Evaluation of the royal free hospital cirrhosis glomerular filtration rate formula in hispanic patients with cirrhosis: an external validation

Abstract Background and Aims Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measurement in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) is the ideal method for adequate evaluation of kidney function. However, it is invasive, costly, and not widely accessible. Moreover, GFR estimation in patients with cirrhosis has been inaccurate. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and validate the recently described Royal Free Hospital (RFH) formula in a Hispanic cohort of patients with LC and compare it with other formulas, including the CKD-EPI cystatin C equation. Methods GFR was measured through the renal clearance of Tc-99m DTPA; it was cross-sectionally evaluated and compared with GFRs that were estimated utilizing the following formulas: RFH, Cockcroft-Gault, 6-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease-6, CKD-EPI cystatin C, CKD-EPI Creatinine, and CKD-EPI Cystatin C-Creatinine. Results We included 76 patients (53% women). The mean measured GFR in the entire cohort was 64 ml/min/1.73m2; 54% of the patients had a GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 at the time of evaluation. The RFH formula and the CKD-EPI cystatin C formula showed the best performance, with a p30 of 62% and 59%, respectively. All formulas performed poorly when GFR was < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Conclusions The RFH formula showed a better performance than the other formulas based on serum creatinine in a Hispanic population with LC. There was no difference in performance between the RFH formula and the CKD-EPI cystatin C formula.

Embarazo en adolescentes de Jalisco, México: una mirada desde la marginación social / Adolescent pregnancy in Jalisco Mexico: a view from social marginalization

Objetivo: Analizar las condiciones socioculturales, atención prenatal y obstétrica, y del recién nacido, en mujeres adolescentes embarazadas residentes de municipios con muy alta y muy baja marginación, en Jalisco, México durante 2014. Diseño: Estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo transversal. Institución. Secretaría de Salud Jalisco. Participantes: Adolescentes residentes de municipios de muy alta y de muy baja marginación. Metodología: Se revisaron certificados de nacimientos de adolescentes residentes de Jalisco atendidas de parto durante 2014, 140 fueron adolescentes residentes de municipios de muy alta marginación y 21 004 de municipios de muy baja marginación. Principales medidas de resultados: Análisis univariado de condiciones socioculturales, atención prenatal y obstétrica, además de datos del recién nacido. Resultados: Se registraron 28 178 nacimientos; de muy alta marginación (Grupo 1) fueron n=140 (0,5%) y de muy baja marginación (Grupo 2) fueron n=21 004 (74,5%). Del Grupo 1, la media de edad fue 17,1 años, 18,5% tenía 15 años o menos, 41,4% primaria o menos, media del número de embarazos fue 1,35; 20% no recibió atención prenatal, la media del número de consultas era 3,1, el 91% tuvo resolución obstétrica por parto normal, la media del peso de recién nacido fue 3 032,10 gramos. Del Grupo 2 la media de la edad fue 17,5 años, 22,7% era soltera, media del número de embarazos 1,34, media del número de consultas 6,7; el 45,2% tuvo resolución obstétrica por cesárea y la media del peso de recién nacidos fue 3 101,67 gramos. Conclusiones: Existieron diferencias porcentuales y de medias entre los grupos, en características socioculturales (escolaridad, estado civil y seguridad social) y las relacionadas con atención prenatal y obstétrica (control prenatal y resolución del embarazo).

