Endoscopic injection of bleeding esophageal varices with a poly-N-acetyl glucosamine gel formulation in the canine portal hypertension model.
BACKGROUND
It has been shown that poly-N-acetyl glucosamine produces rapid hemostasis by stimulating erythrocyte aggregation. Endoscopic injection of this substance may be effective in the treatment of bleeding varices.


METHODS
In eight heparinized dogs with a bleeding esophageal varix greater than 2 mm in diameter, 2.5% to 3.5% poly-N-acetyl glucosamine gel was injected intravariceally and paravariceally. Endoscopy, endosonography, and histopathology were performed at 1, 7, 21, and 90 days after injection.


RESULTS
In all cases, the variceal hemorrhage was stopped with three to four injections of a mean total gel volume of 1.9 mL. No recurrence of bleeding, ulceration, or stricture formation occurred. Through replacement of the gel by connective tissue, the varix was permanently obliterated in its whole course in five cases and in more than 70% of its length in three cases. No embolization and no poly-N-acetyl glucosamine antibodies were detected.


CONCLUSIONS
Endoscopic injection of bleeding esophageal varices in this animal model with the use of poly-N-acetyl glucosamine gel was an effective and safe method for stopping the hemorrhage and inducing permanent varix obliteration.
Kulling
D
D
Digestive Disease Center, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA.
Vournakis
J N
JN
Woo
S
S
Demcheva
M V
MV
Tagge
D U
DU
Rios
G
G
Finkielsztein
S
S
Hawes
R H
RH
D000117:Acetylglucosamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D019160:Endosonography; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005782:Gels; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D015552:Injections, Intralesional / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005782:Gels; C113831:poly-N-acetyl glucosamine; D000117:Acetylglucosamine