Liver enzyme alteration in response to dengue virus.

Infectious diseases are extremely important in the global health landscape, specifically dengue and its severe forms. Clinical characterization is very variable due to the wide spectrum of manifestations the virus induces. Dengue is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus and is transmitted to humans by mosquitos of the Aedes family. Dengue is the most important arthropod-borne disease and if symptoms occur, could appear suddenly, characterized by biphasic fever, headache, retroocular pain, pain in various parts of the body, prostration and rash. It has also been described that the Dengue virus can also cause liver dysfunction that could vary from mild injury to severe hepatocyte injury, commonly in tropical and subtropical climates. We report the case of a 24-year-old female who came to the emergency room due to fever and myalgia, in the context of a recent trip to Cuba. Physical examination included positive tourniquet test and laboratory findings showed anaemia and thrombocytopenia, as well as elevated transaminase levels. Serologic tests for dengue virus are requested and a positive result of specific antibodies-IgM classified the patient as presumptive being necessary to confirm authorities the outbreak and explain the patient it requires a close monitoring. Abdominal ultrasound showed mild splenomegaly. Because of progressive analytical normalization, the patient asked for outpatient care.

Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis: an uncommon cause of liver disease in developed countries.

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection caused by trematode species of the genus Schistosoma. It is prevalent in tropical regions of Africa, Asia and South America, being rare in Europe, where it is usually diagnosed in immigrants and tourists from endemic areas. It has different clinical forms of presentation. Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis produces periportal fibrosis, which can progress to presinusoidal portal hypertension, with all its associated complications. We present the case of a 43-year-old female patient from the Philippines who was referred to gastroenterology consultation due to liver enzyme alteration with a predominantly cholestatic pattern. An aetiological study was performed, with negative results. An abdominal ultrasound revealed signs of chronic liver disease, with transient elastography of 9.5 kPa. A percutaneous liver biopsy was performed, with histological findings consistent with infestation by schistosome eggs, receiving treatment with praziquantel and subsequently verifying its eradication with a stool test.

Uncommon etiology of Cullen´s sign and Grey Turner sign.

Cullen´s sign and Grey Turner sign are, respectively, the cutaneous ecchymoses located in periumbilical region and tissues flanks along the lower portion of the abdomen. Both have been observed in <1% of individuals with acute pancreatitis, suggesting poor prognosis in terms of gravity and mortality. However, these signs are not exclusive for acute pancreatitis, as they can appear in other identities such as: ruptured ectopic pregnancy, aortic aneurysm, rectus abdominis muscle hematoma, perforated duodenal ulcer, common bile duct rupture and biliary peritonitis, idiopathic perirenal hemorrhage, infectious mononucleosis with splenic rupture, metastatic esophageal and thyroid cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, amoebic liver abscess, portal hypertension, and liver tumor disease. Based on the review of the literature, it is patent that Cullen´s sign and Grey Turner sign are neither sensitive nor specific for acute pancreatitis, therefore it may be best to relate these findings in the physical examination to conditions associated with abdominal pathology and retroperitoneal hemorrhage. We report the case of a 60-year-old Spanish female, with previous history of squamous small cell neuroendocrine lung carcinoma with hepatic extension in follow-up by palliative care services. Due to disease progression after two palliative chemotherapy sessions, the patient came to the emergency room with jaundice and abdominal pain in superior regions. On physical examination, notable findings included ecchymoses in the right flank and periumbilical region. Laboratory findings showed elevated bilirubin and transaminase levels, as well as a small increase in the serum amylase and lipase levels. Cholangioresonance was performed to discard acute biliary pancreatitis. The imaging revealed no enlargement of the pancreas, dilatation of the common bile duct without visible stone, and a liver full of new cancerous liver implants. These findings were consistent with diffuse distribution metastases lesions, concluding the progression of liver disease.