Carlo Lorenzo - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Carlo Lorenzo

Objective. To determine whether medically unexplained recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) in childhood... more Objective. To determine whether medically unexplained recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) in childhood predicts abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), other somatic complaints, and psychiatric symptoms and disorders in young adulthood.

American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2000

OBJECTIVE:Years after surgery for Hirschsprung’s disease, many children continue to suffer from f... more OBJECTIVE:Years after surgery for Hirschsprung’s disease, many children continue to suffer from fecal incontinence or constipation. The purpose of the present investigation was to define the physiology underlying the persistent symptoms in children after surgery for Hirschsprung’s disease, and to determine the outcome of interventions based on the results of the motility testing.METHODS:We studied 46 symptomatic patients (5.5 ± 3.3 yr old, 35 male) >10 months after surgery for Hirschsprung’s disease. We performed a colonic manometry with a catheter placed with the tip in the proximal colon. We used a structured questionnaire and phone interview to follow up the patients an average of 34 months after the manometry.RESULTS:We identified four motility patterns: 1) high-amplitude propagating contractions (HAPCs) migrating through the neorectum to the anal sphincter, associated with fecal soiling (n = 18); 2) normal colonic manometry associated with fear of defecation and retentive posturing (n = 9); 3) absence of HAPCs or persistent simultaneous contractions over two or more recording sites (n = 15), associated with constipation (n = 13); and 4) normal colonic motility and a hypertensive internal anal sphincter (>80 mm Hg) (n = 4). We based treatment on results of the motility studies. There was improvement in global health (mean score, 3.9 ± 1.1 vs 2.8 ± 1.3 at the time of initial evaluation, p < 0.001) and emotional health (3.8 ± 1.1 vs 2.6 ± 1.1, p < 0.0001). Improvement in the number of bowel movements occurred in 72% of children. Resolution or decreased abdominal pain was reported in 80%.CONCLUSIONS:Colonic manometry clarifies the pathophysiology and directs treatment in symptomatic children after surgery for Hirschsprung’s disease.

Journal of Pediatrics, 2001

Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate visceral sensitivity and psychologic profiles in children ... more Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate visceral sensitivity and psychologic profiles in children with functional gastrointestinal disorders. Study design: We measured visceral perception in the stomach and in the rectum by using an electronic barostat. Psychologic questionnaires were completed. Ten children with recurrent abdominal pain (RAP)(8 female, mean age 11.3 ± 0.8 years), 10 children with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (8 female, mean age 13.0 ± 0.9 years), and 15 control children (8 female, mean age 12.7 ± 1.2 years) completed the study. Results: Thresholds for visceral perception in the rectum were decreased in patients with IBS (P < .001 vs control patients) and in patients with RAP (P < .05 vs control patients). Children with IBS had lower thresholds than children with RAP (P < .01). In contrast, thresholds for perception were decreased in the stomach of children with RAP (P < .005 vs control patients) but not in children with IBS. There were elevated anxiety scores in 45% of patients. Duration of symptoms was associated with higher scores of anxiety (P < .001) and depression (P < .02). Conclusions: Hyperalgesia was demonstrated in children with RAP and IBS; sites of hyperalgesia appear to be associated with different symptom phenotypes; anxiety was common, and there was an association between the duration of symptoms and increased scores for both anxiety and depression. (J Pediatr 2001;139:838–43)

Gastroenterology, 1995

Total parenteral nutrition is responsible for most of the morbidity and mortality of childhood ch... more Total parenteral nutrition is responsible for most of the morbidity and mortality of childhood chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIP). The aim of this study was to determine if there are manometric patterns associated with the success of jejunal feedings in children with CIP. Eighteen children with CIP (age range, 1–9 years; mean, 4 years; 11 boys and 7 girls) were studied. All patients required parenteral nutrition or failed to thrive while receiving gastrostomy feedings. All underwent an antroduodenal manometry before surgical placement of a jejunostomy. Continuous drip jejunal feeding with an elemental formula was subsequently initiated. Follow-up after jejunal feeding was 1.6 years (range, 6 months to 4 years). Jejunal manometry was performed 2 months to 1 year after jejunostomy. Jejunal feeding eliminated the need for parenteral nutrition in all 9 patients with migrating motor complex (MMC) and in 3 of 9 patients without MMC (P < 0.01). The MMC was present or absent in both antroduodenal and jejunal manometry in 14 of 18 children (77.7%). In 10 of 18 children (55%), duodenal and jejunal manometry showed similar qualitative abnormalities. In selected children with CIP who fail gastrostomy feeding, jejunal tube feeding is an alternative to parenteral nutrition. The presence of MMCs is associated with a successful adaptation to jejunal feeding.

Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 2003

Eosinophilic esophagitis, long known to be a feature of acid reflux, has recently been described ... more Eosinophilic esophagitis, long known to be a feature of acid reflux, has recently been described in patients with food allergies and macroscopically furrowed esophagus. The pathophysiology and optimal management of patients with eosinophilic esophagitis is unclear. We describe our clinical experience related to eosinophilic esophagitis and obstructive symptoms in children and propose etiopathogenesis and management guidelines. Twelve children with obstructive esophageal symptoms (11 male), median age 5 years, and identified to have eosinophilic esophagitis with >5 eosinophils per high-power field (eos/hpf) are reported. Of these, four had strictures, six had impactions, and two had only dysphagia. A diagnostic evaluation included esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsies in all and upper gastrointestinal series, IgE, radioallergosorbent tests, and skin tests for food allergies in some cases. Esophageal histology specimens were independently analyzed for eosinophil density by two authors. Four of five children with >20 eos/hpf responded to elimination diets/steroids. The fifth child responded to a fundoplication. Seven children had 5–20 eos/hpf and three of them with no known food allergies responded to antireflux therapy alone. Three others in this group with positive food allergies responded to treatment with elimination diets and/or steroids. The seventh patient in this group was lost to follow-up. In conclusion, on the basis of response to therapy, eosinophilic esophagitis can be subdivided into two groups: those with likely gastroesophageal reflux disease if <20 eos/hpf and no food allergies, and others with allergic eosinophilic esophagitis associated with food allergies and often with >20 eos/hpf.

Journal of Pediatrics, 1997

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 1998

The purpose of these studies was to determine the suitability of bisacodyl for stimulating high-a... more The purpose of these studies was to determine the suitability of bisacodyl for stimulating high-amplitude-propagating contractions in pediatric studies of colonic manometry. Water-perfused manometry catheters were inserted into the right colon of children referred for evaluations related to defecation disorders. Colonic motility was measured in a 3-hour test session: an hour fasting, an hour after a meal, and 30 minutes after administration of a provocative agent. Bisacodyl was superior to edrophonium as a stimulant for inducing high-amplitude-propagating contractions. Bisacodyl-induced high-amplitude-propagating contractions were similar in amplitude, duration, propagation velocity, and sites of origin and extinction to naturally occurring high-amplitude-propagating contractions. The effect of intrarectal bisacodyl was similar to that of intracecal bisacodyl, except for a delay of 10 minutes in onset. Bisacodyl induced high-amplitude-propagating contractions in all 28 children (22 with spontaneous high-amplitude-propagating contractions) without evidence of neuromuscular disease and in 2 of 9 children with a colonic neuromuscular disorder and no spontaneous high-amplitude-propagating contractions. Bisacodyl-induced high-amplitude-propagating contractions were quantitatively and qualitatively similar to naturally occurring high-amplitude-propagating contractions. In selected cases, such as in children receiving total parenteral nutrition or restricted fluid intake, it may be possible to shorten diagnostic colonic manometry using bisacodyl rather than waiting for spontaneous high-amplitude-propagating contractions.

Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 1994

To evaluate the effects of erythromycin on antroduodenal motility in children with chronic functi... more To evaluate the effects of erythromycin on antroduodenal motility in children with chronic functional gastrointestinal symptoms, we studied 35 consecutive subjects referred for diagnostic motility studies. We recorded fasting motility for >4 hr, then infused in random order either 1 or 3 mg/kg erythromycin intravenously over 1 hr and continued the study for another hour. Erythromycin induced phase III in 18 of 20 children who had phase III during fasting compared to only one of 15 who did not (P<0.001). The antral motility index increased after erythromycin (1596±323 vs 436±242 mm Hg/30 min before erythromycin,P<0.005) but the duodenal motility index did not change. The antral motility index was greater in children receiving 3 mg/kg than in those receiving 1 mg/kg (1968±391 vs 1226±285 mm Hg/30 min,P<0.01), but duodenal motility indices did not differ. Only one child receiving the lower dose erythromycin complained of abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting vs 9 of 19 the children receiving the higher dose (P<0.02). In summary, in children with chronic functional gastrointestinal disorders, erythromycin rarely induced phase III in patients who did not have it during fasting. When different doses erythromycin are compared, 1 and 3 mg/kg are equally efficacious in inducing phase III episodes; the lower dose is associated with fewer side effects and the higher dose produces a higher antral motility index.

Journal of Pediatrics, 1995

To assess age-related changes, we analyzed 32 colon manometry studies of children referred for mo... more To assess age-related changes, we analyzed 32 colon manometry studies of children referred for motility studies and found not to have colonic disease. Colon motility was recorded by endoscopically placed water-perfused catheters. There was an inverse correlation between the number of high-amplitude propagated contractions and age, before and after administration of a meal; colonic contractions different from the high-amplitude propagated contractions increased with age. (J PEDIATR 1995;127:593-6)