Avaliação de variáveis potencialmente preditivas de má evolução da recidiva da hepatite C em pacientes submetidos a transplante de fígado, com ênfase nos achados anátomo-patológicos / Evaluation of potentially predictive findings of poor outcome in recurrent chronic hepatitis C after liver transplantation, with emphasis on histopathological parameters

Introdução: Hepatite crônica recidivada (HCR) é a regra após o transplante hepático (TH) em pacientes infectados pelo vírus da hepatite C (VHC), provocando progressão de fibrose mais acelerada no órgão transplantado do que no fígado nativo. Vários estudos têm apontado que, dentre os pacientes transplantados por doença terminal relacionada ao VHC, há padrões distintos de evolução pós-transplante, influenciados por diversos aspectos clínicos, demográficos, laboratoriais e histopatológicos. Objetivos: Identificar alterações precoces associadas à gravidade da doença recidivada, com ênfase nos achados histopatológicos no TH e nas biópsias de seguimento. Métodos: Foi avaliada uma coorte retrospectiva de 41 pacientes que se submeteram a TH entre 1992 e 2004. Dados clínicos foram recuperados dos prontuários médicos e todas as biópsias de fígado foram reavaliadas. Foram estudadas em especial a primeira biópsia após o primeiro mês (PAT) e a primeira biópsia com diagnóstico de hepatite crônica (PHC) de cada paciente. Estas duas biópsias foram também submetidas ao estudo das células estreladas hepáticas através da marcação por -actina de músculo liso. A presença de esteatose e dos parâmetros de hepatite crônica foi quantificada em todas as biópsias dentro dos diferentes períodos do pós-transplante. Resultados: A idade média no transplante foi de 51 anos, com 72% dos pacientes do sexo masculino. O tempo médio de seguimento histopatológico (tempo entre o transplante e a última biópsia hepática realizada) foi de 2234 dias (785-4640). A taxa global anual de progressão de fibrose (TPF) foi de 0,62 (escore de Ishak), a partir da qual os pacientes foram classificados no grupo de fibrosadores rápidos (FR),quando TPF > 0,62, e no grupo de fibrosadores lentos (FL),quando TPF <0,62.O tempo para o diagnóstico histopatológico de HCR, os fatores ligados ao doador e os achados histopatológicos precoces associados ao diagnóstico de hepatite crônica não se apresentaram diferentes...

Background: Recurrent chronic hepatitis (RCH) is the rule after liver transplantation (LT) in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients, with a faster fibrosis progression in allograft than in native liver. Many studies have pointed out that, even in the group of patients transplanted for HCV end-stage disease, there are distinct outcomes due to the influence of several clinical, demographic, laboratorial and histopathological factors. Objectives: Evaluate earlier changes that could be associated to severity of disease recurrence, with emphasis on histopathological findings at LT and follow up biopsies. Method: A retrospective cohort of forty one HCV infected patients who underwent LT between 1992 and 2004 was studied. Clinical data were recovered from hospital files and all liver tissue specimens were reviewed. The first liver biopsy after first month post-LT (FAF) and the first biopsy with chronic hepatitis (FCH) were considered to each patient. Expression of -smooth muscle actin in hepatic stellate cells by immunohistochemistry was also examined in these biopsies. Additionally, steatosis and chronic hepatitis parameters were quantified in all biopsies in each period after LT. Results: The mean age at LT was 51 yr; 72% were male; the median histological follow-up (time between LT and last liver biopsy) was 2234 days (785-4640) and the overall annual rate of fibrosis progression (RFP)was 0.62 (Ishak s score). Patients were classified in fast fibrosers (FF)when RFP>0.62,and when RFP<0.62.Time to histopathological diagnosis of RCH, early histopathological changes related to chronic hepatitis diagnosis and donor factors were not significantly different between both groups. Acute cellular rejection was more prevalent in SF (p=0.043), although FF presented significantly higher number of episodes than SF (p=0.036). It was observed an increase in BMI on FF and an decrease in BMI on SF between transplantation and the time of last liver biopsy (p=0.049)...

Variation of the intercellular space in the esophageal epithelium in response to hydrochloridric acid infusion in patients with erosive esophagitis

The purpose of this study was to compare esophageal infusion with 0.1 N hydrochloridric acid (HCl) to esophageal infusion with saline in patients presenting with typical gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and erosive esophagitis. METHODS: Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed on 44 prospective subjects, 29 of whom were included in the study. Eighteen patients presented with normal esophagi (Control Group "C"), nine of whom were infused with HCl and nine with saline. Eleven patients presented with erosive esophagitis (Lesion Group "L"), five of whom were infused with HCl and six with saline. Biopsies of the esophageal mucosa were collected before and after infusions. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found between the two types of infusions in terms of the dilation of the intercellular space of the esophageal epithelium, regardless of the status of the patient. CONCLUSIONS: Response to HCl infusion cannot be used as a marker for gastroesophageal reflux disease.