ABSTRACT
Introduction: Infection by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important cause of chronic liver disease, considered a public health problem worldwide with high morbidity and mortality due to limited access to diagnostic tests in developing countries. Only a small percentage know their infection status and receive timely treatment. It is critical to make diagnostic tests for HCV infection accessible and to provide timely treatment, which not only reduces the spread of infection but also stops the progression of HCV disease without symptoms. Objective: To determine the prevalence of chronic infection by HCV in patients with risk factors by using rapid tests in Cartagena, Colombia, and describe their epidemiological characteristics. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive observational study was carried out on asymptomatic adults with risk factors for HCV infection in the city of Cartagena between December 2017 and November 2019. A rapid immunochromatographic test was performed to detect antibodies, characterizing the population. Results: In total, 1,023 patients were identified who met the inclusion criteria, 58.5% women and 41.4% men, obtaining nine positive results, confirming chronic infection with viral load for HCV, finding seven cases of genotype 1b and two genotype 1a. Conclusion: In our study, a prevalence of hepatitis C infection of 0.9% was found in asymptomatic individuals with risk factors, which allows us to deduce that the active search for cases in risk groups constitutes a pillar for the identification of the disease, the initiation of antiviral therapy, and decreased morbidity and mortality.
ABSTRACT
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) insertion is an effective endoscopic procedure for enteral feeding in patients with difficulty swallowing. Many postprocedural complications have been reported after the PEG procedure. The displacement of the transverse colon over the anterior gastric wall can predispose the patient to colonic injury and fistulae during PEG placement. Gastrocolonic fistulas represent a serious but rare complication post PEG placement. We report a 90 year old man with a background of multiple comorbidities and high preoperative risk who developed a gastrocolocutaneous fistula post PEG placement due to a colonic injury. He was successfully treated with nonoperative management.
ABSTRACT
Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a rare condition with a high burden of morbidity and risk of severe complications that may even require liver transplantation to survive. There are no pathognomonic diagnostic tests for this condition, thus being a challenge it is considered a diagnosis of exclusion. We present the case of a patient who, after starting intramuscular contraceptives, presented with acute alteration of liver function that requires the ruling out of multiple pathologies that could be the cause of the biochemical findings. With the pharmacological suspension and initiation of support measures, full recovery was achieved.
ABSTRACT
La colangitis esclerosante primaria (CEP) se define por la inflamación, fibrosis y estenosis de los conductos biliares intra o extrahepáticos que no pueden ser explicadas por otras causas. La prevalencia de CEP está estimada entre 0 a 16,2 por 100.000 habitantes, mientras que la incidencia está entre 0 y 1,3 casos por cada 100.000 personas por año. Las causas siguen siendo difíciles de dilucidar y en muchos casos se establece como de origen idiopático. Sin embargo, se han propuesto factores genéticos, ambientales e isquémicos asociados, además de un componente autoinmune. Existe además una fuerte asociación entre la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal y la CEP. Los síntomas suelen ser inespecíficos, 50% de los pacientes son asintomáticos, presentando únicamente alteración en el perfil hepático de patrón colestásico, con predominio de elevación de la fosfatasa alcalina. La ictericia es un signo de mal pronóstico que con frecuencia se asocia a colangiocarcinoma. La confirmación diagnóstica se hace por colangiopancreatografía retrógrada endoscópica (CPRE) e imágenes por resonancia magnética. Aún no existe un tratamiento establecido, y en la mayoría de los casos coexiste con otras patologías. El tratamiento es multimodal con fármacos, terapia endoscópica y trasplante hepático.
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is defined by inflammation, fibrosis, and stenosis of the intra or extrahepatic bile ducts that cannot be explained by other causes. The prevalence of PSC is estimated between 0 to 16.2 per 100,000 inhabitants, while the incidence is between 0 and 1.3 cases per 100,000 persons-year. The causes remain elusive and, in many cases, it is established as idiopathic in origin. However, genetic, environmental and ischemic factors have been proposed in addition to an autoimmune component. There is also a strong association between inflammatory bowel disease and PSC. Symptoms are usually nonspecific, 50% of the patients are asymptomatic, presenting only an alteration in the liver profile with a cholestatic pattern, and predominance of elevated alkaline phosphatase. Jaundice is a poor prognostic sign and is frequently associated with cholangiocarcinoma. Diagnostic confirmation is made by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and magnetic resonance imaging. There is still no established treatment, and in most cases, the disease coexists with other pathologies. Treatment is multimodal with drugs, endoscopic therapy and liver transplantation.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cholangitis, Sclerosing , Ursodeoxycholic Acid , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde , Cholangiocarcinoma , JaundiceABSTRACT
Resumen La gastrostomía endoscópica percutánea (GEP), descrita por primera vez en la década de 1980, es un procedimiento universalmente utilizado para asegurar la alimentación enteral en pacientes que conservan la función del tracto digestivo, pero que por alguna condición médica o quirúrgica no pueden ingerir alimentos sólidos o líquidos. La realización de una GEP en pacientes con diálisis peritoneal (DP) sigue siendo controvertida, ya que muchos autores la consideran una contraindicación absoluta debido al alto riesgo de morbimortalidad asociada a infección intraperitoneal. Se presenta el caso de un paciente de 70 años, con antecedente de enfermedad renal crónica en estadio terminal y portador de catéter de DP, quien requirió GEP. Se socializa la estrategia utilizada en este caso particular.
Abstract Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), described in the 1980s, is a procedure universally used to ensure enteral feeding in patients who retain digestive tract function, but who cannot eat solid or liquid foods due to any medical or surgical condition. The performance of PEG in patients with peritoneal dialysis (PD) remains controversial, being considered an absolute contraindication for many authors, taking into account the high risk of morbidity and mortality associated with intraperitoneal infection. We present the case of a 70-year-old patient, with a history of chronic end-stage renal disease with a peritoneal dialysis catheter, who required PEG; and we propose a management protocol for this type of patient.
