Ascites due to hypothyroidism in a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis.

Myxedema is the cause of ascites in less than 1% of new-onset ascites cases, where as only 4% of patients with hypothyroidism present ascites. When ascites is the first manifestation of thyroid insufficiency, there is usually a delay in diagnosis. We report here a case of myxedema ascites occurring in a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis, that was first thought to be the cause of the ascites, and review the features of 48 cases previously reported. Some clinic and analytical findings that have been commonly reported, are the long duration of the ascites before diagnosis, the prompt response (with resolution of ascites) to thyroid replacement treatment, a high total protein concentration in ascites fluid, white moderate white blood cell counts and a lymphocyte predominance. Serum-ascites albumin gradient has been postulated to be high in myxedema ascites, but we believe this has been studied in too few cases thus far, to be conclusive.

Ascites due to hypothyroidism in a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis.

Myxedema is the cause of ascites in less than 1

of new-onset ascites cases, where as only 4

of patients with hypothyroidism present ascites. When ascites is the first manifestation of thyroid insufficiency, there is usually a delay in diagnosis. We report here a case of myxedema ascites occurring in a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis, that was first thought to be the cause of the ascites, and review the features of 48 cases previously reported. Some clinic and analytical findings that have been commonly reported, are the long duration of the ascites before diagnosis, the prompt response (with resolution of ascites) to thyroid replacement treatment, a high total protein concentration in ascites fluid, white moderate white blood cell counts and a lymphocyte predominance. Serum-ascites albumin gradient has been postulated to be high in myxedema ascites, but we believe this has been studied in too few cases thus far, to be conclusive.

Oral ciprofloxacin after a short course of intravenous ciprofloxacin in the treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: results of a multicenter, randomized study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Oral quinolones have been suggested as treatment of cirrhotic patients with uncomplicated spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. To evaluate the efficacy of oral quinolones in all patients with this complication, oral ciprofloxacin after a short course of intravenous (i.v.) ciprofloxacin was compared to i.v. ciprofloxacin. METHODS: Eighty patients were allocated to receive ciprofloxacin i.v. 200 mg/12 h for 7 days (group A, n= 40) or i.v. 200 mg/12 h during 2 days followed by oral 500 mg/12 h for 5 days (group B, n=40). All patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis admitted to the hospital were included. Twenty-five variables obtained 48 h after treatment were introduced into univariate and multivariate analyses to identify predictors of survival and outcome. RESULTS: In the baseline condition, no differences were found between the two groups in clinical data, hepatic and renal function tests and Child Pugh score. The infection resolution rate was 76.3 % in group A and 78.4 % in group B, and hospital survival was 77.5% in both groups. In multivariate analysis serum creatinine and serum leukocytes 48 h after treatment were associated with prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Oral ciprofloxacin after a short course of i.v. ciprofloxacin is effective in the treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. This regimen can be applied to all patients admitted to the hospital with this complication, and could be an alternative to treating these patients as outpatients.

Efficacy of octreotide and sclerotherapy in the treatment of acute variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients. A prospective, multicentric, and randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Sclerotherapy is the most widely used method for treatment of acute variceal bleeding. Previous reports have suggested that octreotide infusion is as effective as sclerotherapy. Our aim was to investigate the efficacy and safety of octreotide in comparison with sclerotherapy in controlling variceal bleeding. METHODS: Seventy-six cirrhotic patients were randomized to receive either sclerotherapy (n = 37) or octreotide (n = 39) infusion of 50 microg/h intravenously for 48 h after a bolus of 100 microg, followed by subcutaneous injection of 100 microg/8 h for an additional 72 h. RESULTS: The two groups were similar in base-line data. A similar initial control of bleeding was obtained in 94.6% for sclerotherapy and 84.6% for octreotide (NS). No difference was observed between sclerotherapy and octreotide in rebleeding (23% versus 33%) and treatment failure (22% versus 36%, respectively). Furthermore, the overall success of treatment was 78% for sclerotherapy and 64% for octreotide. No significant difference in mortality was observed between treatments (eight patients for octreotide and three patients for sclerotherapy, NS). CONCLUSIONS: These results show that both treatments present a very high and similar initial and final control of bleeding. However, there is a trend that could be clinically important towards better results in the patients treated with sclerotherapy.

