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Biomedical subjects

D Samuel

Publications and source records attributed to D Samuel.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Combined liver and kidney transplantation in patients with chronic nephritis associated with end-stage liver disease.

A variety of renal diseases can be associated with end-stage liver diseases requiring orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), including cirrhosis-associated glomerulonephritis (GN), and nephropathy unrelated to the liver disease. A retrospective survey showed that nine patients undergoing liver transplantation in our centre had histologically proven GN or interstitial nephritis with renal failure and/or nephrotic-range proteinuria, and experienced severe complications post-OLT since nephrotoxic immunosuppressive drugs (CsA and FK506) could not be adequately given. Four of the nine patients died. Therefore, combined liver-kidney transplantation has been suggested as first choice treatment in such patients. From January 1990 to February 1994, in patients with end-stage liver disease referred for OLT, and who presented with unexplained renal function impairment and/or significant proteinuria, severe nephropathy was confirmed by renal biopsy in nine: four mesangiocapillary GN with immune deposits, one membranous nephropathy, two diabetic glomerulosclerosis and two interstitial nephritis. All underwent liver transplantation immediately followed by kidney transplantation. The postoperative period was uneventful, and neither death nor renal failure were recorded. Combined transplantation resulted in all patients in the normalization of renal function, and in the disappearance of proteinuria within the first postoperative month. From 6 months to 4 years post-transplant, the renal function remained within normal ranges in all patients. Routine renal transplant biopsy was performed in two patients with pre-transplant cirrhosis-associated GN, and showed no evidence of recurrence of the original nephropathy. We conclude that combined liver-kidney transplantation is an adequate therapeutic option in patients with end-stage liver disease associated with advanced kidney disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Aorto-atrial fistula following internal jugular vein catheterization.

A 48-year-old woman with giant haemangioma of the liver underwent percutaneous transjugular placement of a stent in the left hepatic vein for relief of an obstruction due to the compression of the benign liver tumour. Following the procedure, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation occurred and right-sided heart failure gradually appeared. Echocardiography and cardiac catheterization demonstrated a fistula between the aortic root and the right atrium, that was confirmed on surgery.

Aortic Diseases↗

Sclerosing cholangitis following human orthotopic liver transplantation.

Sclerosing cholangitis defined by cholangiographic criteria may occur after orthotopic liver transplantation. In this retrospective study, we analyzed failed grafts and antecedent serial biopsies of 24 patients who developed this type of nonanastomotic biliary strictures. Sclerosing cholangitis was histologically diagnosed if there was a combination of periductal fibrosis and features of large bile duct obstruction. The condition was observed in all but one available failed allografts. This later showed ischemic-type lesions without periductal fibrosis. Liver biopsy specimens were nondiagnostic relative to sclerosing cholangitis, although 85% of the patients had evidence of large bile duct obstruction. Numerous associated factors may explain the pathogenesis of secondary sclerosing cholangitis: an immunologically related etiologic factor (10 recipients of ABO-incompatible allografts) and compromised arterial blood flow that likely resulted from hepatic artery thrombosis (12 patients), focal arterial fibrointimal hyperplasia (three patients), chronic ductopenic arteriopathic rejection (three patients) and/or preservation-related ischemia (four patients). Sclerosing cholangitis may be a significant cause of graft failure that often has misleading biopsy manifestations. From a practical standpoint, cholestasis with evidence of large bile duct obstruction warrants cholangiographic assessment of the biliary tree.

Adolescent↗

Orthotopic liver transplantation in fulminant and subfulminant hepatitis. The Paul Brousse experience.

OBJECTIVE: The authors report on the experience of orthotopic liver transplantation in fulminant hepatitis at Paul Brousse Hospital. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Liver transplantation is a breakthrough in the treatment of patients with fulminant hepatitis. However, the indications, the timing for transplantation, the type of transplantation, and the use of ABO incompatible grafts in this setting still are debated. METHODS: Transplantation was indicated in patients with confusion or coma and factor V less than 20%, younger than 30 years of age, and confusion or coma and factor V less than 30% older than 30 years of age. RESULTS: Among 139 patients who met the aforementioned criteria for transplantation, 1 recovered, 22 died before transplantation, and 116 underwent transplants with a 1-year survival of 68%. Survival was 83% in patients with grade 1 and 2 comas at transplantation versus 56% (p < 0.001) in those with grade 3 comas; it was 51% versus 81% (p < 0.001) in those transplanted with high risk (ABO-incompatible, split, or steatotic) and low-risk grafts, respectively. In a multivariate analysis, steatotic and partial grafts were predictive of poorer patient survival, and ABO incompatibility was predictive of poorer graft survival. CONCLUSIONS: Orthotopic liver transplantation is an effective treatment in fulminant hepatitis. Use of high-risk grafts permitted transplantation of 83% of patients, but was responsible for higher mortality.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

Neutrophil elastase-alpha 1-antitrypsin in middle ear fluid in chronic otitis media with effusion.

