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Biomedical subjects

M Beauchant

Publications and source records attributed to M Beauchant.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Randomised trial of prevention of biliary stent occlusion by ursodeoxycholic acid plus norfloxacin.

Biliary stents are liable to clog. We investigated whether a choleretic plus an antibiotic could delay clogging. 20 consecutive patients with a malignant biliary stricture were randomised after endoscopic insertion of a polyethylene stent to receive ursodeoxycholic acid plus norfloxacin (13-15 mg/kg and 400 mg, daily) or conservative treatment. The drug combination was associated with: a longer median patency of first (49 vs 6 weeks) and all stents (38 vs 7 weeks); a prolonged median survival (67 vs 18 weeks); and a shorter mean hospital stay (0.2 vs 1.0 days per week of survival). Thus ursodeoxycholic acid plus norfloxacin may prevent stent clogging.

Administration, Oral↗

Is ursodeoxycholic acid an effective therapy for total parenteral nutrition-related liver disease?

Cholestasis is the predominant complication in patients with total parenteral nutrition-related liver disease. Ursodeoxycholic acid has been reported to be beneficial for patients with various chronic cholestatic liver diseases. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the effects of short-term administration of ursodeoxycholic acid in nine patients (mean age 54 years) treated with home total parenteral nutrition (31 +/- 2 (mean +/- SEM) kcal/kg per day) for 13.9 +/- 5.2 months for short bowel syndrome; all presented biological evidence of hepatic cholestasis (mean alkaline phosphatase activity 5.2 times the upper limit of the normal) which appeared during nutrition; there was no cause of hepatic dysfunction other than total parenteral nutrition. Patients received 11.2 +/- 0.8 mg/kg per day of ursodeoxycholic acid orally for 1 (n = 9) or 2 (n = 5) 2-month periods, each of which was followed by a 2-month wash-out period. Liver function tests were performed before and at the end of each period. Compared with non-treatment periods, the two periods of ursodeoxycholic acid administration induced a significant reduction in gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (27.1% and 20.4% respectively; p = 0.001) and alanine aminotransferase serum activities (7.0% and 34.8% respectively; p = 0.01) from baseline values. Alkaline phosphatase activity (p = 0.09), aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.11) and bilirubin (p = 0.75) serum activities underwent no significant change during the study. These preliminary results strongly suggest that short-term ursodeoxycholic acid administration leads to biochemical improvement in liver function tests in patients with total parenteral nutrition-related liver disease.

Adult↗

Treatment and long-term outcome of chronic radiation esophagitis after radiation therapy for head and neck tumors. A report of 13 cases.

The natural history of chronic radiation esophagitis occurring in previously normal esophagus is still unknown. We describe here the long-term outcome of chronic esophagitis arising after neck irradiation for oropharynx and larynx carcinomas in 13 consecutive adult patients. The first clinical signs of radiation esophagitis were dysphagia or impossibility of oral intake, which appeared within 26 months (range 2-120 months) after the end of radiation for pyriform fossae carcinoma (N = 5), tonsil carcinoma (N = 2), larynx carcinoma (N = 2), pharynx carcinoma (N = 2), base of the tongue (N = 1), and thyroid carcinomas (N = 1). During upper endoscopy, an esophageal stenosis was found in 11 cases and was associated with ulceration in three cases. An isolated esophageal ulceration was present in only two cases. Chronic radiation esophagitis diagnosis was confirmed by histology and surgery in seven cases. In the last six cases, diagnosis was supported by the absence of first cancer relapses within a median follow-up of two years (16 months to nine years) and by endoscopic findings. Seven patients received parenteral or enteral nutrition. Ten patients were treated by peroral dilatations. These treatments allowed nearly normal oral diet in 11/13 patients. Only one patient was lost of follow-up after 20 months. Four patients died from chronic radiation esophagitis. One of these patients died from massive hemorrhage after peroral dilatation. Four patients died of a second carcinoma with no first cancer recurrence. Four patients were alive after six months to nine years of follow-up. Moderate dysphagia was still present, allowing nearly normal oral feeding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Granulomatous hepatitis due to combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid.

We report the case of a patient with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid-induced hepatitis with histologic multiple granulomas. This type of lesion broadens the spectrum of liver injury due to this drug combination, mainly represented by a benign cholestatic syndrome. The association of granulomas and eosinophilia favor an immunoallergic mechanism. As penicillin derivatives and amoxicillin alone are known to induce such types of lesions, the amoxicillin component, with or without a potentiating effect of clavulanic acid, might have a major role.

Aged↗

A randomized trial of terlipressin plus nitroglycerin vs. balloon tamponade in the control of acute variceal hemorrhage.

