[Prevalence of hepatic involvement, alcoholism, hepatis B, C and HIV in patients with background history of drug use]. / Prevalencia de afectación hepática, alcoholismo, hepatitis B, C y HIV en pacientes con antecedente de consumo de drogas.

UNLABELLED: Drug addicts frequently have liver diseases for different reasons: alcohol abuse, the drugs themselves, but more often hepatitis B and C infections. AIDS is common in this population as well and could also affect the liver directly or in the form of hepatocellular or biliary damage. We conducted this study to determine the prevalence of liver diseases, alcoholism, hepatitis B and C infections, and HIV positivity in this population. We studied a cohort of 137 persons, all with a history of drug abuse, and investigated the quantity of alcohol intake, the kind of drug used, and he routes of drug administration. RESULTS: We found liver disease in 33.6%. The prevalence of alcoholism was 65.4%, of HCV 67.3%, and of HBV 17.3%. HDV was undetectable, whereas we found HIV at a frequency of 17.3%. HCV RNA was detected in 85.4% of HCV. The drug most often used was cocaine at 90.4%, followed by marihuana at 88.3%; LSD use occurred in 17.5%. We found parenteral drug use in 43.1%. We performed 22 liver biopsies, 21 associated with HCV, and detected histological changes consistent with chronic hepatitis in 17, with cirrhosis in 4, and with hepatocellularcarcinoma in 1.

Prevalencia de afección hepática, alcoholismo, hepatitis B, C y HIV en pacientes con antecedentes de consum / Prevalence of hepatic involvement, alcoholism, hepatis B, C and HIV in patients with background history of drug use

Drug addicts frequently have liver diseases for different reasons: alcohol abuse, the drugs themselves, but more often hepatitis B and C infections. AIDS is common in this population as well and could also affect the liver directly or in the form of hepatocellular or biliary damage. We conducted this study to determine the prevalence of liver diseases, alcoholism, hepatitis B and C infections, and HIV positivity in this population. We studied a cohort of 137 persons, all with a history of drug abuse, and investigated the quantity of alcohol intake, the kind of drug used, and he routes of drug administration. RESULTS: We found liver disease in 33.6%. The prevalence of alcoholism was 65.4%, of HCV 67.3%, and of HBV 17.3%. HDV was undetectable, whereas we found HIV at a frequency of 17.3%. HCV RNA was detected in 85.4% of HCV. The drug most often used was cocaine at 90.4%, followed by marihuana at 88.3%; LSD use occurred in 17.5%. We found parenteral drug use in 43.1%. We performed 22 liver biopsies, 21 associated with HCV, and detected histological changes consistent with chronic hepatitis in 17, with cirrhosis in 4, and with hepatocellularcarcinoma in 1.

Transmisión sexual del virus de Hepatitis C / Sexual transmision of Hepatitis C virus

Fifty heterosexual partners out of 50 patients (index cases) without confirmed or probable risk factors of parenteral transmission by HCV were studied from 1/1997 to 1/2001. The index cases were HCV Ab (+) (EIA 3rd Abbott and PCR + by RT-nested PCR). The couples with probable or confirmed risk factors of parenteral transmission were strictly excluded. No case of HCV infection was found, suggesting that sexual via wouldn't be a direct transmission of HCV

[The prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis B abs c virus in odontology students]. / Prevalencia de anticuerpos contra los virus de hepatitis B y C en estudiantes de odontología.

UNLABELLED: It is accepted that the practice of odontology implies a risk of BBV and HCV transmission but the study of does not. This work tries to determine the prevalence of HBv Ac and HCV Ac (by ELISA) in odontology students and whether there is any relation to the year of study and/or the presence of other risk factors. 188 students in their last three years of studies were investigated, all the participants filled out a clinical epidemiological form. 89 women (47.3%) and 99 men (52.7%), x age was 24.8. 50 (26.7%) had other risk factors. 160 (85.1%) fulfilled biosecurity norms and 40 (21.2%) had a labour accident. RESULTS: None of the analyzed sera were positive for HCV Ac (0%) and 1 was positive for HbcAc. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HBv Ac and HCV Ac is extremely low with no relation to the year of study or any other risk factors.

