Utilización práctica del laboratorio en las enfermedades hepáticas / Practical use of the laboratory in hepatic diseases

RESUMEN El médico asistencial debe evaluar a diario las pruebas hepáticas en personas con afecciones del hígado, o en los llamados controles a personas supuestamente normales. El objetivo fue facilitar la reflexión práctica en la interpretación de las pruebas hepáticas. Se realizó una revisión de las publicaciones más importantes en base de datos como MEDLINE, EMBASE y Scielo en los últimos años para facilitar la interpretación de las pruebas de laboratorio en el estudio de las lesiones del hígado. En la práctica diaria la elevación de las aminotransferasas, ha sido asociada con un incremento en la mortalidad total y está relacionada con disfunción hepática. Los estudios imagenológicos al igual que la biopsia hepática pueden ser considerados cuando las pruebas hepáticas no definen el diagnóstico, para estudiar al enfermo o cuando los posibles diagnósticos sean múltiples, por lo que definir el valor de la elevación de los niveles de alanino aminotransferasas, aspartato aminotransferasas, junto a la los niveles de fosfatasa alcalina y bilirrubina en la lesión colestática, unidas al uso de pruebas que miden el metabolismo celular en la enfermedad hepatocelular o la colestasis son de vital importancia la práctica médica diaria (AU).

SUMMARY The physician providing health care should daily evaluate hepatic testes in persons with liver diseases, or in the so-called controls to persons supposedly healthy. The aim of this work was facilitating practical reflection in the interpretation of hepatic testes. The most important works published in MEDLINE, EMBASE and Scielo during the last years were reviewed for understanding laboratory tests in the study of hepatic lesions. In the regular practice the increase of aminotransferases has been associated to a growth of total mortality, and this one related to hepatic dysfunction. The imaging studies and also hepatic biopsy should be taking into consideration when hepatic testes do not define the diagnosis, to study the patient, or when there are many possible diagnoses; therefore defining the growth of the alaninotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels together with the levels of alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin in the cholestasis lesion and the use of testes measuring the cell metabolism in the hepatocellular disease or cholestasis are very important in the day-to-day medical practice (AU).

Hipervitaminosis B12: Nuestra experiencia y una revisión / Hypervitaminosis B12. Our experience and a review

Los altos niveles de vitamina B12 o cobalamina, también denominado hipervitaminosis B12 es una anormalidad analítica frecuentemente subestimada. De acuerdo con la literatura algunas de las entidades relacionadas con este hallazgo son las neoplasias sólidas (primarias o metastásicas) y las enfermedades hematológicas agudas o crónicas. Otras causas incluyen la afección hepática, la gammapatía monoclonal de significación indeterminada, la insuficiencia renal y, con menor frecuencia, un exceso de consumo de vitamina B12, enfermedades inflamatorias o autoinmunes y los trastornos hematológicos transitorios (neutrofilia y eosinofilia secundaria). Este artículo informa sobre causas de hipervitaminosis B12, nuestra experiencia y hace una revisión de la literatura.

High serum levels of vitamin B12 or cobalamin, also called hypervitaminemia B12, is a frequently underestimated biological abnormality. According to the literature, some of the entities related to this finding are solid neoplasia (primary or metastatic) and acute or chronic hematological diseases. Other causes include liver disorders, monoclonal gammapathy of undetermined significance, renal failure and, less frequently, excess of vitamin B12 intake, inflammatory or autoimmune diseases, and transient hematological disorders (neutrophilia and secondary eosinophilia). This article reports on causes of hypervitaminosis B12, our experience and a review of the literature.

Marcadores serológicos de hepatopatías virales y autoinmunes en pacientes celíacos atendidos en el Instituto de Gastroenterología / Serologic markers of viral and autoimmune liver diseases in celiac patients treated at the Institute of Gastroenterology

