Endoscopic sclerotherapy plus ligation versus ligation for the management of esophageal varices

The aim of this work was to compare endoscopic scleroligation with endoscopic variceal ligation alone with regard to efficacy, complications, variceal recurrence and survival rate. Seventy-one patients with cirrhosis and esophageal varices were included in this study; 35 treated by endoscopic scleroligation and 36 treated by endoscopic variceal ligation. Both methods were equally effective in achieving a complete eradication of esophageal varices. The recurrence rates in the endoscopic scleroligation group were significantly lower than those in the endoscopic variceal ligation group. The survival rates and incidence of complications were similar among patients treated by both methods. The combined method, endoscopic scleroligation, was superior to endoscopic variceal ligation alone in preventing variceal recurrence

Rate of fibrosis progression in the hepatitis C virus patients in relation to alanine transaminase activity

In hepatitis c virus [HCV] patients, the progression rate of fibrosis in relation to the liver enzymes is unknown. The aim of this study was done to assess the progression rate of fibrosis and to compare HCV patient normal ALT liver enzyme with HCV patients with elevated ALT. Hislological lesions were stayed using the metavir score we defined fibrosis stage progression per year as the ratio of the fibrosis stage in metavir units to the duration of infection. 72-HCV patient were included in each group. In group I liver enzymes values were normal, and lower than in group II [ALT 24 vs. 140 I u/L; p < 0.0001]. HCV RNA was less frequently in-group I [66% vs.97%; p < .0001]. Histological activities were lower in group I [0.6 vs. 1.36; p< .0001]. The stage of fibrosis was lower in group I [0.95 vs .1.8; p < .001]. The mean progression rate of fibrosis was lower in group I [0.06 vs 0.14; p< .001] HCV patient with normal ALT showed weaker histological activity and lower fibrosis scores, and the progression rate of fibrosis was twice as slow as in HCV patient with elevated ALT