Clinical response in patients with dengue fever to oral calcium plus vitamin D administration: study of 5 cases.

A dengue epidemic is one of the most important public health problems in the tropical and subtropical areas of the World. In 2005, 7,062 dengue cases were reported in Tamaulipas on Mexico's eastern coast, including 1,832 (26%) cases classified as Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF). Dengue fever (DF) is characterized by fever, intense headache, myalgias, arthralgias, rash, nausea and vomiting. A proportion of infected persons may develop DHF characterized by prominent hemorrhagic manifestations associated with thrombocytopenia. An immune mechanism of thrombocytopenia due to increased platelet destruction appears to be operative in patients with DHF. Excessive capillary permeability may lead to Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS). Patients with DHF/DSS who also have prolonged fever (> 5 days) are at high risk for concurrent bacteremia. Standard treatment is limited to electrolytic solutions, rest, measurements of body temperature, blood pressure, hematocrit, platelet count, and administration of antipyretics like paracetamol when fever is too high. Extracellular calcium plays a key role in platelet aggregation and for the regulation of the immune response in personsinfected with Dengue Virus (DV), and dihydroxy-vitamin D has recently been found to alter IL-12 expression anddendritic cell maturation. We report the cases of five patients who received oral calcium carbonate plus Vitamin D3, who improved overall clinical condition and reduced the duration of signs and symptoms of DF.

[Frequency and clinical, biochemical and histological characteristics of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with gallstone disease]. / Frecuencia y características clínicas, bioquímicas e histológicas del hígado graso no alcohólico en pacientes con enfermedad litiásica vesicular.

BACKGROUND: In 1980, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NALFD) was described. It is related to the genesis of gallstones and is considered as a manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. In order to determine the frequency, anatomoclinical characteristics and biochemical and histological alterations in NAFLD, patients underwent cholecystectomy (GD). For this reason, we considered carrying out this study. METHODS: This was a prospective and observational study. The study population was comprised of patients with gallstone disease who were treated at the "Hospital Español" in Veracruz, Mexico from January 1, 2005 to November 30, 2006 and underwent cholecystectomy and liver biopsy. Analyzed variables were anthropometric characteristics and risk factors, and in each patient biochemical tests, abdominal ultrasound (US) and histological liver study were performed. RESULTS: In 95 patients, according to liver biopsy diagnoses, we found a frequency of 54.74% of NAFLD associated with gallstones. Females were more affected (71.15%) and the average age was 55.6 +/- 17.87 years. Risk factors were obesity (67.3%), diabetes mellitus (17.3%), and dyslipidemia (76.92%). Patients with NAFLD had elevated levels of glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, cholesterol, triglycerides and HDLcholesterol, and aminotransferases. Abdominal US did not show sufficient specificity and sensitivity to detect NAFLD. Histological findings showed stage I steatosis in 51.93%, stage II in 28.84% and stage III in 19.23%. Cirrhosis was found in 3.15%. DISCUSSION: Results of our study confirm the high frequency of NAFLD in association with gallstone disease. We consider this the first work to analyze and describe the primary clinical, biochemical and morphological characteristics.

Frecuencia y características clínicas, bioquímicas e histológicas del hígado graso no alcohólico en pacientes con enfermedad litiásica vesicular / Frequency and clinical, biochemical and histological characteristics of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with gallstone disease

BACKGROUND: In 1980, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NALFD) was described. It is related to the genesis of gallstones and is considered as a manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. In order to determine the frequency, anatomoclinical characteristics and biochemical and histological alterations in NAFLD, patients underwent cholecystectomy (GD). For this reason, we considered carrying out this study. METHODS: This was a prospective and observational study. The study population was comprised of patients with gallstone disease who were treated at the [quot ]Hospital Español[quot ] in Veracruz, Mexico from January 1, 2005 to November 30, 2006 and underwent cholecystectomy and liver biopsy. Analyzed variables were anthropometric characteristics and risk factors, and in each patient biochemical tests, abdominal ultrasound (US) and histological liver study were performed. RESULTS: In 95 patients, according to liver biopsy diagnoses, we found a frequency of 54.74% of NAFLD associated with gallstones. Females were more affected (71.15%) and the average age was 55.6 +/- 17.87 years. Risk factors were obesity (67.3%), diabetes mellitus (17.3%), and dyslipidemia (76.92%). Patients with NAFLD had elevated levels of glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, cholesterol, triglycerides and HDLcholesterol, and aminotransferases. Abdominal US did not show sufficient specificity and sensitivity to detect NAFLD. Histological findings showed stage I steatosis in 51.93%, stage II in 28.84% and stage III in 19.23%. Cirrhosis was found in 3.15%. DISCUSSION: Results of our study confirm the high frequency of NAFLD in association with gallstone disease. We consider this the first work to analyze and describe the primary clinical, biochemical and morphological characteristics.

[Frequency of NAFLD in a group of patients with metabolic syndrome in Veracruz, Mexico]. / Frecuencia del hígado graso no alcohólico en un grupo de pacientes con sindrome metabólico estudiado en la ciudad de veracruz.

INTRODUCTION: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a very common disease that is being described principally in obese, diabetic and hiperlipidemic patients without significant alcohol consumption (less than 28 ethanol Units per week). Nowadays it is considered as the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome. The frequency of Non Alcoholic Sreatohepatic (NASH) is 30 to 35% in general population, but it reaches to 70% in patients whose Body Mass Index (BMI) is above 30 kg/m2 as it occurs with diabetic patients. In Mexico there are only isolated reports about it's frequency, nearly 7.1% in general population and 18.5% in diabetic patients. OBJECTIVE: To know the frequency of the Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients who receive medical attention at the city of Veracruz. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 337 patients, who were divided into 4 groups: Normal Weight, Overweight, Obese and Diabetes type 2 patients. The individuals who reported previous hepatitis and alcohol consumption were excluded. All patients made a test in order to determinate: age, gender, presence of hepatic stigmata and complaints. Laboratory tests were done to all patients including: Blood glucose, seric lipids, transaminases, proteins and alkaline phosphatase. In those cases with impairment in transaminases results, it was done upper abdominal ultrasound (USG) and hepatic biopsy, in patients who accepted. RESULTS: We identified 53 cases (15.72%) with characteristics of Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The frequency in patient with normal weight and overweight was 7.14% to 7.76%, while in obese subjects it was 14.15% and 28% in diabetic patients; 73.58% of all patients were female and the other 28.41% were males. The average age of the group was 48.11 years, it was similar the specific age of the normal weight and obese patients, in overweight patients was 61.5 years and the average age in diabetics was 56.42 years. There were significant differences in the results of blood glucose level, glycosilated hemoglobin, cholesterol, seric lipid values and aminotransferases in obese and diabetic patients compared with normal subjects and overweight patients in our study, the USG did not show sensibility and specificity to detect Non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). DISCUSSION: The results of this study show a lower frequency compared with the rest of the world, however it was higher in diabetic population than the frequency published by Bernal in Hidalgo, Mexico. The aminotransferases level resulted elevated in all patients with metabolic syndrome and NAFLD so we consider that elevated aminotransferases levels is the best predictor to suspect the presence of NAFLD. That is why it's very important to consider the possibility to avoid the progression to cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma.