PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Buffet

Publications and source records attributed to C Buffet.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

[B virus, delta agent and human immunodeficiency virus infections in drug addicts].

Infections with the B, D, A, NANB viruses and with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are very common among drug addicts, some of whom may harbour several of these pathogens. The serum of 90 per cent of drug addicts contains one of the HBV markers, and 20 per cent of them carry an anti-D antibody which is more often present in HBs Ag-positive subjects but may also be found in those who are positive for anti-HBs and anti HBc antibodies. The presence of an anti-delta antibody increases the risk of severe histological lesions (chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis), as does chronic alcoholism associated with drug addiction. Fifty to sixty per cent of drug addicts are seropositive for HIV. At the AIDS stage, hepatic lesions are extremely frequent (90 per cent), but they have low activity and are seldom responsible for death.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Prevention of hemorrhagic recurrence in cirrhotic patients. Is sclerotherapy better than propranolol?].

The effectiveness of oral propranolol and sclerotherapy in preventing recurrent bleeding after an endoscopically proven haemorrhage from oesophageal varices was compared in Pugh's grade B and C patients divided into two successive therapeutic groups. Group I patients (n = 32) were given oral propranolol, while sclerotherapy was performed in group II patients (n = 32), 23 of whom simultaneously received propranolol. There was no difference between groups I and II in the severity of the initial bleeding and liver failure (Groups I/II, B 19/18, C 13/14), in the withdrawal of alcohol (group I 25, group II 17) and in compliance with either treatment (group I 25, group II 27). Obliteration of the oesophageal varices was achieved in 69 p. 100 of group II patients within a median number of 4 courses and 46 days, and in 84 p. 100 of the patients of this group who survived for more than 3 months. One year after the beginning of treatment rebleeding had occurred in 43 p. 100 of either group I or group II patients. The 1-year survival rate was 72 p. 100 in group I and 62 p. 100 in group II (non significant). The causes of death were the same in both groups. Irrespective of the treatment assigned, death was 2.1 times more frequent (P = 0.02) and rebleeding was 1.2 time more frequent (P = 0.08) in grade C than in grade B patients.

Esophageal and Gastric Varices↗

[Pseudotumor nodules of the liver in cirrhotic patients. Study of 7 cases].

Hepatocellular pseudotumor (HCP) occurs in cirrhotic liver and can resemble hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver ultrasonography shows a space-occupying lesion. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical, radiological and histologic features of HCP based on seven patients (3 women, 4 men), mean age 48 years (24 to 62), with histologically proven cirrhosis (alcoholic, 4 cases; autoimmune, 1 case; postnecrotic, 1 case, idiopathic, 1 case). Serum alphafetoprotein was below 16 ng/ml in 5 patients and remained over 120 ng/ml in the remaining 2. Desgammacarboxyprothrombin, performed in 3 cases, was below the upper limit of normal range. Real time ultrasonography of the liver showed a homogeneous parenchyma in 1 case and median size (20-48 mm) space-occupying nodular lesions in 6 cases. Sonography patterns of hepatocellular pseudotumor were as follows: anechoic lesions in 5 cases and mixed pattern (sonodense and hypoechogenic) in 1 case. Angiographic findings exhibited different patterns: hypervascular or hypovascular nodules, multinodular uptake after lipiodol bolus injection. Computed tomography showed iso- or hypodense space-occupying lesions. Lipiodol injection, performed in 3 cases, showed nodular lipiodol uptake. Fine needle biopsy always showed normal hepatocytes. At laparotomy, performed in 3 cases, an hyperplastic nodule was found in 1 case only. All patients were alive at 12 to 36 months. These findings are consistent with the fact that hepatocellular pseudotumor is a true entity. Differential diagnosis is difficult. Iodine oil nodular fixation on CT scan may be non specific for hepatocellular pseudotumor. Histologic data is mandatory before beginning a non surgical therapeutic regimen for suspected hepatocellular carcinoma.

Adult↗

Three cases of nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver following renal transplantation.

We report three cases of nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver: the clinical onset of hepatic disease occurred between 24 and 30 months after renal transplantation. Nodular regenerative hyperplasia was associated with peliosis hepatitis in two cases, and with veno-occlusive disease in one case. Two patients developed portal hypertension, but are doing well. The third patient developed jaundice and died of septic shock. We discuss the aetiological role of renal transplantation, cytomegalovirus infection, and azathioprine in the development of nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver.

Adult↗

[Lithiasis of the common bile duct in the aged subject treated with endoscopy (227 patients)].

