Clinical Features of Refractory Ascites in Outpatients.

OBJECTIVES:: To present the clinical features and outcomes of outpatients who suffer from refractory ascites. METHODS:: This prospective observational study consecutively enrolled patients with cirrhotic ascites who submitted to a clinical evaluation, a sodium restriction diet, biochemical blood tests, 24 hour urine tests and an ascitic fluid analysis. All patients received a multidisciplinary evaluation and diuretic treatment. Patients who did not respond to the diuretic treatment were controlled by therapeutic serial paracentesis, and a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt was indicated for patients who required therapeutic serial paracentesis up to twice a month. RESULTS:: The most common etiology of cirrhosis in both groups was alcoholism [49 refractory (R) and 11 non-refractory ascites (NR)]. The majority of patients in the refractory group had Child-Pugh class B cirrhosis (p=0.034). The nutritional assessment showed protein-energy malnutrition in 81.6% of the patients in the R group and 35.5% of the patients in the NR group, while hepatic encephalopathy, hernia, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, upper digestive hemorrhage and type 2 hepatorenal syndrome were present in 51%, 44.9%, 38.8%, 38.8% and 26.5% of the patients in the R group and 9.1%, 18.2%, 0%, 0% and 0% of the patients in the NR group, respectively (p=0.016, p=0.173, p=0.012, p=0.012, and p=0.100, respectively). Mortality occurred in 28.6% of the patients in the R group and in 9.1% of the patients in the NR group (p=0.262). CONCLUSION:: Patients with refractory ascites were malnourished, suffered from hernias, had a high prevalence of complications and had a high postoperative death frequency, which was mostly due to infectious processes.

Clinical Features of Refractory Ascites in Outpatients

OBJECTIVES: To present the clinical features and outcomes of outpatients who suffer from refractory ascites. METHODS: This prospective observational study consecutively enrolled patients with cirrhotic ascites who submitted to a clinical evaluation, a sodium restriction diet, biochemical blood tests, 24 hour urine tests and an ascitic fluid analysis. All patients received a multidisciplinary evaluation and diuretic treatment. Patients who did not respond to the diuretic treatment were controlled by therapeutic serial paracentesis, and a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt was indicated for patients who required therapeutic serial paracentesis up to twice a month. RESULTS: The most common etiology of cirrhosis in both groups was alcoholism [49 refractory (R) and 11 non-refractory ascites (NR)]. The majority of patients in the refractory group had Child-Pugh class B cirrhosis (p=0.034). The nutritional assessment showed protein-energy malnutrition in 81.6% of the patients in the R group and 35.5% of the patients in the NR group, while hepatic encephalopathy, hernia, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, upper digestive hemorrhage and type 2 hepatorenal syndrome were present in 51%, 44.9%, 38.8%, 38.8% and 26.5% of the patients in the R group and 9.1%, 18.2%, 0%, 0% and 0% of the patients in the NR group, respectively (p=0.016, p=0.173, p=0.012, p=0.012, and p=0.100, respectively). Mortality occurred in 28.6% of the patients in the R group and in 9.1% of the patients in the NR group (p=0.262). CONCLUSION: Patients with refractory ascites were malnourished, suffered from hernias, had a high prevalence of complications and had a high postoperative death frequency, which was mostly due to infectious processes.

Calculose intra-hepática: desafio diagnóstico como causa de colestase: relato de caso / Íntra-hepatic gallstones: a diagnostic challenge as etiology of cholestasis: a case report

A colestase pode resultar de diversas etiologias e pode se constituir em importante problema diagnóstico na prática médica. Os exames laboratoriais são inespecíficos e não determinam a causa da colestase. O quadro clínico pode ser amplamente variável, podendo não revelar qualquer sintoma em algumas ocasiões, e, em outras, apresentar quadro toxêmico compatível com a síndrome colangio-hepatite ou a colangite piogênica. Na avaliação diagnóstica realizada por exames radiológicos de imagem, vários métodos podem ser utilizados com essa finalidade: ultrassonografia (US) e tomografia computadorizada de abdômen (TC), ressonância nuclear magnética com colangiografia (CRMN), colangiopancreatografia por via endoscópica retrógrada (CPRE), colangiografia por via transparieto-hepática (CTPH) ou por dreno biliar e, ainda, métodos complementares, como a colangioscopia e ultrassonografia intraoperatórias. Relata-se caso de calculose intra-hepática (ClH), diagnosticada por CRMN de repetição, em paciente assintomática e anictérica, que, após realização de vários métodos de imagem não elucidativos da causa de colestase, evoluiu com presença persistente de elevação dos níveis de enzimas canaliculares, desde o pós-operatório imediato até dois anos após a realização de colecistectomia.

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: a therapeutic update.

