Patients with severe mental illness and hepatitis C virus infection benefit from new pangenotypic direct-acting antivirals: Results of a literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health problem that can results in cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and even death. HCV infection is 3-20-fold more prevalent among patients with versus without severe mental illness (SMI), such as major depressive disorder, personality disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Treatment options for HCV were formerly based on pegylated interferon alpha, which is associated with neuropsychiatric adverse events, and this contributed to the exclusion of patients with SMI from HCV treatment, elimination programmes, and clinical trials. Moreover, the assumption of poor adherence, scant access to healthcare and the stigma and vulnerability of this population emerged as barriers and contributed to the low rates of treatment and efficacy. METHODS: This paper reviews the literature published between December 2010 and December 2020 exploring the epidemiology of HCV in patients with SMI, and vice versa, the effect of HCV infection, barriers to the management of illness in these patients, and benefits of new therapeutic options with pangenotypic direct antiviral agents (DAAs). RESULTS: The approval of DAAs has changed the paradigm of HCV infection treatment. DAAs have proven to be an equally efficacious and safe option that improves quality of life (QoL) in patients SMI. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the consequences of the HCV infection and the benefits of treatment with new pangenotypic DAAs among psychiatrists can increase screening, referral and treatment of HCV infection in patients with SMI.

Executive summary: Consensus document of GEHEP of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC), along with SOCIDROGALCOHOL, SEPD and SOMAPA on hepatitis C virus infection management in drug users.

The micro-elimination of HCV infection in drug users (DU) in our area is a priority in order to achieve the overall elimination of this disease. Coordinated action between specialists in addiction treatment, microbiologists and physicians who treat HCV infection is required to implement infection screening, to achieve universal access to treatment and to prevent new infections and reinfections. The objective of this document was to come to a consensus on the screening, hospital referral, treatment, follow-up and prevention of HCV infection in DU by an expert panel from GEHEP/SEIMC and three scientific societies of addiction treating physicians: SEPD, SOCIDROGALCOHOL and SOMAPA.

Similar plasma lipidomic profile in people living with HIV treated with a darunavir-based or an integrase inhibitor-based antiretroviral therapy.

Cardiovascular disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in people living with HIV (PLWH), who commonly experience lipid disturbances. The aim of this study was to determine whether the plasma lipidomic profile differs between PLWH receiving a darunavir-based ART and those receiving integrase inhibitor-based ART. This was a cross-sectional study of unselected patients for whom metabolomic analysis was performed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Data for the two subgroups were compared by calculating the log2 of the fold change for each metabolite and then grouping these into the main lipid families. Sixty-two PLWH aged 49.3 ± 8.6 years (82% men) were included: 12 patients (19.4%) had hypertension, 8 (12.9%) had type 2 diabetes, 25 (41.0%) had dyslipidaemia and 9 (14.5%) were taking statins, without significant differences in all these variables between the two groups. Twenty-five (40.3%) received darunavir-based ART and 37 (59.7%) integrase inhibitor-based ART. Although the differences were not statistically significant, patients treated with darunavir-based ART had higher concentrations of total cholesterol (211 mg/dL vs 194 mg/dL), LDL-cholesterol (132 mg/dL vs 117 mg/dL) and triglycerides (155 mg/dL vs 122 mg/dL), and lower HDL-cholesterol concentration (50 mg/dL vs 52 mg/dL). The main lipid families and metabolites differed slightly between groups (log2-fold change; P-value): ceramides (-0.07; 0.49), phosphatidylinositols (-0.05; 0.63), diacylglycerols (0.10; 0.64), phosphatidylethanolamines (0.03; 0.78), triacylglycerols (0.27; 0.18) and lysophosphatidylethanolamines (0.03; 0.83). In the integrase inhibitor-based group, the use of tenofovir alafenamide fumarate significantly increases the majority of lipid fractions, when compared with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. The lipidomic profile did not differ between PLWH treated with darunavir-based or integrase inhibitor-based ART. This was especially true for ceramides, which are involved in cardiovascular disease. Further studies are needed to study the impact of ART in lipidomic profile.

Liver-related events and mortality among elderly patients with advanced chronic hepatitis C treated with direct-acting antivirals.