Introducción: El espectro del compromiso hepático en la enfermedad celíaca es muy amplio e incluye hepatopatías virales y autoinmunes. Objetivo: Caracterizar el comportamiento de los marcadores serológicos de hepatopatías virales y autoinmunes en pacientes celíacos adultos atendidos en el Instituto de Gastroenterología. Materiales y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo transversal en el período comprendido entre marzo de 2016 y marzo 2017 en 43 pacientes adultos celíacos atendidos en el Instituto de Gastroenterología de La Habana. A todos, previo consentimiento informado se les realizaron estudios bioquímicos y serológicos para identificar infección por virus de hepatitis B, C y respuesta inmune humoral frente a autoanticuerpos hepáticos y sistémicos. Para el análisis estadístico se emplearon distribuciones de frecuencia y para la comparación entre los grupos se utilizó la probabilidad exacta de Fisher. Se consideró significativo una p < 0,05. Resultados: El 58,1 por ciento de los pacientes presentó hipofosfatasemia y 14 por ciento hipertransaminasemia, sin coincidencias entre los casos registrados. El 100 por ciento de los celíacos fue negativo para el virus de hepatitis C. La positividad de autoanticuerpos hepáticos se registró entre 2,3 por ciento y 14 por ciento de los pacientes evaluados. Existió asociación significativa entre hipertransaminasemia y la presencia de anticuerpos séricos contra la transglutaminasa tisular. Conclusiones: La expresión de marcadores de autoinmunidad hepática en los pacientes celíacos evaluados es frecuente, no así la presencia de marcadores de hepatopatías virales(AU)

Introduction: The spectrum of hepatic involvement in celiac disease is very broad and includes viral and autoimmune hepatopathies. Objective: To characterize the behavior of serologic markers of viral and autoimmune hepatopathies in adult celiac patients treated at the Institute of Gastroenterology. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 43 adult celiac patients treated at the Institute of Gastroenterology of Havana from March 2016 to March 2017. Prior informed consent, biochemical and serologic studies were carried out in all cases, in order to identify hepatitis B and C virus infections and humoral immune response to liver and systemic autoantibodies. Frequency distributions were used for statistical analysis, and Fisher's exact test was used for the comparison between groups. Results: 58.1 percent of the patients presented hypophosphatasemia and hypertransaminasemia in 14 percent, with no coincidence between the cases recorded. The 100 percent of the celiac patients were negative for hepatitis C virus. The positivity of liver autoantibodies was recorded between 2,3 percent and 14 percent of the patients evaluated. There was a significant association between hypertransaminasemia and the presence of serum antibodies against tissue transglutaminase. Conclusions: The expression markers of liver autoimmunity in celiac patients was frequent, but not the presence of markers of viral hepatopathy(AU)

Clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with thyroid diseases with and without alanine aminotransferase levels above the upper tertile – Cross-sectional analytical study

Objective Thyroid disease affects 6.6% of the general population. The liver is fundamental in metabolizing thyroid hormones, and hepatocytes are often affected in thyroid disease. We aimed to compare clinical and laboratory parameters among thyroid disease patients with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels above vs. below the upper tertile. Subjects and methods A retrospective cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in the endocrinology clinic at Polydoro Ernani de São Thiago University Hospital. Patients with thyroid disease between August 2012 and January 2014 were included in the study. Clinical and laboratory parameters were collected from medical records. Results One hundred patients were included, of which 14.0% were male, with a mean age of 49.1 ± 14.4 years. ALT levels ranged from 9 to 90 U/L, and the ALT upper tertile was defined as 0,64 times the upper normal limit (xUNL). Patients with ALT levels above the upper tertile exhibited a higher proportion of systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), a higher mean abdominal circumference and a higher frequency of elevated TSH levels than did patients with ALT levels below the upper tertile. In multivariate analysis, ALT ≥ 0.64 (xUNL) was independently associated with abdominal circumference (odds ratio [OR] = 0.087, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0012-0167, P = 0.022). ALT (xUNL) correlated positively with total cholesterol (r = 0.213, P = 0.042). Conclusions In patients with thyroid diseases, it was observed that those with ALT above the upper tertile are associated with abdominal circumference and ALT levels correlate with total cholesterol.

Apontamentos acerca da Cadeia do Ser e o lugar dos negros na filosofia natural na Europa setecentista / Notes on the Chain of Being and the place of blacks in eighteenth-century European natural philosophy

Por meio da análise de obras acadêmicas produzidas por filósofos naturais no século XVIII, pretendemos discutir algumas ideias recorrentes acerca da Grande Cadeia do Ser. Para tal, analisamos as relações entre filosofia e teologia natural no período. Reavaliamos ainda alguns elementos da Cadeia do Ser, investigando autores que discorreram sobre o tema em seus escritos. Por fim, elencamos um ponto específico das discussões setecentistas sobre a scala naturae, qual seja, as diversas e nem sempre convergentes ideias de que, a partir de características específicas, haveria diferenças entre os homens, bem como seu consequente lugar na Cadeia do Ser.