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is one of the main infectious complications of cirrhosis and occurs in 8-30% of hospitalized patients with ascites. SBP is characterized by infection of the ascitic fluid (AF) in the absence of any primary focus of intra-abdominal infection. The main route by which the AF becomes infected is the hematogenous route. The pathogenic mechanism by which infection develops is bacterial translocation from the intestinal flora to the mesenteric lymph nodes and from there to the bloodstream. Contributing factors are an increased growth of Gram-negative aerobic bacilli in the jejunum, changes in the intestinal barrier and in addition factors which could reduce the local flow of blood. For clinical diagnosis, patients with SBP may present signs of peritoneal irritation and pain, together with changes in gastrointestinal motility, sometimes with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or ileus. Many patients, however, may not present any symptoms or signs as a result of the presence of SBP. Diagnostic paracentesis of the AF must be performed for every patient with cirrhosis, hospitalized with ascites. Laboratory diagnosis of SBP is carried out by polymorphonuclear count in the AF, together with a positive culture from the AF, which is characteristically monomicrobial. Escherichia coli has been the main bacterium isolated from AF as well as other Gram-negative bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family and Streptococcus genus. A more rapid diagnosis of SBP can be obtained via the use of leukocyte esterase, which is present in biological fluids and reacts with a component of the dipstick, changing its color. During the acute phase of SBP, antibiotics should be initiated promptly once the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of SBP has been made, before the result of AF culture. Cefotaxime or other third-generation cephalosporins have been considered the first-choice empirical antibiotics in the treatment of cirrhotic patients with SBP, and is efficacious in approximately 90% of cases. Broad-spectrum quinolones, which are almost completely absorbed after oral administration and diffuse rapidly through the AF, are currently used for oral treatment of uncomplicated SBP. Patients who have already had a previous episode of SBP, with a 69% probability of recurrence within a year, will benefit from prophylactic treatment. Cirrhotic patients with a high risk of SBP and other infections, such as those with gastrointestinal bleeding, also benefit from primary prophylaxis and norfloxacin has been used with success.

Peritonite bacteriana espontânea / Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

A peritonite bacteriana espontânea ocorre em 30 por cento dos cirróticos com ascite e, neste grupo, apresenta altas taxas de morbidade e mortalidade. Os fatores predisponentes incluem a diminuição da defesa imunológica encontrada no homem nas fases avançadas da cirrose, o supercrescimento da flora intestinal e a translocação bacteriana da luz dos intestinos aos linfonodos mesentéricos. As manifestações clínicas variam de graves a leves ou ausentes, sendo sempre necessária a análise do líquido ascítico. O diagnóstico de peritonite bacteriana espontânea se faz pela contagem de neutrófilos > 250/mm no líquido ascítico associado ou não ao crescimento de bactéria na cultura. As enterobactérias predominam como causa da infecção, sendo a Echerichia coli a bactéria mais freqüentemente isolada. O diagnóstico precoce e o tratamento adequado provocaram a queda das taxas de mortalidade nas duas últimas décadas. O uso endovenoso de cefalosporinas de terceira geração mostra-se eficaz em 70 por cento a 95 por cento dos casos. A recorrência de peritonite bacteriana espontânea é comum e pode ser prevenida com norfloxacina oral, de uso contínuo. O surgimento de resistência bacteriana tem estimulado a procura de novas opções para a profilaxia da peritonite bacteriana espontânea; os probióticos constituem nova abordagem promissora, mas que necessita melhor avaliação. Recomenda-se a profilaxia primária de curta duração aos cirróticos com ascite que apresentem episódio de hemorragia digestiva alta.

Different degrees of malnutrition and immunological alterations according to the aetiology of cirrhosis: a prospective and sequential study.

OBJECTIVES: In this work we investigated how immunological dysfunction and malnutrition interact in alcoholic and viral aetiologies of cirrhosis. METHODS: To investigate the matter, 77 cirrhotic patients divided in three aetiologies [Alcohol, HCV and Alcohol + HCV) and 32 controls were prospectivelly and sequentially studied. Parameters of humoral immunity (Components 3 and 4 of seric complement and immunoglobulins A M, G and E) and of cellular immunity (total leukocytes and lymphocytes in peripheral blood, T lymphocytes subpopulations, CD4+ and CD8+, CD4+/CD8+ ratio and intradermic tests of delayed hypersensitivity), as well as nutritional parameters: anthropometric measures, serum albumin and transferrin were evaluated. RESULTS: Multiple statistical comparisons showed that IgM was higher in HCV group; IgG was significantly elevated in both HCV and Alcohol + HCV, whereas for the Alcohol group, IgE was found at higher titles. The analysis of T- lymphocytes subpopulations showed no aetiologic differences, but intradermic tests of delayed hypersensitivity did show greater frequency of anergy in the Alcohol group. For anthropometric parameters, the Alcohol +HCV group displayed the lowest triceps skinfold whereas creatinine--height index evaluation was more preserved in the HCV group. Body mass index, arm muscle area and arm fat area showed that differently from alcohol group, the HCV group was similar to control. CONCLUSION: Significant differences were found among the main aetiologies of cirrhosis concerning immunological alterations and nutritional status: better nutrition and worse immunology for HCV and vice-versa for alcohol.

[Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis]. / Peritonite bacteriana espontânea.

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis occurs in 30% of patients with ascites due to cirrhosis leading to high morbidity and mortality rates. The pathogenesis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is related to altered host defenses observed in end-stage liver disease, overgrowth of microorganisms, and bacterial translocation from the intestinal lumen to mesenteric lymph nodes. Clinical manifestations vary from severe to slight or absent, demanding analysis of the ascitic fluid. The diagnosis is confirmed by a number of neutrophils over 250/mm3 associated or not to bacterial growth in culture of an ascites sample. Enterobacteriae prevail and Escherichia coli has been the most frequent bacterium reported. Mortality rates decreased markedly in the last two decades due to early diagnosis and prompt antibiotic treatment. Third generation intravenous cephalosporins are effective in 70% to 95% of the cases. Recurrence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is common and can be prevented by the continuous use of oral norfloxacin. The development of bacterial resistance demands the search for new options in the prophylaxis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis; probiotics are a promising new approach, but deserve further evaluation. Short-term antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended for patients with cirrhosis and ascites shortly after an acute episode of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Paracenteses durante tratamento diurético da ascite na cirrose hepática: resultados de ensaio clínico randomizado / Paracentesis during diuretic treatment of ascites due to hepatic cirrhosis: results of randomized clinical assay

Recentemente, o tratamento da ascite por meio de paracenteses voltou a ser indicado como método seguro, rápido e eficaz. Objetivando averiguar a vantagem de sua associaçäo com o tratamento diurético, bem como confirmar a ausência de complicaçöes das paracenteses, foi realizado um estudo randomizado. Dentre os 392 pacientes com ascite internados na Clínica de Gastroenterolofia do Hospital Heliópolis, durante cinco anos, apenas 31 preencheram os critérios de inclusäo ao estudo: ascite tensa ou volumosa, ausência de reposta à restriçäo de sódio na dieta e níveis séricos de albumina superiores a 2,5g%. O grupo controle (n=15) foi tratado com um esquema padronizado de aumento sucessivo das doses de diuréticos, enquanto que o grupo teste (n=16) recebeu o mesmo esquema diurético padronizado, associado a paracenteses de dois a quatro litros, duas vezes por semana. Os dois grupos eram comparáveis em termos de sexo, idade, etiologia da cirrose, presença de edemas e classificaçäo prognóstica de Child/Cambell. Houve resposta diurética satisfatória, com resoluçäo da ascite, em 13/14 (92,8%) dos pacientes com paracenteses que completaram o tratamento, bem como de 12/13 (92,3%) daqueles submetidos apenas ao esquema diurético padronizado. Näo foram encontradas diferenças entre os dois grupos em termos de perda de peso ou necessidades diuréticas. O tempo médio para resoluçäo da ascite foi de 14,1 dias para o grupo teste e de 21,4 dias para o grupo controle, näo sendo essa diferença, entretanto, estatisticamente significante. Näo foram observadas complicaçöes infecciosas no grupo submetido a paracenteses, sendo que as raras alteraçöes hidreletrolíticas e de funçäo renal ocorreram de forma semelhante nos dois grupos

Cryptogenic cirrhosis: clinico-biochemical comparison with alcoholic and viral etiologies

Entende-se por cirrose criptogênica aquele grupo com etiologia näo determinada, que tanto poderia ser causada por álcool, vírus, como poderia ser devida a fatores etiológicos ainda desconhecidos. Para tentar essas duas hipóteses procurou-se neste estudo as semelhanças ou diferenças na apresentaçäo clínico-bioquímica de 196 casos de cirrose con etiologias alcoólica, viral e criptogênica, excluidas outras causas menos freqüentes. Os parâmetros: idade, icterícia, aranhas vasculares, eritema palmar e fator V, mostraram ser a cirrose criptogênica estatisticamente diferente daquelas causadas por etiologia viral ou alcoólica. Assim, em base clínico-bioquímicas pode ser sugerido que a cirrose criptogênica constitui um grupo específico, com as seguintes características: predomínio de mulheres, idade mais avançada, menor incidência de sinais periféricos de insuficiência hepática nos testes laboratoriais de funçäo hepatocelular