BACKGROUND: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are effective in patients aged ≥65 years. However, little is known about the effects of DAAs on survival, liver decompensation and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence of liver-related events and mortality between patients aged ≥65 and <65 years. METHODS: Prospective study comparing patients aged ≥65 and <65 years treated with DAAs. The incidence of liver-related events and mortality, and HCC was compared between age groups. RESULTS: Five hundred patients (120 aged ≥65 and 380 aged <65 years) were included. The incidence of liver-related events was 2.62 per 100 patient-years (py) in older and 1.41/100 py in younger patients. All-cause mortality was 3.89 and 1.27/100 py in older and younger patients, respectively. The respective liver-related mortality rates were 1.12 and 0.31/100 py. In patients with cirrhosis (stage F4), all-cause mortality (P = 0.283) and liver-related mortality (P = 0.254) did not differ between groups. All five liver-related deaths were related to multifocal HCC. The incidence of HCC was 1.91 and 1.43 per 100 py in the older and younger groups, respectively (P = 0.747). The diagnosis of HCC was 8 months after the end of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of liver-related events and liver-related mortality was low in older people treated with DAAs and was similar to that in younger patients. The extra mortality in people aged ≥65 years treated with DAAs seems to be secondary to non-liver-related causes. These results support the utilization of DAAs in patients aged ≥65 years.

Increased incidence of cancer observed in HIV/hepatitis C virus-coinfected patients versus HIV-monoinfected.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is a growing problem in persons living with HIV infection (PLWH) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection could play an additional role in carcinogenesis. Herein, all cancers in an HIV-mono and HIV/HCV-coinfected cohort were evaluated and compared to identify any differences between these two populations. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted including all cancers in PLWH between 1993 and 2014. Cancers were classified in two groups: AIDS-defining cancer (ADC) and non-AIDS-defining cancer (NADC). Cancer incidence rates were calculated and compared with that observed in the Spanish general population (GLOBOCAN, 2012), computing the standardized incidence ratios (SIRs). A competing risk approach was used to estimate the probability of cancer after HIV diagnosis. Cumulative incidence in HIV-monoinfected and HIV/HCV-coinfected patients was also compared using multivariable analysis. RESULTS: A total of 185 patients (117 HIV-monoinfected and 68 HIV/HCV) developed cancer in the 26 580 patient-years cohort, with an incidence rate of 696 cancers per 100 000 person-years, higher than in the general population (SIR = 3.8). The incidence rate of NADC in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients was 415.0 (SIR = 3.4), significantly higher than in monoinfected (377.3; SIR = 1.8). After adjustments, HIV/HCV-coinfected patients had a higher cumulative incidence of NADC than HIV-monoinfected (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.80), even when excluding hepatocellular carcinomas (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.26). CONCLUSION: PLWH have a higher incidence of NADC than the general population and HCV-coinfection is associated with a higher incidence of NADC. These data justify the need for prevention strategies in these two populations and the importance of eradicating HCV.

Characterization of chronic HCV infection in Northwest Spain: Impact of the treatment strategic plan of the Spanish National Health Service on HCV cure.

The aim of the study was to characterize HCV infection in Northwest Spain and assess the impact of the Spanish Strategic Plan to cure HCV infection. Overall, 387 patients were included (60.9% HIV/HCV coinfected and 28.2% cirrhotic). Of these, 72.9% of patients that were recognized as priority for HCV treatment according to the Spanish Strategic Plan (≥F2, transplant or extrahepatic manifestations), initiated treatment during 2015. Globally, SVR12 was achieved in 96.5% of patients. The implementation of the Spanish Strategic Plan has been critical to advance in HCV cure, but 27.1% of priority patients still remain awaiting HCV treatment initiation.

Trends in hospital admissions, re-admissions, and in-hospital mortality among HIV-infected patients between 1993 and 2013: Impact of hepatitis C co-infection.

