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Biomedical subjects

J F Kalk

Publications and source records attributed to J F Kalk.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Effect of losartan, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, on portal pressure in cirrhosis.

Administration of angiotensin II causes an increase in portal pressure, and plasma concentration of angiotensin II is elevated in patients with cirrhosis, suggesting that angiotensin II may be involved in the pathogenesis of portal hypertension in cirrhosis. We evaluated the effect of the orally active angiotensin II receptor antagonist, losartan, on portal pressure in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Thirty patients with severe (hepatic venous pressure gradient [HVPG] >/= 20 mm Hg) and 15 patients with moderate (HVPG < 20 mm Hg) portal hypertension at baseline measurement were treated with an oral dose of 25 mg losartan once daily for 1 week and compared with 15 (HVPG >/= 20 mm Hg) and 10 (HVPG < 20 mm Hg), respectively, cirrhotic controls. On the seventh day, HVPG was determined again, and blood pressure, heart rate, body weight, and parameters of liver and kidney function were recorded. Losartan induced a significant (P <.001) decrease of HVPG in the patients with severe (-46.8% +/- 15.5%) and moderate (-44.1% +/- 14.7%) portal hypertension, while no significant change was seen in the controls. Losartan caused a slight but significant (P <.01) fall in mean arterial blood pressure (-3.1 +/- 5.0 and -3.5 +/- 4.3 mm Hg, respectively). One patient treated with losartan had a short symptomatic hypotensive reaction after the first dose of losartan that did not recur despite continued treatment. No deterioration of liver or kidney function was observed. The present study indicates that angiotensin II blockade with orally administered losartan is safe and highly effective in the treatment of portal hypertension.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Hepatic arterial pulsatility index in cirrhosis: correlation with portal pressure.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Determination of the pulsatility index by means of duplex sonography provides the opportunity to evaluate the vascular resistance of the hepatic artery noninvasively. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the hepatic arterial pulsatility index and the hepatic venous pressure gradient in cirrhosis. METHODS: In 50 patients with cirrhosis, hepatic venous pressure gradient was determined in the fasting state. Immediately thereafter, hepatic arterial pulsatility index and portal blood flow velocity were measured by duplex sonography with no knowledge of hepatic venous pressure values. In addition, the duplex parameters were determined in 20 controls. RESULTS: Hepatic arterial pulsatility index was significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis than in controls (0.92+/-0.1 vs. 1.14+/-0.18; p<0.001) and directly correlated with the hepatic venous pressure gradient (r = 0.7; p<0.001). Furthermore, weak correlations were found between hepatic arterial pulsatility index and Child-Pugh score (r = 0.49; p<0.01) and between portal blood flow velocity and hepatic venous pressure gradient (r = -0.48; p<0.01). CONCLUSION: In cirrhosis the hepatic arterial vascular resistance seems to increase parallel to the rise of the portal pressure. Therefore, duplex sonographic determination of the hepatic arterial pulsatility index may contribute to the noninvasive evaluation of portal hypertension.

Diastole↗
PubMed1997

Antimitochondrial antibody profiles in primary biliary cirrhosis distinguish at early stages between a benign and a progressive course: a prospective study on 200 patients followed for 10 years.

In recent retrospective studies, it was shown that subtypes of antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) can help to discriminate between a benign [only anti-M9 and/or anti-M2 positive by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)] and a rather progressive course (anti-M2, -M4 and/or -M8 positive). According to different constellations of these AMA subspecificities in ELISA and complement fixation test (CFT), four AMA profiles (A-D) were defined. In 1984 we started a prospective study based on 200 PBC patients with known AMA profiles in order to correlate the antibody pattern with the clinical outcome. Progression was defined primarily as the necessity of liver transplantation and death due to hepatic failure or variceal bleeding. At entry, 18 (9%) of the 200 patients had AMA profile A (only anti-M9), 57 (29%) profile B (only anti-M2 with or without anti-M9), 74 (37%) profile C (anti-M2 in association with anti-M4/-M8 by ELISA), and 51 (26%) profile D (anti-M2/-M4/-M8 by ELISA and CFT). At the beginning of the study, 177 patients had PBC stage I/II. During the observation period of ten years, ten patients died and in 18 orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) was performed; all these patients belonged to profile C/D. Furthermore, 44% of the patients with profile C and 31% of the patients with profile D progressed to late stages, as defined by histology and clinical manifestations such as portal hypertension and increase of bilirubin, while only one of the patients with profile B and none of the profile A-patients developed late stage PBC. A significant increase of bilirubin was observed only in C/D-patients. AMA profiles did not change during the follow-up. In conclusion, AMA profiles discriminate between a benign and a progressive course of PBC already at early stages.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Mesocaval interposition shunt with small-diameter polytetrafluoroethylene grafts in sclerotherapy failure.

