title: Assessment of rectocolonic morphology and function in patients with Chagas disease in Barcelona (Spain).
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between colonic symptoms, radiological abnormalities, and anorectal dysfunction in patients with Chagas disease. We performed a cross-sectional study of untreated patients diagnosed with Chagas disease. All patients were evaluated clinically (by a questionnaire for colonic symptoms based on Rome III criteria) and underwent a barium enema and anorectal manometry. A control group of patients with functional constipation and without Chagas disease was included in the study. Overall, 69 patients were included in the study: 42 patients were asymptomatic and 27 patients had abdominal symptoms according to Rome III criteria. Anorectal manometry showed a higher proportion of abnormalities in symptomatic patients than in asymptomatic ones (73% versus 21%, respectively; P < 0.0001). Megarectum was detected in a similar proportion in the different subgroups regardless of the presence of symptoms or abnormalities in anorectal functions. Among non-Chagas disease patients with functional constipation, 90% had an abnormal anorectal manometry study. Patients with Chagas disease present a high proportion of constipation with dyssynergic defecation in anorectal manometry but a low prevalence of impaired rectoanal inhibitory reflex, although these abnormalities may be nonspecific for Chagas disease. The presence of megarectum is a nonspecific finding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain; Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), Department of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Radiology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain fmsalvad@vhebron.net.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salvador
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain; Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), Department of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Radiology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marianela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mego
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain; Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), Department of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Radiology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Adrián
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Montalvá
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain; Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), Department of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Radiology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morís
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain; Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), Department of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Radiology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain; Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), Department of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Radiology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Accarino
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain; Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), Department of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Radiology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan-Ramon
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Malagelada
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain; Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), Department of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Radiology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Azpiroz
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; PROSICS, Barcelona, Spain; Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (Ciberehd), Department of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Radiology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Molina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003248:Constipation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003672:Defecation; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D012007:Rectum / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001466:Barium Sulfate