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S Chevret

Publications and source records attributed to S Chevret.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Additional chromosomal abnormalities in patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) do not confer poor prognosis: results of APL 93 trial.

In spite of the recent improvement in the outcome of acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) with treatment combining all trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and chemotherapy (CT), some patients with this disease still have a poor outcome. The prognostic significance of chromosomal abnormalities in addition to t(15;17) in APL is uncertain. We examined the prognostic significance of secondary chromosomal changes in 292 patients included in a European trial who were treated with ATRA and CT. The incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in addition to t(15;17) was 26% and trisomy 8 was the most frequent secondary change (46% of the cases with secondary changes). No significant differences were seen with regard to age, sex, initial white blood cell count, % of circulating blasts, platelet count, fibrinogen level and incidence of microgranular variants between patients with or without additional rearrangements. Outcome was also similar between patients with t(15;17) alone and patients with t(15;17) and other clonal abnormalities for complete remission (92% vs. 93% respectively), event-free survival at 2 years (76.1% vs. 78.1% respectively), relapse at 2 years (16.7% vs. 11.6% respectively) and overall survival at 2 years (79.9% vs. 79.5% respectively). Analysis according to the type of induction treatment (ATRA followed by CT or ATRA plus CT) or the type of maintenance treatment (with ATRA, low-dose CT or both) also failed to show any difference between the two groups. Thus, in a large cohort of APL patients treated with ATRA and CT, additional chromosomal abnormalities had no impact on prognosis.

Adult↗

A one-year prospective study of nosocomial bacteraemia in ICU and non-ICU patients and its impact on patient outcome.

A one-year, prospective, two-observational cohort study was performed to evaluate the incidence and outcome in hospitalized patients (ICU and non-ICU) of nosocomial bacteraemia, and to assess its prognostic value in the ICU group. A group of 18 098 hospitalized patients and a group of 291 consecutive ICU patients were followed. Prognostic factors were determined using single and multivariable analyses. 109 (90 non-ICU and 19 ICU) patients developed 118 nosocomial bacteraemic episodes. The incidence of nosocomial bacteraemia was 6.0 per 1000 admissions (95% confidence interval (CI): 5-7%) and 65 per 1000 admissions in ICU patients (95% CI: 4.5-8.5%). Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were 63/133 (47%) and 70/133 (53%) of the isolated micro-organisms respectively. Crude mortality rates were 41/109 (38%) with adverse outcome associated with mechanical ventilation (OR: 3.6; 95% CI: 1.4-9.2, P =0.01), neutropenia (OR: 7.7; 95% CI: 0.8-73.1;P =0.07) while gastro-intestinal surgery was associated with an improved outcome (OR: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.16-0.96;P =0.04). Of the 291 ICU patients, 19 acquired 22 episodes of nosocomial bacteraemia, and 18 were referred from the wards with documented nosocomial bacteraemia. Of these 37 bacteraemic patients, 17 (46%) died. When adjusting for predictors of death (SAPS II>/=40, cardiac and neurological failure), nosocomial bacteraemia markedly influence the outcome in ICU patients (OR: 3.4; 95% CI: 1.3-8.7;P =0.010). This study suggests that the outcome of nosocomial bacteraemia in hospitalized patients is poor in ventilated and neutropenic patients and that nosocomial bacteraemia per se influenced outcome in ICU patients.

