Sociodemographic and medical characteristics of liver cirrhosis deaths in a Ghanaian tertiary hospital

Objective: Cirrhosis is common in Ghana because of its high risk factors prevalence. However, information on cirrhosis in Ghana is lacking. This study aimed to study the clinical, and laboratory characteristics of cirrhotic patients in a tertiary hospital in Ghana. Design: This was a retrospective study ofsociodemographic characteristics, symptoms and signs, biochemical and fibrotic indices, treatments, and complications data of 247 patients with cirrhosis who died on admission. Setting: This study was carried out at the Gastroenterology Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana, Results: Two-thirds (68.0%) of the patients were within 30 to 60 years, with more than half (73.7%) being males. The most common aetiological factors among the patients were Hepatitis B virus infection (53.8%), alcohol use (31.6%) and Hepatitis C virus infection (4.9%). More than half (55.0%) of the patients reported late for admission, and 67.2% died within the first two weeks of admission. The most common clinical feature was abdominal distension (61.1% of patients), and the least was upper-abdominal mass (14.2%). The levels of most liver test parameters were elevated, fibrotic indices were high, and haemoglobin and albumin levels were reduced. More than half (53.8%) of the patients were in Child Pugh class B. The most common complication was hepatic encephalopathy; the least was hepato-renal syndrome. Definite treatment for complications of cirrhosis was lacking. Conclusion: Deaths from cirrhosis at the hospital were mostly of young males with chronic hepatitis B infection. Implementation of hepatitis B prevention and treatment guidelines can help reduce cirrhosis deaths.

Grossesse et cirrhose: aspects épidémiologiques et pronostiques à propos de 7 cas suivis au centre hospitalier universitaire de Libreville / Pregnancy and cirrhosis: epidemiological and prognostic aspects about 7 cases followed at the University Hospital of Libreville

Introduction : L'association cirrhose et grossesse est peu décrite en Afrique. Nous rapportons notre expérience à travers une série de femmes cirrhotiques régulièrement suivies.Patients et méthodes : Il s'agit d'une étude transversale, rétrospective et descriptive menée entre le 1er Juin 2016 et le 31 Décembre 2018 au centre hospitalier universitaire de Libreville. Nous avons inclus les dossiers des femmes cirrhotiques en âge de procréer, vivant en couple et ayant exprimé le désir de procréer. Nous avons analysé la fréquence des grossesses, le devenir de celle-ci, le type d'accouchements, les complications maternelles et obstétricales. L'analyse des données colligées a été réalisée par le logiciel SPSS 20.Résultats: Sept femmes ont présenté une grossesse parmi les 84 femmes cirrhotiques suivies soit 33 grossesses/1000 femmes/an. Leur âge moyen était de 26±6 ans. La cirrhose était classée Child-Pugh A, B et C respectivement pour 1, 3 et 3 patientes. L'étiologie de la cirrhose était l'hépatite B pour 3 patientes l'hépatite C pour 1 patiente, l'alcoolisme pour 1 patiente et l'hépatite auto-immune chez 2 patientes. Sur le plan obstétrical, 1 seule grossesse a été menée à terme sans incident. Il y a eu 1 avortement tardif, 1 accouchement prématuré et 4 morts foetales in utéro. La voie d'accouchement était la césarienne chez 2 patientes et la voie basse pour 5 patientes.Trois décès maternels ont été observés dans un contexte hémorragique.Conclusion : La grossesse au cours de la cirrhose est une situation à risque élevée pour la mère et l'enfant.

Introduction: The association of cirrhosis and pregnancy is poorly described in Africa. We report our experiencethrough a series of cirrhotic women regularly monitored. Patients and methods: This is a cross-sectional, retrospective and descriptive study conducted between June 1, 2016 and December 31, 2018 at the University Hospital of Libreville. We included women aged 15 to 35 years who had been followed for at least 12 months for cirrhosis and who had a pregnancy during the study period. We analysed the frequency of pregnancies, the fate of pregnancy, the type of delivery, maternal complications and fetal complications. The analysis of the collected data was carried out by the SPSS 20 software.Results: Seven women had a pregnancy among the 84 cirrhotic women followed or 33 pregnancies/ 1000women/year. Their average age was 26±6 years. Cirrhosis was classified as Child-Pugh A, B and C for 1, 3 and 3 patients respectively. The etiology of cirrhosis was chronic viral hepatitis B for 3 patients hepatitis C for 1 patient, alcohol for 1 patient and autoimmune hepatitis for 2 patients. Obstetrically, only 1 pregnancy was completed to term without incident. There was 1 late-term abortion, 1 preterm birth and 4 fetal deaths in utero.The delivery route was caesarean section for 2 patients and vaginal section for 5 patients. Three maternal deaths were observed in a hemorrhagic context. Conclusion: Pregnancy during cirrhosis is a high-risk situation for both mother and child.