Fifty-seven patients with failed sclerotherapy received a mesocaval interposition shunt with an externally supported, ringed polytetrafluoroethylene prosthesis of either 10 or 12 mm diameter. Thirty-one patients had Child-Pugh grade A disease and 26 grade B; all had a liver volume of 1000-2500 ml. Follow-up ranged from 16 months to 6 years 3 months. Three patients (5 per cent) died in the postoperative period. There were two postoperative recurrences of variceal haemorrhage and one recurrent bleed in the second year after surgery. The cumulative shunt patency rate was 95 per cent and the incidence of encephalopathy 9 per cent; the latter was successfully managed by protein restriction and/or lactulose therapy. The actuarial survival rate for the whole group at 6 years was 78 per cent, for those with Child-Pugh grade A 88 per cent and for grade B 67 per cent. Small-lumen mesocaval interposition shunting achieves portal decompression, preserves hepatopetal flow, has a low incidence of shunt thrombosis, prevents recurrent variceal bleeding and is not associated with significant postoperative encephalopathy.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMed1994

Prophylactic sclerotherapy for esophageal varices in high-risk cirrhotic patients selected by endoscopic and hemodynamic criteria: a randomized, single-center controlled trial.

Controlled trials of sclerotherapy for the prevention of the first variceal hemorrhage in cirrhotics have given conflicting results, in spite of an initial positive controlled trial. We designed therefore a new study in which only 89 of 396 investigated patients were randomized to sclerotherapy (44 patients) or a control group (45 patients). The admission criteria were: no history of variceal bleeding, the presence of high risk varies, i.e., varices of degrees III and IV with minivarices on the surface of them, and portal pressure over 16 mmHg. Sclerotherapy sessions were performed at 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days, until the varices were reduced in size and completely covered by fibrous tissue. Follow-up endoscopy was performed at four-month and thereafter at six-month intervals. The control patients underwent repeated clinical investigation and endoscopy at six-month intervals. Bleeding episodes were treated by emergency endoscopic sclerotherapy in both groups, whenever possible. The mean follow-up was 33 months. The results were analyzed using Student's t-test and the log-rank test. Variceal bleeding occured in 11 sclerotherapy patients (25%) and 34 controls (75.6%) (p < 0.05). The overall mortality was 25% (11 patients) among the sclerotherapy patients and 69% (31 patients) in the controls (p < 0.01). Prophylactic endoscopic sclerotherapy was able to prolong survival in Child-Pugh classes A and B, but not in C. It is concluded that prophylactic endoscopic sclerotherapy does reduce the incidence of first variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients, and is able to prolong survival if only high-risk patients are selected and the treatment is performed by endoscopic experts.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[The effect of alcohol on portal vein hemodynamics in nutritional-toxic liver cirrhosis].

The influence of alcohol on portal vein haemodynamics was assessed prospectively in 30 patients (20 men, 10 women; mean age 54.3 [34-70] years) with nutritional-toxic cirrhosis of the liver (Child-Pugh stages A-C) and portal vein hypertension. During the period of observation hepatic vein occlusion pressure as an indirect measure of portal vein pressure was repeatedly determined. In addition, the size of oesophageal varices and the Child-Pugh stage were monitored. After complete alcohol abstinence of one year, portal vein pressure fell from 23.11 to 12.43 mm Hg (-46%, P < 0.001), the Child-Pugh score from 8.08 to 7.2 (-10.9%, not significant), and the size of oesophageal varices was reduced from grade 1.33 to grade 0.79 (-40%, P < 0.02). On resuming alcohol abuse, portal vein pressure increased by an average of 10 mm Hg (+60%, P < 0.001) to its previous level of 25 mm Hg. The portal vein pressure has thus proved to be a sensitive gauge of alcohol abstinence or abuse. Lasting, absolute alcohol abstinence is essential in nutritional-toxic liver cirrhosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Hepatic chemoinfusion of 5-FU in metastasis of gastrointestinal cancer and advanced primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

