Divergences in Macrophage Activation Markers Soluble CD163 and Mannose Receptor in Patients With Non-cirrhotic and Cirrhotic Portal Hypertension.

INTRODUCTION: Macrophages are involved in development and progression of chronic liver disease and portal hypertension. The macrophage activation markers soluble (s)CD163 and soluble mannose receptor (sMR), are associated with portal hypertension in patient with liver cirrhosis but never investigated in patients with non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. We hypothesized higher levels in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension than patients with non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. We investigated sCD163 and sMR levels in patients with portal hypertension due to idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) and portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in patients with and without cirrhosis. METHODS: We studied plasma sCD163 and sMR levels in patients with IPH (n = 26), non-cirrhotic PVT (n = 20), patients with cirrhosis without PVT (n = 31) and with PVT (n = 17), and healthy controls (n = 15). RESULTS: Median sCD163 concentration was 1.51 (95% CI: 1.24-1.83) mg/L in healthy controls, 1.96 (95% CI: 1.49-2.56) in patients with non-cirrhotic PVT and 2.16 (95% CI: 1.75-2.66) in patients with IPH. There was no difference between non-cirrhotic PVT patients and healthy controls, whereas IPH patients had significantly higher levels than controls (P < 0.05). The median sCD163 was significantly higher in the cirrhotic groups compared to the other groups, with a median sCD163 of 6.31 (95% CI: 5.16-7.73) in cirrhotics without PVT and 5.19 (95% CI: 4.18-6.46) with PVT (P < 0.01, all). Similar differences were observed for sMR. CONCLUSION: Soluble CD163 and sMR levels are elevated in patients with IPH and patients with cirrhosis, but normal in patients with non-cirrhotic PVT. This suggests that hepatic macrophage activation is more driven by the underlying liver disease with cirrhosis than portal hypertension.

Treatment of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with cirrhosis and predictive value of model for end-stage liver disease: Analysis of data from the Hepa-C registry.

Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) are highly effective and well tolerated in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection, including those with compensated cirrhosis. However, fewer data are available in patients with more advanced liver disease. Our retrospective, noninterventional, national, multicenter study in patients from the Spanish Hepa-C registry investigated the effectiveness and safety of interferon-free DAA regimens in patients with advanced liver disease, including those with decompensated cirrhosis, in routine practice (all currently approved regimens were registered). Patients transplanted during treatment or within 12 weeks of completing treatment were excluded. Among 843 patients with cirrhosis (Child-Turcotte-Pugh [CTP] class A, n = 564; CTP class B/C, n = 175), 90% achieved sustained virologic response 12 weeks after treatment (SVR12). Significant differences in SVR12 and relapse rates were observed between CTP class A and CTP class B/C patients (94% versus 78%, and 4% versus 14%, respectively; both P < 0.001). Serious adverse events (SAEs) were more common in CTP class B/C versus CTP class A patients (50% versus 12%, respectively; P < 0.001). Incident decompensation was the most common serious adverse event (7% overall). Death rate during the study period was 16/843 (2%), significantly higher among CTP class B/C versus CTP class A patients (6.4% versus 0.9%; P < 0.001). Baseline Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score alone (cut-off 18) was the best predictor of survival. CONCLUSION: Patients with decompensated cirrhosis receiving DAAs present lower response rates and experience more SAEs. In this setting, a MELD score ≥18 may help clinicians to identify those patients with a higher risk of complications and to individualize treatment decisions. (Hepatology 2017;65:1810-1822).

Effects of high-resolution esophageal manometry on oxygen saturation and hemodynamic function.

The effect of high-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM) on oxygen saturation (SaO2) and hemodynamic function has not been previously evaluated. This was a prospective study of consecutive patients referred for HRM. Demographic and clinical data were collected on all patients. The study variables included SaO2, heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP). SaO2 and HR were measured at baseline, during intubation, during and 5 min after HRM. BP was measured at baseline, during and after HRM. 158 (56% women) patients with a mean age of 56 (SD 15) years were included. Thirty-five (22%) were obese and 55 (35%) were overweight. Eighteen (12%) patients had a history of respiratory disease and 27 (17%) were smokers. Intubation was difficult in 22%. Exploration tolerance was poor in 17% or very poor in 6%. The average duration of the test was 9.9 (SD 2.8) minutes. Sixty-four (47%) and 59 (37%) patients had SaO2 below 95% during intubation and during HRM, respectively. Three patients had SaO2 ≤90%. Sixty-nine (44%) patients had tachycardia during intubation and 8 (5%) during HRM. The appearance of desaturation (SaO2 <95%) during intubation was associated with a lower basal SaO2; desaturation during HRM and 5 minutes after HRM was associated with a higher age, a higher BMI and a lower basal SaO2. HRM decreases SaO2 and increases heart rate primarily during the insertion of the probe, as part of the standard stress response and therefore HMR can be considered a safe procedure. However, in older and overweight patients, respiratory parameters should be monitored.