Prevalence of hepatitis viruses in an anti-human immunodeficiency virus-positive population from Argentina. A multicentre study.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence of infections with hepatotrophic viruses in an anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive population from Buenos Aires and to compare it among the main risk groups for HIV infection. Four hundred and eighty-four consecutive patients attending the HIV outpatients clinic were studied: 359 men and 125 women, median age 29 years (range 16-67 years); 35.5% had presented acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining conditions. Two hundred and thirty-four patients were intravenous drug users (IVDU), 99 had homosexual and 142 heterosexual preference, seven had received blood transfusions and two had no risk factors. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAb) and to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) were investigated in all patients; antibodies to HBsAg (HBsAb) and IgG antibodies to hepatitis D virus (anti-HDV) in all HBcAb-positive patients; hepatitis B e antigen and antibodies to HBeAg (HBeAg) in all HBsAg-positive patients; IgG antibodies to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) in the first 307 patients; and IgG antibodies to hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV) in the first 91 patients. As control groups, contemporary voluntary blood donors were studied for prevalence of HAV, HBV, HCV and HEV. The percentages of HBcAb, HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HEV (58.5, 14.5, 58.5 and 6.6%, respectively) were significantly higher in anti-HIV-positive patients than in control groups (3.2, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.8%, respectively) (P = 0.000). The prevalence of HBcAb was significantly higher in IVDU (72.6%) than in heterosexuals (33.8%) (P = 0.0001) and in homosexuals (59.6%) (P = 0.0189). The percentage of HBsAg was significantly higher in IVDU (19.2%) than in heterosexuals (6.3%) (P = 0.0004). Anti-HCV was significantly higher in IVDU (92.3%) than in homosexuals (14.1%) and in heterosexuals (33.1%) (P = 0.000 in both cases). The prevalence of anti-HDV was relatively low (1.9%). There was no difference in the percentage of anti-HAV between HIV-positive and negative subjects. In conclusion, there is a high prevalence of HBV and HCV infections in HIV-positive patients from our area. Drug use is the main route of transmission, but prevalence of HCV in patients with, probably, sexually acquired HIV infection is also higher than in the control group. The increased prevalence of HEV infection in HIV-positive individuals is another provocative finding that warrants further study.

[Interferon alfa in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C: course of 24 versus 48 weeks. Results of a randomized trial]. / Interferon alfa en el tratamiento de la hepatitis crónica C: curso de 24 versus 48 semanas. Resultados de un estudio randomizado.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this trial was to investigate if a more prolonged course of interferon (IFN) is able to increase the long-term benefit in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Forty-four patients with active chronic hepatitis and antibodies to HCV were randomly assigned to receive IFN-alfa 2b 3 MU t.i.w. during 24 weeks (group I, n 23) or during 48 weeks (group II, n 21). In the evaluation of results, complete response was considered when the ALT values returned to normality during the treatment; and sustained response, when the ALT values persisted below normal range during at least 6 months post therapy. Histologic changes were compared by using the Histological Activity Index, or Knodell score. Viremia status was evaluated for the study of HCV RNA (by nested-RT-PCR). RESULTS: There were no significant differences between both groups before treatment, in terms of age, sex, ALT, or histologic findings (11 patients in group I, and 7 in group II had cirrhosis). Complete response was found in 9 patients (39.1%) from group I; in 11 (52.4%) from group II (NS). Basal histologic findings were identified as the only predictive factor of complete and sustained response, by logistic regression analysis. Considering only noncirrhotic patients, complete response was seen in 58.3% in patients from group I, 71.4% in group II. Sustained response was obtained in 4 patients from group I, (17.4%), 7 from group II (33.3%) (NS). Post IFN liver biopsies were performed in 23 patients (12 from group I, 11 from group II). In group I patients, there were no significant changes. In group II, Knodell score was found to be significantly decreased post IFN [pre IFN, median 10, range 3-15; post IFN, median 6, range 2-14] (p < 0.05). HCV RNA was absent in serum during the follow-up post IFN in 2 patients from group I, in 3 from group II. The results of this study show that a 48 weeks course of IFN has a trend to achieve a higher sustained response than the usual regime (but non significant); and it produces a decrease in the histologic activity. The best predictive factor of positive response was the absence of cirrhosis in our study (although we did not evaluate viral factors, such as genotypes or HCV viremia levels).

[Isosorbide-5-mononitrate in the prevention of digestive hemorrhage in cirrhosis: randomized study]. / 5 mononitrato de isosorbide en la prevención de la hemorragia digestiva en cirrosis: estudio randomizado.