From 1 January 1983 to 1 January 1988, 38 patients were treated for hepatic cancer in the HEINZ-KALK-Hospital. Thirty-one of these had liver metastases due to gastrointestinal cancer and seven had advanced primary hepatocellular cancer. In all patients more than 50% of the liver volume was involved with the tumour or the metastases. Eleven patients with liver metastases of gastrointestinal cancer (excepting colorectal cancer) were treated by intra-arterial hepatic bolus infusion of 750-1000 mg 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) by selective catheterisation of the hepatic or superior mesenteric artery after puncture of the right or left femoral artery. The median survival was 13.4 months. In seven patients with advanced primary hepatocellular carcinoma the same therapeutic regime was used. The median survival was 10 months. In the 21 patients with disseminated metastases of previously resected colorectal cancer a catheter was inserted into the gastro-duodenal artery and connected to a subcutaneously placed port. Brief infusions of 750-1000 mg 5-FU were administered for 14 days with a day interruption and thereafter 2 month interruption. There were few side effects and 80% of the patients continued to work or carry on a normal life. The median survival was 14.4 months. Based on this experience we consider hepatic chemoinfusion with 5-FU in gastrointestinal cancer and advanced primary hepatocellular carcinoma is capable of improving quality of life and possibly expectancy.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

A comparison of sucralfate with placebo in the treatment of esophageal ulcers following therapeutic endoscopic sclerotherapy of esophageal varices--a prospective controlled randomized trial.

In 1984 Roark published the first report of a sucralfate treatment of esophageal ulcers after sclerotherapy. Because this was an uncontrolled trial we planned a prospective double-blind placebo-controlled study with 60 patients. After therapeutic paravariceal injection-sclerotherapy of esophageal varices, patients were randomly treated with sucralfate suspension or placebo. Time of treatment was limited to a maximum of 3 weeks and the dosage of sucralfate was 1 g q.i.d. (Ulcogant-Suspension). Healing was assessed by endoscopy at weekly intervals. Fifty-three patients (25 sucralfate, 28 placebo) were evaluable according to the protocol. No patient left the study because of side effects. At the start of the trial, the patients in the sucralfate group showed a larger ulcer area than the placebo group. There was a tendency to faster healing in the sucralfate group, especially in patients with deeper ulcerations. However, there was no significant difference in global healing between both treatment groups after 3 weeks. Sucralfate suspension may be of value in accelerating the healing process in esophageal ulcers after sclerotherapy, especially in patients with deep ulcers. These results should be confirmed in further trials, in which patients should be stratified with respect to their ulcer volume and severity of liver disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Limited hepatic resection for selected cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular or cholangiocellular carcinoma: a prospective study.

From 1 January 1983 to 1 January 1989 123 cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular cancer (n = 122) or cholangiocarcinoma (n = 1) were screened using liver function tests, alpha-fetoprotein determination, ultrasonography with biopsy (and in selected cases computed tomography or nuclear magnetic resonance), laparoscopy and angiography, Child-Pugh classification and urea-nitrogen synthesis rate. Twenty-three patients were selected for surgical resection because the tumour was smaller than 5 cm, not centrally located and at least 1 cm away from main structures; there was no evidence of multicentricity or metastatic disease; and the Child-Pugh classification was A or B and the urea-nitrogen synthesis rate at least 6 g/day. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was used routinely to identify oesophageal varices which were present in 17 cases; ten patients with a history of variceal haemorrhage (43 per cent) had preoperative endoscopic sclerotherapy. In cases with recurrent haemorrhage, surgery was used to prevent intraoperative and postoperative bleeding. Tumour resection was carried out using controlled hypotension and hepatoduodenal ligament clamping. Twelve bisegmentectomies, ten segmentectomies and one atypical resection were performed. The operative mortality rate was 13 per cent with liver failure and sepsis as the causes of death. The 'recurrence rate' was 26 per cent and the late mortality rate for the whole group up to 1 January 1990 was 30 per cent; 13 patients were still alive. The 12-month survival rate was 77 per cent and after 5 years it was 49 per cent. Thus, surgical resection of small liver tumours is the treatment of choice in this selected group of patients.

Adenoma, Bile Duct↗
PubMed1990

Frequency, significance and therapy of the Mallory-Weiss syndrome in patients with portal hypertension.