Aged↗

Comparison of direct examination of three types of bronchoscopy specimens used to diagnose nosocomial pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare direct examination of bronchial aspirate and plugged telescopic catheter specimens (PTC) with infected cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens for the diagnosis of nosocomial pneumonia. DESIGN: Prospective study of critically ill patients. SETTING: Intensive care unit in a university hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 64 patients hospitalized for >48 hrs with suspected nosocomial pneumonia. INTERVENTIONS: Fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchial aspirate and quantitative protected specimen brush, PTC, and BAL cultures. PTC and bronchial aspirate specimens were Gram-stained. BAL specimens for infected cell counts were examined as described previously in the literature. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Nosocomial pneumonia was diagnosed by the medical staff based on all available clinical, radiologic, laboratory test, and microbiological data and on the course before and after appropriate therapy. A total of 71% of patients were ventilated, and 70.1% were receiving antibiotics. Nosocomial pneumonia was diagnosed in 54% of the cases. On direct examination, sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of bronchial aspirate specimens were Se, 82% and Sp, 60%; of BAL with 5% infected cells, Se, 56% and Sp, 100%; of BAL with 3% infected cells, Se, 74% and Sp, 96%; of PTC specimens, Se, 65% and Sp, 76%; and of PTC specimens plus BAL with 3% infected cells, Se, 83% and Sp, 78%. BAL with 3% infected cells was significantly better for predicting nosocomial pneumonia than direct examination of bronchial aspirate or PTC specimens (p = .0012). When the BAL showed 3% infected cells, neither direct examination of bronchial aspirate nor direct examination of PTC specimens was useful (p = .24 and p = .38, respectively). Combined use of direct examination of PTC specimens plus BAL with 3% infected cells markedly improved sensitivity. The total cost of each procedure was taken into account for the final evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that BAL with 3% infected cells is currently the only test whose predictive value for nosocomial pneumonia is sufficiently high to be of use for guiding the initial choice of antimicrobial class while waiting for quantitative culture results.

Adult↗

Half the families of intensive care unit patients experience inadequate communication with physicians.

OBJECTIVE: Effective communication of simple, clear information to families of intensive care unit (ICU) patients is a vital component of quality care. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with poor comprehension by family members of the status of ICU patients. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University-affiliated medical intensive care unit. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 102 patients admitted to an ICU for >2 days. INTERVENTION: The representatives of 76 patients who were visited by at least one person during their ICU stay were interviewed. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 54+/-17 yrs and mean Simplified Acute Physiology Score II at admission was 40+/-20. The representative was the spouse in 47 cases (62%). Among representatives, 25 (33%) were of foreign descent and 12 (16%) did not speak French. Mean duration of the first meeting with a physician was 10+/-6 mins. In 34 cases (54%), the representative failed to comprehend the diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment of the patient. Factors associated with poor comprehension by representatives included patient-related, family-related, and physician-related factors. Patient-related factors included age <50 yrs (p = .03), unemployment (p = .01), referral from a hematology or oncology ward (p = .006), admission for acute respiratory failure (p = .005) or coma (p = .01), and a relatively favorable prognosis (p = .04). Family-related factors were foreign descent (p = .007), no knowledge of French (p = .03), representative not the spouse (p = .03), and no healthcare professional in the family (p = .01). Physician-related factors were first meeting with representative <10 mins (p = .03) and failure to give the representative an information brochure (p = .02). Moreover, after the first meeting, caregivers accurately predicted poor comprehension by representatives (p = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Patient information is frequently not communicated effectively to family members by ICU physicians. Physicians should strive to identify patients and families who require special attention and to determine how their personal style of interrelating with family members may impair communication.

Communication↗

Hepatitis C virus related cirrhosis: time to occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma and death.

BACKGROUND: In patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and cirrhosis, long term outcome and the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still debated. DESIGN: From January 1987 to January 1997, 416 patients (240 male, median age 57 years) with uncomplicated Child-Pugh A HCV related cirrhosis were followed in two Paris area centres from diagnosis of cirrhosis until death or reference date (1 June 1998). The analysis used a three state disability model generalising the Cox model. RESULTS: Of the 416 patients, 60 developed HCC with a five year rate of 13.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 9.0-17.8%) and 83 died (including 34 with HCC), with a five year death rate of 15.3% (95% CI 12.6-18.0%). By multivariable analysis, time to HCC relied on age (hazard ratio (HR) 1.05 per year; p=0.0005), male sex (HR 2.13; p=0.01), oesophageal varices (HR 2.36; p= 0.008), decreased platelet count (HR 0.99; p=0. 03), and bilirubin level (HR 1.01; p=0.003), while death after HCC was mainly related to tobacco consumption (HR 1.04; p=0.0006). In contrast, death free of HCC was dependent on age (HR 1.04; p=0.01), oesophageal varices (HR 2.75; p=0.001), low platelet count (HR 0.99; p=0.006), and albumin level (HR 0.90; p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: The incidence of HCC and mortality should be higher in these patients than previously stated, and prognostic factors of HCC and death are closely related age and symptoms of portal hypertension.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Absence of cognitive impairment at long-term follow-up in adolescents treated with ECT for severe mood disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Cognitive functions of adolescents treated with ECT for mood disorder were evaluated at long-term follow-up. METHOD: At an average of 3.5 years (SD=1.7) after the last ECT, 10 subjects treated during adolescence with bilateral ECT for severe mood disorder completed a clinical and cognitive evaluation, including the California Verbal Learning Test and Squire's Subjective Memory Questionnaire. The same assessments were given to 10 psychiatric comparison subjects matched for sex, age, and diagnosis. RESULTS: All cognitive test scores of the patients treated with ECT were similar to those of the comparison subjects and did not differ from norms from the community. Six of the 10 ECT-treated patients reported having had memory losses immediately after the ECT course, but only one complained of subjective memory impairment at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that adolescents given ECT for severe mood disorder do not suffer measurable cognitive impairment at long-term follow-up.

