Detección de ARN de virus hepatitis C en la saliva de un grupo de pacientes con hepatitis C crónica / Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in saliva of a group of patients with chronic hepatitis C

La Hepatitis C constituye un problema de salud pública y su transmisión está claramente asociada con la ruta parenteral. Sin embargo su agente causal, Virus de Hepatitis C (VHC), también ha sido aislado de otros fluidos incluyendo la saliva, aunque la relación existente entre VHC y la patología bucal no está completamente dilucidada. El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la presencia de ARN-VHC en la saliva de pacientes con Hepatitis C crónica. En la presente investigación se evaluaron 24 pacientes provenientes del Departamento de Hepatología del Hospital Clínico Universitario, Universidad Central de Venezuela, con infección por VHC. 5 ml de saliva no estimulada fue tomada de cada paciente. ARN-VHC fue detectada por la técnica de Transcriptasa Reversa- Reacción en cadena de la Polimerasa (TR-RCP). En 29 por ciento, (7/24) pacientes VHC+, se observó la presencia de ARN-VHC en saliva. En este estudio, observamos la presencia de ARN-VHC en la saliva de pacientes con infección crónica por VHC. Es necesario realizar estudios epidemiológicos a gran escala, para clarificar el significado biológico de la presencia de este agente viral en la saliva, incluyendo la potencial vía de transmisión por la exposición con este fluido

Hepatitis C is a worldwide public health problem and its transmisión is clearly associated with the parenteral route, however, the virus has also been isolated from other body fluids, including saliva, although the relationship between HCV and oral pathology is not clearly understood. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of HCV-RNA in saliva from patients with chronic C hepatitis. In the present investigation 24 patients, attended at the Hepatology Department, at the the Clinical Hospital University, Central University of Venezuela, with HCV infection were evaluated . 5ml of unstimulated saliva were taken of each patient. Saliva HCV-RNA was detected by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). 29 percent (7/24) of HCV+ patients showed HCV-RNA in saliva. In this study, we observed the presence of HCV-RNA in saliva of patients infected with HCV. Further large-scale epidemiological studies are required to clarify the clinical significance of HCV in the saliva, including the potencial for viral transmisión through exposure to these fluids

Asociación de liquen plano bucal con virus de hepatitis C en una muestra de la población venezolana / Association of oral lichen planus with hepatitis C virus in a Venezuelan population sample

El liquen plano es una enfermedad mucocutánea inflamatoria crónica que frecuentemente involucra la mucosa bucal. Recientes estudios han confirmado una asociación significativa entre el liquen plano bucal (LPB) y enfermedad hepática, en particular con la infección por Virus de la Hepatitis C (VHC). El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar la asociación del LPB en pacientes con infección por VHC. Se evaluaron 67 pacientes infectados por VHC detectados por anticuerpos anti-VHC mediante ensayo inmunoabsorbente ELISA (tercera generación), confirmado por trancriptasa reversa- reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (TR-RCP) VHC-ARN. Solo uno de los 67 pacientes positivos para VHC fue clínica e histológicamente positivo para LPB. En este trabajo concluimos que aunque se han reportado casos donde existe una asociación entre liquen plano bucal e infección por VHC, la asociación entre estas dos enfermedades no se observó en la población venezolana, debido posiblemente a que el origen geográfico y hábitos de los pacientes podría jugar un rol importante en la prevalencia de la infección por este virus y sus manifestaciones extrahepáticas, en pacientes con LPB.

Lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory mucocutaneous disease that frequently involves the oral mucosa. Recent studies have confirmed a significant association between oral lichen planus (OLP) and liver diseases, in particular with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of OLP in patients with HCV infection. We evaluated 67 patients with HCV infection detected for anti-HCV by immunosorbent assay ELISA (third generation) confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) HCV-RNA Only one of 67 HCV positive patients was clinically and histologically positive for OLP. We concluded that although cases of oral lichen planus associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have been described, the association between the two diseases has not been established in the Venezuelan population, because the geographic origin of patients could play an important role in HCV prevalence in patients with OLP.

Síndrome de nevus azul (Blue rubber bleb nevus): reporte de un caso / Syndrome of nevus blue (blue bubber bleb nevus): report of a case

Síndrome de Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus o Síndrome de Bean, es una entidad clínica caracterizada por hemangiomas cutáneos y tumores vasculares del tracto gastrointestinal. Se describen lesiones de localización extra intestinal. Representa una causa infrecuente de hemorragia digestiva. Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de 19 años de edad con hemorragia digestiva, lesiones cutáneas y endoscópicas características de este síndrome

Síndrome de ogilvie a propósito de un caso / Ogilvies syndrome a purpose of a case