Prevalencia de anticuerpos contra los virus de hepatitis B y C en estudiantes de ondontología / The prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis B abs c virus in odontology

It is accepted that the practice of odontology implies a risk of BBV and HCV transmission but the study of does not. This work tries to determine the prevalence of HBv Ac and HCV Ac (by ELISA) in odontology students and whether there is any relation to the year of study and/or the presence of other risk factors. 188 students in their last three years of studies were investigated, all the participants filled out a clinical epidemiological form. 89 women (47.3%) and 99 men (52.7%), x age was 24.8. 50 (26.7%) had other risk factors. 160 (85.1%) fulfilled biosecurity norms and 40 (21.2%) had a labour accident. RESULTS: None of the analyzed sera were positive for HCV Ac (0%) and 1 was positive for HbcAc. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HBv Ac and HCV Ac is extremely low with no relation to the year of study or any other risk factors

[Sexual transmission of Hepatitis C virus]. / Transmisiòn sexual del virus de Hepatitis C.

Fifty heterosexual partners out of 50 patients (index cases) without confirmed or probable risk factors of parenteral transmission by HCV were studied from 1/1997 to 1/2001. The index cases were HCV Ab (+) (EIA 3rd Abbott and PCR + by RT-nested PCR). The couples with probable or confirmed risk factors of parenteral transmission were strictly excluded. No case of HCV infection was found, suggesting that sexual via wouldn't be a direct transmission of HCV.

[Idiopathic portal hypertension with splenic infarct. An unreported complication]. / Hipertensión portal idiopática con infarto esplénico. Complicación no descripta.

We present a case of Idiopathic Portal Hypertension (IPH) with Splenic infarct in a 23-year-old female. She was referred to the hospital because of enlargement of liver and spleen. A computed axial tomography revealed Splenic infarct. The spleen was surgically removed. At laparotomy the liver was found to be enlarged and a liver biopsy performed. The biopsy showed characteristic changes of IPH. After the splenic resection all hematologic manifestations disappeared, suggesting that they were due to hypersplenism. The IPH is very uncommon in western countries. We don't know of any case previously reported in Argentina and our patient is the first case of IPH with Splenic infarct.

Hipertensión portal idiopática con infarto esplénico. Complicación no descripta / Idiopathic portal hypertension with splenic infarct. An unreported complication

La Hipertensión Portal Idiopática (HPI) es un síndrome clínico-patológico caracterizado por hipertensión portal no cirrótica. Su prevalencia es baja en occidente y no hemos encontrado casos comunicados en nuestro país. La patente histológica característica de HPI es fibrosis y obliteración de las venas porta intrajepáticas (flebosclerosis), fibrosis portal y periportal, y formación de vasos aberrantes. Presentamos un caso que nos fue derivado por hepatoesplenomegalia y pancitopenia. Al tercer día de internación presentó dolor abdominal y mediante una TAC abdominal se le diagnosticó un infarto esplénico . Posteriormente se le realizó una esplenectomía y biopsia hepática. Los parámetros hematológicos mejoraron después de la operación. Los estudios de imágenes y endoscópicos confirmaron la presencia de hipertensión portal: circulación colateral, vena porta permeable y dilatada y várices esofágicas. Los cambios histológicos del hígado concordaron con el diagnóstico de HPI. Los signos y síntomas característicos de HPI son hemorragias digestivas relacionadas con la hipertensión portal y pancitopenia secundaria al hiperesplenismo y su principal causa de muerte es la hemorragia por várices esofágicas. Como complicación infrecuente de la HPI se ha descripto la trombosis de la vena Porta. En cambio el infarto esplénico, es una rara complicación de la hipertensión portal por cirrosis y del transplante hepático, pero no se han publicado casos en pacientes con HPI.