Adolescent↗

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia: a long-term study of 70 patients-report of the French society of bone marrow transplantation.

PURPOSE: To identify predictive factors of survival, relapse, and transplantation-related mortality (TRM) among patients with therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome (t-MDS) or acute leukemia (t-AML) who underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1980 to 1998, 70 patients underwent allogeneic BMT for t-MDS (n = 31) or t-AML (n = 39) after prior cytotoxic exposure. Thirty-three patients had received induction-type chemotherapy before BMT. At the time of transplantation, there were 24 patients in complete remission (CR) and 46 with active disease. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 7.9 years (range, 1.1 to 18.8 years) after BMT, 16 patients are alive, whereas 19 died of relapse, 34 of TRM, and one of relapse of the primary disease. The estimated 2-year overall survival, event-free survival, relapse, and TRM rates were 30% (95% confidence interval [CI], 19% to 40%), 28% (95% CI, 18% to 39%), 42% (95% CI, 26% to 57%), and 49% (95% CI, 36% to 62%), respectively. In multivariable analysis, age greater than 37 years, male sex, positive recipient cytomegalovirus (CMV) serology, absence of CR at BMT, and intensive schedules used for conditioning were associated with poor outcome. CONCLUSION: BMT is an effective treatment for patients with t-MDS or t-AML who have responsive disease and, in particular, who have no poor-risk cytogenetic features. The poor results of the other patients, especially those with active disease at BMT, emphasize the need to delineate indications and perform prospective protocols.

Adolescent↗

From guidelines to hospital practice: reducing inappropriate ordering of thyroid hormone and antibody tests.

OBJECTIVE: Because of major technical improvements and conscious care about cost effectiveness, limiting the inadequate use of thyroid biological tests appears to be a major issue. DESIGN: To (i) estimate the ordering prevalence of each thyroid test, (ii) assess the prevalence of relevant thyroid tests, and (iii) evaluate the impact of expressing justification for tests during a 2-month intervention period on these prevalences. METHODS: During a prospective 2-month survey (June-July 1997), all the request forms were divided into four groups of prescription: (1) investigation of thyroid function, (2) taking drugs affecting the thyroid, (3) monitoring of nodule and cancer, and (4) investigation of thyroid autoimmunity. Their appropriateness was thus determined according to consensus in our hospital and previously published recommendations. Results were compared with those of retrospective similar 2-month periods in 1996 and 1998. Combinations of thyroid function tests and thyroid antibodies were analyzed during the 1996, 1997 and 1998 periods. RESULTS: The overall estimated rate of appropriate ordering between 1996 and 1997 increased from 42.5% to 72.4% (P<10(-4)), with a significant improvement in each group of main diagnosis referral, except in group 3 where suitability was always over 85%. However, in group 4, appropriateness remained low (36%). Combinations of thyroid tests revealed an increase in single TSH order forms and single autoantibodies to thyroperoxidase (TPOAb) ones, while TSH+free thyroxine+free tri-iodothyronine and TPOAb+ autoantibodies to thyroglobulin ones decreased significantly. Interestingly, all these changes were maintained 1 year later (June-July 1998) even though physicians were not aware of this new study. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent change in medical practice was thus assessed.

