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O Ink

Publications and source records attributed to O Ink.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Culture-negative neutrocytic ascites: a less severe variant of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

The clinical signs and symptoms, the biological data and the prognosis of 38 cirrhotic patients with culture-positive spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and 15 cirrhotic patients with culture-negative neutrocytic ascites were compared. The diagnosis of culture-negative neutrocytic ascites was based on the following criteria: an ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear count greater than 250/mm3, a negative ascitic fluid culture and the absence of previous antibiotic therapy and intraabdominal source of infection. All patients were treated by antibiotic therapy. There were no differences in clinical signs and symptoms and Pugh grading between the two groups of patients. Serum creatinine and prevalence of positive-blood culture were higher in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Patients with culture-positive spontaneous bacterial peritonitis had a higher ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear count and a lower ascitic fluid pH. Mortality was higher in patients with culture-positive spontaneous bacterial peritonitis than in patients with culture-negative neutrocytic ascites (relative risk: 2.6, p less than 0.01): cumulative mortality was, respectively, 50% and 20% at 1 months, 61% and 33% at 6 months, 75% and 41% at 1 year. The higher mortality observed in patients with culture-positive spontaneous bacterial peritonitis persisted after hospitalization (relative risk: 3, p less than 0.03). Our results suggest that culture-negative neutrocytic ascites is a less severe variant of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Elective sclerotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma complicated by digestive hemorrhage].

Between April 1984 and October 1988, 10 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who bled from esophageal varices were included in a polidocanol sclerotherapy program, after the cessation of bleeding. Sixty cirrhotic patients without hepatocellular carcinoma were included as controls in the same sclerotherapy program for the same period. According to Okuda's classification, 1 patient was grade I, and 9 were grade II. At 1 year, 41 percent of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and 51 percent of controls had rebled (non significant). Varices were obliterated in 7 of 10 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and in 41 of 60 control patients (non significant). At one year, treatment failed (rebleeding or death) in 54 percent patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and in 59 percent control patients (non significant). Child-Pugh's score was the principal prognostic factor for treatment failure in both groups. Portal vein thrombosis was found in 2 of the 3 hepatocellular carcinoma patients who rebled. Unlike propranolol, elective sclerotherapy treatment might be proposed to patients with hepatocellular carcinoma without portal thrombosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Obstructive icterus in patients with hepatic tumor. Result of non-surgical biliary drainage].

Seventeen patients with biliary obstruction and hepatic tumors were treated by endoscopic or percutaneous transhepatic drainage with an endoprothesis. There were 9 men and 8 women (mean age = 61 +/- 13 years). Four patients had primary hepatic carcinoma and 13 had hepatic metastases. Decrease of serum bilirubin of more than 75 percent was achieved in 12 of the patients (71 percent). The success rate was related to the level of the biliary obstacle and not to the importance of hepatic parenchymal involvement. Failure was significantly more frequent (p = 0.003) in patients with type III hilar strictures compared to the other patients with pedicular or type I and II hilar strictures. Cholangitis was the major complication (29 percent) and occurred only in the patients with type III hilar strictures. Mortality was 24 percent at 30 days. This rate was 57 percent in the group of patients with type III hilar strictures and significantly higher (p = 0.015) than other patients. Cumulative survival was better in patients with relief of jaundice than that observed in the other patients (p less than 0.01). Two patients with metastatic carcinoma of the breast treated by chemotherapy survived more than 20 months without jaundice. Analysis of these data indicates that in patients with hepatic tumors and obstructive jaundice, palliative treatment with endoprothesis can provide relief of jaundice and that prolonged survival may be observed in patients with chemosensible tumors.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Effect of alcohol and cirrhosis on the presence of Helicobacter pylori in the gastric mucosa].

