Changes in serological markers of hepatitis B virus after renal transplantation.

An estimated 350 million persons worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Immunosuppression after renal transplantation seems to enhance viral replication and increase the risk of developing cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. This retrospective study was performed to assess the prevalence among and serological status of HBV infection after renal transplantation at a single university Brazilian center. Thirty six (4.2%) patients among 850 kidney recipients showed positive HBsAg for more than 6 months; 31 were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive at transplantation. Of the 15 hepatitis B e antigen (HbeAg) positive patients, six had spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion and three also had HBsAg clearance. An additional two showed HBeAg clearance with Lamivudine without seroconversion. Among 15 HBeAg-negative patients, three developed HBeAg reversion with no elevation of alanine transferase (ALT) levels and one had HBsAg clearance. Only one patient had acute exacerbation of hepatitis B (ALT > 20 times normal range) but remained HbeAg negative. During follow-up, five patients became HBsAg positive; two reactivations of resolved hepatitis B, two with previous anti-HBS induced by vaccination, and one with no serological marker for HBV. Lamivudine was prescribed for 16 patients, two of whom had HbeAg clearance without seroconversion and five who developed viral resistance to Lamivudine after a mean of 29.2 months. No hepatocellular carcinoma or deaths related to hepatitis B were seen in this group. In summary, prevalence of HBV in kidney transplant patients was 4.2%. Immunosuppression after renal transplantation in HBV infection led to an increased risk of liver complications and changes in HBV serological status.

[Scintigraphic study of gastric emptying and intragastric distribution of a solid meal: gender differences]. / Estudo do esvaziamento gástrico e da distribuição intragástrica de uma dieta sólida através da cintilografia: diferenças entre os sexos.

Gender-related differences in gastric emptying are still controversial. The aims of this study were: to confirm the sex-related difference in gastric emptying of a solid meal and to investigate its association with different patterns of meal distribution between the proximal and distal gastric compartments. Eighteen healthy volunteers (nine males, mean age 35 +/- 9 years; nine females, mean age: 41 +/- 11 years) were studied in the morning, after ingestion of the solid test-meal (an omelette labeled with 185MBq of 99mTc-sulfur colloid). Simultaneous anterior and posterior images of the stomach were acquired immediately after ingestion of the meal and every 10 minutes for 120 minutes. Time versus activity curves were obtained for the whole, proximal and distal stomach. Gastric T1/2 was longer in women (96.1 +/- 17.2 min) than in men (79.9 +/- 17.8 min; P = 0.02). The analysis of the meal distribution inside the stomach showed no differences between males and females in proximal gastric emptying, but the meal retention in the distal compartment was significantly increased among women (P = 0.04). In conclusion, gastric emptying of a solid meal is slower in pre-menopausal women than in age-matched men, probably due to an increased retention of the meal in the distal compartment. This should be taken into consideration to avoid misleading diagnosis of gastroparesis for female patients.

Ceftriaxone in the treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear count response and short-term prognosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In this study, ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear (PMN) response, short-term prognosis, and factors related to hospital mortality were investigated in 62 cases of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis occurring in cirrhotic patients treated with Ceftriaxone (1g every 12 hours). METHODOLOGY: The diagnostic criteria for (SBP) were ascitic fluid PMN count < 250 cells/mm3 and no evidence of secondary peritonitis. Analysis of ascitic fluid samples were obtained on admission, and on the 4th and 10th days of antibiotic therapy. RESULTS: The etiology of cirrhosis was alcohol in 63% of the cases, and 79.5% of patients belonged to Child-Pugh Class C. Ascitic fluid analysis showed positive cultures in 47% of the cases, and a marked decrease in PMN count during treatment (admission: 7762 +/- 2837; 4th day: 388 +/- 91; 10th day: 173 +/- 59 cells/mm3). Ascitic PMN was < 250 cells/mm3 within 4 days of treatment in 33% of the cases. The hospital mortality rate was 24%, and was related to gastrointestinal hemorrhage, hepatic encephalopathy, renal failure and 4th day ascitic fluid PMN count. CONCLUSION: Ceftriaxone is a safe and effective option for the treatment of SBP.