This examination of academic works produced by eighteenth-century natural philosophers discusses some recurring ideas about the Chain of Being. To this end, the article analyzes the relations between natural philosophy and theology during the period. It also re-evaluates some elements of the Chain of Being through an exploration of authors who addressed the topic in their writings. Lastly, it identifies a specific element within eighteenth-century discussions of scala naturae, to wit, the various and not always convergent ideas about whether there are differences between humans based on specific characteristics and, consequently, about the places they occupy in the chain of being.

¿Cómo evaluar la elevación de las enzimas hepáticas en personas aparentemente sanas?: Su importancia para el médico general / How to approach the rise of liver enzimes in healthy people?: The importance for the general practitioner

En este artículo hacemos una revisión de las causas más frecuentes de elevación de los niveles de las aminotransferasas, fosfatasa alcalina y gamma glutamil transpeptidasa en personas aparentemente sanas, al mismo tiempo ofrecemos una orientación sencilla que facilite al médico general una orientación escueta que permita el diagnóstico y manejo adecuado de estos casos.

In this study we make a review of the most common causes of the rise of the levels of aminotransferases, alkaline fosphatase and gamma glutamil transpeptidase en healthy people, also we offer a view of the diagnosis and management of these patients as simple as possible.

Anti-oxidative protection against iron overload-induced liver damage in mice by Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. leaf extract.

In view of the contribution of iron deposition in the oxidative pathologic process of liver disease, the potential of 70% methanolic extract of C. cajan leaf (CLME) towards antioxidative protection against iron-overload-induced liver damage in mice has been investigated. DPPH radical scavenging and protection of Fenton reaction induced DNA damage was conducted in vitro. Post oral administration of CLME to iron overloaded mice, the levels of antioxidant and serum enzymes, hepatic iron, serum ferritin, lipid peroxidation, and protein carbonyl and hydroxyproline contents were measured, in comparison to deferasirox treated mice. Oral treatment of the plant extract effectively lowered the elevated levels of liver iron, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl and hydroxyproline. There was notable increment in the dropped levels of hepatic antioxidants. The dosage of the plant extract not only made the levels of serum enzymes approach normal value, but also counteracted the overwhelmed serum ferritin level. The in vitro studies indicated potential antioxidant activity of CLME. The histopathological observations also substantiated the ameliorative function of the plant extract. Accordingly, it is suggested that Cajanus cajan leaf can be a useful herbal remedy to suppress oxidative damage caused by iron overload.

Clinical and hepatic evaluation in adult dengue patients: a prospective two-month cohort study / Avaliação das alterações clínicas e hepáticas em pacientes adultos com dengue: estudo prospectivo em um período de dois meses

INTRODUCTION: To analyze the liver dysfunction and evolution of signs and symptoms in adult dengue patients during a two-month follow-up period. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted in Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from January to July, 2008. The evolution of laboratory and clinical manifestations of 90 adult dengue patients was evaluated in five scheduled visits within a two-month follow-up period. Twenty controls were enrolled for the analysis of liver function. Patients with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, those known to be human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive and pregnant women were excluded from the study. RESULTS: At the end of the second month following diagnosis, we observed that symptoms persisted in 33.3% (30/90) of dengue patients. We also observed that, 57.7% (15/26) of the symptoms persisted at the end of the second month. The most persistent symptoms were arthralgia, fatigue, weakness, adynamia, anorexia, taste alteration, and hair loss. Prior dengue virus (DENV) infection did not predispose patients to a longer duration of symptoms. Among hepatic functions, transaminases had the most remarkable elevation and in some cases remained elevated up to the second month after the disease onset. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels overcame aspartate aminotransferase (AST) during the convalescent period. Male patients were more severely affected than females. CONCLUSIONS: Dengue fever may present a wide number of symptoms and elevated liver transaminases at the end of the second month.