The aim of this study was to determine whether there was any relationship between alcohol consumption, cirrhosis and Helicobacter pylori associated antral gastritis. One hundred and forty-four patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were prospectively included and classified in four groups. The first group of 23 patients had cirrhosis and an alcohol consumption below 80 g per day. The second group of 31 patients had cirrhosis and an alcohol consumption over 80 g per day. The third group of 34 patients had an alcohol consumption over 80 g per day without cirrhosis. The fourth group of 56 patients had an alcohol consumption below 80 g per day without any preexisting liver disease and underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for non specific digestive symptoms. The diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori was made at histological examination using the hematoxylin and eosin stain and the Whartin-Starry stain in each case. Histopathological results were confirmed by a bacteriological study in 15 cases. One hundred and twelve of 144 patients (78 percent) had gastritis. Gastritis was more frequent (p less than 0.01) when Helicobacter pylori was present than when it was not (90 percent vs 68 percent). Gastritis was more frequent when alcohol consumption was high (86 percent vs 72 percent). Helicobacter pylori was found in 26 percent of the first group, 48 percent of the second group, 65 percent of the third group and 45 percent of the fourth group. These differences were significantly different (p less than 0.05). A statistically significant relationship between high alcohol consumption and the presence of Helicobacter pylori was noted, even in the presence of cirrhosis (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Role of the serum level of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase as marker of alcoholic intoxication in cirrhotic patients].

The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of serum mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase activity (mAST) and of the mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase/total aspartate aminotransferase ratio (mAST/t AST) as markers of chronic alcoholism in cirrhotic patients. Sixty-three hospitalized cirrhotic patients (35 drinkers, 28 abstainers) were investigated. Ninety-six per cent of abstainers had normal values of mAST activity, while 89 per cent of drinkers had high levels of mAST activity. Cirrhotic patients were better divided into drinkers and abstainers by mAST activity (92 per cent) than by mean globular corpuscular volume (MCV) (81 per cent, NS) or by gamma-glutamyltransferase activity (GGT) (75 per cent, P less than 0.01). When the hospital costs of these markers were taken into account, MCV had a better "quality/price" ratio (Q/P) defined as diagnostic value/mean hospital cost (Q/P = 2.5) than MCV plus GGT (diagnostic value 61 per cent, Q/P = 1.2). The measurement of mAST activity in patients with high MCV value or with discrepancy between MCV and GGT values increased the diagnostic value of the other laboratory measurement to 89 per cent, but at a higher cost (Q/P = 0.8). Mitochondrial AST activity is a sensitive and specific marker of chronic alcoholism in cirrhotic patients. However, owing to its high cost, it should be proposed as a second marker after MCV and GGT.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1989

Hypercalcaemia associated with chronic viral hepatitis.

A patient with long lasting non-parathyroid hormone mediated hypercalcaemia occurring within the context of hepatitis B virus chronic hepatitis is reported. Hepatocellular carcinoma and bone malignancy were carefully excluded. The biological pattern associated hypercalcaemia with normal phosphataemia, low nephrogenic cAMP level and high level of tubular reabsorption of phosphate. The usual causes of hypercalcaemia were ruled out. Hypercalcaemia may represent a rare biological feature of some advanced liver disease. The underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated.

Calcium↗
PubMed1989

[Colonic endoscopic screening and familial antecedent of sporadic rectocolonic cancer. Controlled prospective study].

We searched for colorectal tumors in asymptomatic patients older than 40 years with family history of sporadic colorectal cancer (only first degree relatives). One hundred and four patients at risk had a left-sided (n = 60) or a total colonoscopy (n = 44) and were compared to 104 control patients, matched for age, sex and type of colonic investigation. Three cancers were detected in the group at risk, 1 in the control group (NS). One or more adenomas without carcinoma were found in 10 percent of the patients at risk and in 9 percent of the controls (NS). There was no difference between groups in the number, size, histologic type, degree of dysplasia, or location of adenoma in the colon. These results do not exclude a family predisposition to sporadic colorectal cancer or adenoma. Because of the low rate of adenoma detection, relatives of patients with sporadic colorectal carcinoma but without personal risk factors cannot be considered as a high risk group for colorectal endoscopic screening.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Prognosis of spontaneous ascitic infection in cirrhotic patients].