The files of patients who underwent emergency endoscopy in a 2-yr period (January 1985 to January 1987) in the Heinz-Kalk Hospital were analyzed to establish the frequency, significance and therapy of the Mallory-Weiss syndrome associated with portal hypertension, an association observed in 55 of 339 patients (16.2%). Portal hypertension was caused by cirrhosis in 53 patients and by a prehepatic block in two patients. For 21 of these patients (37%) with portal hypertension, Mallory-Weiss syndrome was the first bleeding manifestation. They numbered 6.2% of the whole population. In the remaining 34 patients (63%) sclerotherapy treatment had been previously performed. No lesions that suggested peptic esophagitis were seen in these 55 patients, although in 25 of them (45.4%) a gastroesophageal reflux was observed. The frequency of bleeding from a Mallory-Weiss tear was significantly higher in patients with advanced liver disease, particularly with Child-Pugh classifications C and B. In patients with prehepatic block, a hemorrhage from a Mallory-Weiss tear may occur, but the frequency is significantly lower than it is in patients with cirrhosis. The bleeding tear was treated by transendoscopic esophageal and cardial wall sclerosis (paravariceal technique) and was, in all cases, successfully controlled. Mallory-Weiss syndrome is observed more frequently in patients with portal hypertension and cirrhosis. Gastroesophageal reflux apparently does not play a major role in the pathogenesis of this syndrome. It may simply be the manifestation of an abnormal gastroesophageal function. Mallory-Weiss syndrome can also be observed as a cause of rebleeding in patients treated with chronic sclerotherapy. Paravariceal endoscopic sclerotherapy is apparently the treatment of first choice to stop hemorrhage.

Endoscopy↗
PubMed1990

Spontaneous regression of oesophageal varices after long-term conservative treatment. Retrospective study in 20 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, posthepatitic cirrhosis and haemochromatosis with cirrhosis.

Spontaneous regression of oesophageal varices in liver cirrhotics without sclerotherapy or shunt operation has only been known in alcoholic cirrhosis after alcohol abstinence. Therefore, 20 liver cirrhotics of different aetiologies were controlled over 13 years (six alcohol, nine hepatitis, five haemochromatosis). Under strict alcohol abstinence, all underwent treatment with lactulose and ammonia-reducing amino acids to improve the urea synthesis in the liver. Since gastrointestinal bleeding was not observed, neither sclerotherapy nor shunt operation were performed. Initially, all patients had oesophageal varices (nine stage III, three stage II-III, eight stage II). Following conservative therapy, eight cirrhotics showed total regression and twelve showed stage I-II. Their Child-Pugh index, and urea synthesis rate improved significantly. Possible causes for the spontaneous regression of oesophageal varices are strict abstinence from alcohol, spontaneous seroconversion in six posthepatic B-cirrhoses and consequent phlebotomy in haemochromatosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Analysis of a prospective series of 100 mesocaval interposition shunts for bleeding portal hypertension.

The results of a prospective series using the mesocaval interposition shunt (MIS) over a period of 13 years is reviewed. One hundred patients were selected for the operation using strict criteria, and in 98 cases the operation was performed electively. Selection criteria included a liver volume of between 1,000 and 2,500 ml, portal perfusion of between 15-30%, no active liver disease and no stenosis of hepatic artery or celiac axis, as well as a good functional Child-Pugh classification (A-B). In all the cases preoperative sclerotherapy was performed as many times as needed with the aim of controlling the active bleeding at admission and of diminishing the pre- and postoperative bleeding probability. Intra-operative postshunt measurements showed residual portal perfusion in all patients studied. Early mortality was 10% and the follow-up mortality 38.8%. The main causes of death were liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. The five- and ten-year survival rates were 65% and 35%, respectively. The total encephalopathy rate was 12.2%. Rebleeding was observed in 5.5% of the cases, and the long term-shunt patency rate was 90%. Anigography and sequential scintigraphy showed residual portal perfusion in 75% of the cases soon after operation, in 60% after 6 months, and in 38% after 2 years, showing the tendency of the diversion to diminish the portal perfusion rate in the late postoperative period. The results show that MIS still has a place in the treatment of portal hypertension and that it is an excellent alternative choice to the selective shunts and the devasculariaztion procedures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Fibrin glue injection--a hemostatic technic after laparoscopic liver biopsy].

Fibrin glue was injected into or near the site of needle biopsy puncture in 33 patients (38 laparoscopically guided liver biopsies), 21 with histologically confirmed liver cirrhosis, to arrest post-puncture bleeding. A special double-lumen needle was introduced, suitable for multiple injections. Fibrin-glue injection was successful in 37 instances, but in one case it failed because the injection needle could not be optimally placed. The method thus seems to be a reliable and sensible means of obtaining haemostasis if compression and electrocoagulation have failed.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Long-term endoscopic injection sclerotherapy of bleeding esophageal varices. A prospective analysis of results by endoscopy, manometry and 24-h pH-monitoring.

