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PURPOSE: To evaluate the characteristics and response to therapy for HCC in sub-Saharan Africa. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated demographic, clinical and outcome variables of HCC in a referral clinic in Ethiopia from 2016 to 2018. Survival assessment was performed using the Mann-Whitney test. Associations between categorical variables was assessed using Pearson Chi-square test. RESULTS: We report 46 HCC cases with a median age of 54 years (IQR 45-62) and 50% female. Viral hepatitis was the most common underlying etiology, with 41% of subjects infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and 45% with hepatitis C. The median MELD was 12 (IQR 8-17), we found no association between survival and a MELD score > 15, regardless of underlying disease (pr=0.61, p>0.05). 31% of individuals underwent supportive treatment with a median survival of 27 days (IQR 19-181), 18% used Sorafenib (median survival of 94 days, IQR 24-121), and trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) was utilized in 16% (median survival of 352 days, IQR 30-436). HBV cases were diagnosed younger (31% before the age of 40) and those on Tenofovir had a longer median survival than those off Tenofovir (121 vs 34 days). CONCLUSION: Our study found that antiviral treatment of HBV infection was associated with longer survival in HCC. Furthermore, Sorafenib seemed beneficial in patients that used this modality and NLR was a good prognostic factor.
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Carcinoma Hepatocelular/terapia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/terapia , Antineoplásicos/uso terapéutico , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/administración & dosificación , Antivirales/uso terapéutico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/virología , Quimioembolización Terapéutica , Cisplatino/administración & dosificación , Doxorrubicina/administración & dosificación , Enfermedad Hepática en Estado Terminal/etiología , Enfermedad Hepática en Estado Terminal/fisiopatología , Aceite Etiodizado/administración & dosificación , Etiopía , Femenino , Hepatitis B Crónica/complicaciones , Hepatitis B Crónica/tratamiento farmacológico , Hepatitis C Crónica/complicaciones , Humanos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/virología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Cuidados Paliativos , Estudios Retrospectivos , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Sorafenib/uso terapéutico , Tasa de Supervivencia , Tenofovir/uso terapéutico , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Epidemic dropsy results from ingestion of argemone oil contaminated food staffs. The oil from Argemone Mexican seeds contains toxic alkaloids called sanguinarine and dehydrosangunarine. These cause wide spread capillary dilatation, proliferation and leakages. This leads to oedema, hypovolemia and hypotension. OBJECTIVE: To describe the socio-demographic and clinical manifestations of the patients affected with epidemic dropsy in Tikur Anbessa specialized Hospital (TASH). METHODS: A case series study was conducted in an outbreak with unusual cases which was later diagnosed to be epidemic dropsy. Clinical evaluation of suspects was done and optimal therapy given for the complications detected and information was filled in structured format by medical residents and medial chart records review was made for occurrence of new complications in the end of 9 months. RESULTS: A total of 164 patients were seen at TASH from 26 households, in 8 sub-cities of Addis Ababa. A wide range of age group was affected with 70% from 16 to 40 years of age. There was no case among less than 5 years of age. Females were affected more than threefold as compared to males. All the patients manifested with bilateral leg swelling and pitting oedema. It was tender in 50 (30.4%) of them while 43 (26.2%) had erythema. Tachycardia was the next common manifestation occurring in 135 (82.3%), followed by cough in 123 (75%), anaemia in 59 (36%), headache in 58 (35.4%), shortness of breathing in 52 (31.2%), hair loss in 44 (26.8%) and respiratory distress in 35 (21.3%). Abdominal pain, hepatomegally, nausea and vomiting were also seen. There was abnormality in the chest X-ray of 31 (27.2%). Hair loss, tingling and burning extremities, difficulty of standing, hyperpigmentation, pruritic rash and eye symptoms were observed lately during follow up. Five of the patients died while in hospital care due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). CONCLUSIONS: The commonest clinical manifestation in our patients is bilateral leg swelling which is similar to other outbreaks of epidemic dropsy elsewhere. The mortality rate is also comparable with other series but all cases died by ARDS in our series which is unusual in other reports. As this is the first reported epidemics in Ethiopia the findings will create awareness of clinical features of epidemic dropsy among clinicians, and therefore, helps for diagnoses of similar problems in the future.
