectal dynamic alterations, only 1 case (3.7%) of large rectocele was detected at endoscopy under straining. Histo-pathological changes were compared according to Rutter and Riddel criteria; the "colitis cystica profunda" appearance was observed in 2 cases (7.4%). Defecography showed 18 cases (16.6%) of solitary ulcer, 1 case (3.7%) of multiple ulcers and 2 cases (7.4%) of granular proctitis; but it missed 3 cases (11.1%) of small solitary ulcer, 2 cases (7.4%) of small multiple ulcers, and 1 case (3.7%) of pseudopolyp. The dynamic abnormalities shown by defecography were 11 cases (40.7%) of rectal intussusception, 7 cases (25.9%) of recto-anal intussusception, 6 cases (22.2%) of external rectal prolapse and 8 cases (29.6%) of mucosal prolapse. In 16 patients (59.2%) videoprotography emphasized how the ulcer wall was the first to take part in the invagination complex. CONCLUSIONS: Double contrast barium enema represents a useful radiologic method to diagnose solitary rectal ulcer, but air insufflation and pharmacological hypotonia prevent the functional study of rectal walls. Endoscopy permits to detect mucosal ulcerations, erythema, pseudopolyps and granular proctitis; biopsy provides an accurate diagnosis. We suggest combined defecography and videoproctography as a useful tool for evaluating solitary rectal ulcer syndrome as a whole; defecography is necessary to identify associated functional abnormalities, such as rectal prolapse and intussusception, not detectable by other instrumental and radiologic investigations and considered by many authors the likely cause of the disease.

Adolescent↗

The surgical treatment of the radiation-damaged rectum.

Details are given of 37 consecutive patients with radiation damage to the rectum. Twenty-eight presented with rectovaginal fistulas, 3 with haemorrhage from ulcerative proctitis, 3 with low rectal strictures, 2 with a painful rectal ulcer and 1 with a rectal carcinoma. Thirty-five of the 37 had been treated for carcinoma of the cervix, and of these, 30 were Black South African women in whom this disease forms approximately 70 per cent of all malignancies. Associated pathology in these patients included urinary fistulas, small bowel fistulas or stenoses and a variable degree of fibrosis of the pelvic cellular tissue. Treatment involved subtotal rectal resection with restoration of continuity by means of a peranal sleeve anastomosis between healthy colon and the rectal stump denuded of its mucosa. Technical success was achieved in 35 of the 37 patients, with no mortality. The functional results were assessed both subjectively and objectively in 31 patients followed up for more than 6 months. Full continence was achieved in 54 per cent initially, improving to 75 per cent (21 of 28) at 1 year postoperatively. At 1 year, variable degrees of incontinence for a liquid stool persisted in 7 of 9 patients who had low fistulas with a low anastomosis at dentate line level. Where anastomosis was possible at a higher level, all 19 patients cured of fistula, ulcer, stenosis or haemorrhagic proctitis were fully continent at 1 year.

Adult↗