BACKGROUND: New patterns in epidemiological characteristics of people living with HIV infection (PLWH) and the introduction of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) have changed the profile of hospital admissions in this population. The aim of this study was to evaluate trends in hospital admissions, re-admissions, and mortality rates in HIV patients and to analyze the role of HCV co-infection. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study conducted on all hospital admissions of HIV patients between 1993 and 2013. The study time was divided in two periods (1993-2002 and 2003-2013) to be compared by conducting a comparative cross-sectional analysis. RESULTS: A total of 22,901 patient-years were included in the analysis, with 6917 hospital admissions, corresponding to 1937 subjects (75% male, mean age 36±11 years, 37% HIV/HCV co-infected patients). The median length of hospital stay was 8 days (5-16), and the 30-day hospital re-admission rate was 20.1%. A significant decrease in hospital admissions related with infectious and psychiatric diseases was observed in the last period (2003-2013), but there was an increase in those related with malignancies, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and chronic respiratory diseases. In-hospital mortality remained high (6.8% in the first period vs. 6.3% in the second one), with a progressive increase of non-AIDS-defining illness deaths (37.9% vs. 68.3%, P<.001). The admission rate significantly dropped after 1996 (4.9% yearly), but it was less pronounced in HCV co-infected patients (1.7% yearly). CONCLUSIONS: Hospital admissions due to infectious and psychiatric disorders have decreased, with a significant increase in non-AIDS-defining malignancies, cardiovascular, and chronic respiratory diseases. In-hospital mortality is currently still high, but mainly because of non-AIDS-defining illnesses. HCV co-infection increased the hospital stay and re-admissions during the study period.

Prevención de recurrencia de infección por hepatitis B en receptores de trasplante hepático utilizando dosis bajas de inmunoglobulina antihepatitis B y análogo de nucleósido / Prevention of Hepatitis B Recurrence in Liver Transplant Recipients Using Low Doses of Anti-Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin and Nucleoside Analogue

Introducción: la hepatitis B es una causa importante de trasplante hepático; produce 1 millón de muertes anuales. El uso de inmunoglobulina antihepatitis B en dosis altas y análogos de nucleósidos redujeron en un 90% la reinfección del injerto. Objetivo: evaluar la eficacia de dosis bajas de inmunoglobulina postrasplante para prevenir la reinfección del injerto. Metodología: serie de casos retrospectiva de pacientes trasplantados en el Hospital “Pablo Tobón Uribe”, entre enero de 2004 y septiembre de 2014, que recibieron inmunoglobulina después del trasplante. Se evaluaron la carga viral de hepatitis B, las transaminasas y los marcadores serológicos para documentar recaída, además de variables como mortalidad, complicaciones, disfunción del injerto, reacciones adversas y costos. Resultados: fueron 18 pacientes trasplantados con hepatitis B; 50% tenía hepatocarcinoma; 22%, cirrosis; y 22%, insuficiencia hepática aguda. La mediana de seguimiento fue de 43,27 meses (14,7-65,2). De los pacientes, 2 tuvieron antígeno de superficie positivo en el postrasplante y en 1 hubo recaída con carga viral positiva a los 41 meses. La tasa de reinfección del injerto fue del 5,5%. No hubo muertes. Se estimó que el costo de usar dosis bajas de inmunoglobulina fue menor comparado con las dosis altas a 6 meses de terapia; sin embargo, no se hizo estudio de costo-efectividad. La disfunción del injerto fue del 10% a 33 meses. Conclusión: con dosis bajas de inmunoglobulina se previno la reinfección del injerto, similar a lo reportado en otras series. Mientras los esquemas libres de inmunoglobulina logran demostrar su utilidad a largo plazo, usar dosis bajas de inmunoglobulina sigue siendo útil.

Introduction: Hepatitis B results in one million deaths every year and is is an important reason for liver transplantation. The use of anti-hepatitis B immunoglobulin at high doses and nucleoside analogues have reduced reinfection of the graft by 90%. Objective: This study evaluated the efficacy of low doses of immunoglobulin to prevent reinfection of grafts after transplantation. Methodology: This is a retrospective study of a series of patients who had been transplanted and who received immunoglobulin after transplantation at the Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe between January 2004 and September 2014. Hepatitis B viral load, transaminase and serological markers were used to document relapses. Other variables studied included mortality, complications, graft dysfunction, adverse reactions and costs. Results: There were 18 patients with hepatitis B who had transplants: 50% had hepatocarcinoma, 22% had cirrhosis, and 22% had acute liver failure. The median follow-up time was 43.27 months with a range of 14.7 to 65.2 months. Two patients tested positive for surface antigen in the post-transplant period and one relapsed and had a positive viral load at 41 months. The graft reinfection rate was 5.5%. There were no deaths. It was estimated that the cost of using low doses of immunoglobulin was lower than that of using high doses at 6 months of therapy, but no cost-effectiveness study was done. Graft dysfunction was 10% to 33 months. Conclusion: Low doses of immunoglobulin prevented reinfection of grafts in a way that is similar to that reported in other series. While immunoglobulin free schemes have proven to be useful for the long term, low doses of immunoglobulin remain useful.