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Cardiotónicos/efectos adversos , Brotes de Enfermedades , Edema/epidemiología , Edema/terapia , Contaminación de Alimentos , Aceites de Plantas/efectos adversos , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Benzofenantridinas/efectos adversos , Niño , Estudios de Cohortes , Edema/diagnóstico , Etiopía/epidemiología , Femenino , Humanos , Hipotensión/diagnóstico , Hipotensión/epidemiología , Hipotensión/terapia , Hipovolemia/diagnóstico , Hipovolemia/epidemiología , Hipovolemia/terapia , Isoquinolinas/efectos adversos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Factores Socioeconómicos , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: A 17 year old female patient who presented to a tertiary Hospital in Addis Ababa with bilateral painful leg swelling of two months and shortness of breath, associated with cough and haemoptysis of one week duration was reported to the Ministry of Health and the Addis Ababa Health Bureau. The condition was later detected in 18 individuals from 4 households indicating occurrence of an outbreak of unknown cause in Addis Ababa which lasted during May-July 2008. OBJECTIVE: An outbreak investigation was initiated to identify the cause and prevent further spread, morbidity and mortality. METHODS: Using semi-structured questionnaire, quantitative assessment involving individual cases and affected households was conducted to detect aetiology and risk factors. Unaffected households as well as unaffected members of affected households were also included for comparison purpose. Record review of patients visiting hospitals was also done. Data were collected through house to house visits, and using interview of cases admitted to hospital. Samples of cooking oil were collected for laboratory testing. Data analysis was done using SPSS. RESULTS: A total of 182 patients, 50 (27.5%) males and 132 (72.5%) females, were identified till the outbreak was controlled fully. Age varied from 6-90 years. Death was confirmed in 12 cases, 8 of whom were female. The majority of the patients came from the adjoining Lideta (39.0%) and Kolfe Keranyo (31.9%) subcities. History of illness ranged from less than a week to 12 weeks before presentation. Out of the 106 household members of the 24 affected households identified during the first phase of the investigation, 83 were affected. Most family members who infrequently take meals at home, and children aged 3 years and below were spared. The 21 visited affected households from Kolfe keranyo, Lideta and Bole subcities bought cooking oil produced by a firm in Lideta subcity and all had bought their last supplies in March and April 2008. Samples of cooking food oil taken from this firm and from the affected households were found to have alkaloids of Argemone Mexicana. The number of new cases dropped to zero within 6 weeks after the source was closed. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of bilateral leg swelling in more than one family member of affected households, that bought cooking oil from the same source, sparing the toddlers, and those who infrequently take meals at home, further strengthened by laboratory confirmation of presence of argemone alkaloids in the cooking oil samples taken from the affected households and the common sources led to the diagnosis of the outbreak to be epidemic dropsy.
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Cardiotónicos/efectos adversos , Brotes de Enfermedades , Edema/epidemiología , Edema/terapia , Contaminación de Alimentos , Aceites de Plantas/efectos adversos , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Benzofenantridinas/efectos adversos , Niño , Análisis por Conglomerados , Edema/diagnóstico , Etiopía/epidemiología , Femenino , Humanos , Isoquinolinas/efectos adversos , Extremidad Inferior , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios Retrospectivos , Factores de Riesgo , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Food adulteration including adulteration of edible oils may cause serious health problems. One of the most common edible adulterants is argemone oil. An outbreak of epidemic dropsy occurred in Addis Ababa during May-June, 2008. One hundred and eighty two cases were recorded with twelve confirmed deaths. Dietary history of the cases revealed that vegetable oils were the usual cooking medium. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was hence to investigate the causes of this outbreak. METHODS: Contaminant identification was done using standard chemical tests, complemented with TLC. Toxicity study was done using Swiss albino mice feed with contaminated and non contaminated standard diet for 30 days. RESULTS: Laboratory investigation of the edible oils has indicated that 47 of the 280 edible oils analyzed were adulterated with argemone oil. About 81% of the edible oil samples collected from Lideta sub-city were adulterated with argemone oil. Toxicological investigation of the adulterated oils also indicated typical features of argemone alkaloid poisoning in mice. CONCLUSION: Results of both laboratory analysis and toxicological studies confirmed consumption of edible oils adulterated with argemone oil as the cause of epidemic dropsy in Addis Ababa.
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Cardiotónicos/efectos adversos , Brotes de Enfermedades , Edema/epidemiología , Edema/terapia , Contaminación de Alimentos , Aceites de Plantas/efectos adversos , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Animales , Benzofenantridinas/efectos adversos , Benzofenantridinas/toxicidad , Cardiotónicos/toxicidad , Niño , Encuestas sobre Dietas , Edema/diagnóstico , Etiopía/epidemiología , Femenino , Humanos , Isoquinolinas/efectos adversos , Isoquinolinas/toxicidad , Extremidad Inferior , Masculino , Ratones , Persona de Mediana Edad , Aceites de Plantas/toxicidad , Factores de Riesgo , Pruebas de Toxicidad , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Epidemic dropsy results from the consumption of edible oils adulterated with argemone mexicana oil. In a 2008 epidemic in Addis Ababa five patients died and in one of these a partial autopsy has been performed. The clinical impression of acute respiratory distress syndrome has been confirmed by the demonstration of massive diffuse alveolar damage. These features are consistent with findings reported in similar epidemics.