Recurrent drug-induced liver injury with cetirizine and amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium

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Results of hepatitis C virus treatment in patients on hemodialysis: data from published meta-analyses in 2008.

Reports on the outcome of treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in dialysis patients are limited by small patient series, nonrandomized study designs, and few case-control studies. We reviewed 2 meta-analyses (Meta-1 and Meta-2) published in 2008, which analyzed sustained viral responses (SVR), adverse effects, and reasons for discontinuing treatment. Meta-1 analyzed the results obtained in 645 patients and Meta-2 the results in 459 patients (19 studies were duplicated). The overall SVR was 40%; the SVR in genotype 1 was 33%, with pegylated interferon providing few additional benefits over conventional interferon. Adverse events were reported in <50% of cases compiled in the meta-analyses. A high percentage of anemia was documented, although the use of erythropoietin, intravenous iron administration, or transfusions was not generally reported. A typical flu-like syndrome occurred in 41% of patients, requiring withdrawal of antiviral treatment in 11%. Severe adverse events were divided into the following groups: hormonal (thyroid): bone pain; cytopenia; gastrointestinal; immunological (prior graft rejection); central nervous system; cardiovascular; and infectious problems. The authors of the meta-analyses pointed out bias in the selection of candidates for treatment, limitations related to the number and type of adverse effects and their clinical evaluation, and in the cases of discontinuation of treatment or loss to follow-up. Additional studies reporting individual patient data are needed because the paucity of controlled studies limits generalization of the results to the population of dialysis patients.

[Transcultural adaptation of the Liver Disease Quality of Life instrument (LDQOL 1.0) for its use in the Spanish population]. / Adaptación transcultural del cuestionario específico de calidad de vida para hepatopatías crónicas (LDQOL 1.0) para su uso en la población española.

Instruments of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) help us to interpret the results of treatments and health interventions. In Spain there is no HRQOL instrument specifically designed for use in patients with liver disease or to measure the effect of interventions such as liver transplantation. The Liver Disease Quality of Life (LDQOL 1.0) questionnaire is an American instrument developed for use in these patients. The aim of this study was to produce an appropriate version of this questionnaire for use in Spain. Cultural adaptation was performed in 3 phases: a) modification for use in Spain of a Hispanic version of this questionnaire supplied by the original authors; b) back-translation to English of a new version of the questionnaire and comparison with the original version in English, and c) a pilot test in a small sample of patients. In the first phase consisting of revision of the Hispanic version, the changes were mainly linguistic due to cultural and idiomatic differences. The validated Spanish version of the SF-36 was directly incorporated and items that could be of interest to local investigators were added. Few changes were made in the second phase of the process: changes involved an item on the appearance of feces and another item on taking naps. In the final phase, various changes suggested by the patients were introduced. Before applying the new version of the LDQOL 1.0 in clinical studies in Spain, its psychometric properties (its reliability, validity and sensitivity to change) must be verified in a subsequent validation study.

Mortalidad en el trasplante hepático: causas y período de máxima incidencia / Mortality in liver transplantation. Causes and period of maximum incidence

Objetivos. Describir y cuantificar las causas de muerte de nuestros pacientes e identificar su incidencia en los diversos períodos postrasplante. Pacientes y métodos. Durante el período de estudio, se realizaron 441 trasplantes hepáticos en 381 pacientes. Definimos como causa predisponente de fallecimiento aquella que pone al paciente en situación de riesgo de muerte, y causa inmediata la que precipita el fallecimiento. Definimos 3 períodos: mortalidad postoperatoria, temprana y tardía. Resultados. La mortalidad fue de 112 pacientes (29 por ciento). Los pacientes que fallecieron en período de mortalidad postoperatoria, temprana y tardía fueron 32 (30 por ciento), 13 (12 por ciento) y 65 (58 por ciento), respectivamente. Los tumores de novo (15 por ciento) y la recidiva viral (14 por ciento) fueron las causas predisponentes globales más frecuentes. Las infecciones (24 por ciento) y las complicaciones médicas (12 por ciento) fueron las causas inmediatas principales. En el período postoperatorio y temprano las causas más frecuentes fueron las complicaciones médicas y el rechazo ductopénico (4 por ciento), respectivamente; en cambio, en el período de mortalidad tardía lo fueron los tumores de novo (13 por ciento) y la recurrencia de hepatopatía por virus de la hepatitis C (13 por ciento). Conclusiones. La diferenciación entre causa predisponente e inmediata define con precisión la frecuencia de cada una de ellas. Los tumores de novo y la recurrencia de hepatopatía por virus de la hepatitis C son las causas más frecuentes de muerte global y tardía (AU)

[Autoimmune hemolytic anemia, infrequent complication of ulcerative colitis]. / Anemia hemolítica autoinmune, complicación poco frecuente de la colitis ulcerosa.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is a rare complication of ulcerative colitis. A retrospective review of the cases of ulcerative colitis treated at our hospital between January 1984 and August 1993 showed that, among 210 patients, three presented autoimmune hemolytic anemia with a positive direct Coomb's test. They were two men and one woman suffering from a moderately active ulcerative colitis that affected the left colon. The hemolysis was diagnosed before the onset of colitis in two cases and after it in the other. In the only patient treated with sulphasalazine, this drug was stopped without improvement. All the patients were treated with steroids, with resolution of the anemia in one of them. Healing was achieved with splenectomy in the other two. Colectomy was not necessary in any case. After suppression of sulphasalazine and treatment with steroids, the next therapeutic option in patients with ulcerative colitis and autoimmune hemolytic anemia should be splenectomy, whereas colectomy should be only used with unresponsive patients, as well as with those affected by severe ulcerative colitis refractory to steroids. In patients presenting with ulcerative colitis and anemia, the possibility of autoimmune hemolytic anemia has to be considered since--in spite of being rare--it is responsive to proper treatment.

[Palliative treatment of carcinomatous ascites with peritoneovenous shunt]. / Tratamiento paliativo de la ascitis carcinomatosa con shunt peritoneovenoso.

Carcinomatous ascites (CA) is not an uncommon manifestation of a metastatic neoplasia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of peritoneovenous shunt (PVS) in patients with CA refractory to conventional management. Twelve patients in whom a PVS was placed with palliative intention were studied. One patient died in the postoperative period. Permanent control of the ascites was achieved in 7 (63.6%) of the remaining patients. PVS obstruction occurred in 4 patients (36.4%) and no other complications related to the shunt were seen. Results were better in CA of gynecological origin but without reaching significant statistical differences. We conclude that PVS can be useful for palliation of CA with a low complication rate.