[Acute liver failure: clinical-epidemiological characteristics]. / Insuficiencia hepática aguda: características clínico-epidemiológicas.

In order to ascertain the clinical and epidemiological features of acute liver failure (ALF), we analyzed the clinical histories of 22 patients from La Plata city, with the diagnosis of ALF (prothrombin level or factor V below 50%) seen between November 1996 and November 2000. Age, sex, hepatic encephalopathy, reason for consultation, etiology, hepatic biochemical tests, serum creatinine, glycemia, digestive hemorrhage, course and treatment variables were analyzed. What is remarkable is the high frequency of the toxic etiology and of infection by HDV, as well as the high prevalence of ascites and the low incidence of hepatic encephalopathy. We think that the high survival rate we found is due to the early diagnosis and early referral of the patients to the intensive care unit and to centers with programs for liver transplantation.

Insuficiencia hepática aguda: características clínico-epidemiológicas / Acute liver failure: clinical-epidemiological characteristics

Se analizaron las historias clínicas de 22 pacientes con IHA (Protrombina y/o factor V menor de 50 por ciento). La ictericia fue el motivo de consulta más frecuente (54.5 por ciento). Doce pacientes (54.5 por ciento) presentaron EH, sólo dos de los cuales la teníam en el momento del ingreso. Doce (54.5 por ciento) presentaron ascitis en algún momento de la evolución. Etiología desconocida en 6 (27.2 por ciento), fármacos 6 (27.2 por ciento), HBV 5 (22.7 por ciento) 2 de los cuales teníam además HDV y 3 (13.6 por ciento) autoimmune. Se halló una alta tasa de sobrevida.

[Acute liver failure by diphenylhydantoin]. / Insuficiencia hepática aguda por difenilhidantoina.

Diphenylhydantoin is a anticonvulsivant and antiarrhythmic drug. We reported a less frequent case of diphenylhydantoin associated acute hepatotoxicity in a 18-year old woman who immediately after child birth presented generalized tonic-clonic seizures secondary to arachnoid cyst in the left temporal-lobe. The patient developed a mononucleosis like coinciding with previous descriptions. Histological features observed in the liver biopsy specimen showed compatible changes with toxic acute liver failure (ALF). In the few cases published of ALF for Diphenylhydantoin is not specifically pointed out the absence of hepatic encephalopathy as it happened to our patient.

Insuficiencia hepática aguda por difenilhidantoina / Acute liver failure by diphenylhydantoin

Presentamos un caso poco frecuente de insuficiencia hepática aguda por difenilhidantoína en una joven de 18 años. La paciente fue tratada con dicho fármaco inmediatamente después de un parto normal por presentar convulsiones clónicas secundarias a un quiste aracnoideo del lóbulo temporal izquierdo. La paciente presentó un "tipo mononucleosis like" tal como ha sido descripto previamente. La enferma mejoró su función hepática estando en lista de espera para transplante ortotópico hepático y se recuperó totalmente hasta alcanzar el alta definitiva de dos meses después sin haber presentado manifestaciones de encefalopatía hepática en ningún momento de la evolución. La ausencia de encefalopatía hepática, tal como ocurrió en nuestra paciente, no fue señalada en ninguno de los pocos casos de insuficiencia hepática por difenilhidantoína comunicados previamente. Nos estimulan a poner en conocimiento de la comunidad médica un nuevo caso de insuficiencia hepática aguda por difenilhidantoína: 1) La ausencia de encefalopatía hepática (comunicada por primera vez en un caso de insuficiencia hepática aguda por difenilhidantoína. 2) La baja frecuencia de insuficiencia hepática aguda por difenilhidantoína. 3) La forma típica de presentación como "Síndrome Mononucleosis like" con la posibilidad que ella convella de confundir esta entidad con una infección por virus de Ebstein Bar.

[HCV prevalence in health workers]. / Prevalencia de HBV en el personal de salud.

