Ascites due to hypothyroidism in a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis

Myxedema is the cause of ascites in less than 1 per cent of new-onset ascites cases, where as only 4 per cent of patients with hypothyroidism present ascites. When ascites is the first manifestation of thyroid insufficiency, there is usually a delay in diagnosis. We report here a case of myxedema ascites occuring in a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis, that was first thought to be the cause of the ascites, and review the features of 48 cases previously reported. Some clinic and analytical findings that have been commonly reported, are the prompt response (with resolution of ascites) to thyroid replacement treatment, a high total protein concentration in ascitec fluid, white moderate white blood cell counts and a lymphocyte predominance. Serum-ascites albumin gradient has been postulated to be high in myxedema ascites, but we believe this has been studied in too few cases thus far, to be conclusive. (Au)

5 mononitrato de isosorbide en la prevención de la hemorragia digestiva en cirrosis: estudio randomizado / Isosorbide-5-mononitrate in prevention of digestive hemorrhage in cirrhosis: randomized study

El (5MI) es un dilatador venoso preferencial del que se ha mostrado que disminuye la presión venosa portal, en estudios hemodinámicos a corto y largo plazo, y ésto no está asociado con efectos adversos sobre la perfusión hepática. El objetivo de este ensayo fué investigar la eficacia y seguridad del 5MI en la prevención de la hemorragia gastrointestinal alta, en pacientes cirróticos. Cuarenta y dos pacientes cirróticos con várices esofágicas F2 y F3 con "signos rojos", que nunca habian sangrado fueron incluidos y asignados al azar para recibir sea 5Ml (grupo I, n23), o placebo (grupo P, n19). Fueron excluidos los pacientes con hepatocarcinoma o complicaciones potencialmente letales en el corto plazo, o que estuvieran recibiendo drogas tales como esteroides o interfern. Los puntos finales de este estudio fueron hemorragia y muerte. No había diferencias significativas entre los grupos en lo concerniente a datos bajales de clínica y laboratorio. El tiempo medio ñ SD de seguimiento fue de 49 ñ 36 y 43 ñ 25 semanas respectivamente, en los grupos I y P. El porciento de pacientes libres de hemorragia 61 semanas después de la inclusión en el estudio fue 62,4 por ciento en el grupo I y 46,3 por ciento en el grupo P(NS). El porciento de pacientes que sobrevivian 85 semanas después de la inclusión fue 85,2 por ciento en el grupo I y 39,8 por ciento en el grupo P(MS). No hubo que suspender el tratamiento en ningún paciente por efectos colaterales. En conclusión, el 5MI es una droga segura para el tratamiento crónico de la hipertensión portal, que muestra tendencia a reducir el riesgo de sangrado y muerte en cirrosis con várices esofágicas grandes. Merece continuar siendo investigado en estudios controlados (AU)

Ascites due to hypothyroidism in a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis.

Myxedema is the cause of ascites in less than 1

of new-onset ascites cases, where as only 4

of patients with hypothyroidism present ascites. When ascites is the first manifestation of thyroid insufficiency, there is usually a delay in diagnosis. We report here a case of myxedema ascites occurring in a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis, that was first thought to be the cause of the ascites, and review the features of 48 cases previously reported. Some clinic and analytical findings that have been commonly reported, are the long duration of the ascites before diagnosis, the prompt response (with resolution of ascites) to thyroid replacement treatment, a high total protein concentration in ascites fluid, white moderate white blood cell counts and a lymphocyte predominance. Serum-ascites albumin gradient has been postulated to be high in myxedema ascites, but we believe this has been studied in too few cases thus far, to be conclusive.

5 mononitrato de isosorbide en la prevención de la hemorragia digestiva en cirrosis: estudio randomizado. / [Isosorbide-5-mononitrate in the prevention of digestive hemorrhage in cirrhosis: randomized study]

Isosorbide 5-mononitrate (5MI) is a preferential venous dilator that has been shown to decrease portal pressure in acute and long-term haemodynamic studies, and this is not associated with adverse effects on hepatic perfusion. The aim of this trial was to investigate the efficacy and safety of 5MI in the prevention of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in cirrhotic patients. Forty two cirrhotic patients with F2 or F3 esophageal varices showing [quot ]red signs[quot ] and who had never bled were included and randomly y assigned to receive either 5MI (group I,n23) or placebo (group P,n19). Patients with hepatocarcinomas or complications potentially lethal in the short-term or who were being given drugs such as steroids or interferon were excluded. The end points of the study were bleeding and death. There were no significant differences between the groups in the basal clinical and laboratory data. The mean +/- SD follow-up time was 49 +/- 36 and 43 +/- 25 weeks in the groups I and P, respectively. The percentage of patients free of bleeding 61 weeks after inclusion in the study was 62.4

in the group I and 46.3

in the group P (NS). The percentage of patients surviving 85 weeks after inclusion in the study was 81.2

in the group I and 39.8

in the group P (NS). Treatment did not have to be stopped in any patient of both groups because of side effects. In conclusion, 5MI is a safe drug for the chronic management of portal hypertension, that showed a trend to reduce the risk of bleeding and death in cirrhosis with large esophageal varices.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Interferon alfa en el tratamiento de la hepatitis cronica C: curso de 24 versus 48 semanas. Resultados de un estudio randomizado / Interferon alfa in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C: course of 24 versus 48 weeks. Results of a randomized trial

