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V de Lédinghen

Publications and source records attributed to V de Lédinghen.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Diagnosis of liver fibrosis by transient elastography (FibroScan) and non-invasive methods in Crohn's disease patients treated with methotrexate.

BACKGROUND: Methotrexate is an effective treatment in Crohn's disease, which may induce liver fibrosis with high cumulative doses. Transient elastography (FibroScan, Echosens, Paris, France) is a new non-invasive rapid, allowing assessment of liver fibrosis by measurement of liver stiffness. AIM: A prospective study to evaluate liver fibrosis with FibroScan and non-invasive biochemical methods in Crohn's disease patients treated with methotrexate. METHODS: Consecutive Crohn's disease patients had evaluation of liver fibrosis with non-invasive methods. Two subgroups of patients were compared: cumulative dose of methotrexate of more than 1500 mg (group 1) and naive for methotrexate (group 2). Liver biopsy was performed in patients with persistent liver enzyme abnormalities or FibroScan value >8.7 kPa. RESULTS: Fifty-four consecutive Crohn's disease patients were fully investigated (45 females, mean age 41 +/- 14 years). Median FibroScan values were similar in group 1 (n = 21) and in group 2 (n = 33), 5.5 and 4.5 kPa, respectively. FibroScan values were not correlated with the cumulative dose of methotrexate. CONCLUSION: In Crohn's disease patients treated with a high dose of methotrexate, significant liver fibrosis is rare and not accurately detected with liver enzymes abnormalities. FibroScan could be recommended and liver biopsy could be performed only with patients with high values and/or with chronic liver enzymes abnormalities.

Adult↗

Diagnosis of cirrhosis by transient elastography (FibroScan): a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Transient elastography (FibroScan) is a new, non-invasive, rapid, and reproducible method allowing evaluation of liver fibrosis by measurement of liver stiffness. In cirrhotic patients, liver stiffness measurements range from 12.5 to 75.5 kPa. However, the clinical relevance of these values is unknown. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the accuracy of liver stiffness measurement for the detection of cirrhosis in patients with chronic liver disease. METHODS: A total of 711 patients with chronic liver disease were studied. Aetiologies of chronic liver diseases were hepatitis C virus or hepatitis B virus infection, alcohol, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, other, or a combination of the above aetiologies. Liver fibrosis was evaluated according to the METAVIR score. RESULTS: Stiffness was significantly correlated with fibrosis stage (r=0.73, p<0.0001). Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (95% confidence interval) were 0.80 (0.75-0.84) for patients with significant fibrosis (F>2), 0.90 (0.86-0.93) for patients with severe fibrosis (F3), and 0.96 (0.94-0.98) for patients with cirrhosis. Using a cut off value of 17.6 kPa, patients with cirrhosis were detected with a positive predictive value and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 90%. Liver stiffness was significantly correlated with clinical, biological, and morphological parameters of liver disease. With an NPV>90%, the cut off values for the presence of oesophageal varices stage 2/3, cirrhosis Child-Pugh B or C, past history of ascites, hepatocellular carcinoma, and oesophageal bleeding were 27.5, 37.5, 49.1, 53.7, and 62.7 kPa, respectively. CONCLUSION: Transient elastography is a promising non-invasive method for detection of cirrhosis in patients with chronic liver disease. Its use for the follow up and management of these patients could be of great interest and should be evaluated further.

Adult↗

Hepatic porphyrin concentration and uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity in hepatitis C virus infection.

Previous studies have shown a high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in patients with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT). The aim of this study was to assess hepatic porphyrin concentrations (HPC) and hepatic uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (UROD) activity in HCV-infected patients free of PCT. Thirty-two HCV-infected patients (20 M, 12 F, mean age 51 years) and seven control patients (4 M, 3 F, mean age 59 years) free of liver disease, were studied. Knodell's score was determined on liver biopsy by two independent anatomopathologists. Measurement of HPC and hepatic UROD activity levels were carried out on liver biopsy. Relative to controls, HCV-infected patients had high HPC levels (mean +/- SD: 47 +/- 20 vs. 17 +/- 6 pmol/mg protein, P < 0.001) and low hepatic UROD activity levels (514 +/- 95 vs. 619 +/- 125 pmol Copro/h/mg protein, P < 0.05). HPC was not correlated with hepatic UROD activity and the increase was due to coproporphyrin accumulation. No correlation was observed between HPC or hepatic UROD activity values and HCV-RNA concentrations, Knodell's score, hepatic fibrosis, periportal necrosis, periportal inflammation or hepatic iron content in HCV-infected patients. Hepatocellular necrosis was significantly correlated with HPC value (P < 0.005). Hence, in HCV-infected patients, HPC is significantly increased and hepatic UROD activity is very slightly decreased as compared to controls. HPC values and UROD activity are not correlated with HCV-RNA concentrations, hepatic iron content and hepatic fibrosis. The small increase in HPC values in hepatitis C infection is linked with hepatic injury and not with a direct effect on hepatic UROD enzyme.