The relation between interstitial lung disease and chronic HCV infection

Background and study aim: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) includes a variety group of about 200 conditions that insult the lung parenchyma with different patterns of inflammation and fibrosis. Hepatitis C virus (HCV)is Flavivirus with diverse hepatic and extrahepatic diseases. Its direct and indirect pathogenic association with many pulmonary manifestations-including interstitial lung disease-has been suggested yet needs more elucidation.Patients and Methods: A case control study was conducted with a total of 50 chronic hepatic patients. They were equally divided into two groups, HCV positive group (group 1= 25 patients) and HCV negative group (group 2= 25 patients). Group 1 was subdivided into two subgroups, without-idiopathic interstitial pneumonias patients (without IIPs subgroup A= 13 patients) and with idiopathic interstitial pneumonias patients (IIPs subgroup B = 12 patients). Both groups were subjected to thorough history taking, clinical examination, and routine investigations. The diagnosis of HCV was confirmed by viral markers including HCV antibodies and PCR. Other chronic hepatic liver diseases were confirmed by abdominal ultrasound and ultrasound- guided liver biopsy. Arterial blood gases, auto antibodies, Computerized pulmonary function tests and radiological studies including plain X ray chest and heart and HRCT scanning were also done. All patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) had fulfilled the ATS/ ERS diagnostic guidelines. Both groups were matched according to age, sex and body mass index.Results: The HCV positive group was found to have a significantly higher frequency of ILD than the HCV negative group with also more restrictive pattern hypoxemia and higher scores of IPF (by computed tomography).Conclusion: ILD is more frequent in patients with chronic HCV infection with higher grades of fibrosis and hypoxemia.HCV infection may be predisposing factor for IPF

Profil clinique et étiologique des hépatomégalies au CNHU de Cotonou

Introduction : L'hépatomégalie est un motif fréquent d'hospitalisation. Elle pose souvent le problème du diagnostic étiologique. Ce dernier est souvent basé sur un faisceau d'arguments cliniques, biologiques et d'imagerie médicale. Parfois le recours à l'examen histopathologique est indispensable.Objectif : Décrire le profil clinique et étiologique des hépatomégalies chez les patients hospitalisés en Médecine Interne au CNHU-HKM de Cotonou.Méthodes : Il s'agissait d'une étude transversale descriptive allant du 1er janvier 2012 au 31 décembre 2016. Etaient inclus dans l'étude, les patients chez qui il était retrouvé une hépatomégalie.L'hépatomégalie était définie par une fleche hépatique supérieure à 12 centimètres sur la ligne médioclaviculaire droite et/ou à 3 centimètres sur la ligne xypho-ombilicale. Les données étaient analysées à l'aide du logiciel SPSS 20.0Résultats : Sur 2172 patients hospitalisés, 118 (5,4%) avaient une hépatomégalie. L'âge moyen des patients était de 50 ans (extrêmes : 17 ans et 88 ans). La population était constituée de 69 hommes (58,5%) et de 49 femmes (41,5). Le sex ratio (H/F) était de 1,4. L'altération de l'état général (61%),l'ascite (64,4%), l'hypertension portale (28,8%) étaient les principaux signes cliniques. Le foie multinodulaire (33 cas /104) 31,7 %) était le principal aspect à l'échographie abdominale. Les étiologies étaient dominées par le carcinome hépatocellulaire, (43 cas ;36,5%) , la cirrhose (22 cas ;18,7%) et le foie métastatique (15 cas ;12,7%).Conclusion : L'hépatomégalie est un motif fréquent dans notre contexte. Ses étiologies sont dominées par la cirrhose, le carcinome hépatocellulaire et le foie métastatique

Profil étiologique des ascites dans le service de médecine interne du centre national hospitalier et universitaire de Cotonou