Primer trasplante hepático en paciente con infección por VIH en Colombia: reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura / First Liver Transplant in an HIV Patient in Colombia: Case Report and Literature Review

Resumen El tratamiento antirretroviral y el manejo adecuados convirtieron a la infección por VIH en una enfermedad crónica con buena sobrevida a largo plazo. Actualmente, más de la mitad de las muertes en estos pacientes se debe a causas no relacionadas con el VIH, y la enfermedad hepática terminal de diversas etiologías es la segunda causa de muerte en estos pacientes, por lo que el trasplante de hígado se ha convertido en una opción de tratamiento para pacientes seleccionados que tengan buen control de la infección por VIH, con una sobrevida postrasplante similar a otras indicaciones. En este reporte, presentamos el caso del primer paciente en Colombia trasplantado de hígado con infección por VIH, con coinfección por virus B, cirrosis hepática y hepatocarcinoma en el Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe en el año 2010.

Abstract Appropriate antiretroviral treatment and management has transformed HIV into a chronic disease with good long-term survival rates. Currently more than half of the deaths of these patients are due to non-HIV-related causes among which terminal liver disease resulting from various etiologies is the second most frequent cause of death. Consequently, liver transplantation has become a treatment option for selected patients whose HIV infections have been controlled. Post-transplant survival rates are similar to those of other liver transplant patients. This report presents the first liver transplant in Colombia of an HIV infected patient. This patient had a coinfection with Hepatitis B virus as well as cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. The procedure was performed in the Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe in 2010.

Lung Cancer in HIV-Infected Patients.

The widespread use of HAART for persons living with HIV since 1996 has resulted in a dramatic decline in AIDS-related mortality. However, other comorbidities are increasing, such as metabolic disturbances or cancers, including solid organ malignancies. Among the latest, lung cancer, especially the adenocarcinoma subtype, is on the rise. HIV infection, even controlling for smoking, is an independent risk factor for developing lung cancer. HIV could promote lung cancers through immunosuppression, chronic inflammation, and a direct oncogenic effect. Smoking, lung infections, and chronic pulmonary diseases are risk factors for lung cancer. All may contribute to the cumulative incidence of lung cancer in persons living with HIV. It is double that in the general population. The role of HAART in lung cancer development in persons living with HIV is not well established. Although data supporting it could be too preliminary, persons living with HIV should be considered within high-risk groups that could benefit from screening strategies with low-dose computed tomography, especially those with airway obstruction and emphysema. Current evidence suggests that quitting smoking strategies in persons living with HIV achieve abstinence rates comparable to those in healthy HIV-negative smokers.

Trasplante hepático en hemangioendotelioma epitelioide: reporte de dos casos y revisión de la literatura / Two Case Reports and a Literature Review of Liver Transplantation for Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma

El hemangioendotelioma epitelioide hepático es un tumor raro, de naturaleza agresiva y comportamiento impredecible, con una incidencia de menos de 1 caso por millón de personas al año. Se presenta especialmente en mujeres jóvenes y con síntomas no específicos como dolor abdominal y pérdida de peso. La presentación radiológica es con múltiples nódulos o masas periféricas y bilaterales, con retracción de la cápsula, en algunos casos con calcificaciones y compromiso vascular. Debe realizarse biopsia hepática para confirmar el diagnóstico y para descartar diagnósticos alternativos como angiosarcoma, hepatocarcinoma, colangiocarcinoma y metástasis. El manejo depende de la extensión al momento de presentación, aunque solo el 10% de los casos es susceptible de resección. En las últimas décadas, el trasplante hepático se ha convertido en una opción de manejo, con series de casos aisladas reportadas por centros de trasplante en el mundo. En este artículo se presenta la experiencia de 2 pacientes con diagnóstico de hemangioendotelioma epitelioide hepático sin posibilidad de resección, confirmado histológicamente, sin compromiso extrahepático y que fueron llevados a trasplante de hígado exitoso y sin recurrencia de la enfermedad a 4 y 6 años después del trasplante.

Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a rare, aggressive and unpredictable tumor. Its incidence is less than one case per million people per year. Most commonly, it occurs in young women who exhibit nonspecific symptoms such as abdominal pain and weight loss. Radiologically it presents as multiple bilateral and peripheral nodules or masses with retraction of the capsule of the liver. In some cases there is calcification and vascular compromise. A liver biopsy should be performed to confirm the diagnosis and to rule out alternative diagnoses such as angiosarcoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma and metastasis. Management depends on the extension at presentation, but only 10% of cases are amenable to resection. Although in recent decades liver transplantation has become a management option, only studies of isolated cases reported by various transplant centers around the world have been published so far. In this article, we report our experience with two patients who were diagnosed with hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma in which there were no possibilities of resection. Diagnoses were histologically confirmed, and since the patients had no extra-hepatic compromises, liver transplantations were performed. Both were successful and without recurrence at 4 and 6 years after transplantation.

An experience of liver transplantation in Latin America: a medical center in Colombia.

OBJECTIVES: Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for acute and chronic liver failure, for selected cases of tumors, and for conditions resulting from errors in metabolism. This paper reports the experience of a medical center in Latin America. METHODS: Were conducted 305 orthotopic liver transplantations on 284 patients between 2004 and 2010. Of these patients, 241 were adults undergoing their first transplantation. RESULTS: The average age of patients was 52 years old, and 62% of the individuals were male. The most common indication was alcoholic cirrhosis. The rate of patient survival after 1 and 5 years was 82 and 72% respectively. The rate of liver graft survival after 1 and 5 years was 78 and 68% respectively. The main cause of death was sepsis. Complications in the hepatic artery were documented for 5% of the patients. Additionally, 14.5% of the patients had complications in the biliary tract. Infections were found in 41% of the individuals. Acute rejection was observed in 30% of the subjects, and chronic rejection in 3%. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, liver transplantation at our medical center in Colombia offers good mid-term results, with a complication rate similar to that reported by other centers around the world.

OBJETIVOS: El trasplante hepático es el tratamiento de elección para la falla hepática aguda y crónica, casos seleccionados de tumores y enfermedades por errores en el metabolismo. En este documento se reporta la experiencia de un centro en Latinoamérica. MÉTODOS: Entre el 2004 y el 2010 se realizaron 305 trasplantes ortotópicos de hígado en 284 pacientes. De ellos, 241 corresponde a primer trasplante en adultos. RESULTADOS: La edad promedio fue 52 años y el 62% eran hombres. La principal indicación fue cirrosis por alcohol. La supervivencia de los pacientes a 1 y 5 años fue de 82 y 72% respectivamente y del injerto hepático a 1 y 5 años fue de 78 y 68% respectivamente. La principal causa de muerte fue sepsis. Se documentaron complicaciones en la arteria hepática en el 5% y complicaciones en la vía biliar en el 14.5%. Se encontraron infecciones en el 41% de los pacientes. Rechazo agudo se presento en el 30% y rechazo crónico en el 3%. CONCLUSIÓN: El trasplante hepático en nuestro centro en Colombia ofrece buenos resultados a mediano plazo, con una tasa de complicaciones similar a lo reportado en otros centros del mundo.

