Effect of perindopril on some portal haemodynamics in patients with liver cirrhosis and upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Color duplex Doppler ultrasound and intrasplenic puncture were used to evaluate some portal hemodynamic effects of perindopril [2 mg/day for 3 months] in patients with pure schistosomal liver disease and those with liver cirrhosis due to other causes. Both groups were diagnosed by liver biopsy. The 2 groups had portal hypertension and one or more episodes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding from esophageal varices diagnosed by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. It was found that perindopril produced significant decrease in portal pressure measured by intrasplenic puncture and significant decrease in portal vein blood velocity and flow measured by color duplex Doppler ultrasound in both groups of patients. There was no significant side effects produced by the use of small dose of perindopril [2 mg/day]. ACE inhibitors as a group do not affect or may improve some parameters of the quality of life

Immunological aspects of some vascular thrombotic disorders

The study included 30 patients with primary venous thrombosis and 10 patients with primary pulmonary hypertension. The patients were selected after careful clinical evaluation, appropriate investigations and exclusion criteria mentioned in the study. 20 healthy subjects were taken as control group. IgG and IgM anticardiolipin antibodies were measured in all patients as well as control group. It was found that significant increase in IgG and IgM anticardiolipin antibodies in both groups of patients compared to control and in patients with pulmonary embolism compared to those without. Also, more significant elevation to IgG than IgM anticardiolipin antibodies in both groups of patients was found. 6.6% of control group had elevated IgM fraction of anticardiolipin only, while none of them had elevated IgG fraction. Anti cardiolipin antibodies may be involved in the pathogenesis of primary venous thrombosis and primary pulmonary hypertension