INTRODUÇÃO: Analisar prospectivamente a disfunção hepática e a evolução dos sinais e sintomas em pacientes adultos com dengue durante um período de dois meses. MÉTODOS: Realizamos um estudo prospectivo em Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, de janeiro a julho de 2008. Foi avaliada a evolução das manifestações clínicas e laboratoriais em 90 pacientes adultos com dengue, em um período de dois meses. Vinte controles foram arrolados para análise da função hepática. Em ambos os grupos foram realizadas coletas de dados e sangue nos primeiros cinco dias da doença, e aos 8, 15, 30 e 60 dias após o início da doença. Foram excluídos pacientes com hepatite B, hepatite C, gestantes e aqueles sabidamente soropositivos para HIV. RESULTADOS: No final do segundo mês do início da dengue, 33,3% (30/90) dos pacientes apresentaram persistência de pelo menos um sinal ou sintoma. Estavam presentes no final do segundo mês 57,7% (15/26) dos sinais ou sintomas. Os maiores percentuais de persistência foram: artralgia, adinamia, fraqueza, fadiga, anorexia, alteração do paladar e queda de cabelo. A infecção prévia pelo vírus da dengue (DENV) não predispôs a uma maior duração dos sintomas. Da função hepática, observamos alterações relevantes somente nos níveis das transaminases, que em alguns casos permaneceram elevados até o final do segundo mês. Os níveis de ALT ultrapassaram os de AST na convalescença. Homens apresentaram níveis mais elevados de transaminases quando comparados aos de mulheres. CONCLUSÕES: Dengue apresenta grande número de sintomas e transaminases elevadas no final do segundo mês de doença.

Preditores não invasivos de varizes esofágicas em crianças e adolescentes com hepatopatia crônica ou obstrução extra-hepática da veia porta / Non-invasive predictors of esophageous varices in children and adolescents with chronic liver disease or extrahepatic portal venous obstruction

OBJETIVO: Identificar preditores não invasivos de varizes esofágicas em crianças e adolescentes com hepatopatia crônica ou obstrução extra-hepática da veia porta. PACIENTES E MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal que incluiu 53 crianças e adolescentes com hepatopatia crônica ou obstrução extra-hepática da veia porta, sem antecedente de hemorragia digestiva ou tratamento de varizes esofágicas, com até 20 anos de idade. Dois grupos foram formados: grupo I (35 pacientes com hepatopatia crônica) e grupo II (18 com obstrução extra-hepática da veia porta). Foram realizados hemograma, razão normalizada internacional, albumina, bilirrubina total, ultrassonografia de abdome e endoscopia digestiva alta. O índice esplênico foi determinado dividindo a dimensão esplênica pelo valor do limite superior da normalidade. As variáveis foram comparadas quanto à presença ou não de varizes esofágicas através de análise univariada (testes qui-quadrado, exato de Fischer e de Wilcoxon) e multivariada (regressão logística). A acurácia foi determinada a partir da área sob a curva ROC. RESULTADOS: As varizes esofágicas foram observadas em 48,5% dos pacientes do grupo I e em 83,3% do grupo II. Plaquetopenia (p = 0,0015), esplenomegalia (p = 0,0003) e a razão plaquetas/índice esplênico (p = 0,0007) se mostraram indicadores preditivos de varizes esofágicas entre os pacientes do grupo I. Após análise multivariada, a plaquetopenia (odds ratio = 21,7) se manteve como um indicador independente da presença de varizes esofágicas entre os pacientes com hepatopatia crônica. CONCLUSÃO: O número de plaquetas, o índice esplênico e a razão plaquetas/índice esplênico se mostraram preditivos de varizes esofágicas em crianças e adolescentes com hepatopatia crônica. Não foram encontrados preditores de varizes esofágicas entre os pacientes com obstrução extra-hepática da veia porta.

OBJECTIVE: To identify non-invasive predictors of esophageal varices in children and adolescents with chronic liver disease or extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO). METHODS: 53 patients younger than 20 years with chronic liver disease or EHPVO and no history of bleeding or prophylactic treatment of esophageal varices (EV) were assessed. They were divided into 2 groups: group I (35 with chronic liver disease) and group II (18 with EHPVO). Their blood count, international normalized ratio (INR), albumin, bilirubin, abdominal ultrasonography and upper endoscopy results were taken. A splenic index was determined by dividing the patients' spleen dimension by its uppermost limit according to their age. The variables were compared to EV presence or not. Univariate (chi-square test, Fischer's exact test and Wilcoxon exact test) and multivariate (logistic regression) analyses were performed. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed and the area under the ROC curve was calculated. RESULTS: EV were observed in 48.5% of group I patients and in 83.3% of group II patients. Low platelet count (p = 0.0015), splenomegaly (p = 0.0003) and splenic index (p = 0.0007) were statistically significant predictors of EV among group I patients. The multivariate analysis showed low platelet count (odds = 21.7) as an independent predictor of EV in patients with chronic liver disease. CONCLUSION: Platelet count, splenic index and platelet-splenic index ratio were predictors of EV in children and adolescents with chronic liver disease. There were no EV predictors among group II patients.