An experience of liver transplantation in Latin America: a medical center in Colombia / Experiencia de trasplante hepático en Latinoamérica: en un centro médico en Colombia

Objectives: Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for acute and chronic liver failure, for selected cases of tumors, and for conditions resulting from errors in metabolism. This paper reports the experience of a medical center in Latin America. Methods: Were conducted 305 orthotopic liver transplantations on 284 patients between 2004 and 2010. Of these patients, 241 were adults undergoing their first transplantation. Results: The average age of patients was 52 years old, and 62% of the individuals were male. The most common indication was alcoholic cirrhosis. The rate of patient survival after 1 and 5 years was 82 and 72% respectively. The rate of liver graft survival after 1 and 5 years was 78 and 68% respectively. The main cause of death was sepsis. Complications in the hepatic artery were documented for 5% of the patients. Additionally, 14.5% of the patients had complications in the biliary tract. Infections were found in 41% of the individuals. Acute rejection was observed in 30% of the subjects, and chronic rejection in 3%. Conclusion: In conclusion, liver transplantation at our medical center in Colombia offers good mid-term results, with a complication rate similar to that reported by other centers around the world.

Objetivos: El trasplante hepático es el tratamiento de elección para la falla hepática aguda y crónica, casos seleccionados de tumores y enfermedades por errores en el metabolismo. En este documento se reporta la experiencia de un centro en Latinoamérica. Métodos: Entre el 2004 y el 2010 se realizaron 305 trasplantes ortotópicos de hígado en 284 pacientes. De ellos, 241 corresponde a primer trasplante en adultos. Resultados: La edad promedio fue 52 años y el 62% eran hombres. La principal indicación fue cirrosis por alcohol. La supervivencia de los pacientes a 1 y 5 años fue de 82 y 72% respectivamente y del injerto hepático a 1 y 5 años fue de 78 y 68% respectivamente. La principal causa de muerte fue sepsis. Se documentaron complicaciones en la arteria hepática en el 5% y complicaciones en la vía biliar en el 14.5%. Se encontraron infecciones en el 41% de los pacientes. Rechazo agudo se presento en el 30% y rechazo crónico en el 3%. Conclusión: El trasplante hepático en nuestro centro en Colombia ofrece buenos resultados a mediano plazo, con una tasa de complicaciones similar a lo reportado en otros centros del mundo.

Trasplante hepático en mayores de 65 años de edad: experiencia en el Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe, Medellín, Colombia 2004-2010 / Experience with Liver Transplantation in patients over 65 years of Age at the Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe in Medellin, Colombia from 2004 to 2010

El trasplante hepático se ha extendido a personas mayores de 65 años de edad, quienes anteriormente eran excluidas de los protocolos debido a la mayor morbilidad y mortalidad asociadas con la edad. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar la supervivencia y las complicaciones en pacientes mayores de 65 años de edad sometidos a trasplante de hígado. Se analizaron historias clínicas de pacientes mayores de 65 años de edad trasplantados en el período comprendido entre septiembre de 2004 y noviembre de 2010, en el Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe de Medellín, Colombia. Se estudiaron 27 pacientes con una edad promedio de 67 años. La supervivencia postrasplante en ellos fue del 85,2%, 70,4% y 63% a los 30 días, al año y a los 5 años, respectivamente. Se evaluaron las complicaciones postrasplante, siendo las más frecuentes el sangrado masivo y las infecciones nosocomiales. La principal causa de muerte fueron los eventos cardiovasculares. En conclusión, la selección adecuada de los pacientes permite a aquellas personas mayores de 65 años convertirse en candidatos a trasplante hepático, con una buena supervivencia actuarial a 5 años y una mejor calidad de vida.

Liver transplantation protocols have been extended to people over 65 years of age who had previously been excluded from protocols due to the increased morbidity and mortality rates associated with age. This study aims to identify survival rates and complications in patients over 65 years who have undergone liver transplantation. Medical records of patients older than 65 who underwent liver transplantation in the period between September 2004 and November 2010 at the Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe in Medellin, Colombia were analyzed. We studied 27 patients with an average age of 67 years. The 30 day post-transplant survival rate was 85.2%, at one year the survival rate was 70.4%, and at five years it was 63%. An evaluation of post-transplant complications found that the most frequent complications were massive bleeding and nosocomial infections. The main causes of death were cardiovascular events. Conclusion: Proper patient selection allows those over 65 years of age to become candidates for liver transplantation with a good actuarial 5-year survival rate and better quality of life.