El síndrome de Ogilvie o pseudobstrucción aguda colónica, es caracterizado por una dilatación aguda del colón, en ausencia de obstrucción mecánica, cuya etiología es desconocida y se asocia a pacientes con edad avanzada y patologías médicas o quirúrgicas previas. La recidiva después de tratamiento médico es del20-50 por ciento. Este caso es un paciente masculino de 63 años de edad, con síndrome epiléptico focal criptogenético y síndrome de Ogilvie, quien presento dilatación aguda colónica sin evidencia de obstrucción mecánica, con respuesta al tratamiento médico

Colangitis Autoinmune: reporte de un caso / Autoinmune cholangitis: reporting a case

La Colangitis Autoinmune es una enfermedad hepática de causa desconocida, con hallazgos clínicos, de laboratorio y cambios histológicos de colestasis. Algunos la consideran sinónimo de cirrosis biliar primaria con anticuerpos Antimitocondriales (AMA) negativos. Aún ni existe concenso en su definición como entidad individual. Sin embargo han sido publicados numerosos estudios con el objetivo de unificar criterios. Las pruebas de inmunohistoquímica, la determinación de la expresión de moléculas de histocompatibilidad y recientemente la identificación de anticuerpos contra la enzima anhidrasa carbónica, han facilitado la caracterización de la Colangitis Autoinmune como una enfermedad hepática autoinmune distinguible de las otras y no simplemente un subtipo de cirrosis biliar primaria con anticuerpos antimitiocondriales negativos. Se presenta la clínica, el diagnóstico, hallazgos colangiográficos e histológico y el manejo terapéutico de una paciente de 33 años con diagnóstico histológico de Colangitis Autoinmune

Schistosomiasis mansoni in low transmission areas: abdominal ultrasound.

In endemic areas with low prevalence and low intensity of infection, the diagnosis of hepatic pathology due to the Schistosoma mansoni infection is very difficult. In order to establish the hepatic morbidity, a double-blind study was achieved in Venezuelan endemic areas, with one group of patients with schistosomiasis and the other one of non-infected people, that were evaluated clinically and by abdominal ultrasound using the Cairo classification. Schistosomiasis diagnosis was established based on parasitologic and serological tests. The increase of the hepatic size at midclavicular and midsternal lines (in hepatometry) and the hard liver consistency were the clinical parameters able to differentiate infected persons from non infected ones, as well as the presence of left lobe hepatomegaly detected by abdominal ultrasound. The periportal thickening, especially the mild form, was frequent in all age groups in both infected and uninfected patients. There was not correlation between the intensity of infection and ultrasound under the current circumstances. Our data suggest that in Venezuela, a low endemic area of transmission of schistosomiasis, the hepatic morbidity is mild and uncommon. The Cairo classification seems to overestimate the prevalence of periportal pathology. The specificity of the method must be improved, especially for the recognition of precocious pathology. Other causes of hepatopathies must be investigated.

Schistosomiasis mansoni in low transmission areas. Abdominal ultrasound

In endemic areas with low prevalence and low intensity of infection, the diagnosis of hepatic pathology due to the Schistosoma mansoni infection is very difficult. In order to establish the hepatic morbidity, a double-blind study was achieved in Venezuelan endemic areas, with one group of patients with schistosomiasis and the other one of non-infected people, that were evaluated clinically and by abdominal ultrasound using the Cairo classification. Schistosomiasis diagnosis was established based on parasitologic and serological tests. The increase of the hepatic size at midclavicular and midsternal lines (in hepatometry) and the hard liver consistency were the clinical parameters able to differentiate infected persons from non infected ones, as well as the presence of left lobe hepatomegaly detected by abdominal ultrasound. The periportal thickening, especially the mild form, was frequent in all age groups in both infected and uninfected patients. There was not correlation between the intensity of infection and ultrasound under the current circumstances. Our data suggest that in Venezuela, a low endemic area of transmission of schistosomiasis, the hepatic morbidity is mild and uncommon. The Cairo classification seems to overestimate the prevalence of periportal pathology. The specificity of the method must be improved, especially for the recognition of precocious pathology. Other causes of hepatopathies must be investigated

Estudio comparativo de las complicaciones de la esfinterotomía biliar endoscópica con el uso de diferentes tipos de corrientes: en el Servicio de Gastroenterología del Hospital Universitario de Caracas / Comparative study of the complications of the endoscopic bile sphicter with the use of the different types in the gastroenterología Service of Universitario de Caracas Hospital