Pruebas de funcionalismo hepático en pacientes con infección viral aguda / Liver function tests in patients with acute viral infection / Testes de fungáo hepática em pacientes com infecgáo viral aguda

Las hepatitis víricas son producidas principalmente por virus de las hepatitis; sin embargo, otros virus han sido asociados a esta entidad clínica. Con el objeto de estudiar estas alteraciones hepáticas se estudiaron 130 pacientes con síntomas de infección viral aguda. Se les realizó una historia clínica y sus muestras de suero fueron procesadas por técnicas inmunoen-zimáticas y espectrofotométrícas para la determinación de anticuerpos específicos de los distintos virus y para pruebas de funcionalismo hepático. Se confirmó infección viral en 68 pacientes: 22 casos (32,4%) por virus dengue (VD); virus de varicela zoster (VVZ) 11(16,2%), virus de parotiditis (VP) 9 (13,2%); infección por citomegalovirus (CMV) 7 (10,3%), virus Epstein Barr (VEB) 4(5,9%), 13(19,1%) por virus de hepatitis A (VHA), 1 (1,5%) por virus de hepatitis B (VHB) y 1 (1,5%) por virus de hepatitis C (VHC). En todas las infecciones virales se observó aumento de ambas transaminasas; en la infección por virus de hepatitis predominó alaninaaminotransferasa (ALT) (p < 0,05). El resto de las infecciones estudiadas fue a expensas de aspartatoaminotransferasa (AST). La hiperbilirrubinemia producida por VHA fue estadísticamente significativa (p < 0,05) con respecto al resto de las infecciones. La fosfatasa alcalina (FA) y la gammaglutamiltranspeptidasa (GGT) también estuvieron alteradas y se destacó la hipoproteinemia en la infección por VD. Este estudio sugiere que las pruebas bioquímicas que miden el funcionalismo hepático, no sólo evalúan severidad y evolución de la enfermedad, sino que además pueden orientar sobre la etiología de la infección viral aguda.

Viral hepatitis is mainly caused by the hepatitis virus, but other viruses have been associated with this clinical entity. In order to study these liver disorders, 130 patients with symptoms of acute viral infection were analized. A complete medical history and serum samples were assayed by enzyme-linked immunoassay and spectrophotometer techniques for the determination of antibodies specific to different viruses and liver func-tion tests. Viral infection was confirmed in 68 patients: 22 cases (32.4%) for dengue virus (DV) 11 (16.2%) varicella zoster virus (VZV), 9 (13.2%) mumps virus (VP), 7 (10.3%) cytomegalovirus (CMV), 4 (5.9%) Ep-stein- Barr virus (EBV), 13 (19.1%) patients with hepatitis A virus (HAV), 1 (1.5%) infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and 1 (1.5%) with hepatitis C virus (HCV). All viral infections showed an increase in both transaminases; in hepatitis virus infection, alanineaminotransferase (ALT) (p < 0.05) predominated. The rest of the infections studied were at the expense of aspartate aminotransferase (AST). HAVhyperbilirubine-mia was statistically significant (p < 0.05) compared with other infections. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) were also affected, and hypoproteinemia was stressed in DV infection. This study suggests that the biochemical tests that measure liver function, not only assess the severity and progression of the disease, but can also shed light on the cause of acute viral infection.

