Impact of liver steatosis on the correlation between liver stiffness and fibrosis measured by transient elastography in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus.

We assessed the effect of different hepatic conditions such as fibrosis, steatosis and necroinflammatory activity on liver stiffness as measured by transient elastography in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. We studied all consecutive HIV/HCV-coinfected patients who underwent liver biopsy and elastography between January 2007 and December 2008. Liver fibrosis was staged following METAVIR Cooperative Study Group criteria. Steatosis was categorized according to the percentage of affected hepatocytes as low (≤10%), moderate (<25%) and severe (≥25%). A total of 110 patients were included. Fibrosis was distributed by stage as follows: F0, n = 13; F1, n = 47; F2, n = 29; F3, n = 18; and F4, n = 3. Liver biopsy revealed the presence of hepatic steatosis in 68 patients (low to moderate, n = 53; and severe n = 15). By univariate regression analysis, fibrosis, necroinflammatory activity, and the degree of steatosis were correlated with liver stiffness. However, in a multiple regression analysis, steatosis and fibrosis were the only independent variables significantly associated with liver stiffness. With a cut-off of 9.5 kPa to distinguish patients with F ≤ 2 from F ≥ 3, elastography led to a significantly higher number of misclassification errors (25%vs 5%; P = 0.014), most of which were false positives for F ≥ 3. Our study suggests that the correlation between liver stiffness and fibrosis as estimated by transient elastography may be affected by the presence of hepatic steatosis in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.

[Growing up with a bladder augmentation]. / Creciendo con una ampliación vesical.

INTRODUCTION: This study assesses long-term outcome of patients with neuropatic bladders who underwent a bladder augmentation before puberty. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 21 patients with low compliant neuropathic bladders who did not respond satisfactory to clean intermittent catheterization and/or anticholinergic therapy underwent bladder augmentation (mean age 8.3 yr, range; 2.5-12). Eighteen patients (86%) had VUR and/or ureterohydronephrosis and 17 (81%) had DMSA renal scars. Renal function was normal in all cases except one. All patients were followed at regular intervals with serum electrolyte and creatinine determination, urinary tract imaging, urodynamic evaluation and 24-hour urine collection. In the 18 cases augmented with intestine, urine cytology, cystoscopy and biopsy were also performed. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 11 yr (8-14.5) and mean age at the end of follow-up was 19 yr (13.3-26.8). Urodynamic studies showed a significant improvement in bladder compliance. Upper urinary tract dilatation disappeared in all patients, VUR in 13/15p (86%) and no new renal scarring occurred. Renal function was normal at the end of follow-up in 20. Only 1 patient had UTI and another had a bladder stone. All patients are dry and 2 of them do not need clean intermittent catheterization. Urine cytology and cystoscopy were normal and no malignat lessions have been found in the biopsy specimens. CONCLUSIONS: Bladder augmentation done pre-puberty preserves renal function and resolves VUR and/or hydronephrosis in most cases without reimplanting the ureters. Close lifelong follow-up, including a cystoscopy, improves the results and prevents complications.

Three trocars laparoscopic resection of angiomyolipoma of the liver.

Angiomyolipoma of the liver (AML) is an infrequent neoplasm composed of three tissues (adipose, muscle and vessels). In spite of advances in radiology, preoperative correct diagnosis is difficult. Clasically, a conservative management strategy was adopted in patients with asymptomatic tumors less than 5 cm with undoubtful diagnosis. But after publishing some few cases of malignant angiomyolipoma a more radical has been advocated. Laparoscopic resection of liver tumors is becoming a excellent approach for operating on benign liver tumors. Usually is performed using five trocars but in some cases a less invasive technique with three trocars could be used. We present a laparoscopic resection of liver angiomyolipoma in a 65 year-old male using only three trocars and also discuss the optimal management of AML and technical tips of three-trocar technique.