Demostrar las complicaciones de la Esfinterotomía Biliar Endoscópica con los diferentes tipos de corrientes y las complicaiciones más frecuetes asociadas con la Esfinterotomia Biliar Endoscópica. Estudiamos 141 paicientes a quienes se les realizó Esfinterotomía Biliar Endoscópica. Se usó duodenoscopios Fujinon serie 200, unidad ellectroquirúrgica Pawerite Valleylab y esfinterotomos de arco Wison CooK. Encontramos un total de 18 complicaciones (12,76 por ciento). La hemorragia constituyó el 4,96 por ciento, Pancreatitis 4,25 por ciento, perforación 2,12 por ciento, Colecistitis y muerte en el 0,71 por ciento. Se observó la diferencia estadísticamente significativa, con p<0,05 con el uso de corriente mixta sobre la de corte en cuanto a Pancreatitis (6 pacientes), mientras que en los casos de hemorragia (4 pacientes), y perforación (2 pacientes), la diferencia no fué estadísticamente significativa (p>0,05). Todos los casos de Pancreatitis fueron de tipo leve, la hemorragia fue leve en 5 casos y moderada en 2 casos, las perforaciones fueron severas en los 3 casos ameritando resolución quirúrgica, 1 paciente murió y en la primera autopsiase encontró un tumor que invadía vías biliares, vesícula y duodeno. Las complicaciones para el tipo de corriente corte fueron del 10,41 por ciento, mientras que en el grupo de corriente mixta fueron 14,60 por ciento. Se concluye que el tipo de corriente corte en la Esfinterotomía Endoscópica está asociado con menor frecuencia de Pancreatitis comparado con la corriente mixta

[Hepatitis caused by virus C. Risk factors]. / Hepatitis por virus C. Factores de riesgo.

To establish the risk factors to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, we studied 120 patients divided in 2 groups: A first group of 40 patients with HCV infection, 24 (60%) with past medical history of blood transfusion, 14 (35%) of them also had hemodialysis and 3 Kidney transplant. 10 patients (25%) had mayor surgery without transfusion, 3 had frequent visits to the dentist and 3 month baby whose mother was HCV positive. In 4 patients we found no risk factors. A second group of 80 patients who visit our clinic for the first time, 2 were found positive for HCV (1.6%). 13 of them had blood transfusion, one was HCV+ (OR: 5.5, P = 0.73). 41 had history of mayor surgery, one HCV+ (OR: 0.95, P = 1.000). The risk factors related to HCV infection in our population were blood transfusion, hemodialysis and mayor surgery. The use of EV drugs, tatoos, sexual behavior, interfamiliar or vertical transmission were not risk factor in our population.

[Clinical, laboratory, and ultrasonography features of acute viral hepatitis]. / Características clínicas, de laboratorio y sonográficas de la Hepatitis viral aguda.

We review the charts of the hospital with diagnostic of acute viral hepatitis. We classified them using serologic markers in hepatitis B (60 patients), hepatitis A (27 patients) and C (4 patients). Fatigue, anorexia, fever, chills and lymphadenopathy where more common in hepatitis A. Arthralgias, pruritus and rash where more common in hepatitis B. Bilirubin levels where higher in patients with hepatitis B (10.3 = -6.04 S.E:0.80) and C (9.7 +/- 4.09 S.E:1.24) compared with hepatitis A (6.7 +/- 6.04 S.E:0.80) p < 0.01 and p < 0.05. Alamine-Aminotransferase (ALT) levels where higher in patients with hepatitis B (1.918 +/- 1.099 S.E:215.5) and hepatitis A (1879 +/- 1.099 S.E:215.5) and lower in hepatitis C (988 +/- 764 E.E:382) p < 0.05. Abdominal Ultrasound reveal splenomegaly in 45% and 50% of patients with hepatitis A and C and only in 15% of patients with hepatitis B. Changes in gallbladder wall where found in 50% of patients with hepatitis A. 3.3% of patients with hepatitis B and 75% of patients with hepatitis C developed chronic infection.

[Hepatobiliary complications detected by ultrasonography in patients undergoing total parenteral nutrition]. / Complicaciones hepato-biliares detectadas por ultrasonografía en pacientes con nutrición parenteral total.

We studied 8 adult patients who received total parenteral nutrition (TPN). An abdominal ultrasound and liver functions test were done weekly looking for biliary sludge, thickening of the gallbladder wall, changes en bile ducts and liver parenchyma. Seven patients developed biliary sludge at week four. We didn't detect changes in bile ducts neither in the gallbladder wall. Two patients had elevations of bilirubin, Alkaline phosphatase and aminotransferase during TPN. 3 patients developed mild liver steatosis detected by ultrasound during the third and sixth week of NPT. Our findings agree with other studies that describe the development of biliary sludge, gallbladder stones, liver steatosis and colestasis in patients receiving TPN. Once TPN is stopped and oral feeding is restarted this changes usually disappear.

[Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: report of 2 cases]. / Deficiencia de glucosa 6 fosfato deshidrogenasa: presentación de 2 casos.

Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is an enzyme related to the metabolism of glutation, an antioxidant agent. Its deficiency causes hemolisis, generally well tolerated. However there are some factors including, exercise, infections and oxidants drugs that stimulate the hemolisis of the older red blood cells. We report two patients with G6PD deficiency, that were initially diagnosed as acute viral hepatitis. Although this pathology is not frequent it should be recognized, for the implication of giving profilactic antimalaric drugs in endemic areas. The diagnosis should be suspected in patients with unconjugated jaundice, always investigating the previous ingestion of oxidants drugs.