PECULIARITIES OF THE FUNCTIONAL STATE OF THE LIVER IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS C IN THE PRESENCE OF CHRONIC PANCREATITIS.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To study the features of the functional state of the liver in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in the presence of CP, depending on the enzymatic activity of the pancreas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: 72 patients were under observation: 52 with CHC and CP with exocrine secretory insufficiency (EI) of the pancreas and 20 - with CHC and CP without EI. In all patients, the degree of liver fibrosis, levels of aminotransferases, total bilirubin, gamma-glutamyltransferase, albumin, stool coproscopy and pancreatic fecal elastase-1 (FE-1) were determined. RESULTS: Results: It was revealed that in patients with CHC combined with CP+EI of the pancreas, higher activity of the necroinflammatory process and deeper stages of liver fibrosis is more often noted than in patients with preserved exocrine function of the pancreas. A statistically significant association was established between the degree of liver fibrosis and the presence of EI of the pancreas (p=0.03), namely, in patients with CHC and CP with EI of the pancreas, the degree of fibrosis F2-4 was 2.8 times more frequent. Also, higher levels of aminotransferases and lower levels of albumin were noted in this group of patients than in patients with CHC and CP with preserved exocrine function of the pancreatic gland. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: In patients with CHC combined with CP+EI of the pancreas, higher levels of fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity of the liver are more often detected, as well as a tendency to lower albumin levels, than in patients with CHC and CP without EI.

NON-INVASIVE METHODS OF DIAGNOSTICS OF GASTRO-ESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE IN PATIENTS WITH ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To determine the diagnostic value of non-invasive methods of GERD diagnosis based on questionnaire data and a diagnostic test with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) with Rabeprazole in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: 90 patients were under observation, namely, 68 patients with coronary heart disease with concomitant essential arterial hyperten¬sion (EAH), 6 patients with coronary artery disease + arrhythmias, and 18 - others diseases. All patients were surveyed according to the GerdQ questionnaire, followed by PPI testing with Rabeprazole, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated for all the patients. A BMI of 18.5-24.9 kg/m2 was considered as normal body weight, and a BMI > 24.9 kg/m2 was considered overweight. RESULTS: Results: Based on the results of the questionnaire, it was established that the most common complaints typical for GERD were noted by patients with CHD in combination with EAH. There were 48 of such patients and, depending on BMI, they were divided into 2 groups: 1st group (n=14) - patients with CHD+EAH+GERD with normal body weight and 2nd group (n=34) - overweight patients with CHD+EAH+GERD. In patients of group 1, typical symptoms of GERD prevailed (in 71.4% of patients), and in patients group 2, the distribution of typical and extra-esophageal symptoms did not differ significantly (52.9% vs. 47.1%). Among the extraesophageal manifestations, pain behind the sternum (in the projection of the esophagus) was significantly more often recorded in patients of group 1, and rhythm disturbances in patients of group 2 (43.8% and 75.0% of patients, respectively, p<0.05). The results of the GerdQ questionnaire showed a direct relationship between GERD, body weight and symptom score. Patients with GERD+normal body weight had a mean score of 6 for classic gastroesophageal reflux symptoms, while patients with GERD+increased body weight had a mean score of 7. The sensitivity of the questionnaire was 78.7%, and the specificity - 92.9%. According to the PPI test, in the 1st and 2nd groups, already in the first three days, 28.5% and 23.5% of patients noted the disappearance of heartburn and after 10 days - 85.7% and 64.7%, respectively. Over the entire period, that is, after 14 days of observation, 85.7% of patients in the 1st group and 73.5% in the 2nd group noted improvement. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: It has been established that questionnaires based on the GerdQ questionnaire followed by a PPI test with Rabeprazole in patients with coronary heart disease combined with essential arterial hypertension have a high diagnostic value and can be used for early diagnosis and effective treatment of GERD.