Autoantibodies↗

Intensive chemotherapy (LNHIV-91 regimen) and G-CSF for HIV associated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the safety and long-term efficacy of an intensive chemotherapy regimen associated with G-CSF in HIV-associated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Fifty two consecutive patients with HIV infection, aggressive NHL and CD4+ cells > or = 100 x 10(6)/l were included. The median CD4 cell count was 276 x 10(6)/l. Nineteen tumors were of the Burkitt's type, 23 were large cells, 7 immunoblastic, and 3 anaplastic. Twenty-five patients had stage IV disease (bone marrow involvement in 7, and central nervous system in 9). Three cycles of ACVBP (doxorubicine, cyclophosphamide, vindesine, bleomycin, prednisolone) were given. A fourth cycle was delivered to patients in partial remission or with initial bulky disease. The induction was followed by three cycles of CVM (cyclophosphamide, etoposide, methotrexate). G-CSF 5 microg/kg was used at each cycle. Results showed that 37 patients (71%) achieved a complete remission. With a median follow-up of 74 months, 8 of them have relapsed. The median survival was 15 months and 34 patients have died (21 with NHL). The 4-year estimate survival was 33.9% (95% CI, 19.8%-47.4%). The Relative Dose-Intensity of the chemotherapy was 85% for doxorubicine and 87% for cyclophosphamide. In a multivariate analysis, homosexual men and patients with ECOG < 2 had a lower risk for death: RR = 0.32 (95% CI, 0.15-0.65) and RR = 0.36 (95% CI, 0.18-0.74), respectively. Achievement of complete remission was strongly associated with survival. In conclusion, it seems that in HIV-infected patients with NHL and a CD4 cell count above 100 x 10(6)/l, high complete remission rate and prolonged survival can be achieved with the intensive LNHIV-91 regimen.

Actuarial Analysis↗

[Prevalence and prognostic value of serum anti-p53 antibodies in hepatocellular carcinoma. A study of 159 patients].

OBJECTIVES: Genetic alterations in the p53 protein may induce serum anti-p53 antibodies. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of serum anti-p53 antibodies in a large series of Western patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and the prognostic value of these antibodies on survival. METHODS: Serum anti-p53 antibodies were assayed in 159 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, at diagnosis, using an immunoenzymatic method. The initial patient characteristics were compared according to anti-p53 status. The prognostic value of these antibodies on survival was determined by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: One hundred fifty nine patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were included in the study (129 men, mean age: 68 years). The main associated causes of chronic liver disease were alcohol (n=86), virus C (n=34), and virus B (n=18); 151 patients had cirrhosis. Median follow-up was 306 days. Among the 159 patients, 19 (12%) had serum anti-p53 antibodies. Detection of serum anti-p53 antibodies was significantly correlated with the presence of a multinodular or infiltrative tumor (P<0.03). Survival was not influenced by the presence of anti-p53 antibodies. Serum albumin, ALAT, and alfa-fetoprotein levels were independent prognostic variables. CONCLUSION: In our study, anti-p53 antibodies were rarely found in the serum of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Although they were correlated with multinodular or infiltrative tumors, they had no prognostic influence on survival. Thus, assaying serum anti-p53 antibodies does not seem to have any clinical value in those patients.

Aged↗

A randomized comparison of all transretinoic acid (ATRA) followed by chemotherapy and ATRA plus chemotherapy and the role of maintenance therapy in newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia. The European APL Group.