As hepatites virais sáo produzidas principalmente por virus das hepatites; entretanto outros virus tem sido associados a esta entidade clínica. Com o objetivo de estudar estas alteragóes hepáticas foram estudados 130 pacientes com sintomas de infecgáo viral aguda. Foi realizado um prontuário clínico e suas amostras de soro foram processadas por técnicas imunoenzimáticas e espectrofotométrícas para a determinagáo de anticorpos específicos dos diferentes virus e para testes de fungáo hepática. Confirmou-se infecgáo viral em 68 pacientes: 22 casos (32,4%) por virus dengue (VD); virus de varicela zoster (VVZ) 11(16,2%), virus de parotidite (VP) 9 (13,2%); infecgáo por citomegalovírus (CMV) 7(10,3%), virus Epstein Barr (VEB) 4(5,9%), 13 (19,1%) por virus de hepatite A (VHA), 1 (1,5%) por virus de hepatite B (VHB) e 1(1,5%) por virus de hepatite C (VHC). Em todas as infecgóes virais foi observado aumento de ambas as transaminases; na infecgáo por virus de hepatite predominou alanina aminotransferase (ALT) (p < 0,05). O resto das infecgóes es-tudadas foi as expensas de aspartato aminotransferase (AST); a hiperbilirrubinemia produzida por VHA foi estatisticamente significativa (p< 0,05) com relagáo ao resto das infecgóes. A fosfatase alcalina (FA) e a gamaglutamiltranspeptidase (GGT) também estiveram alteradas e se destacou a hipoproteinemia na infecgáo por VD. Este estudo sugere que os testes bioquímicos que medem a fungáo hepática, náo só avaliam severidade e evolugáo da doenga, mas também podem orientar sobre a etiologia da infecgáo viral aguda.

Status Quo of Chronic Liver Diseases, Including Hepatocellular Carcinoma, in Mongolia

Because Mongolia has much higher liver disease burden than any other regions of the world, it is necessary to provide information on real-time situation of chronic liver disease in Mongolia. In this article, we reviewed studies performed in Mongolia from 2000 to 2011 on seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among healthy individuals and patients with chronic liver diseases, and on the practice patterns for the management of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). According to previous reports, the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV in general population in Mongolia is very high (11.8% and 15% for HBV and HCV, respectively). Liver cirrhosis is also highly prevalent, and mortality from liver cirrhosis remained high for the past decade (about 30 deaths per 100,000 populations per year). Among patients with cirrhosis, 40% and 39% are positive for HBsAg and anti-HCV, respectively, and 20% are positive for both. The seroprevalence is similar for HCC and more than 90% of HCC patients are positive for either HBV or HCV. The incidence of HCC in Mongolia is currently among the highest in the world. The mortality from HCC is also very high (52.2 deaths per 100,000 persons per year in 2010). Partly due to the lack of established surveillance systems, most cases of HCC are diagnosed at an advanced stage. The mortality from liver cirrhosis and HCC in Mongolia may be reduced by implementation of antiviral therapy program and control of alcohol consumption.

Clinical and laboratory findings in patients with dengue associated with hepatopathy / Achados clínicos e laboratoriais em pacientes com dengue associada à hepatopatia

INTRODUCTION: Hepatic disorders caused by dengue infection may progress to severe manifestations, including mortality and morbidity. Cytokines are involved in it, such as the migration inhibitory factor of macrophages (MIF), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), natural killer cells (NK), B lymphocytes, and macrophages. METHODS: This study was carried out from January to April 2007 at a public hospital from the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil. Sixty-eight patients were studied concerning hepatic alterations, with 56 reported having classic dengue, 6 with hemorrhagic dengue grade I, and 6 with hemorrhagic dengue grade II. RESULTS: Among the 56 with classic dengue, 83.3 percent had aspartate aminotransferase (AST) alterations, and 69.6 percent had altered alanine aminotransferase (ALT). For those with hemorrhagic dengue grade I, 100 percent had AST alterations, and 83.3 percent had altered ALT. All the patients with hemorrhagic dengue grade II had AST and ALT alterations. AST variations reached 22.0 and 907.0, with an average value of 164.6. For ALT, we found variations between 25.0 and 867.0, with an average value of 166.07. There had been statistical significance between dengue clinical shapes and hepatic function markers. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the infection was predominant in adults, females, and in those with low income and education. The liver enzymes were of larger amount in hemorrhagic dengue, but there was weak statistical evidence of the clinical manifestations and transaminases. Major signs and clinical symptoms were fever, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, weakness, severe pain behind the eyes, and rashes.