Adult↗

Hepatitis C virus genotyping based on 5' noncoding sequence analysis (Trugene).

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotyping of samples from 184 patients with chronic HCV infection by the Trugene 5'NC genotyping kit, based on sequence analysis of the 5' noncoding region (5' NCR), and the InnoLiPA assay was evaluated. In addition to these methods, the 184 samples were also analyzed by sequencing of part of the NS5B of the HCV genome after in-house PCR amplification, as a means of validating results obtained with the 5' NCR. The distribution of the genotypes typed by NS5B sequence analysis was as follows: 1a, 41 samples; 1b, 58 samples; 1d, 1 sample; 2a, 5 samples; 2b, 2 samples; 2c, 7 samples; 3a, 46 samples; 4a, 7 samples; 4c, 1 samples; 4e, 9 samples; 5a, 6 samples; 6a, 1 sample. The Trugene and InnoLiPA assays gave concordant results within HCV types in 100% of cases. The ability to discriminate at the subtype level was 76 and 74% for the Trugene and the InnoLiPA assays, respectively.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

TT virus infection during chronic hepatitis C.

OBJECTIVE: The pathogenic role of TT virus (TTV) is not well known, especially during chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We retrospectively investigated the presence of TTV DNA in the plasma of patients with chronic HCV infection and compared the characteristics of TTV-DNA-positive and -negative groups. METHODS: Between November 1996 and November 1998, 234 patients were included. Inclusion criteria were persistently elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, anti-HCV and HCV-RNA positivity, and seronegativity for hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus markers. TTV DNA was amplified in nested polymerase chain reaction with TTV-specific primers, and products were analyzed by agarose-gel electrophoresis. Data were analyzed using the chi2, Fisher's exact test, or Mann-Whitney test, as appropriate. RESULTS: TTV DNA was detected in 19 (8.1%; 95% confidence interval: 4.6-11.6%) patients. TTV-DNA-positive and TTV-DNA-negative patients did not differ statistically for age, gender ratio, source of HCV infection, HCV disease duration, biological parameters, histological grade, HCV-RNA load, or HCV genotype. Although nonsignificant (p = 0.21), there was a trend for a higher prevalence of TTV DNA in patients with an unknown cause of HCV infection (4/22, 18.2%) than in intravenous drug users (4/84; 4.8%), in those exposed to potential risk factors (4/49; 8.2%), or in those having received blood transfusion (7/79; 8.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Because the rates of HCV replication and the severity of liver lesions in TTV-DNA-negative and -positive patients were similar, the hepatic pathogenicity of TTV in chronic hepatitis C patients is questionable.

Adult↗

Diagnosis of choledocholithiasis: EUS or magnetic resonance cholangiography? A prospective controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) appears to be the best imaging method for the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis. The aim of this preliminary, prospective, controlled study was to assess the accuracy of EUS and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in the diagnosis of common bile duct stones. METHODS: From December 1995 through April 1997, all patients referred because of suspicion of the presence of common bile duct stones were included in the study. EUS and MRCP were performed. Each examination was performed by a different operator unaware of the result of the other procedure. The definitive diagnosis was established by means of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography with sphincterotomy or a surgical procedure. RESULTS: Forty-three patients (18 men, 25 women) with a mean age of 60.9 +/- 14.5 years (range 25 to 81 years) were included in the study. Eleven patients were excluded because of unavailability of magnetic resonance imaging(n = 5) or EUS (n = 6). Ten patients (31.2%) had choledocholithiasis. For this diagnosis, the sensitivity of EUS was 100%, the specificity was 95.4%, the positive predictive value was 90.9%, and the negative predictive value was 100%. The corresponding values for MRCP were 100%, 72.7%, 62.5%, and 100%, not significantly different from EUS results. The accuracy of EUS was 96.9%, and that of MRCP was 82.2%. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study confirmed EUS as an accurate and noninvasive procedure for the diagnosis of common bile duct stones. MRCP, which had a high sensitivity and high negative predictive value, might be an accurate technique for patients with a contraindication to EUS.

Adult↗

Case report: secondary biliary cirrhosis possibly related to congenital hepatic fibrosis. Evidence for decreased number of portal branch veins and hypertrophic peribiliary vascular plexus.

A 30-year-old man with presinusoidal portal hypertension was transplanted for cryptogenic cirrhosis. On the explanted liver, few intrahepatic stones, biliary cirrhosis, chronic cholangitis of the large bile ducts and a peculiar proliferation of small dilated bile ducts at the periphery of the portal tracts led to the diagnosis of secondary biliary cirrhosis and cholangitis, possibly linked to ductal plate malformation, including congenital hepatic fibrosis associated with a minor form of Caroli's disease. Ex vivo portogram and histology showed the paucity of portal vein branches and the hypertrophy of the peribiliary vascular plexus. This hypertrophy, which has been reported in livers with presinusoidal hypertension, is another indirect argument to suggest the diagnosis of congenital hepatic fibrosis.