Factors associated with recurrence and survival in liver transplant patients with HCC--a single center retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary tumor of the liver and is diagnosed in more than a half million people worldwide each year. This study aims to assess factors associated with the recurrence and survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and liver transplantation in a cohort of patients from Medellín, Colombia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a descriptive retrospective study of a consecutive series of liver transplant patients from the Pablo Tobon Uribe Hospital of Medellín from January 2004 to May 2013. Demographic, clinical, imaging, and pathology variables were analyzed. RESULTS: Three hundred thirty liver transplants were performed during the study period, 54 cases (16.4%) had one or more hepatocellular carcinomas in the explant, and 79.6% of these patients were men. Cirrhotic patients had different etiologies, but most of them were due to alcohol abuse (22.2%), followed by hepatitis B virus infection (20.4 %), and hepatitis C virus infection (18.5%). In the pathology specimen, 51.9% had only one focus of hepatocellular carcinoma, 22.2% had two foci and 12.9% had three tumors. Recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma occurred in 7.4% patients with an average time of 81 months. During follow-up, 25.9% of the patients died in an average time of 67.9 months (CI95 59.1-80.1 months). CONCLUSION: Recurrence and survival of patients with liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma in this study had a similar behavior as that reported in the world literature. The factors associated with these outcomes were vascular invasion, poor tumor differentiation and satellitosis.

Seroprevalence of HCV and HIV infections by year of birth in Spain: impact of US CDC and USPSTF recommendations for HCV and HIV testing.

BACKGROUND: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently add the advice of one-time testing of HCV infection in persons born during 1945-1965. Moreover, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) newly recommended one-time HIV testing for persons aged 15-65. Herein, we evaluate the potential impact of these recommendations in a reference medical area of Spain. METHODS: All assays results entries for HCV and HIV serological markers ordered at a reference lab from primary care and specialized physicians between 2008 and 2012 were recorded in a medical area which covers 501,526 citizens in Northern Spain. The year of birth were also documented. RESULTS: A total of 108,159 anti-HCV-Ab results were generated during the study period. The global rate of anti-HCV-Ab+ was 7.7% (95% CI: 7.6%-7.9%), being more prevalent in men than women (8.6% vs. 4.5%). By year of birth, the highest prevalence was found in persons born between 1955 and 1970. HCV genotype 1 was the most prevalent (59.7%) followed by genotype 3 (22.7%). Regard HIV infection, among 65,279 anti-HIV results generated the prevalence of anti-HIV+ was 1.1% (95% CI: 1.0%-1.2%), being more frequent in men (2% vs 0.5%). The years of birth with highest rates of HIV infection exactly match with those for HCV infection. CONCLUSIONS: The highest rates of HCV and HIV infections are found between 1960 and 1965. Different historical and social circumstances such as the huge intravenous drug use epidemic in the eighties in Spain, might explain it. Therefore, each country needs to determine its own HCV and HIV seroprevalences by year of birth to establish the proper recommendations for the screening of both infections.

Síndrome de Budd Chiari: Reporte de tres casos y revisión de la literatura / Budd Chiari Syndrome: Three Case Reports and a Literature Review

Se describen los casos de tres pacientes de sexo femenino a quienes se les hizo diagnóstico de síndrome de Budd Chiari. En una paciente la presentación del síndrome fue subaguda, pudiendo ser manejada exitosamente con la colocación de TIPS. Otra con mutación del factor V Leyden asociada desarrolló disfunción hepática progresiva y requirió de trasplante hepático. En dos de los tres casos se identificó una enfermedad hematológica como trastorno de base, y en uno el uso de anticonceptivos orales como factor de riesgo. Las tres pacientes fueron sometidas a terapia anticoagulante y el manejo quirúrgico fue definido de acuerdo a su condición clínica. Sin embargo, en un caso la presentación fue aguda con falla hepática y muerte.

This article describes the cases of three female patients who were diagnosed with Budd-Chiari syndrome. One patient was subacute and could be successfully managed by placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent (TIPS). Another patient who had the Factor V Leiden mutation developed associated progressive liver dysfunction and required liver transplantation. A hematologic disease was identified as the underlying disorder in two of the three cases. For one patient, the use of oral contraceptives was a risk factor. Since all three patients were undergoing anticoagulant therapy, surgical management was determined according to each patient’s clinical condition. Nevertheless, the one patient who that presented acute hepatic failure did not survive.