INTRODUÇÃO: Afecções hepáticas causadas pela infecção da dengue podem evoluir para quadro grave, incluindo mortalidade e morbidade. O mecanismo de lesão do fígado está relacionado com a exacerbação da resposta imune. As citocinas estão envolvidas nele como fator inibidor da migração de macrófagos (MIF), fator de necrose tumoral (TNF), células natural killer (NK), B linfócitos e macrófagos. MÉTODOS: Este estudo foi realizado em um hospital público da Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul. As alterações hepáticas pelo dengue podem evoluir com quadros graves e potencialmente letais. Foram avaliados exames de 68 pacientes atendidos e confirmados com dengue, onde 56 foram classificados como dengue clássico, seis, como dengue hemorrágico grau I e seis como dengue hemorrágico grau II. RESULTADOS: Do dengue clássico, 83,3 por cento tiveram alterações de aspartato aminotransferase (AST) e 69,6 por cento alterações para alanino aminotransferase (ALT). No dengue hemorrágico grau I, AST elevou-se 100 por cento e para ALT 83,3 por cento. No dengue hemorrágico grau II observou-se 100 por cento de alterações tanto para AST, quanto para ALT. A variação de AST ficou entre 22,0 e 907,0 com média de 164,6. A alanino aminotransferase variou entre 25,0 e 867,0 com média de 166,07. Houve significância entre formas clínicas do dengue e marcadores de função hepática. CONCLUSÕES: Conclui-se que a infecção predominou em adultos do sexo feminino, de baixa renda e escolaridade. As enzimas hepáticas elevam-se mais no dengue hemorrágico, fraca evidência estatística entre as manifestações clínicas e as transaminases. Os mais prevalentes sinais/sintomas clínicos foram febre, cefaléia, mialgia, artralgia, fraqueza, dor retrorbitária e exantema.

Alteración de pruebas hepáticas en pacientes chilenos con enfermedades hepáticas agudas y crónicas / Liver enzyme alteration in Chilean patients with acute and chronic liver diseases

Background: Liver function tests are a useful tool in clinical practice to identify patterns that are characteristic of liver enzyme alterations associated to liver diseases. Objective: To perform a descriptive analysis of liver enzyme abnormalities among Chilean population affected by chronic or acute liver diseases, compared with international reports. Material and Methods: Prospective study with > 18 year-old patients who were under medical care in the Hepatology department at the Clinic of the Pontificia Universidad Católica and at Posta Central hospital, between 2005- 2009. All of them had at least one evaluation of liver function test during this period. Results: 348 patients were evaluated: 49 non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), 28 primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), 74 autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), 10 hemochromatosis, 147 chronic hepatitis C (HCV), 5 chronic hepatitis B (HBC) and 34 severe alcoholic hepatitis. Piruvic and Oxaloacetic Aminotransferase levels were: NASH 89.9 and 62.7 IU/L, PBC 105.5 and 96 IU/L; AIH 412 and 360IU/L; Hemochromatosis 106 and 75.9 IU/L, HCV 178 and 166 IU/L, HVB 337.2 and 89.6 IU/L, and in alcoholic hepatitis, 67 and 168 IU/L. Levels of alkaline phosphatase in PBC were 518 IU/L, with a maximum level of 2206. Conclusions: This study describes the transaminase abnormalities in a subgroup of patients with known hepatic disease. Future studies will be useful to determine if there are substantial differences between the Chilean population compared to other populations.

Antecedentes: El estudio de la bioquímica hepática es una herramienta útil en la práctica clínica para identificar ciertos patrones que orientan a determinadas patologías. Objetivos: Realizar un análisis descriptivo en población chilena del comportamiento de las pruebas hepáticas en pacientes en pacientes con enfermedades hepáticas agudas y crónicas frecuentes y compararlas con lo reportado en literatura internacional. Material y Método: Estudio prospectivo realizado en pacientes mayores de 18 años en control en los centros de gastroenterología de la Pontificia Universidad Católica y la Posta Central, entre los años 2005 y 2009. Se realizaron análisis de pruebas hepáticas completas en al menos una ocasión. Resultados: Se evalúan 348 pacientes que se desglosan según patología en 49 esteatohepatitis no alcohólica (EHNA), 28 cirrosis biliar primaria (CBP), 74 hepatitis autoinmune (HAI), 10 hemocromatosis, 147 hepatitis crónica C (HVC), 5 hepatitis crónica B (HVB) Y 34 hepatitis alcohólica grave. Los niveles de aminotransferasas pirúvica (SGPT) y oxaloacética (SGOT) promedio fueron: EHNA 89,9 y 62,7 UI/L, CBP 105,5 y 96 UI/L; HAI 412 y 360 UI/L; Hemocromatosis 106 y 75,9 UI/L, HCV 178 y 166 UI/L, HVB 337,2 y 89,6 UI/L y en hepatitis OH 67 y 168 UI/L. Los niveles de Fosfatasas Alcalinas en CBP promedio fueron 518 UI/L, con máximo 2.206. Conclusiones: Se describen las alteraciones de transaminasas en un subgrupo de pacientes portadores de patología hepática conocida. Estudios futuros permitirán determinar si existen diferencias sustanciales en población chilena con respecto a lo descrito en otras poblaciones.

