[Non-surgical treatment for nonresectable advanced hepatic alveolar echinococcosis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic methods of nonresectable advanced hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out to analyze 25 cases of nonresectable advanced hepatic alveolar echinococcosis in the Fourth Hospital of PLA from 2006 to 2009. RESULTS: There were 18 male and 7 female patients with a mean age of 41 years. Twelve cases were treated with albendazole alone. Eleven patients were treated with albendazole combined with percutaneous puncture. Two cases were treated with albendazole combined with other intervention. A course of albendazole administration lasted 2 weeks with a dose of 15-20 mg/(kg x d) for 3 course in general. Eighteen patients were followed up for 1-4 years. In albendazole group, 2 cases were effective and 7 cases were symptom-improved. Five patients got improved and 2 cases showed effective in albendazole combined with percutaneous puncture group. Two cases of albendazole combined with intervention group showed no efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term use of albendazole is the main treatment for nonresectable advanced hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.

[Change in serum basic fibroblast growth factor level and its relationship to pulmonary arterial pressure in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic cor pulmonale on plateau].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of serum basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the development of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in the patients with chronic cor pulmonale on highland (HACCP). METHODS: The levels of bFGF in serum of 38 patients with HACCP in the acute exacerbation stage, 30 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the remission stage and 30 normal control subjects were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA). The mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP) was measured by echocardiography. The partial pressure of oxygen in artery blood (PaO(2)) was measured by blood gas analyzer. RESULTS: The level of serum bFGF [(87.54+/-12.15) ng/L] and MPAP [(45.86+/-5.63)mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)] in the patients with HACCP were significantly higher than those in the patients with COPD [(55.72+/-9.08) ng/L, (22.95+/-2.56)mm Hg, respectively, both P<0.01], those of the patients with COPD were both significantly higher than those of the normal control subjects [(49.83+/-8.78)ng/L, (20.34+/-2.23)mm Hg, respectively, both P<0.05]. The PaO(2) [(38.79+/-4.56)mm Hg] in the patients with HACCP was significantly lower than those in patients with COPD and normal subjects [(58.22+/-6.18) mmHg and (66.57+/-5.48)mm Hg, respectively, all P<0.01]. The level of serum bFGF in the patients with HACCP and the patients with COPD was positively correlated with MPAP (cor pulmonale group r=0.788, P<0.01; COPD group r=0.674, P<0.01)],negatively correlated with PaO(2) (cor pulmonale group r=-0.735, P<0.01; COPD group r=-0.587, P<0.01)). CONCLUSION: The level of serum bFGF in patients with HACCP is significantly increased; it may play an important role in the process of sustained hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in patients with HACCP.