MELD SCORE CORRELATION WITH LABORATORY FINDINGS AND COMPLICATIONS OF HEPATITIS C CAUSED LIVER CIRRHOSIS.

Introduction: Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) is a scoring system used to estimate the severity of chronic liver disease. Score is based on objective variables and predicts survival among different populations of patients. Study Aim. The aim of the study was to retrospectively analyze potential connection between MELD score and laboratory findings and complications of hepatitis C caused liver cirrhosis. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study based on data from Riga East Clinical University Hospital from the time period of 2010 to 2014 was performed. Original protocol and database were developed with consequential data statistical analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics ver.20.0. Results: In total 221 cirrhosis cases were enrolled in the study. 128 (58%) cases were male and 93 (42%) female. Mean age was 52.7 ± 13.4 years. Statistically significant correlation was found between leukocytes (r = 0.4, p < 0.001), blood urea (r = 0.4, p < 0.001), serum albumin (r = -0.4, p < 0.001), C-reactive protein (r = 0.4, p < 0.001) and MELD score. Higher leukocytes, higher urea, C-reactive protein and lower serum albumin rates give higher MELD score. At the time of hospitalization 208 (94%) of the patients had different complications of liver cirrhosis. Correlation between MELD score varied significantly with esophageal varices (r = 0.2, p < 0.05) and esophageal vein bleeding (r = 0.2, p < 0.05). Results show, if patient is present with esophageal varices and esophageal vein bleeding, MELD score is higher. Conclusion: Patients with higher leukocytes, blood urea nitrogen and lower serum albumin level are presenting higher MELD score. In patients who presented with esophageal varices and esophageal vein bleeding, higher MELD score was observed.

THE SMALL BOWEL VIDEO CAPSULE ENDOSCOPY - TEN YEARS EXPERIENCE IN LATVIA.

INTRODUCTION: Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is relatively new, informative and minimally invasive endoscopic diagnostic method for assessment of the small bowel mucosa. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical significance of ten years' experience of VCE in Latvia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of patients who underwent VCE between July 2006 and July 2016 was conducted. All patients had undergone previous negative endoscopic examinations before VCE. Special original study protocol with more than 370 parameters was fulfilled for each patient. All the data was entered into the database with consecutive statistical analysis using SPSS ver.19. RESULTS: In total out of 530 VCE were performed, due to technical reasons 421 patients' data were entered into the database. Out of these, 245 (58,2%) patients were females and 176 (41,8%) - males. Patients' age was varied from 13 to 82 (mean 44.39 ± 16.36) years. VCE most common indications were: Crohn's disease (26.1%), unclear iron deficiency anemia (22.8%), chronic unexplained abdominal pain (20.4%) and obscure bleeding from the digestive tract (17.1%). VCE findings were justified as clinically significant in 255 (60.57%) of cases. In 152 (36.10%) - findings were doubtful, and in 14 (3.33%) - clinically insignificant. Bowel preparation prior to capsule endoscopy was performed using one of the four schemes. Bowel cleanliness was statistically significantly better (p = 0.03) using 2 liters or 4 liters of polyethylene glycol-based electrolyte solution. Regional transit abnormalities (RTA) in 55 (13.1%) cases. Positive statistically significant correlation was observed between presence of RTA without changes / defects in the small bowel mucosa and patients age (p = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: 1. VCE is clinically significant examination in patients with Crohn's disease, obscure bleeding from the digestive tract, unexplained anemia and chronic unexplained abdominal pain, which also allows changing the patient's further treatment tactics. 2. 2 liters and 4 liters of polyethylene glycol-based electrolyte solution are by far the most efficient bowel preparation schemes prior VCE. 3. RTA is more common in the elderly patients.