All transretinoic acid (ATRA) followed by daunorubicin (DNR)-AraC chemotherapy (CT) has improved the outcome of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) by comparison to CT alone. In a randomized trial, (1) we compared 2 induction schedules (ATRA followed by CT [ATRA-->CT] and ATRA plus CT [ATRA+CT, with CT added on day 3 of ATRA treatment]) and (2) we assessed the role of maintenance treatment. Four hundred thirteen patients </=75 years of age and with newly diagnosed APL were included. Induction treatment was stratified on white blood cell (WBC) count and age: patients </=65 years of age and with an initial WBC count of </=5,000/microL (n = 208) were randomized between ATRA-->CT and ATRA+CT (initially randomized patients); patients with a WBC count greater than (high WBC count group, n = 163) and patients 66 to 75 years of age with a WBC count greater than 5,000/microL (elderly group, n = 42) were not initially randomized and received ATRA+CT from day 1 and ATRA -->CT, respectively. All patients achieving CR received 2 additional DNR-AraC courses (only 1 in patients 66 to 75 years of age) and were then randomized for maintenance between no treatment, intermittent ATRA (15 days every 3 months) for 2 years, continuous low-dose CT (6 mercaptopurine + methotrexate) for 2 years, or both, using a 2-by-2 factorial design. Overall, 381 (92%) of the patients achieved complete remission (CR), 31 (7%) suffered an early death, and only 1 patient had leukemic resistance. ATRA syndrome occurred in 64 patients (15%) and was fatal in 5 cases. The CR rate was similar in all induction treatment groups. Event-free survival (EFS) was significantly lower in the high WBC group (P =.0002) and close to significance in the elderly group (P =.086) as compared with initially randomized patients. Relapse at 2 years was estimated at 6% in the ATRA+CT group, versus 16% in the ATRA-->CT group (P =.04, relative risk [RR] =.41). EFS at 2 years was estimated at 84% in the ATRA+CT group, versus 77% in the ATRA-->CT group (P =.1, RR =.62). Two hundred eighty-nine patients were randomized for maintenance. The 2-year relapse rate was 11% in patients randomized to continuous maintenance CT and 27% in patients randomized to no CT (P =.0002) and 13% in patients randomized to intermittent ATRA and 25% in patients randomized to no ATRA (P =.02). An additive effect of continuous maintenance CT and intermittent ATRA was seen, and only 6 of the 74 patients who received both maintenance treatments had relapsed. Overall survival was improved in patients who received maintenance CT (P =.01), and there was a trend for better survival in patients who received maintenance ATRA (P =.22). Our findings strongly suggest that early addition of chemotherapy to ATRA and maintenance therapy combining continuous CT and intermittent ATRA can reduce the incidence of relapse in APL. This effect already translates into significantly better survival for maintenance treatment with continuous CT.

Adolescent↗

Visit-driven endpoints in randomized HIV/AIDS clinical trials: impact of missing data on treatment difference measured on summary statistics.

In randomized HIV/AIDS clinical trials, CD4 lymphocyte counts and plasma HIV-1 RNA measurements are often used as endpoints. The comparison between treatment groups is mainly based on a summary measure of outcome, so-called summary statistic. Such analyses are often complicated by missing data occurring as drop-outs. For the most currently used summary statistics in these trials, we examined the impact of missing data occurring as drop-outs on test size, in order to help choosing between these statistics. A simulation of missing-data patterns was performed, using HIV-1 plasma RNA measurements as the main endpoint, to compare the effect of three plausible informative patterns, depending on treatment group, and on baseline or current plasma viral load, on eight different summary statistics. Missing data resulted in test sizes over the nominal value for the area under the curve minus baseline, the least-squares slope, the slope estimated with use of a mixed effects linear model, assuming a linear trend over the entire study, the difference between baseline and nadir, and the difference between baseline and week 24. The difference between baseline and week 8 was an acceptable summary with respect to the test size, but did not reflect accurately the durability of the effect of treatment. Two criteria appeared as the best summary statistics: the slope estimated by a mixed effects model, with a change of slope after two weeks of treatment, and to a lesser degree, the area under the curve after carrying forward the last observation.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Discussion

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Journal Article↗

Estimation of the treatment effect in a clinical trial when recurrent events define the endpoint.

Recurrent events are frequently encountered in clinical trials when individuals may experience an event more than once. Examples are common in medical research, including infectious episodes, myocardial infarctions and hospital admissions. However, when only the first event is considered, there is a loss of information. Furthermore, the analysis of recurrent events is complicated by the dependence of the related failure times of each subject, that is, the occurrence of an event influences the risk of other events. Thus, naive statistical methods that consider recurrent events as independent observations will produce misleading conclusions. We recommend the use of a marginal hazards model that is derived from the multivariate generalization of the Cox proportional hazards model. This marginal model allows estimation of the relative risk of recurrence in clinical trials, taking into account the dependence between the recurring events of a same individual without explicit modelling. Two applications are used to compare the results of the marginal model analysis with those of usual methods: (i) a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial performed to evaluate the efficacy of an immunostimulant in the prevention of recurrences of infectious rhinitis in adults; (ii) a randomized clinical trial comparing transfusions of plasma rich in anti-HIV1 versus transfusions of seronegative plasma in the prevention of opportunist infections. To analyse recurrent events, usual methods are often irrelevant and the marginal model allows use of all the available information to accurately estimate the relative risk of recurrences. Moreover, it enables the estimation of the relative risk for each rank of recurrence.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Discussion