Adult↗

[When should patients with bleeding peptic ulcer resume oral intake? A randomized controlled study].

OBJECTIVES: Patients presenting with bleeding peptic ulcers are often kept fasted. The contribution of feeding in bleeding recurrence rate is unknown. The aim of this prospective controlled study was to evaluate the effect of early feeding in (a) the bleeding peptic ulcer recurrence rate and (b) the outcome of patients with severe bleeding peptic ulcer. PATIENTS-METHODS: From January through December 1995, all consecutive patients admitted for active bleeding from peptic ulcer were included. All patients underwent emergency endoscopic injection with adrenaline around and into the base of the ulcer and were randomized in two groups. Group A patients (n = 12) received milk on day 1, mixed warm feeding on day 2 and normal diet from day 3, Group B patients (n = 14) were nil by mouth until day 3, then received milk on day 4, mixed warm feeding on day 5, and normal diet from day 6. Twenty-six patients (17 men, 9 women, mean age 71 years) were included. RESULTS: On day 0, both groups (group A vs group B) were comparable (mean +/- SD): hemoglobin (8.8 +/- 2.7 vs 8.1 +/- 2.0 g/dL), transfusion requirements in the first 24 h after admission (2.2 +/- 2.0 vs 2.1 +/- 1.4 units), localization of ulcers (duodenal ulcer: 8 vs 9, gastric ulcer : 4 vs 5). There were no significant differences in group A and group B for bleeding ulcer recurrence rate (0 vs 1 patient) and transfusion requirements (2.6 +/- 2.1 vs 3.3 +/- 2.1 units). Hospital stay was significantly shorter in group A (6.8 +/- 2.1 days) than in group B (9.9 +/- 3.7 days), P = 0.01. CONCLUSION: These results did not provide any evidence of advantages of fasting in patients with active bleeding peptic ulcer treated by endoscopic sclerotherapy. Early feeding did not worsen outcome in patients with active bleeding peptic ulcer and reduced hospital stay.

Adult↗

Early feeding or enteral nutrition in patients with cirrhosis after bleeding from esophageal varices? A randomized controlled study.

The aim of this randomized controlled study was to assess the nutritional and clinical effects of early enteral nutrition (EN) in cirrhotic patients with bleeding from esophageal varices. From August 1994 through August 1995, all patients admitted for acute variceal bleeding underwent emergency sclerotherapy or banding ligation and continuous infusion of octreotide and were randomized in two groups. In group A, patients received from day 1 discontinuous polymeric EN (1665 kcal/day, through nasogastric tube) and in group B, patients were nil by mouth. On day 4, all patients received oral diet. Nutritional status, liver function, and rebleeding were evaluated on days 4, 7, and 35. Twenty-two patients (17 men, 5 women, mean age 56 years) were included. On day 0, patients in group A (N = 12) and group B (N = 10) were comparable. On day 4, nitrogen balance was 0.7 +/- 2.5 g/day in group A and -11.2 +/- 6.7 g/day in group B (P = 0.01, Mann-Whitney test). On days 4, 7, and 35, no significant differences between the two groups were observed for nutritional status and liver function. Four (33%) group A patients rebled compared with one (10%) group B patient (NS). Hospital stay (14.5 +/- 4.1 days vs 12.9 +/- 5.3 days) and mortality (3 vs 2 patients), were comparable between the two groups. In conclusion, our study failed to demonstrate any favorable effect of short-term EN on nutritional status and liver function in cirrhotic patients hospitalized for variceal bleeding.

Adult↗

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and variceal bleeding: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this case-control study was to assess the risk of bleeding from esophageal varices associated with aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug consumption. METHODS: Between January 1992 and May 1994, patients admitted for bleeding from esophageal or gastric lesions related to portal hypertension were matched with a control patient of the same age and sex, who was free of gastrointestinal bleeding. A structured interview was conducted with the cases and controls to determine drug consumption during the 2 weeks preceding admission. Fifty-nine cases and 59 controls were recruited. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Use of aspirin was more prevalent among the cases than the controls (odds ratio 3.81; 95% confidence interval 1.36-11.64; p = 0.004). This difference remained significant in the subgroups of patients with a first episode of variceal bleeding (odds ratio 3.9; 95% confidence interval 1.2-13.9, p = 0.01), but was not significant in the subgroups of patients with a recurrent episode of variceal bleeding. The use of aspirin was associated with a high risk of a first episode of variceal bleeding, suggesting that patients with portal hypertension should avoid taking these drugs.

Adult↗