The risk of HBV infections in health workers and the different prevalence according to the hospital activities has been shown in a great number of papers. In order to establish the prevalence of serological HBV markers in health workers fron high complexity hospital, we have analyzed 730 inquiries refilled in the period 1994-1995 before receiving the antihepatitis B vaccine. We studied 730 health workers, 282 (38.8%) males and 447 (61.2%) females with a mean age of 40.1 years old. We found 75/730 (10.2) serums antiçHBc reactives. The found prevalence was significantly larger than the one found in blood donors. The analysis of the prevalence according to the hospital activities showed that the infirmary personnel is the only with anti-HBc prevalence significantly superior to the blood donors, and the other health workers prevalence. Differences in the anti-HBc prevalence between the physicians specialties were not found. Our results agree with other publications that clearly show that health workers are a risk group for HBV infection. However, what attracts attention in the analyzed population is that the only ones with anti-HBc prevalence significantly superior to the blood donors' and the other health workers prevalence were the nurses, suggesting that nurses are the only health workers that have risk of HBV infections.

[Anti HCV in hemodialyzed patients: reduction of the prevalence and association with epidemiological variables]. / Anti HCV en pacientes hemodializados: descenso de la prevalencia y asociación con variables epidemiológicas.

In order to establish the present prevalence of HCV in hemodialyzed patients (HD) from the city of La Plata, and to know the association between the prevalence and different variables, we have studied 217 hemodialyzed patients belonged to the Hemodialysis Unit of a Public Hospital and other 7 private Units. Serological reactivity to Anti HCV and Anti HBc IgG were investigated in all of them, as well as age, sex, number of transfusions, the time under dialysis treatment, the use of erythropoietin and hepatitis episodes were taken into account. We have found a prevalence of Anti HCV of 18.4% which was significantly superior to the blood donors' prevalence (P < 0.01) and significantly inferior to the one found in 1993 in HD patients of the same city (p = 0.002). We have found an association between the presence of Anti HCV and transfusions exposure, as well as more hemodialysis time. Our results may agree with the ones that suggest the aminotransferases are not good markers for hepatocellular injuries in Anti HCV (R) HD patients.

Anti HCV en pacientes hemodializados: descenso de la prevalencia y asociación con variables epidemiológicas / Anti HCV in hemodialyzed patients: reduction of the prevalence and association with epidemiological variables

Para estabelecer la prevalencia actual de infección por HCV en pacientes hemodializados (HD) de la ciudad de La Plata y determinar su asociación con diferentes variables se estudiaron 217 pacientes con Insuficiencia Renal Crónica de una Unidad de Hemodiálisis de un Htal público y de 7 Unidades del medio asistencial privado. En la totalidad de los pacientes se investigó la presencia sérica de anti-HCV y de anti-HBc y se valoró la edad, sexo, número de transfusiones, antigüedad del tratamiento hemodialítico, uso de eritropoyetina y episodios de hepatitis. Se halló una prevalencia de anti-HCV del 18,4 por ciento significativamente superior a la de los donantes de sangre (P<0,01) y significativamente enor a la hallada en pacientes HD de la misma ciudad en 1993 (P=0,002). También se encontró que la presencia de anti-HCV se asocia con el antecedente de haber recibido transfusiones y con mayor tiempo de ento hemodialítico. Nuestro resultados parecen coincidir con los que sugieren que las aminotransferasas en pacientes HD anti HCV © son un mal marcador de lesión hepatocelular.

[Hepatocellular carcinoma: clinical and epidemiological characteristics]. / Carcinoma hepatocelular: características clinicoepidemiológicas.

