Alteration in gastrointestinal and neurological function after electrical injury: a review of four cases.

OBJECTIVE: Individuals exposed to an electrical injury develop a variety of complications, several of which are recognized years after the initial electrical shock. Alteration in gastrointestinal and nervous system function has been described in these patients, yet the frequency and character of these abnormalities are poorly understood. We reviewed records of 40 individuals with a history of electrical injury to identify evidence of delayed onset of complications. METHODS: Forty consecutive patients with electrical shock injuries were monitored for up to 5 yr after their traumatic event using a comprehensive systems review. Of the eight patients who described an alteration in their gastrointestinal and neurological functions, four agreed to undergo further testing. Investigations included a flexible sigmoidoscopy, anorectal manometry, stool evaluation, serological and biochemical serum analysis, and a psychological examination. RESULTS: Each of the four patients described an increase in stool frequency and urgency. Anorectal manometry detected a reduction in threshold to rectal balloon distention and an abnormal anal sphincter control. Bowel function improved with meselamine. Psychiatric symptoms involving memory and concentration were observed in varying degrees. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, these induced physiological and psychological changes after exposure to electrical shock injury have not yet previously been described. Our findings should encourage further clinical investigations to better anticipate, diagnose, and manage these and other as yet unrecognized delayed complications of electrical shock injury.

AST/ALT ratio > or = 1 is not diagnostic of cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Medical guidelines for interferon-alpha2a or -alpha2b (IFN-alpha) treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection depend upon baseline liver histology. A better long-term response to IFN-alpha therapy correlates with less inflammation and absence of cirrhosis. It has been suggested that the presence of cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection may be predicted based on an AST/ALT ratio > or = 1. This study was designed to determine if the presence of cirrhosis can be predicted in patients with chronic HCV infection by such a ratio. Seventy-seven patients, including 23 cirrhotics, with chronic HCV infection were studied. Serum ALT, AST, and HCV-RNA levels and hepatic activity index (HAI), reflecting histologic inflammation in all liver biopsies, were assessed. AST/ALT ratios and mean ALT, AST, and HCV-RNA were determined for both cirrhotic and noncirrhotic patients. HAI was correlated with ALT, AST, and HCV-RNA levels, the latter determined by quantitative RT-PCR. The likelihood ratio (LR) and positive predictive value of an AST/ALT ratio > or = 1 for cirrhosis was 7.3 and only 77%, respectively. In cirrhotics vs noncirrhotics, there were no significant differences between mean serum ALT (149 +/- 28 vs 176 +/- 17 units/liter), AST (139 +/- 28 vs 102 +/- 8 units/liter), or HCV-RNA levels (589,160 +/- 147,053 vs 543,915 +/- 75,497 copies/ml), respectively. There was a significant, but clinically weak, correlation between serum ALT and HAI (r = 0.234), and none between HAI and either serum AST or HCV-RNA levels. Our results support the need for a liver biopsy prior to treatment of chronic HCV infection, since the AST/ALT ratio fails to predict accurately the presence of cirrhosis.