PMID: 2511089Oct 1, 1989Paper

Prevalence of surreptitious laxative abuse in patients with diarrhoea of uncertain origin: a cost benefit analysis of a screening procedure

Gut
P BytzerO B Schaffalitzky de Muckadell

Abstract

The costs and medical benefits of an early, routine laxative screening test in patients with diarrhoea of uncertain origin was evaluated. During a two year period 200 consecutive, unselected patients complaining of diarrhoea were considered for the study in whom a three day faecal collection was undertaken. Fifty four patients denying laxative consumption had diarrhoea (mean daily stool weight greater than 200 g) of uncertain origin at their initial visit of whom 47 were screened to detect ingestion of anthraquinones, bisacodyl, phenolphthalein, and magnesium salts. Seven patients had positive tests. No single clinical feature could have predicted the outcome of the test. The possible cost savings of the programme were estimated by not releasing the results of the test to the clinicians until the patient's investigations were complete. The seven patients with laxative abuse spent a total of 35 days in hospital and were seen on 29 occasions in the outpatient clinic after the laxative screening test was positive. The cost of the screening programme was cheaper than the costs of the diagnostic procedures in patients with laxative abuse. We recommend the use of a comprehensive, early laxative screening programme in all patients wit...Continue Reading

References

Jun 1, 1977·Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior·D A Overton
Jan 23, 1986·The New England Journal of Medicine·P DoubiletB J McNeil
Sep 1, 1974·Gut·J H Cummings
Mar 23, 1974·British Medical Journal·J H CummingsJ J Misiewicz
Jan 1, 1984·Cleveland Clinic Quarterly·P H Slung, W D Carey
Apr 1, 1984·Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology·P A Plumeri
Apr 1, 1983·Human Toxicology·F A de WolffP Vermeij

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Nov 30, 1996·Lancet·R R GreavesR L Brown
Apr 29, 1998·Journal of Women's Health·H BatalP S Mehler
Sep 1, 1996·Gut·S Müller-Lissner
Jan 12, 2008·BMJ : British Medical Journal·Juergen BauditzMatthias Pirlich
Jun 9, 2001·European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology·A Duncan, J A Forrest
Aug 7, 2010·Drugs·James L RoerigChristie Zunker
Aug 15, 2000·Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition·L de Ridder, J H Hoekstra
Apr 12, 2000·Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics·P H Robinson
Jan 1, 1996·Annual Review of Medicine·E H Baker, G I Sandle
Jan 1, 1993·Thyroid : Official Journal of the American Thyroid Association·R BouillonM De Roo
Mar 16, 1995·The New England Journal of Medicine·M DonowitzR Saidi
May 19, 1994·The New England Journal of Medicine·M Topazian, H J Binder
Jun 1, 1990·Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology·P BytzerO B Schaffalitzky de Muckadell
Apr 23, 2004·Pain Medicine : the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine·E C Covington
Jun 9, 2012·Mayo Clinic Proceedings·Seth Sweetser
Jun 29, 2005·Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America·Bryan S Judge, Bernard H Eisenga
Apr 14, 2015·Journal of Eating Disorders·Philip S Mehler, Melanie Rylander
Feb 20, 2004·Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety·Glinda S CooperRuth K Peters
Nov 1, 1991·Annals of Clinical Biochemistry·A DuncanR I Russell

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.