الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract The aim of the present work is to evaluate the upper and lower gastrointestinal mucosal changes in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. It is concluded that: Upper and lower GIT endoscopy and scoring of the gastroduodenal and colonic mucosal biopsy were done. Multiple biopsies were taken and stained by H&E, Geimsa, and Congo red for histopathologic assessment and scoring. There was a positive correlation noted between the upper and lower endoscopic findings and clinical findings. There was a positive correlation noted between endoscopic findings including gastritis, duodenitis and colitis with extra articular manifestations (rheumatoid nodule, sjogren syndrome). A positive correlation was noted between GIT symptoms among the RA patients including, chronic dyspepsia, epigastric pain and chronic diarrhea with histopathological gastritis, duodenitis and colitis. There was a positive correlation noted between the histological and the endoscopic diagnosis of gastritis, duodenitis and colitis. Recommendations: Patients with RA should always be examined carefully for any manifestations of GIT symptoms for early detections of gastro-intestinal complication especially those using NSAIDs and those at risk for developing GIT side effects. Upper GIT endoscopy should be a part of routine investigation for patients with RA to detect and treat early GIT complication of the disease or the drug used in its treatment, also, colonoscopy could detect many of mucosal lesions, the more accurate diagnosis by is by histopathology even from apparently normal mucosa. |