Gastrointestinal Histoplasmosis Mimicking Abdominal Tuberculosis.

We report an elderly male who presented with history of chronic diarrhoea. The patient underwent colonoscopy and CT scan of the abdomen which strongly suggested tuberculosis; however histopathology showed presence of budding forms of Histoplasma capsulatum. The patient was started on oral itraconazole on which he improved remarkably. ©

Outcome of acute liver failure due to acute hepatitis E in pregnant women.

INTRODUCTION: Acute liver failure due to acute hepatitis E carries a high mortality. METHODS: Clinical and laboratory parameters of 42 pregnant women (median age 25.5 years) with acute liver failure due to acute hepatitis E were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: 22 women delivered, whereas pregnancy continued in 20 women. The maternal mortality in these two groups was similar (9/22 [41%] versus 14/20 [70%], p=0.056). However, in patients with grade I, II or III hepatic encephalopathy, delivery of fetus was associated with reduced mortality in those who delivered as against those who continued pregnancy (5/16 (31%) vs. 13/20 (65%), p=0.046). On multivariate analysis, higher grade of encephalopathy at admission was associated with risk of death (p=0.005). CONCLUSION: Mortality in pregnant women with acute liver failure with acute hepatitis E is high, especially in patients who present with higher grades of encephalopathy.