Barrett's esophagus in Latinos undergoing endoscopy for gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms

Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with reduced risk of Barrett's esophagus: a meta-analysis and systematic review

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is a class I carcinogen in gastric carcinogenesis, but its role in Barrett's esophagus (BE) is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to explore the possible relationship.

METHODS

We reviewed observational studies published in English until October 2019. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for included studies.

RESULTS

46 studies from 1505 potential citations were eligible for inclusion. A significant inverse relationship with considerable heterogeneity was found between Hp (OR = 0.70; 95% CI, 0.51-0.96; P = 0.03) and BE, especially the CagA-positive Hp strain (OR = 0.28; 95% CI, 0.15-0.54; P = 0.0002). However, Hp infection prevalence was not significantly different between patients with BE and the gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) control (OR = 0.99; 95% CI, 0.82-1.19; P = 0.92). Hp was negatively correlated with long-segment BE (OR = 0.47; 95% CI, 0.25-0.90; P = 0.02) and associated with a reduced risk of dysplasia. However, Hp had no correlated with short-segment BE (OR = 1.11; 95% CI, 0.78-1.56; P = 0.57). In the present infected subgroup, Hp infection prevalence in BE was significantly lower than that in controls (OR = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.54-0.89; P = 0.005); however, this disappeared in the infection history subgroup (OR = 0.88; 95% CI, 0.43-1.78; P = 0.73).

CONCLUSIONS

Hp, especially the CagA-positive Hp strain, and BE are inversely related with considerable heterogeneity, which is likely mediated by a decrease in GERD prevalence, although this is not observed in the absence of current Hp infection.

Barrett oesophagus

Barrett oesophagus (BE), the only known histological precursor of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), is a condition in which the squamous epithelium of the oesophagus is replaced by columnar epithelium as an adaptive response to gastro-oesophageal reflux. EAC has one of the fastest rising incidences of cancers in Western countries and has a dismal prognosis. BE is usually detected during endoscopic examination, and diagnosis is confirmed by the histological presence of intestinal metaplasia. Advances in genomics and transcriptomics have improved our understanding of the pathogenesis and malignant progression of intestinal metaplasia. As the majority of EAC cases are diagnosed in individuals without a known history of BE, screening for BE could potentially decrease disease-related mortality. Owing to the pre-malignant nature of BE, endoscopic surveillance of patients with BE is imperative for early detection and treatment of dysplasia to prevent further progression to invasive EAC. Developments in endoscopic therapy have resulted in a major shift in the treatment of patients with BE who have dysplasia or early EAC, from surgical resection to endoscopic resection and ablation. In addition to symptom control by optimization of lifestyle and pharmacological therapy with proton pump inhibitors, chemopreventive strategies based on NSAIDs and statins are currently being investigated for BE management.

Helicobacter pylori infection reduces the risk of Barrett's esophagus: A meta-analysis and systematic review

INTRODUCTION

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection (HPI) has been decreasing in developed countries, with an increasing prevalence of Barrett's esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) at the same time. The aim of our meta-analysis was to quantify the risk of BE in the context of HPI.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted in 3 databases for studies on BE with data on prevalence of HPI from inception until December 2016. Odds ratios for BE in HPI were calculated by the random effects model with subgroup analyses for geographical location, presence of dysplasia in BE, and length of the BE segment.

RESULTS

Seventy-two studies were included in the meta-analysis, including 84 717 BE cases and 390 749 controls. The overall analysis showed that HPI reduces the risk of BE; OR = 0.68 (95% CI: 0.58-0.79, P < .001). Subgroup analyses revealed risk reduction in Asia OR = 0.53 (95% CI: 0.33-0.84, P = .007), Australia OR = 0.56 (95% CI: 0.39-0.80, P = .002), Europe OR = 0.77 (95% CI: 0.60-0.98, P = .035), and North-America OR = 0.59 (95% CI: 0.47-0.74, P < .001). The risk was significantly reduced for dysplastic BE, OR = 0.37 (95% CI: 0.26-0.51, P < .001) for non-dysplastic BE, OR = 0.51 (95% CI: 0.35-0.75, P = .001), and for long segment BE, OR = 0.25 (95% CI: 0.11-0.59, P = .001) in case of HPI.

