High Dose Oral Furosemide with Salt Ingestion in the Treatment of Refractory Ascites of Liver Cirrhosis.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of high-dose furosemide+salt orally by comparing HSS+ furosemide (i.v.) and repeated paracentesis in patients with RA. METHODS: This was a prospective study of 78 cirrhotic patients with RA, randomized into three groups: Group A (n= 25) i.v. furosemide (200-300 mg bid) and 3% hypotonic saline solution (HSS) (once or twice a day); Group B (n= 26) oral furosemide tablets (360-520 mg bid) and salt (2.5 g bid); and, Group C (n= 27) repeated large-volume-paracentesis (RLVP) with albumin infusion. Patients without hyperkalemia were administrated 100 mg of spironolactone/day. During the follow-up; INR, creatinine, and total bilirubin levels were measured to determine the change in MELD (model of end stage liver disease) score. RESULTS: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE), severe episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) and pleural effusions (PE) occurred more frequently in Group C. Improvement in Child-Pugh and MELD score was better in Group A and B than Group C. In Group B, improvements were seen in the Child-Pugh and MELD score, reduction in body weight, duration and number of hospitalization. In Groups A and B, remarkable increases in diuresis were observed (706±116 to 2425±633 mL and 691±111 to 2405±772 mL) and serum sodium levels also improved. HE and SBP were occurred more often in group C (p<0.002). Hospitalization decreased significantly in Group B (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in survival among groups. CONCLUSION: High dose oral furosemide with salt ingestion may be an alternative, effective, safe and well-tolerated method of therapy for RA.

Atorvastatin for ovarian torsion: effects on follicle counts, AMH, and VEGF expression.

OBJECTIVE(S): To determine if atorvastatin protects ovarian follicles against ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury and to determine how anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) expression is altered. STUDY DESIGN: This experimental study was conducted at the Baskent University Animal Research Laboratory. Forty-four rats were arbitrarily assigned into four groups of 11 rats each. The control group underwent a laparotomy. The atorvastatin group received atorvastatin (10mg/kg/day), by oral gavage 7 days before and 7 days after the sham operation. The torsion group had bilateral torsion and detorsion of the ovaries. The atorvastatin+torsion group received atorvastatin (10mg/kg/day) 7 days before and 7 days after the torsion/detorsion operation. At day 7, the animals were euthanized and their ovaries were removed. Ovarian follicles were counted, and AMH and VEGF-A expression was determined. The Kruskal-Wallis, χ(2), or Fisher's exact test were used when appropriate. RESULTS: Primordial follicles (p=0.001), VEGF-A expression (p=0.018) and vascularization (p=0.02) were significantly higher in the atorvastatin group compared to controls. Primordial (p=0.002), primary (p=0.001), and secondary follicles (p=0.001), AMH expression (p=0.001), and vascularization (p=0.001) were lower in the torsion group compared with the control group. Primordial follicles (p=0.001), AMH (p=0.001) and VEGFA expression (p=0.001), and vascularization (p=0.001) were significantly higher in the atorvastatin+torsion group compared to the torsion group. CONCLUSION(S): Atorvastatin increased the primordial follicle pool and vascularization and protected primordial follicles and vascular structures against I/R injury.