Objective: To analyze the sociocultural conditions, prenatal and obstetrical care, and data of the newborn, in pregnant young women residing in municipalities with very high and very low marginalization in Jalisco, Mexico, in 2014. Design: Quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional study. Institution: Jalisco Health Secretariat. Participants: Adolescents residents of both highly and very low marginalization municipalities. Methodology: Birth certificates of 140 adolescents residing in highly marginalized municipalities (Group 1) and 21 004 residing in municipalities with very low marginalization (Group 2) in Jalisco, Mexico, and who delivered a child during 2014, were reviewed. Main outcome measures: Univariate analysis of social and cultural conditions, prenatal and obstetrical care, data of the newborn. Results: From 28 178 births, 140 (0.5%) adolescents belonged to highly marginalized births (Group 1) and 21 004 (74.5%) occurred in adolescentes of very low marginalization adolescents (Group 2). The average age in Group 1 was 17.1 years, 18.5% were 15 years or less; 41.4% had elementary school or care, the mean number of pregnancies was 1.35; 20% did not receive prenatal care, the mean number of consultations was 3.1, 91% had normal delivery, the average newborn birth weight was 3 032.10 grams. The second group's mean age was 17,5 years , 22.7 % were single, the average number of pregnancies 1.34, the mean number of consultations 6.6 , 45.2% had caesarean section, and the average weight of newborns was 3 101.67 grams. Conclusions: There were differences between groups in sociocultural characteristics (education, marital status and social security) and those related to prenatal and obstetrical care (prenatal and pregnancy resolution).

Avances en la fisiopatología de la encefalopatía hepática: [revisión] / Up to date in hepatic encephlopaty pathophysiology: [review]

La encefalopatía hepática es una complicación frecuente de la insuficiencia hepática, que se espera pueda incrementarse en los próximos años. El conocimiento preciso de la fisiopatología subyacente permitirá mejores abordajes preventivos y terapéuticos. La encefalopatía hepática mínima es una variante subclínica que adquiere cada vez mayor trascendencia. Los principales mecanismos involucrados en el desarrollo de la encefalopatía hepática incluyen alteraciones en el metabolismo del amonio; en la neurotransmisión de sustancias como el ácido gama aminobutírico, el glutamato y la serotonina; y la neurotoxicidad por depósitos de manganeso. Múltiples estudios indican que las alteraciones en el metabolismo del amonio constituyen la piedra angular en la fisiopatología de la encefalopatía hepática, además que cada vez se reconoce con mayor importancia el metabolismo no hepático de esta sustancia, especialmente a nivel del astrocito. El edema celular del astrocito, que puede ser identificado mediante técnicas novedosas de imagenología, es una alteración esencial para la encefalopatía hepática y especialmente para la encefalopatía hepática mínima, con posibilidad de reversión. Las medidas terapéuticas basadas en estos hallazgos han logrado notables avances en el control del metabolismo del amonio, que se espera puedan mejorar en los años próximos...

Hepatic encephalopathy is a common complication among patients with hepatic insufficiency and it is expected that its frequency will increase in the following years. A precise knowledge of its pathophysiology will allow an improved preventive and therapeutic approach. Minimal hepatic encephalopathy is subclinical presentation with increasing relevance. The main molecular mechanisms involved in the development of hepatic encephalopathy have included: ammonia metabolism abnormalities; an erratic neurotransmition within gamma aminobutiric acid, glutamate and serotonin; and magnesium neurotoxicity. Several studies have shown that ammonia metabolism abnormalities play a central role on this disease, and that the extrahepatic metabolism of ammonia is progressively more accepted as crucial for its pathophysiology, especially within the astrocyte. Edema at the level of the astrocyte can currently be recognized with novel radiologic techniques, and it is a necessary condition for minimal and clinical hepatic encephalopathy, with potential reversibility. Therapeutic approaches taking into account these findings have accomplished better outcomes on ammonia metabolism, which are believed to improve even more in subsequent years...

Recent advances in hepatorenal syndrome.

Hepatorenal syndrome is a common complication of advanced cirrhosis, characterized by renal failure and major disturbances in circulatory function. Renal failure is caused by intense vasoconstriction of the renal circulation. The syndrome is probably the final consequence of extreme underfilling of the arterial circulation secondary to arterial vasodilatation in the splanchninc vascular bed. The diagnosis of HRS is currently based on the exclusion of other causes of renal failure. The prognosis is very poor, particularly when there is rapidly progressive renal failure (type 1). Liver transplantation is the best option in patients without contraindications to the procedure, but it is not always possible owing to the short survival expectancy. Therapies introduced during the past few years, such a vasoconstrictor drugs (vasopressin analogues, mu-adrenergic agonist) or the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, are effective in improving renal function. Nevertheless, liver transplantation should still be done in suitable patients even after improvement of renal function because the outcome of HRS is poor.