Elevated serum immunoglobulin G levels in patients with chronic liver disease in comparison to patients with autoimmune hepatitis

Hypergammaglobulinemia is frequently observed in patients with chronic liver disease [CLD] of different causes. On the other hand, elevated levels of serum immunoglobulin G [IgG] are the best diagnostic marker for autoimmune hepatitis [AIH]. Thus, the ability to distinguish AIH patients from patients with other liver disease, especially patients with advanced liver cirrhosis, is important since most AIH patients will a have favorable treatment response if diagnosed properly. We conducted this study to evaluate the significance of elevated IgG levels in patients with nonautoimmune CLD and to compare these IgG levels with those in patients with AIH upon diagnosis. Setting and study population: The serum IgG levels in 27 patients with AIH determined at the time of diagnosis were compared to the serum IgG levels in 27 patients with other CLDs of variable severity at the King Abdul Aziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Severity of the disease was evaluated in all patients. We found that the patients in the CLD group with decompensated cirrhosis had significantly higher serum IgG levels compared to the compensated CLD patients [p<0.02]. In addition, the AIH patients had significantly higher serum IgG levels than the non-autoimmune hepatitis CLD patients and the decompensated cirrhosis patients in the CLD group [p<0.001 and p<0.044, respectively]. Most patients with elevated serum IgG of the AIH group [67%] and the CLD group [75%] had significant hypergammaglobulinemia, not just isolated elevated IgG levels. Elevated serum IgG levels with hypergammaglobulinemia are commonly found in patients with advanced CLD. The differentiation of such cases from AIH is important in order to avoid misdiagnosis and confusion with AIH

Markers of autoimmune liver diseases in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is a common complication of chronic liver diseases. However, there is limited information about autoimmune liver diseases as a factor of secondary osteoporosis. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the autoantibodies of autoimmune liver diseases in patients with osteoporosis. METHODS: One hundred fifty female patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis were included. Bone mineral density was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. We analysized autoantibodies including antinuclear antibodies, liver membrane antibodies, anti-liver/kidney microsomal autoantibodies1, liver-specific protein, antismooth muscle antibodies, and anti-mitochondrial antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence. Serum was assayed for the levels of aminotransferases. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 63,13±8,6 years. The mean values of L1-L4 T-scores and femur total T-scores were -3,08±0,58 and -1,53±0,81, respectively. Among the 150 patients with osteoporosis, 14 (9.3 percent) were antinuclear antibodies, four (2.7 percent) were liver membrane antibodies, three (2.0 percent) were anti-liver/kidney microsomal autoantibodies1, and two (1.3 percent) were liver-specific protein positive. None of the patients had anti-mitochondrial antibodies or smooth muscle antibodies positivity. The mean values of levels of aminotransferases were within normal range. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of liver membrane antibodies, liver-specific protein, and anti-liver/kidney microsomal autoantibodies1 has permitted us to see that there may be some suspicious clues of autoimmune liver diseases in patients with osteoporosis as a secondary risk factor. On the other hand, there is a need for comprehensive studies with a larger sample size and studies designed to compare the results with a normal population to understand the clinical importance of our findings.

Interpretation of Liver Function Tests / 대한소화기학회지

Liver function tests (LFT) are helpful screening tools to detect hepatic dysfunction. LFT are further used to categorize hepatic dysfunctions, to estimate the severity of hepatic disease, and for the follow-up of liver diseases. Since liver performs a variety of functions, no single test is sufficient alone to provide complete estimate of function of liver. Effective interpretation of the hepatic function panel requires knowledge of underlying pathophysiology and the characteristics of panel tests. This review includes a classification of liver diseases, which are commonly detected by routine LFT, a list of liver functions with appropriate tests for each function, and a guide to panel interpretation and further laboratory investigation.