Introduction : L'ascite est un motif fréquent de consultation en médecine interne. Sa survenue pose des problèmes de diagnostic essentiellement étiologiqueMéthodes : Il s'agissait d'une étude rétrospective descriptive allant du 1er janvier 2012 au 31 septembre 2016 ;elle portait sur les cas d'ascite suivis dans le service de médecine interne du CNHUHKM de Cotonou (Benin).Etaient recueillis les caractéristiques clinico-biologiques et échographiques des patients de même que les caractères macroscopiques biochimiques et cytobactériologiques del'ascite.Résultats : Sur 1930 patients hospitalisés au cours de la période d'étude, 123 (6,4%) avaient une ascite. L'âge moyen des patients était de 50,3ans (extrêmes : 15 ans et 88 ans) avec un sexe ratio H/F de 1,5. L'ascite était souvent de grade 2 (50 ,4%), d'aspect jaune citrin (61%) et pauvre en protéine (63,3%). La cirrhose (56,1%), le carcinome hépatocellulaire (24,4%) et la tuberculose péritonéale (18,7%) étaient les principales étiologies. Aucune cause n'était trouvée dans 10 cas (8.1%)Conclusion : L'ascite est un motif fréquent d'hospitalisation en médecine Interne au CNHU de Cotonou.Ses étiologies sont dominées par la cirrhose, le carcinome hépatocellulaire et la tuberculose péritonéale

Profil épidémiologique et diagnostique du carcinome hépatocellulaire dans le service de médecine interne du CNHU-HKM De Cotonou

Introduction : L'hépatomégalie est un motif fréquent d'hospitalisation. Elle pose souvent le problème du diagnostic étiologique. Ce dernier est souvent basé sur un faisceau d'arguments cliniques, biologiques et d'imagerie médicale. Parfois le recours à l'examen histopathologique est indispensable. Objectif : Décrire le profil clinique et étiologique des hépatomégalies chez les patients hospitalisés en Médecine Interne au CNHU-HKM de Cotonou. Méthodes : Il s'agissait d'une étude transversale descriptive allant du 1er janvier 2012 au 31 décembre 2016. Etaient inclus dans l'étude, les patients chez qui il était retrouvé une hépatomégalie.L'hépatomégalie était définie par une fleche hépatique supérieure à 12 centimètres sur la ligne médioclaviculaire droite et/ou à 3 centimètres sur la ligne xypho-ombilicale. Les données étaient analysées à l'aide du logiciel SPSS 20.0 Résultats : Sur 2172 patients hospitalisés, 118 (5,4%) avaient une hépatomégalie. L'âge moyen des patients était de 50 ans (extrêmes : 17 ans et 88 ans). La population était constituée de 69 hommes (58,5%) et de 49 femmes (41,5). Le sex ratio (H/F) était de 1,4. L'altération de l'état général (61%),l'ascite (64,4%), l'hypertension portale (28,8%) étaient les principaux signes cliniques. Le foie multinodulaire (33 cas /104) 31,7 %) était le principal aspect à l'échographie abdominale. Les étiologies étaient dominées par le carcinome hépatocellulaire, (43 cas ;36,5%) , la cirrhose (22 cas ;18,7%) et le foie métastatique (15 cas ;12,7%).Conclusion : L'hépatomégalie est un motif fréquent dans notre contexte. Ses étiologies sont dominées par la cirrhose, le carcinome hépatocellulaire et le foie métastatique

Mean Platelet Volume as a Fibrosis Marker in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

Background and study aim: Liver biopsy limitations push us to search for new non invasive methods to detect liver fibrosis such as serum markers. The aim of this study is to evaluate mean platelet volume (MPV) as a fibrosis marker in patient with chronic hepatitis C. Patients and methods: 150 patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C infection refereed to Tanta Fever Hospital in period from May 2013 to January 2014 and 20 healthy volunteers as a control were included. All of them were tested for Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) in comparison with who done liver biopsy as standard. Results: Statistically significant differences in MPV and Platelet Count were seen in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) compared to healthy controls (MPV: 8.95 ± 1.39fL vs. 7.57 ± 0.68 fl, P-value = 0.043; PC 226.03 ±68.36 vs. 188.9±46.49, P-value = 0.02) Multi-variate Logistic regression analysis shows only 5 variables remained as independent risk factors for fibrosis progression: (MPV, Schistosomiasis, ALT, AST and Prothrombin time). AST (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.21), ALT (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.99), PT (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.15 to 3.88), and MPV (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.22 to 4.25). Cut-off values were calculated for diagnostic performance, and the cut-off value for MPV was 9.22 fl., sensitivity 75.5%, specificity 62%, PPV 40.3%, NPPV 93.4% and Accuracy rate 61.8%. Conclusion: We suggest that high MPV levels (especially those over 9.22 fl) may help to predict advanced fibrosis in patients with CHC. However, it should not be forgotten that MPV is not a specific marker for fibrosis, and the negative predictive rate seems more valuable to exclude a high fibrosis ratio in patients with CHC

