Cardiac parameters and interleukin-6 differences between adolescents with hepatitis B infection versus those complicated with hepatocelluar carcinoma

Background and study aim: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major risk factor of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in all age groups. There is a need to differentiate between them in the adolescence age by laboratory and physical examination for assessment of different outcomes of both diseases.Subjects and Methods: Cross sectional study that included Session [UserIDID] adolescents with HBV, another Session [UserIDID] with HCC with age ranging from 12 and up to 17 years. They were selected from those admitted to Tropical Medicine Department, Menofia University and Tropical Medicine Department, Zagazig University. All patient underwent laboratory assessment of interleukin6 (IL6) and were further examined at the Cardiology Unit in Pediatric department of Ain Shams University hospitals for complete echo-cardiographic and anthropometric evaluation.Results: Twenty four patients have HCC were examined with mean age (14.15± 3.01) years and another Session [UserIDID] are having HBV (14.64±3.13) years. Differences were found between both groups as regards IL6 as mean values were (13.29 pg/ml) in HBV and (77.63 pg/ml) in HCC group while no differences were detected as regards cardiac and anthropometric evaluations.Conclusion: IL6 seems to be a useful marker to compare between HBV and HCC in adolescent patients instead of depending on clinical cardiac evaluation or growth parameters that showed no differences

Study of the correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and Hepatic Encephalopathy in patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Background and study aim: Ammonia plays a major role in hepatic encephalopathy pathogenesis. Most of ammonia is known to be produced by the action of colonic bacteria which possess a urease enzyme activity. H. pylori which infects the stomach possesses a stronger urease activity which produce a large amount of ammonia that may precipitate hepatic encephalopathy (HE). The aim of the present study is to determine the correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and HE in patients with liver cirrhosis.Patients and Methods: One hundred patients (50 patients of liver cirrhosis with hepatic encephalopathy and 50 patients of liver cirrhosis without hepatic encephalo-pathy) were evaluated for presence of H. pylori by stool antigen test (ELISA method) and for blood ammonia level estimation.Results: Prevalence of H. pylori infection in the study groups (patients of liver cirrhosis with and without hepatic encephalopathy) was 70% (liver cirrhosis with hepatic encephalopathy group (A) 80%, and liver cirrhosis without hepatic encephalopathy group (B) 60%). Mean blood ammonia levels were: 82.14± 47.9 mmol/l for group A (liver cirrhosis with hepatic encephalopathy) and 36.44± 17.9 mmol/l for group B (liver cirrhosis without hepatic encephalopathy). Prevalence of H. pylori and blood ammonia level were found significantly increasing with the severity and the degree of hepatic encephalopathy.Conclusion: There is a significant association between H. pylori and hepatic encephalopathy in patients with liver cirrhosis. There may be a role of anti-H. pylori therapy in patients of hepatic encephalopathy and should be investigated further