We present 12 patients with CHC, 11 men and one woman, median age, 59.9 +/- 10.1 cared for in two hospitals from La Plata city. The median age, the predominance of men and presence of cirrhosis in the 75% are similar findings to European 41% of the patients, consulted of the CHC has increased in our environment. The fact that all the patients have been symptomatic at the moment of the consultation, that one of them had normal liver function tests and that only two of them had nodule of less than 5 cm of diameter, suggest advanced stage of the disease. At the same time, the median of survival of 8.3 +/- 9 (DS) months post-diagnosis and of 3.6 +/- 8 (DS) months post surgery. 90.9% had a risk factor to undergo CHC (alcohol, HBC, HCV). Because of one patient, the risk of hemodyalizer patients to have CHC is emphasized. Therefore, it is important to prevent and treat viral infections. In this study, the diagnosis of the echography was of 100% and the histologic corroboration was done by percutaneous biopsy with ultrasound or TC assessment. We observed that the levels of alpha-fetoprotein had a weak, negative correlation, not significative, with the diameters of the nodules. Although it is true that the size of the sample and the retrospective character of the investigation inhibits us to draw definitive conclusions, the behaviour of alfafetoprotein creates doubts about its value in the diagnosis and screening of the CHC.

Carcinoma hepatocelular: caracteristicas clinicoepidemiologicas / Hepatocellular carcinoma: clinical and epidemiological characteristics

Presentamos una serie de 12 pacientes con diagnóstico histológico de Carcinoma Hepatocelular (CHC), once varones y una mujer con una edad media de 59.9 años + 10.1, asistidos en 2 centros de la ciudad de La Plata. La media de edad, el predominio de varones y la presencia de cirrosis en el 75 por ciento son hallazgos similares a los de series europeas. El 41 por ciento de los pacientes consultó en el último año del periodo de observación, sugiriendo que la ocurrencia del CHC ha aumentado en nuestro medio. El hecho que todos los pacientes hayan sido sintomáticos en el momento de la conculta, que 1 sólo tenía pruebas bioquímicas hepáticas normales y que únicamente 2 tenían nódulo < de 5 cm. de diámetro, sugieren el estadio avanzado de la enfermedad. Coincidentemente las medias de sobrevida fueron de 8.3 + 9 (DS) meses post-diagnóstico y de 3.6 + 8(DS) meses post-cirurgía. El 90.9 por ciento tenía algún factor de riesgo para proceder CHC (alcohol, HBV, HCV). A raíz de un paciente hace notar el riesgo que tienen los hemodialízados de podecer CHC y se destaca la importancia de la prevención y tratamiento de las infecciones virales en ese grupo. En esta experiencia el rédio diagnóstico de la ecografía fue el 100 por ciento y la corroboración histológica se concretó mediante punción percutanea guiada por ultrasonidos o por TAC, también exitosamente y sin conplicaciones, en el 100 por ciento de los casos. Observamos que los niveles de alpha fetoproteina tuvieron una correlación negativa débil, no significativa, con los diámetros de los nódulos. Si bien es cierto que el tamaño de la muestra y el carácter retrospectivo del estudio nos inhiben para sacar conclusiones definitivos, este comportamiento de la alpha fetoproteina genera dudas sobre su valor para el diagnóstico y el catastro del CHC. En conclusión. Nuestros pacientes con CHC son similares a los de los paises europeos. Supuestamente ha aumentado la ocurrencia de CHC en nuestro medio. Los CHC de esta serie se han diagnosticado en estadio muy avanzado. Es imprescindible hacer catastros sobre los pacientes de riesgo para contraer CHC. Los hemodializados son pacientes de alto riesgo para contraer CHC. El comportamiento de la alpha fetoproteina ha generado dudas respecto de su utilidad. La ecografía ha resultado de un extraordinario valor el diagnóstico.

Caracteristicas histopatologicas hepaticas en pacientes com sueros anti HCV reactivos / Liver histopatlological characteristics in patients with anti-HCV-positive sera