Isosorbide 5-mononitrate (5MI) is a preferential venous dilator that has been shown to decrease portal pressure in acute and long-term haemodynamic studies, and this is not associated with adverse effects on hepatic perfusion. The aim of this trial was to investigate the efficacy and safety of 5MI in the prevention of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in cirrhotic patients. Forty two cirrhotic patients with F2 or F3 esophageal varices showing "red signs" and who had never bled were included and randomly y assigned to receive either 5MI (group I,n23) or placebo (group P,n19). Patients with hepatocarcinomas or complications potentially lethal in the short-term or who were being given drugs such as steroids or interferon were excluded. The end points of the study were bleeding and death. There were no significant differences between the groups in the basal clinical and laboratory data. The mean +/- SD follow-up time was 49 +/- 36 and 43 +/- 25 weeks in the groups I and P, respectively. The percentage of patients free of bleeding 61 weeks after inclusion in the study was 62.4% in the group I and 46.3% in the group P (NS). The percentage of patients surviving 85 weeks after inclusion in the study was 81.2% in the group I and 39.8% in the group P (NS). Treatment did not have to be stopped in any patient of both groups because of side effects. In conclusion, 5MI is a safe drug for the chronic management of portal hypertension, that showed a trend to reduce the risk of bleeding and death in cirrhosis with large esophageal varices.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

5 mononitrato de isosorbide en la prevención de la hemorragia digestiva en cirrosis: estudio randomizado. / [Isosorbide-5-mononitrate in the prevention of digestive hemorrhage in cirrhosis: randomized study]

Isosorbide 5-mononitrate (5MI) is a preferential venous dilator that has been shown to decrease portal pressure in acute and long-term haemodynamic studies, and this is not associated with adverse effects on hepatic perfusion. The aim of this trial was to investigate the efficacy and safety of 5MI in the prevention of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in cirrhotic patients. Forty two cirrhotic patients with F2 or F3 esophageal varices showing [quot ]red signs[quot ] and who had never bled were included and randomly y assigned to receive either 5MI (group I,n23) or placebo (group P,n19). Patients with hepatocarcinomas or complications potentially lethal in the short-term or who were being given drugs such as steroids or interferon were excluded. The end points of the study were bleeding and death. There were no significant differences between the groups in the basal clinical and laboratory data. The mean +/- SD follow-up time was 49 +/- 36 and 43 +/- 25 weeks in the groups I and P, respectively. The percentage of patients free of bleeding 61 weeks after inclusion in the study was 62.4

in the group I and 46.3

in the group P (NS). The percentage of patients surviving 85 weeks after inclusion in the study was 81.2

in the group I and 39.8

in the group P (NS). Treatment did not have to be stopped in any patient of both groups because of side effects. In conclusion, 5MI is a safe drug for the chronic management of portal hypertension, that showed a trend to reduce the risk of bleeding and death in cirrhosis with large esophageal varices.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Paracentesis with Dextran 70 vs. paracentesis with albumin in cirrhosis with tense ascites. Results of a randomized study.

Forty-one patients with cirrhosis and tense ascites were randomized to receive daily paracentesis of 5 liters associated with Dextran 70 as volume expander (6 g for each 1000 ml of ascites removed) (group I = 20 patients) or paracentesis with albumin (6 g for each 1000 ml of ascites) (group II = 21 patients). The basal clinical features, laboratory data, and plasma renin activity were similar in both groups. The volume of ascites removed was 12.9 +/- 4.4 and 10.9 +/- 3.7 liters in group I and II, respectively (n.s.). No significant changes were observed in liver and renal function tests, KPTT, platelet count, factor VIII, serum electrolytes or plasma renin activity 24 and 96 h after the last paracentesis in both groups, except for a decrease in bilirubin in group I and a transient increase of serum albumin in group II. Four patients developed complications in each group, mainly hyponatremia, while one patient in each group developed renal impairment. One patient from group I died with hepatic encephalopathy. Moreover, the probability of survival and readmission to the hospital because of tense ascites were similar in both groups of patients during the follow-up. The treatment cost with Dextran 70 was 15.50 dollars vs. 364.30 dollars with albumin for each patient treated. These results indicate that repeated large volume paracentesis associated with Dextran 70 is as effective and safe as paracentesis associated with albumin in cirrhotic patients with tense ascites. However, due to its reduced cost, paracentesis with Dextran 70 may be considered the treatment of choice in cirrhotic patients with tense ascites without liver cancer and renal failure.

[Upper digestive hemorrhage in liver cirrhosis: clinical and endoscopic findings]. / Hemorragia digestiva alta en la cirrosis hepática: hallazgos clínicos y endoscópicos.