CONCLUSIONS

This extensive meta-analysis provides additional evidence that HPI is associated with reduced risk of BE. Subgroup analyses confirmed that this risk reduction is independent of geographical location. HPI is associated with significantly lower risk of dysplastic, non-dysplastic, and long segment BE.

ACG Clinical Guideline: Diagnosis and Management of Barrett's Esophagus

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is among the most common conditions encountered by the gastroenterologist. In this document, the American College of Gastroenterology updates its guidance for the best practices in caring for these patients. These guidelines continue to endorse screening of high-risk patients for BE; however, routine screening is limited to men with reflux symptoms and multiple other risk factors. Acknowledging recent data on the low risk of malignant progression in patients with nondysplastic BE, endoscopic surveillance intervals are attenuated in this population; patients with nondysplastic BE should undergo endoscopic surveillance no more frequently than every 3-5 years. Neither routine use of biomarker panels nor advanced endoscopic imaging techniques (beyond high-definition endoscopy) is recommended at this time. Endoscopic ablative therapy is recommended for patients with BE and high-grade dysplasia, as well as T1a esophageal adenocarcinoma. Based on recent level 1 evidence, endoscopic ablative therapy is also recommended for patients with BE and low-grade dysplasia, although endoscopic surveillance continues to be an acceptable alternative. Given the relatively common recurrence of BE after ablation, we suggest postablation endoscopic surveillance intervals. Although many of the recommendations provided are based on weak evidence or expert opinion, this document provides a pragmatic framework for the care of the patient with BE.

Esophageal Adenocarcinoma in Patients Younger than 40 Years: A Two-Decade Experience at a Public and Private Hospital

Esophageal adenocarcinoma is typically observed in the older non-Hispanic white population. Changing demographics are altering the epidemiology of the disease. The aim of this study is to review the presentation and outcomes of esophageal adenocarcinoma patients <40 years old at our institution. A retrospective review was performed of patients diagnosed with esophageal adenocarcinoma between 1990 and 2013. Demographics, presentation, and outcomes were compared in those <40 years old and those ≥40 years old. There were 772 total cases with 42 (5%) <40 years old consisting of 37 (88.1%) males, five females and median age of diagnosis of 35 (interquartile range: 31–38). The two most common ethnicities were White non-Hispanic/Latino in 19 (45.2%), Hispanic /Latino in 18 (42.9%). Compared with patients 40 years and older, the younger group had more Hispanic/Latinos than the older group (43% vs 17%, P < 0.001), more frequently presented with stage IV disease (50% vs 29%) and had a shorter median survival. In conclusion, younger patients tend to present at a much later stage than the older counterparts, which may be due to a delay in diagnosis as well as more aggressive biology. Esophageal adenocarcinoma seems to be increasing in the Hispanic/Latino population.

Follow-up outcomes of endoscopic resection for early gastric cancer with undifferentiated histology

BACKGROUND

The application of endoscopic resection (ER) for undifferentiated-type early gastric cancer (UD-EGC) remains controversial. The aim was to examine long-term outcomes of ER for UD-EGC. Furthermore, we investigated whether long-term outcomes of ER differed between poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (PD) and signet ring cell carcinoma (SRC).

METHODS

From 2001 to 2011, 209 lesions in 209 patients with UD-EGC (82 PD; 127 SRC) were treated by ER. We retrospectively assessed the clinical outcomes of ER in 209 patients. The survival rate and disease-free survival rates after ER were evaluated as long-term outcomes.

RESULTS

The en bloc resection and curative resection (CR) rates were 91.4 and 55.0 %, respectively. The en bloc and CR rates in PD were 90.2 and 45.1 %, whereas those in SRC were 92.1 and 61.4 %. For patients with PD who underwent non-curative resections, 51.1 % were vertical-cut end-positive and for those with SRC, 63.3 % were lateral-cut end-positive, a statistically significant difference. In those patients where CR was achieved, no case of local recurrence or distant metastasis was observed during the follow-up period (32.7 ± 22.2 months). The 3- and 5-year survival rates were 99.0 and 98.6 %, with no significant difference between CR patients with SRC and PD.

CONCLUSIONS

ER may yield good long-term outcomes for UD-EGC if CR is achieved, with no difference between PD and SRC. However, to increase the current CR rate of ER, stricter criteria for performing ER in UD-EGC may be required.