One hundred and sixteen patients aged from 65 to 80 years (first group including 39 previously cholecystectomized patients) and 161 patients aged over 80 years (second group, including 31 previously cholecystectomized patients) underwent endoscopic papillotomy for choledocholithiasis. We compared clinical, biochemical and morphological features of choledocolithiasis with early results of endoscopic papillotomy. Clinical symptoms were not different between the old and very old patients, cholecystectomized or not. Charcot's triade was observed in one third of patients. Biochemical data just before endoscopic retrograde cholangiography were not different according to groups: 21 p. 100 of the 277 patients had a biological cholestasis without elevation of bilirubin and 10 p. 100 of the patients had no abnormality of the liver function. Diagnosis of choledocholithiasis was accurately suspected in 90 p. 100 of patients. Complete removal of gallstones after endoscopic papillotomy was obtained in 95 p. 100 of patients in the first group and 93 p. 100 of patients in the second group. Morbidity and mortality rates related to endoscopic papillotomy were not different between the 2 groups (6.9 and 0.8 p. 100 in the first group and 8.7 and 3.1 p. 100 in the second group, the first group and 8.7 and 3.1 p. 100 in the second group, respectively). These results suggest that clinical and biochemical features of choledocholithiasis, and early results of endoscopic treatment do not present any particularities in the elderly.

Aged↗

[Dilatation of the common bile duct without visible obstruction at endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. Description and development].

The aim of this study was to specify the signs and course of patients with a dilated common bile duct without obstruction. We included patients with a dilated common bile duct of more than 12 mm on endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, and we excluded patients with stones, tumor or other visible obstruction. Two hundred and seven patients (8.4 p. 100 of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography) were included. One hundred and nineteen (57.5 p. 100) had undergone cholecystectomy. Sixty-five p. 100 of patients had signs suggesting biliary tract disease, and 78 p. 100 had biological signs of cholestasis. The size of the common bile duct was not different whether the patient had been cholecystectomized (16.2 +/- 0.3 mm.M +/- SEM) or not (16.2 +/- 0.4 mm). Forty-one patients in the non cholecystectomized group had gallbladder stones. Thus, 47 of our 207 patients (23 p. 100) had neither gallbladder stones nor previous cholecystectomy. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography was completed by endoscopic sphincterotomy in 130 patients, either in the intent of not missing obstruction, or for therapeutic purposes. Follow-up more than one month after endoscopic retrograde cholangiography was available for 159 patients (77 p. 100). The median survival was 73 months. One hundred and ten patients (69 p. 100) were asymptomatic, 36 (23 p. 100) had atypical abdominal pain while 13 (8 p. 100) patients had episodes of biliary colic and/or fever and/or jaundice. During follow-up, an initially unrecognized obstacle was discovered in 8 patients: 5 common bile duct stones, 2 ampullary tumors and one pancreatic tumor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Prognostic factors in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Attempts for the selection of patients with prolonged survival.

A prognostic study based on 127 untreated patients with hepatocellular carcinoma was undertaken to evaluate their survival time and to find clinical and biologic criteria which allow the selection of patients with a survival time longer than 60 days who could enter a therapeutic trial. Twenty-eight clinical and biologic variables were assessed using univariate and multivariate semiparametric regression (Cox's) models. Ten variables were isolated by univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis found a negative relationship between a survival time longer than 60 days and five of these variables; these variables were in decreasing order: encephalopathy, alcohol consumption, aspartate amino transferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen, and total bilirubin. Prevalence, positive, and negative predictive values of encephalopathy were 20%, 27.5%, and 97% respectively. When three other criteria: ASAT greater than four times the upper limit of the normal (N), blood urea nitrogen greater than N, and total bilirubin greater than 2N were added, their prevalence, positive, and negative predictive values were 72%, 89.7%, and 57.1% respectively. These results suggest that in countries where incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma is low and recruitment of patients difficult, absence of encephalopathy must be the only criterion for selection of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in therapeutic trials; whereas, in countries with a high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma the other criteria may be added.

Age Factors↗

Interobserver agreement in the physical diagnosis of alcoholic liver disease.

Agreement among six physicians for 18 clinical signs in 50 alcoholic patients was prospectively studied. Twenty patients had alcoholic cirrhosis, 14 noncirrhotic alcoholic liver disease, and 16 alcoholics had no clinical or biochemical abnormalities. Agreement was assessed by kappa index for categorical variables and by intraclass correlation coefficient for the others. A good agreement was observed for ascites (r = 0.75) and splenomegaly (r = 0.75). It was fair for jaundice (r = 0.65), Dupuytren's contracture (r = 0.65), and vascular spiders (r = 0.64). However, it was poor for white nails (r = 0.27) and hepatic consistency (r = 0.11). Agreement was better among senior physician's than junior physicians. In order to assess which signs contributed to differentiate the three groups of patients, a stepwise discriminant analysis was realized; it identified three variables: vascular spiders (P less than 0.001), splenomegaly (P less than 0.001), and abdominal wall collateral veins (P less than 0.01). These results suggest that studies based on physical findings must be cautiously considered.

Adult↗