From 1 January 1986 to 1 January 1988, 91 consecutive patients who had undergone repeated paravariceal endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (PEIS) for bleeding esophageal varices over a period of up to 10 years were followed up prospectively by endoscopy, manometry and 24-h pH monitoring. In 39% nonfatal complications occurred after two phases of PEIS. The number of complications tended to decrease with increasing phases and was only 12% after five or more phases of PEIS. Endoscopy is undoubtedly the most important method in the follow-up of these patients. Early and long-term complications are mostly diagnosed by direct view and thus can be managed or sometimes even prevented in the follow-up. No significant motility disorders were found. Only 12 patients showed significant gastroesophageal reflux. No correlation was found between the severity of reflux and the number of phases of PEIS. No correlation between clinical symptoms and changes in the manometric and pH metric results could be found. The effects and side effects of PEIS can be closely monitored by manometry and pH monitoring and therapy can be tailored accordingly. Our results suggest that PEIS is a superb method with a low complication rate, both short- and long-term. It has proven to be an effective long-term treatment of bleeding esophageal varices.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Improved results with selective distal splenorenal shunt in a highly selected patient population. A prospective study.

In a 5-year period 299 patients were admitted to the Heinz-Kalk Hospital with bleeding esophageal varices. Patients with acute bleeding were treated with endoscopic sclerotherapy. Sessions were performed as many times as needed for each individual case. One hundred seventy-eight patients in Child-Pugh class C were excluded from surgical treatment; the remaining 121 patients (Child AB) were selected using the following criteria: liver volume (ultrasound) between 1000 to 2500 ml, portal perfusion (sequential scintigraphy) more than 30%, no activity or progression of liver disease proved by biopsy, no stenosis of the hepatic arteries, and suitable anatomy to perform the Warren shunt. Only 32 patients fulfilled these criteria. In seven of these cases the shunt was technically impossible to perform. Operative mortality rate was 8% and the late mortality rate was 12%. No history of rebleeding, encephalopathy, and/or shunt thrombosis was recorded. Five-year survival rate, according to the method of Kaplan-Meier was 75%. We conclude that the Warren shunt is the treatment of choice for elective management of bleeding esophageal varices. The postoperative results can be improved with strict selection using the above criteria. The preoperative use of sclerotherapy has a positive influence. Prophylactic management to prevent encephalopathy is also recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Immediate endoscopic sclerosis of bleeding esophageal varices. A prospective evaluation over five years.

From January 1982 to January 1987, a prospective, nonrandomized sclerotherapy study was conducted at the Heinz-Kalk Hospital, Bad Kissingen, with 232 consecutive patients receiving immediate endoscopic injection sclerosis (IEIS) for variceal bleeding during emergency endoscopy. No patient was excluded from this study. All patients were classified according to the Child-Pugh criteria: 53 (23%) were in category A; 70 (30%) in category B; and 109 (47%) in category C. More than 93% had liver cirrhosis, 60% of alcoholic origin. IEIS was performed during emergency fiberoptic endoscopy applying 5-40 1-ml injections of 0.5% polidocanol by the paravariceal, "free" injection technique. If this was not successful, an intravariceal approach was used, and after 15 min of injection and persisting hemorrhage a Linton-Nachlas tube was inserted for 6-12 h. If hemorrhaging recurred, a second emergency endoscopy with IEIS was performed and, if this was not successful, a gastroesophageal disconnection followed directly. During the bleeding-free interval, Child-Pugh A and B patients were selected, using special criteria, for a shunt operation. An elective, semiselective, or selective shunt was recommended and carried out. In 56 patients (24%), a gastroesophageal disconnection or a shunt operation was performed on an emergency or elective basis. All sclerotherapy patients were controlled after 4 months and thereafter every 6, 9, or 12 months and reinjected if necessary. Bleeding was controlled in 93% of the cases with IEIS, and, in 97%, with a combination of IEIS and Linton-Nachlas tube. Definitive control of hemorrhaging was accomplished in 94% of the patients. Thirty-five patients died during the first 30 days of admission (15.1%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1988

Hepatic detoxification and hepatic function in chronic active hepatitis with and without cirrhosis.

The detoxification capacity of the liver in chronic active hepatitis (CAH) without liver cirrhosis (LC) is not sufficiently known. Therefore, we examined, in 156 patients with morphologically proven CAH of different stages, plasma ammonia, free phenols, indican, glucuronic acid and urea synthesis rate as parameters for liver detoxification. We found a significant increase of ammonia, phenols, and indican and a significant decrease of glucuronic acid and urea synthesis rate parallel to the stage of CAH without LC. In 34 CAH patients with complete recovery, a retrospective 10-year follow-up was possible. Parallel to the normalization of liver morphology and general liver tests, detoxification parameters also normalized. However, the detoxification disorders in CAH without LC are mild in nature and do not produce hepatic encephalopathy. Probably, they are caused by a reduced synthesis of the urea-cycle enzymes and of glucuronyltransferase in the liver.

Ammonia↗