The aim of this retrospective study was to define prognostic factors for cure and survival after spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. In a 4-year period from 1982 to 1986, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis was diagnosed in 38 consecutive hospitalized cirrhotic patients (positive ascites culture and polymorphonuclear cell concentration greater than 250 cells per mm3). Twenty-five patients recovered from their infection (69 p. 100) in a mean time of 9 +/- 7 days. The cumulative survival was 68 p. 100 at one week, 50 p. 100 at one month, and 25 p. 100 at one year. The best independent prognostic factors for lack of cure from peritonitis were a low ascitic pH value (p less than 0.001), an elevated serum creatinine level (p = 0.01) and the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma (p less than 0.05). The best prognostic factors for death were low ascitic pH value (p = 0.001) and gastrointestinal hemorrhage (p = 0.005). A low ascitic pH value was correlated with other signs of severe infection (signs of generalized infection, ongoing infection during the first week after diagnosis), with signs of severe liver disease (encephalopathy, hepatocellular carcinoma) or severe renal dysfunction (high serum creatinine level, low arterial pH value). Because of the late high-death rate associated with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, liver transplantation should be considered in these patients.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1989

[Serum activity of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase and extrahepatic cholestasis].

Serum mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase (mAST) level and the mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase/total aspartate aminotransferase ratio (mAST/AST) have been proposed as sensitive markers of chronic alcoholism. Their specificity, however, remains poorly defined. The purpose of this study was to compare these markers in three groups of hospitalized patients: group I, 80 patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease; group II, 51 patients with chronic liver disease without alcoholism; group III, 44 patients with extrahepatic cholestasis (due to choledocholithiasis in 21 and malignant in 23). mAST was measured after immuno-precipitation of cytoplasmic aspartate aminotransferase. The normal values of mAST (less than or equal to 2 mu/l) and mAST/AST (less than or equal to 6 p. 100) were defined in a group of 59 non alcoholic subjects without liver disease (controls). mAST was increased as compared with controls in 91 p. 100 of the patients of group I, 20 p. 100 of group II, 61 p. 100 of group III. mAST was comparable in groups I (mean +/- SD: 10 +/- 10.8) and III (10.3 +/- 12.9), and higher than in group II (1.8 +/- 2.4). m/AST was increased in 59 p. 100 of the patients of group I, 6 p. 100 of group II and 36 p. 100 of group III. It was higher in group I (8 +/- 4 p. 100) than in group III (6 +/- 4 p. 100, p less than 0.02), and particularly higher in both these groups than in group II (2 +/- 1 p. 100, p less than 0.00001). mAST was correlated to AST in each of these three groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1988

[Is the focal echographic lesion of the liver in patients with cirrhosis always correlated with hepatocellular carcinoma? 217 cases].

The value of ultrasonography and serum alpha foetoprotein assay in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma was evaluated in a retrospective study of 217 patients, (135 men and 82 women; mean age 58 years) who had been hospitalized for 18 months. Cirrhosis was of alcoholic origin in 76 per cent of the cases and complicated by ascites in 54 per cent. Twenty-four patients (11 per cent) had hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosed at ultrasonography in 20 cases. The carcinoma was diffuse in 7 cases, focal in 13 cases and less than 3 cm in diameter in 3 cases. A second ultrasonography diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma in 4 cases. In 25/217 patients (11.5 per cent) the focal lesion seen at sonography was obviously not a carcinoma. Among the 207 patients who had a serum alpha foetoprotein assay, the result was normal in 167 (81 per cent) and 4 of these had a carcinoma. Among the 40 patients with an abnormal level of alpha foetoprotein, 19 had a carcinoma. This study confirms the good sensitivity of ultrasonography in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma, but it also shows its low specificity, especially in cases with focal lesions. Ultrasonography and serum alpha foetoprotein assay should be used to detect hepatocellular carcinomas in cirrhotic patients who may benefit from surgical treatment. In the other patients, ultrasonically-guided biopsy should provide a firm diagnosis of carcinoma before undertaking other treatments, such as chemoembolization.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

[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↗
PubMed1988

Light chain deposition disease presenting with hepatomegaly: an association with amyloid-like fibrils.

We report an unusual case of lambda light chain deposits without overt plasma cell dyscrasia. The clinical presentation was hepatomegaly without biochemical sign of renal involvement. Portal hypertension, spontaneous rupture of the spleen and fracture of the 12th thoracic vertebra occurred during the course of the disease. Ultrastructural studies showed that lambda light chain deposits were associated with amyloid-like deposits. This case suggests that light chain deposition disease and amyloidosis could be two expressions of the same disease.

Amyloidosis↗