In order to have knowledge on the histopatologic characteristics of the HCV infections in our geographical area and its relation with some epidemiologic variables, a serie of 54 biopsias of Anti HCV (R) patients was analized. The histologic lesions found in this study correspond mostly to patients with relatively early infections, on the contrary to other studies of the some kind. The most frequent histopathologic diagnosis were crhonic hepatitis 38/54 (70.4 percent), steatosis 4/54 (7.4 percent) and 12/54 (22.2 percent) with no changes. The presence of lymphoid follicles in the portal tracts was the most frequent histological change in this series (66.7 percent), followed by the alteration in bile ducts (53.7 percent); they occurred in a significally higher proportion in the biopsies which had a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis (p=0.02) (p=0.000002). The presence of steatosis and acidophilic bodies in the acinus were found in nearly one third of the biopsies. This findings suggest that the hepatic damage in the anti HCV reactive patients might take through inmunologic mechanisms and citopatic direct action. It was not found that histologic changes produced by HCV might differ according to epidemiologic variables (post-tranfutional, drug abuse IV and sporadic).

[Liver histopathological characteristics in patients with HCV-positive sera]. / Caracteristicas histopatológicas hepáticas en pacientes con sueros anti HCV reactivos.

In order to have knowledge on the histopathologic characteristics of the HCV infections in our geographical area and its relation with some epidemiologic variables, a series of 54 biopsies of Anti HCV (R) patients was analyzed. The histologic lesions found in this study correspond mostly to patients with relatively early infections, on the contrary to other studies of the some kind. The most frequent histopathologic diagnosis were chronic hepatitis 38/54 (70.4%), steatosis 4/54 (7.4%) and 12/54 (22.2%) with no changes. The presence of lymphoid follicles in the portal tracts was the most frequent histological change in this series (66.7%), followed by the alteration in bile ducts (53.7%); they occurred in a significantly higher proportion in the biopsies which had a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis (p = 0.02) (p = 0.000002). The presence of steatosis and acidophilic bodies in the acinus were found in nearly one third of the biopsies. This findings suggest that the hepatic damage in the anti HCV reactive patients might take place through immunologic mechanisms and cytopathic direct action. It was not found that histologic changes produced by HCV might differ according to epidemiologic variables (post-transfusional, drug abuse i.v. and sporadic).

Anticuerpos contra el virus de la hepatitis C - anti HCV. Prevalencia e influencia sobre la morbimortalidad en los pacientes sometidos a trasplante renal, en los dos ultimos anos del programa de trasplante renal de la ciudad de la Plata / Hepatitis C viruses antibodies - anti HCV. Prevalence and their influence on the morbi-mortality in transplantation patients, in the last two years of the kidney transplantation program of the La Plata city

Se estudiaron 34 pacientes con trasplante renal (TxR), 18 varones y 16 mujeres, con el objetivo de conocer la prevalencia de Anti HCV, en este tipo de pacientes y su influencia sobre la morbimortalidad temprana. La media de segmiento fue 8.44 DS 6.7 meses y la de edad 38.32 años DS 13.97. Todos recibieron el mismo esquema inmuno-supresor y los episodios de rechazo se trataron con pulsos de metilprednisolona. Resultaron Anti HCV r (por EIA II) de Abbott e Inmunoblotting de Péptidos Sintéticos LIA TEK Organon Teknika); 7 (20.6 por ciento) pacientes y (NR) 27 (79.4 por ciento). Recibieron injerto de donante cadavérico 4 (57.1 por ciento), Anti HCV R y 10 (37.0 por ciento) Anti HCV NR; de donante vivo relacionado 3 (42.9 por ciento) Anti HCV R y 17 (63.0 por ciento) Anti HCV NR. Tenían antecedentes de haber pedacido hepatitis 6 (85.7 por ciento) de lso 7 Anti HCV R: 2 hepatitis crónicas y 4 agudas (2 HBV y 2 no B (NABV) y 6 (22.2 por ciento) de los 27 Anti HCV NR. El tiempo medio de tratamiento hemodialítico antes del trasplante en el grupo Anti HCV r fue 63.0 DS 27.0 meses y resultó significativamente superior (P<0.05) al del grupo Anti HCV (NR) (27.3 DS 20.7). Episodios de rechazos, hepatopatías post-trasplante y sobrevida del injerto y del paciente no fueron significativamente diferentes entre los pacientes Anti HCV R y los NR.