A randomized trial was undertaken to determine the efficacy of nitroglycerin in addition to terlipressin infusion to improve the control of acute variceal hemorrhage compared with balloon tamponade. Forty-seven bleeding episodes in 34 cirrhotic patients were included, with terlipressin plus sublingual nitroglycerin in 23 episodes (group I) and balloon tamponade in 24 episodes (group II). At the end of the 12-hr period, hemorrhage had been equally controlled in both groups (18 of 23; 78% in group I and 19 of 24; 79% in group II). When attempted, balloon tamponade appeared more efficient in the failures of group I (4 of 4) than did terlipressin plus nitroglycerin in the failures of group II (0 of 3), although this difference was not significant. Major complications were rare (one in each group) and never required cessation of therapy. Thus terlipressin and nitroglycerin were as effective as balloon tamponade in controlling variceal hemorrhage and were associated with few minor complications.

Adult↗

[Prolonged hepatitis due to ajmaline--description of a case and review of the literature].

A 60 years old woman was admitted for jaundice and fever which appeared after a treatment with ajmaline-butabarbital for two-weeks. Abdominal ultrasound examination and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography were normal. Mitochondrial antibodies were absent. Jaundice persisted for three years, associated with diffuse cutaneous xanthomatosis. Five years later, alkaline phosphatases remained elevated. A liver biopsy showed vanishing interlobular bile ducts with centrolobular cholestasis and ductular proliferation. We suggest that ajmaline can induce long lasting cholestasis due to damage to the intrahepatic bile ducts. The responsibility of butabarbital and the relationship with primary biliary cirrhosis are discussed.

Ajmaline↗

Oral pharmacokinetics and ascitic fluid penetration of ofloxacin in cirrhosis.

Plasma and ascitic fluid concentrations of ofloxacin were determined in 12 cirrhotic patients after a single dose and repeated 200 mg oral doses. The single dose kinetics were compared to those obtained in 12 healthy volunteers. Mean plasma elimination half-life was 11.6 h in cirrhotics and 7.0 h in controls. Mean total clearance was 2.3 times lower in patients than in controls, due to a significant decrease of renal clearance of the drug, unrelated to creatinine clearance. Mean apparent volume of distribution was 1.2 l/kg in patients and 1.8 l/kg in controls. Estimated by the ratio of AUC in peritoneal fluid and plasma, ascitic fluid penetration was 80% after the first oral dose. Ascitic fluid concentrations equaled corresponding plasma concentrations after 10 h, without pronounced accumulation of ofloxacin in ascites. We may conclude that, in cirrhotic patients with normal serum creatinine, a significant impairment of renal tubular handling of ofloxacin could be observed and led to a delayed elimination half-life of the drug. Because of its broad spectrum of activity, low side-effect profile, and large ascitic fluid penetration after oral administration, ofloxacin appears to be a new therapeutic approach of severe infections in cirrhotic patients, in particular spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Administration, Oral↗

[Systemic mastocytosis disclosed by rupture of esophageal varices].

A 77-year-old woman had variceal bleeding related to systemic mastocytosis. Physical examination revealed minimal ascites and mild hepatomegaly noted 11 years before. Liver function tests were nearly normal. Because of early recurrent bleeding, a mesocaval shunt was performed. Wedged liver biopsy showed a moderate fibrosis of portal tracts and massive mast cell infiltration within portal tracts and sinusoids. Perisinusoidal collagen deposition was demonstrated ultrastructurally. We suggest that systemic mastocytosis be added to the list of diseases related portal hypertension with perisinusoidal fibrosis. As there is currently no specific treatment, a portocaval shunt should be discussed.

Aged↗

[Can septicemia and ascitic fluid infections in cirrhotic patients be treated by the oral route alone?].

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of oral antibiotics in the treatment of severe infections in cirrhosis. Twenty-two patients (17 males, 5 females) with spontaneous bacteremia (n = 7) or bacterial peritonitis (n = 15) were treated with oral pefloxacin 400 mg per 24 hr alone (n = 1) or in combination with another oral antibiotic, trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole (n = 13), amoxicillin (n = 6), cefadroxil (n = 2), or metronidazole (n = 1). In patients with spontaneous bacteremia, all organisms were found to be sensitive to oral antibiotics, and a favorable response was elicited in 6 out of 7 (86 p. cent) within 3 days (mean) of treatment. In patients with spontaneous peritonitis, ascitic fluid cultures were positive in 11 cases, and organisms were sensitive to pefloxacin in 9 out of 11 cases. A favorable response was elicited in 13 out of 15 within 2 to 8 days of treatment. Fourteen patients died (64 p. cent), 3 of infection (bacteremia n = 1, peritonitis n = 2), and 11 patients of causes unrelated to infection, mainly variceal hemorrhage, hepatorenal syndrome or hepatocellular carcinoma, although the clinical symptoms of infection were controlled. One-year survival was 57 p. cent in patients with bacteremia and 33 p. cent in those with bacterial peritonitis. Oral treatment was well tolerated in all patients. We suggest that most bacteremia and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients can be treated with oral antibiotics. In some patients, this may be accomplished on an out patient basis.

Administration, Oral↗