There are different opinions in respect to the main sources in upper gastrointestinal bleeding in hepatic cirrhosis. Some authors claim that ruptured esophageal varices are the cause of most of the hemorrhages. Recently, characteristic lesions have been showed in the gastric mucosa in portal hypertension (congestive gastropathy), and many believe that they are frequently the origin of the bleeding. We reviewed the records of 195 episodes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in cirrhosis, with endoscopy performed within 12 hours of entry, and report here the endoscopic findings and the bleeding sites. We also investigated the relation between the etiology and functional class of the hepatic disease and the bleeding source. We observed variceal hemorrhage in 52.2% of cases; by gastroduodenal mucosal lesions in 13.8%; by gastric and duodenal ulcers in 13.8%; undetermined origin in 14.8% (due to coexistence of two or more lesions, without active bleeding). We found no differences between alcoholic and nonalcoholic cirrhotics in the bleeding sources. Furthermore, the bleeding sites were not different either in child A, B and C patients. In contrast, in major hemorrhages, esophageal varices were more frequently the origin (73.5%) than in minor ones (40.4%) (p < 0.002). The mortality was significantly higher in CHild C group (25%), than in groups B (14.3%) and A (2.3%) (p < 0.05 and p < 0.002, respectively). We recommend to carry out early endoscopy in every cirrhotic patient suffering from gastrointestinal bleeding, by skilled performers who are able to recognize the gastric red signs, before making a decision about potentially dangerous therapeutic measures, such as surgery, balloon tamponade, etc.

Hemorragia digestiva alta en la cirrosis hepática: hallazgos clínicos y endoscópicos. / [Upper digestive hemorrhage in liver cirrhosis: clinical and endoscopic findings]

There are different opinions in respect to the main sources in upper gastrointestinal bleeding in hepatic cirrhosis. Some authors claim that ruptured esophageal varices are the cause of most of the hemorrhages. Recently, characteristic lesions have been showed in the gastric mucosa in portal hypertension (congestive gastropathy), and many believe that they are frequently the origin of the bleeding. We reviewed the records of 195 episodes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in cirrhosis, with endoscopy performed within 12 hours of entry, and report here the endoscopic findings and the bleeding sites. We also investigated the relation between the etiology and functional class of the hepatic disease and the bleeding source. We observed variceal hemorrhage in 52.2

of cases; by gastroduodenal mucosal lesions in 13.8

; by gastric and duodenal ulcers in 13.8

; undetermined origin in 14.8

(due to coexistence of two or more lesions, without active bleeding). We found no differences between alcoholic and nonalcoholic cirrhotics in the bleeding sources. Furthermore, the bleeding sites were not different either in child A, B and C patients. In contrast, in major hemorrhages, esophageal varices were more frequently the origin (73.5

) than in minor ones (40.4

) (p < 0.002). The mortality was significantly higher in CHild C group (25

), than in groups B (14.3

) and A (2.3

) (p < 0.05 and p < 0.002, respectively). We recommend to carry out early endoscopy in every cirrhotic patient suffering from gastrointestinal bleeding, by skilled performers who are able to recognize the gastric red signs, before making a decision about potentially dangerous therapeutic measures, such as surgery, balloon tamponade, etc.

Hemorragia digestiva alta en la cirrosis hepática: hallazgos clínicos y endoscópicos. / [Upper digestive hemorrhage in liver cirrhosis: clinical and endoscopic findings]

There are different opinions in respect to the main sources in upper gastrointestinal bleeding in hepatic cirrhosis. Some authors claim that ruptured esophageal varices are the cause of most of the hemorrhages. Recently, characteristic lesions have been showed in the gastric mucosa in portal hypertension (congestive gastropathy), and many believe that they are frequently the origin of the bleeding. We reviewed the records of 195 episodes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in cirrhosis, with endoscopy performed within 12 hours of entry, and report here the endoscopic findings and the bleeding sites. We also investigated the relation between the etiology and functional class of the hepatic disease and the bleeding source. We observed variceal hemorrhage in 52.2

of cases; by gastroduodenal mucosal lesions in 13.8

; by gastric and duodenal ulcers in 13.8

; undetermined origin in 14.8

(due to coexistence of two or more lesions, without active bleeding). We found no differences between alcoholic and nonalcoholic cirrhotics in the bleeding sources. Furthermore, the bleeding sites were not different either in child A, B and C patients. In contrast, in major hemorrhages, esophageal varices were more frequently the origin (73.5

) than in minor ones (40.4

) (p < 0.002). The mortality was significantly higher in CHild C group (25

), than in groups B (14.3

) and A (2.3

) (p < 0.05 and p < 0.002, respectively). We recommend to carry out early endoscopy in every cirrhotic patient suffering from gastrointestinal bleeding, by skilled performers who are able to recognize the gastric red signs, before making a decision about potentially dangerous therapeutic measures, such as surgery, balloon tamponade, etc.