Potential coeliac disease markers and autoimmunity in olmesartan induced enteropathy: A population-based study.

AIMS: (1) Assess the population-based incidence of severe olmesartan-associated enteropathy. (2) To describe patients of the Spanish registry. (3) Evaluate markers of potential coeliac disease and associated autoimmunity. METHODS: Crude incidence rates in the area of Terrassa (Catalonia) were calculated. Clinical characteristics of patients in the Spanish registry were collected. Duodenal lymphocyte subpopulations and anti-TG2 IgA deposits were assessed in a subset of patients. RESULTS: Annual incidence rates (2011-2014) ranged from 0 to 22 cases per 10(4) treated patients. Twenty patients were included in the Spanish registry. Nineteen (95%) exhibited villous atrophy and 16 (80%) had severe enteropathy. Lupus-like disease occurred during olmesartan treatment in 3 patients. HLA-DQ2/DQ8 was positive in 64%. Markers of potential coeliac disease were present in 4 out of 8 patients (positive anti-TG2 deposits and/or increased CD3+gammadelta+ intraepithelial lymphocytes and reduced CD3-). Histopathological changes and clinical manifestations including autoimmune disorders improved after olmesartan discontinuation but not after gluten-free diet, irrespective of the presence or absence of coeliac markers. CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of severe olmesartan-associated enteropathy was low. Autoimmune phenomena were present in a subset of cases and reversed after olmesartan removal. A genetic coeliac disease background and the presence of potential coeliac markers might uncover predisposing factors.

Transjugular liver biopsy.

Liver biopsy is still the gold standard for evaluation of acute and chronic liver diseases, despite achievements regarding noninvasive diagnosis and staging in liver diseases. Transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) has proved a good option when ascites and/or significant coagulopathy precludes a percutaneous approach. Because diagnostic hemodynamic procedures can be performed during the same session, it is useful in many clinical settings, regardless of the absence of percuteaneous contraindications. TJLB is a safe technique able to provide good-quality specimens with a low rate of complications. This article presents an overview of TJLB that discusses the technique, applicability, indications, contraindications, complications, and diagnostic accuracy.

Improved renal function in liver transplant recipients treated for hepatitis C virus with a sustained virological response and mild chronic kidney disease.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is associated with renal complications. We aimed to determine whether a sustained virological response (SVR) was associated with improvements in renal function (RF) in liver transplant (LT) recipients treated for HCV. Changes in RF were compared 1, 3, and 5 years after therapy as a function of the stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) before treatment (BT). Variables associated with renal dysfunction [RD; 4-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD-4) value 60 mL/minute] at the last follow-up (LFU) were evaluated for all treated LT patients with a minimum follow-up of at least 1 year since the end of treatment (EOT; n = 175). There were 99 patients with stage 2 CKD BT (MDRD-4 value 60-89 mL/minute/1.73 m(2) ), and an improvement in RF was observed more frequently among SVR patients versus nonresponders (NRs). The median changes in the MDRD-4 values BT to 1, 3, and 5 years after treatment were -0.5, 4.5, and 9.4 mL/minute for the SVR patients and -1, -0.3, and -1.5 mL/minute for the NRs (P = 0.61, P = 0.06, and P = 0.004, respectively). RD was present in 31% of the patients at the LFU at a median of 3.8 years after EOT (range 1-9 years). The follow-up did not differ between SVR patients and NRs. RD was present at the LFU in 19% of SVR patients versus 40% of NRs (P = 0.002). In the multivariate analysis, RD at the LFU was associated with NRs [relative risk (RR) 3.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.3-11.23, P = 0.01], EOT MDRD-4 values (RR = 1.022, 95% CI = 1.001-1.04, P = 0.04), and female sex (RR = 5.6, 95% CI = 1.84-17.5, P = 0.002). In conclusion, SVR leads to improved RF in HCV-infected LT recipients with stage 2 CKD BT.

Vómitos cíclicos secundarios al consumo de cannabis / Cyclic vomiting in association with chronic cannabis abuse

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