Molecular risk classification by gene expression profiling has clinical impact and influences physicians to direct clinical management of CM patients. The vast majority of the changes implemented after the receipt of test results were reflective of the low or high recurrence risk associated with the patient's molecular classification. Because follow-up data was not collected for this patient cohort, the study is limited for the assessment of the impact of gene expression profile based management changes on healthcare resource utilization and patient outcome.
Eleven patients (nine females, two males) with anaemia due to acute and chronic gastrointestinal blood loss were found to have gastric antral vascular ectasia (watermelon stomach). Nine patients were transfusion-dependent, receiving a mean of 13.1 units over a mean period of 12.3 months. All patients received neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet laser coagulation with a median of 3.0 treatment sessions. Post-treatment transfusion needs were abolished in six patients and minimal in two patients during a mean follow up of 27.3 months (range 12-60 months). Overall there was a mean reduction in transfusion requirement with treatment from 2.5 units per month to 0.4 units per month (P < 0.02). Mean pretreatment haemoglobin improved from 7.7 to 11.9 g/dL after treatment (P < 0.001). No complications occurred. Laser coagulation is safe and effective treatment for anaemia due to watermelon stomach and should be considered as first line therapy.
BackgroundIn patients with CKD, the risk of developing colorectal cancer is high and outcomes are poor. Screening using fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) is effective in reducing mortality from colorectal cancer, but performance characteristics of FIT in CKD are unknown.MethodsTo determine the detection rates and performance characteristics of FIT for advanced colorectal neoplasia (ACN) in patients with CKD, we used FIT to prospectively screen patients aged 35–74 years with CKD (stages 3–5 CKD, dialysis, and renal transplant) from 11 sites in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Spain. All participants received clinical follow-up at 2 years. We used a two-step reference standard approach to estimate disease status.ResultsOverall, 369 out of 1706 patients who completed FIT (21.6%) tested positive; 323 (87.5%) underwent colonoscopies. A total of 1553 (91.0%) completed follow-up; 82 (4.8%) had died and 71 (4.2%) were lost. The detection rate of ACN using FIT was 6.0% (5.6%, 7.4%, and 5.6% for stages 3–5 CKD, dialysis, and transplant). Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of FIT for ACN were 0.90, 0.83, 0.30, and 0.99, respectively. Of participants who underwent colonoscopy, five (1.5%) experienced major colonoscopy-related complications, including bowel perforation and major bleeding.ConclusionsFIT appears to be an accurate screening test for patients with CKD, such that a negative test may rule out the diagnosis of colorectal cancer within 2 years. However, the risk of major complications from work-up colonoscopy are at least ten-fold higher than in the general population.
Methods and Aims-For the detection of colorectal neoplasia, 192 consecutive patients had colonoscopy to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of three faecal occult blood tests (FOBT (Gut 1996; 39: 722-725) Australia Ltd) uses a monoclonal antibody that is specific for human haemoglobin, which theoretically should decrease the number of false positive test results. The BM Test colon albumin (BMCA) (Boehringer Mannheim, UK) is designed to detect human albumin present in the faecal sample, which may be associated with colorectal neoplasia.The aim of this study is to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of these three FOBTs as a means of detecting colorectal neoplasia. From March 1991 until November 1992 consecutive patients who required colonoscopy for the investigation of gastrointestinal symptoms or for 'polyp surveillance' follow up (see Figure), were recruited for study. In no case was colonoscopy being performed for previously positive FOBTs and patients with a history of overt gastrointestinal bleeding were excluded. No patient had undergone previous colonic resectional surgery. Patients were asked to start the testing of stools five days before hospital admission to ensure enough time to complete the three day regimen before bowel preparation. There were no dietary restrictions placed on the patients and regular medications were continued.
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