Epidemiology of Hepatitis B-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Cameroon

Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and cirrhosis are major risk factors for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In Cameroon, which is a highly endemic zone for HBV, its epidemiologic characteristics are not known. The aim of our study was to determine the epidemiologic characteristics of hepatitis B-associated HCC in our milieu for a better management of the disease. Methods: Patients suffering from HCC in two hospitals in Yaounde were sampled and screened for HBV, HCV and HDV. Only HBV related HCC were enrolled. Demographic characteristics, presence or not of cirrhosis, excessive alcohol consumption (>80g/day) and smoking were analyzed. Results: A total of 34 cases of HCC were identified. The mean age was 38.5±12.3 years (extremes 18 ­ 74 years); 79.4% (27/34) were males (sex ratio 3.9:1); 55.9% (19/34) had cirrhosis while 44.1% (15/34) were non cirrhotic. Also, 44.1% (15/34) were smokers and 2.9% (1/34) were alcoholics. The prevalence of HCC was 14.7%, 47.7%, 20.6%, 11.8% and 5.9% amongst those below 30 years, 30­39 years, 40­49 years, 50­59 years and 60 years and above respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean ages of cirrhotic and non cirrhotic patients (38.9±11.3 vs. 38.0±14 years, p=0.08). The majority of patients below 30 years had no cirrhosis at the moment the diagnosis of HCC was made (80% vs. 39.9%, p=0.08). Cirrhosis was more frequent amongst those aged 30­39 years (68.8% vs. 44.4%, p=0.16). There was no other difference between cirrhotic and non cirrhotic patients. Neither alcohol nor smoking had no a synergic effect in the development of HCC. Conclusion: Most patients with hepatitis B-associated HCC in Cameroon are aged below 40 years. Cirrhosis is not always present at diagnosis. The epidemiologic profiles of cirrhotic and non cirrhotic patients are similar. The influence of alcohol and tobacco is negligible. The introduction of HBV vaccine in the extended immunization program in 2005 was thus necessary in our country

Hepatitis B Virus Infection: the Burden of Disease in South Africa

Hepatitis B virus infection; both acute and chronic; occurs commonly in the black population of South Africa; and chronic infection and its sequelae of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma are major public health threats. Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is rare in the other population groups; with the exception of the very small Chinese community. Prevalences of chronic carriage of hepatitis B virus in South African blacks are 5-16in rural males; 8-9in urban males; 4-12in rural females; and 2.7-4in urban females. The overall male to female ratio is 2.6:1.0. There are now three to four million South African blacks who are chronically infected with this virus. In rural black populations chronic hepatitis B virus infection is acquired very early in life; predominantly as a result of horizontal transmission of the virus; and by the age of 5 years carrier rates approach those seen in adulthood. A further slight increase occurs at school-going age and a greater increase at the time of becoming sexually active. Urban black carrier rates are significantly lower and the infection is acquired later in life. The decreased urban viral carriage rates occur mainly in the first generation born in an urban environment. Hepatitis B virus accounts for about 60of clinically evident acute viral hepatitis among blacks and about 10of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. It is the cause of the majority of the many cases of hepatocellular carcinoma that occur in black South Africans. The tumour is more common in males and in rural-born than in urban-born blacks. The close association between chronic hepatitis B virus infection and hepatocellular carcinoma holds true in rural and urban patients and males and females. The association is age-related; being closer in younger patients. Genotypes A and D of hepatitis B virus predominate in South African isolates; with genotype A and its subtype Aa having aparticularly high hepatocarcinogenic potential

Le cout financier de la prise en charge hospitaliere de la cirrhose et de ses complications au CHU de Brazzaville

This retrospective pilot study was conducted in a series of 166 patients hospitalized for the first time for management of cirrhosis with or without complications over a two-year period at the Unive rsity Hospital Center in Brazzaville; Congo. Complications included ascitis; hepatic encephalopathy; gastrointestinal bleeding; and hep atocelluar carcinoma. Total care cost was determined by adding up expenditures for the initial examination; each day of hospitalization; adjuvant investigations; and administered medication. The mean per- patient cost was 272345 F CFA (415.79 _) in cases involving ascites; 195675 F CFA (298.74_) in cases involving encephalopathy; 207935 F CFA (317.45 _) in cases involving hep atocellular carcinoma; 245680 F CFA (375.08 _) in cases involving gastrointestinal bleeding and 205615 F CFA (313 90 _) in uncomplicated cases. These data document the high cost of hospital care for cirrhosis and re l ated complications in Congo