The aim of this trial was to investigate if a more prolonged course of interferon (IFN) is able to increase the long-term benefit in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Forty-four patients with active chronic hepatitis and antibodies to HCV were randomly assigned to receive IFN-alfa 2b 3 MU t.i.w. during 24 weeks (group I, n 23) or during 48 weeks (group II, n 21). In the evaluation of results, complete response was considered when the ALT values returned to normality during the treatment; and sustained response, when the ALT values persisted below normal range during at least 6 months post therapy. Histologic changes were compared by using the Histological Activity Index, or Knodell score. Viremia status was evaluated for the study of HCV RNA (by nested-RT-PCR). Results: There were no significant differences between boths groups before treatment, in terms of age, sex, ALT, or histologic findings (11 patients in group I, and 7 in group II had cirrhosis). Complete response was found in 9 patients (39.1 per cent) from group I; in 11 (52.4 per cent) from group II (NS). Basal histologic findings were identified as the only predictive factor of complete and sustained response, by logistic regresion analysis. Considering only noncirrhotic patients, complete response was seen in 58.3 per cent in patients from group I, 71.4 per cent in group II. Sustained response was obtained in 4 patients from group I, (17.4 per cent), 7 from group II (33.3 per cent) (NS). Post IFN liver biopsies were performed in 23 patients (12 from group I, 11 from group II). In group I patients, there were no significant changes. In group II, Knodell score was found to be significantly decreased post IFN (pre IFN, median 10, range 3-15; post IFN, median 6, range 2-14) (p<0.05). HCR RNA was absent in serum during the follow-up post IFN in 2 patients from group I, in 3 from group II. The results of this study show that a 48 weeks course of IFN has a trend to achieve a higher sustained response than the usual regime (but non significant); and it produces a decrease in the histologic activity. The best predicitve factor of positive response was the absence of cirrhosis in our study (although we did not evaluate viral factors, such as genotypes or HCV viremia levels). (AU)

Hemorragia digestiva alta en la cirrosis hepática: hallazgos clínicos y endoscópicos. / [Upper digestive hemorrhage in liver cirrhosis: clinical and endoscopic findings]

There are different opinions in respect to the main sources in upper gastrointestinal bleeding in hepatic cirrhosis. Some authors claim that ruptured esophageal varices are the cause of most of the hemorrhages. Recently, characteristic lesions have been showed in the gastric mucosa in portal hypertension (congestive gastropathy), and many believe that they are frequently the origin of the bleeding. We reviewed the records of 195 episodes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in cirrhosis, with endoscopy performed within 12 hours of entry, and report here the endoscopic findings and the bleeding sites. We also investigated the relation between the etiology and functional class of the hepatic disease and the bleeding source. We observed variceal hemorrhage in 52.2

of cases; by gastroduodenal mucosal lesions in 13.8

; by gastric and duodenal ulcers in 13.8

; undetermined origin in 14.8

(due to coexistence of two or more lesions, without active bleeding). We found no differences between alcoholic and nonalcoholic cirrhotics in the bleeding sources. Furthermore, the bleeding sites were not different either in child A, B and C patients. In contrast, in major hemorrhages, esophageal varices were more frequently the origin (73.5

) than in minor ones (40.4

) (p < 0.002). The mortality was significantly higher in CHild C group (25

), than in groups B (14.3

) and A (2.3

) (p < 0.05 and p < 0.002, respectively). We recommend to carry out early endoscopy in every cirrhotic patient suffering from gastrointestinal bleeding, by skilled performers who are able to recognize the gastric red signs, before making a decision about potentially dangerous therapeutic measures, such as surgery, balloon tamponade, etc.

Hemorragia digestiva alta en la cirrosis hepática: hallazgos clínicos y endoscópicos. / [Upper digestive hemorrhage in liver cirrhosis: clinical and endoscopic findings]

There are different opinions in respect to the main sources in upper gastrointestinal bleeding in hepatic cirrhosis. Some authors claim that ruptured esophageal varices are the cause of most of the hemorrhages. Recently, characteristic lesions have been showed in the gastric mucosa in portal hypertension (congestive gastropathy), and many believe that they are frequently the origin of the bleeding. We reviewed the records of 195 episodes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in cirrhosis, with endoscopy performed within 12 hours of entry, and report here the endoscopic findings and the bleeding sites. We also investigated the relation between the etiology and functional class of the hepatic disease and the bleeding source. We observed variceal hemorrhage in 52.2

of cases; by gastroduodenal mucosal lesions in 13.8

; by gastric and duodenal ulcers in 13.8

; undetermined origin in 14.8

(due to coexistence of two or more lesions, without active bleeding). We found no differences between alcoholic and nonalcoholic cirrhotics in the bleeding sources. Furthermore, the bleeding sites were not different either in child A, B and C patients. In contrast, in major hemorrhages, esophageal varices were more frequently the origin (73.5

) than in minor ones (40.4

) (p < 0.002). The mortality was significantly higher in CHild C group (25

), than in groups B (14.3

) and A (2.3

) (p < 0.05 and p < 0.002, respectively). We recommend to carry out early endoscopy in every cirrhotic patient suffering from gastrointestinal bleeding, by skilled performers who are able to recognize the gastric red signs, before making a decision about potentially dangerous therapeutic measures, such as surgery, balloon tamponade, etc.