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Journal Article↗

Use of tunneled femoral catheters to prevent catheter-related infection. A randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The risk for catheter-related infection seems higher with femoral catheters than with catheters inserted at other sites. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of catheter tunneling on femoral catheter-related infection in critically ill patients. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Three intensive care units at academic hospitals in Paris, France. PATIENTS: 345 adult patients requiring a femoral venous catheter for more than 48 hours. INTERVENTION: Tunneled or nontunneled femoral catheters. MEASUREMENTS: Time to occurrence of systemic catheter-related sepsis, catheter-related bloodstream infection, and quantitative catheter tip culture with a cutoff of 10(3) colony-forming units/mL. RESULTS: Of 345 randomly assigned patients, 336 were evaluable. Probable systemic catheter-related sepsis occurred in 15 of 168 patients who received a nontunneled femoral catheter (controls) and in 5 of 168 patients who received a tunneled femoral catheter (estimated absolute risk reduction, 6% [95% CI, 0.9% to 11%]). Time to occurrence of catheter-related bloodstream infection was not significantly modified (relative risk, 0.28 [CI, 0.03 to 1.92]; P = 0.18); 3 events occurred in the control group and 1 event occurred in the tunneled-catheter group. After stratification by treatment center and adjustment for variables that were prognostic (use of broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents at catheter insertion) or imbalanced between both groups (mechanical ventilation at insertion), tunnelized catheterization reduced the proportion of patients who developed systemic catheter-related sepsis (relative risk, 0.25 [CI, 0.09 to 0.72]; P = 0.005) and positive quantitative culture of the catheter tip (relative risk, 0.48 [CI, 0.23 to 0.99]; P = 0.045). CONCLUSION: The incidence of femoral catheter-related infections in critically ill patients can be reduced by using subcutaneous tunneling.

Catheterization, Peripheral↗

Hepatocellular carcinoma without cirrhosis in the West: epidemiological factors and histopathology of the non-tumorous liver. Groupe d'Etude et de Traitement du Carcinome Hépatocellulaire.

BACKGROUND/AIM: In the West, hepatocellular carcinoma rarely occurs in patients without cirrhosis. In these patients, epidemiological factors and the histopathology of the non-neoplastic liver are not well known. The aim of this study was to clarify these points. METHODS: We studied 30 patients (26 men, 28-87 years) with hepatocellular carcinoma and histologically-proven non-cirrhotic livers. Serological markers of HBV and HCV infection, as well as alcohol and tobacco consumption were evaluated. Pathological changes in the non-tumorous liver (fibrosis, inflammation, steatosis, alcoholic hepatitis lesions, iron overload, and large cell dysplasia) were systematically assessed using semi-quantitative scores. RESULTS: Twenty patients had alcohol intake > or =30 g/d and 16 were smokers. Serological HBV or HCV markers were positive in 10 patients. Only four patients had no exposure to alcohol or tobacco and no serological markers of HBV or HCV Histological examination showed that all livers had pathological changes. Seventeen patients (57%) had clearly-identified chronic liver disease: chronic hepatitis (n = 10) or alcoholic liver disease (n = 7). Non-specific and moderate pathological changes were observed in the 13 other patients (43%), with different degrees of fibrosis, activity, steatosis, and iron overload. Large cell dysplasia was present in 12 patients (40%). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, all patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and non-cirrhotic livers had non-tumorous pathological liver changes, especially iron overload and large cell dysplasia. These results suggest that hepatocellular carcinoma originates from an abnormal histological background, even in non-cirrhotic liver.

Adult↗