Neutrophil elastase-alpha 1-antitrypsin was quantified in samples taken from middle ear effusions collected at operation from 17 children attending for elective myringotomy and grommet insertion. At the time of surgery the effusion was classified as serous or mucoid. Children with a recent history of infection or antimicrobial therapy were excluded. The quantification of immunoreactive neutrophil elastase was by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). The mean value of neutrophil elastase-alpha 1-antitrypsin was 50.6 +/- 38.3 (SD) micrograms/ml in mucoid effusions, which was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that in serous effusions (5.3 +/- 4.8 micrograms/ml). These results indicate that a mucoid effusion may reflect a more severe inflammatory response and that persistence of neutrophil activity in the middle ear mucosa may contribute to the persistence of at least one group of middle ear effusions.

Child↗

An open trial of interferon alfa recombinant for hepatitis C after liver transplantation: antiviral effects and risk of rejection.

The aim of this open trial was to assess the efficacy and the safety of interferon (IFN) alfa therapy in liver transplant recipients with chronic active hepatitis caused by hepatitis C virus. In July 1991, among 447 liver recipients regularly observed at our institution, 46 had developed HCV-related chronic active hepatitis defined by piece meal necrosis. Fourteen of these 46 patients received IFN alfa 3 mIU three times weekly for a planned duration of 6 months and were compared to the 32 untreated patients. Genotyping and quantification of viremia were performed using type-specific amplification and branched DNA assay. Histological follow-up was available in all patients and routinely before and after IFN therapy. Treated and untreated patients did not differ regarding gender, age, length of follow-up, maximum histological score, and genotypes (41 of 46 were of type 1b). Induction of chronic rejection was observed in 5 of 14 treated patients leading to retransplantation in 3. In contrast, chronic rejection occurred in 1 of 32 untreated patients (P < .005) during the posttransplantation follow-up. Among the 9 treated patients without rejection, a decrease of transaminases or of HCV RNA levels of more than 50% were observed in 8 and 4, respectively; 2 patients had a complete response, and 1 did not relapse after discontinuation of IFN. Histological improvement occurred in 2 of the treated patients and in none of the untreated patients. IFN therapy in liver transplant recipients has poor antiviral effect and can induce chronic rejection. Its use in this setting should be cautious.

Adult↗

Deleterious influence of pyrazinamide on the outcome of patients with fulminant or subfulminant liver failure during antituberculous treatment including isoniazid.

Isoniazid and pyrazinamide are well-known hepatotoxic drugs, often used in combination. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic influence of pyrazinamide on the outcome of fulminant or subfulminant liver failure caused by antituberculous therapy. Eighteen patients with fulminant or subfulminant liver failure due to antituberculous therapy were studied. Nine patients received isoniazid and rifampicin without pyrazinamide (group 1), and nine patients received isoniazid and rifampicin together with pyrazinamide (group 2). The severity of fulminant and subfulminant liver failure, as judged by the prevalence of coma and the lowest level of factor V, was similar in the two groups. Spontaneous survival was greater in group 1 (eight of nine) than in group 2 (two of nine) (P < .02). The authors conclude that pyrazinamide co-administration was associated with an increased mortality in patients with fulminant or subfulminant hepatitis occurring during antituberculous therapy. In these patients, pyrazinamide administration and an interval of more than 15 days between the onset of antituberculous treatment and jaundice, combined with grade III encephalopathy and factor V below 20%, predicted death without liver transplantation.

Adolescent↗

Long-term clinical and virological outcome after liver transplantation for cirrhosis caused by chronic delta hepatitis.

Liver transplantation for liver diseases related to hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) remains problematic because of the risk of viral recurrence. We report here the long-term virological outcome of patients transplanted for HDV-related liver cirrhosis (HDV cirrhosis). From December 1984 to December 1990, 76 patients with HDV cirrhosis underwent liver transplantation. Before transplantation, all the patients were HBsAg-positive/anti-HDV positive, and all but one were HBV DNA-negative by dot blot hybridization. HDV RNA was detected by HDV RT-PCR and liver HDAg by fluorescent HDV Ab. After transplantation, all the patients except four received continuous long-term anti-HBs passive immunoprophylaxis. The actuarial 5-year survival was 88%. All patients who did not receive anti-HBs immunoprophylaxis remained HBsAg-positive and developed hepatitis. Among the 68 patients receiving antiHBs immunoprophylaxis with a minimum follow-up of 2 months, HBsAg reappeared in 7 (10.3%) after a mean of 17 months. These seven patients developed hepatitis, with simultaneous HBV and HDV replication; and four cleared later HBsAg. Patients without HBV reinfection were studied for HDV reinfection: liver HD Ag or serum HDV RNA were present in 88% of the patients during the first year, without developing hepatitis; however, they were no longer detectable after 2 years in 95% of the patients. In conclusion, liver transplantation for HDV cirrhosis gives good results, with a 5-year actuarial survival of 88%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Actuarial Analysis↗

Ethmoidal myofibroblastoma.

Myofibroblastoma is an uncommon mesenchymal tumour characterized by spindle cells exhibiting the ultrastructural and immunohistochemical features of myofibroblasts. We report a case of a myofibroblastoma occurring in the ethmoid sinus, which to our knowledge is the first case reported in the literature. The clinical presentation, diagnosis, histology, and management of this lesion is discussed with a review of the relevant literature.

Actins↗