[Reversibility of hepatitis B virus-induced liver cirrhosis after prolonged antiviral therapy]. / Desaparición de cirrosis hepática por VHB tras tratamiento prolongado con antivirales.

Reversibility of liver fibrosis or cirrhosis involves complete restoration of normal liver architecture. This phenomenon has been well documented in chronic liver diseases such as autoimmune hepatitis, biliary obstruction, hemochromatosis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and viral hepatitis. There are very few reports of reversal of cirrhosis after antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We report a case of disappearance of HBV-induced liver cirrhosis after years of treatment with distinct antiviral drugs, documented by successive biopsy results. This disappearance was accompanied by normalization of platelet count, gammaglobulin titers, and radiologic findings.

[New techniques to extract impacted partially covered metallic biliary stents]. / Nuevas técnicas para extraer prótesis biliares metálicas recubiertas impactadas.

One of the problems affecting metallic biliary stents is the difficulty of removing them, especially after a period of months or if they have migrated. Several approaches have been used to remove both covered and uncovered stents, although with different degrees of effectiveness. We report two new approaches to removing partially covered stents that migrated proximally and that impacted in the papillary area and distal common bile duct. One stent was removed by papillectomy and the other by using duodenoscopy-guided controlled radial expansion balloon dilation. In both cases, the stents were removed without severe complications for the patient, leaving a good caliber in the stenosis.

[Effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on iron deficiency anemia of unknown origin]. / Efecto de la erradicación de Helicobacter pylori en la anemia ferropénica de origen incierto.

UNLABELLED: Iron deficiency anemia of unknown origin is a frequent cause of anemia in which etiological diagnosis is often not achieved, despite currently available diagnostic techniques. Recent studies suggest that, in the absence of digestive tract lesions, Helicobacter pylori infection could be the cause of iron deficiency anemia, due to the alterations produced in gastric iron absorption. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether H. pylori eradication resolves iron deficiency anemia and removes the need for oral iron administration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed an observational descriptive study in patients with iron deficiency anemia refractory to treatment with oral iron administration and with out causes that could explain their anemia. Gastroscopy, ileocolonoscopy, intestinal transit study and/or endoscopic capsule were performed. Female patients also underwent gynecological study. All patients were H. pylori-positive and standard eradication therapy was administered until elimination was achieved. The patients were followed-up for a minimum of 3 months after H. pylori eradication and the need for oral iron intake after eradication was evaluated. RESULTS: Ten patients, aged 53+/-8.2 years, were included. Hemoglobin (Hbg) before treatment was 10.06+/-0.53 mg/dl, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was 75.43+/-6.02 fl and ferritin was 6.1+/-3.28 ng/ml. Eradication therapy was administered until elimination of H. pylori. The mean time before disappearance of anemia was 4.5 months. Laboratory parameters after treatment were as follows: Hgb 12.86+/-0.75 mg/dl, MCV 85.02+/-4.8 fl and ferritin 28+/-22.19 ng/dl. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of lesions that could explain iron deficiency anemia, this disease can be related to H. pylori infection. Eradication of this infection is closely followed by disappearance of anemia and ferropenia.

Predominio del gen de la hemocromatosis en pacientes con hepatitis tóxicas / HFE genotype prevalence in patients with drug-induced hepatotoxicity

La toxicidad hepática por fármacos y su mecanismo han sido durante mucho tiempo desconocidos. Se ha observado que los pacientes con hepatitis aguda elevan los niveles séricos de ferritina. El objetivo de este estudio es determinar si existe una asociación de hepatotoxicidad por medicamentos y las mutaciones en el gen HFE asociadas con la hemocromatosis hereditaria. Material y métodos: Se analizaron10 pacientes ingresados en nuestro hospital con el diagnóstico de hepatitis aguda inducida por fármacos. A todos se les hicieron pruebas de laboratorio para el estudio de enfermedades hepáticas, la mutación del gen HFE y las características histopatológicas. Resultados: Un paciente con hepatitis secundaria a fármacos era heterocigoto para la mutación C282Y y uno heterocigoto para las mutaciones C282Y y H63D. Hubo un paciente homocigoto para la mutación H63D y seis fueron heterocigotos para la mutación H63D. La prevalencia general de las mutaciones del gen HFE en pacientes con enfermedad hepática inducida por fármacos fue del 90%. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de las mutaciones del gen HFE asociadas con hemocromatosis hereditaria está muy aumentada entre los pacientes que presentan hepatotoxicidad por medicamentos. Las mutaciones del gen HFE podrían estar involucradas en la hepatotoxicidad por fármacos...

Desaparición de cirrosis hepática por VHB tras tratamiento prolongado con antivirales / Reversibility of hepatitis B virus-induced liver cirrhosis after prolonged antiviral therapy

ResumenLa reversibilidad de la fibrosis o cirrosis hepática implica la restauración completa de la arquitectura normal del hígado. Este hecho ha sido bien documentado en algunas enfermedades crónicas hepáticas como hepatitis autoinmune, obstrucción biliar, hemocromatosis, esteatohepatitis no alcohólica y en hepatitis virales. En la literatura se han descrito muy pocos casos de reversión de cirrosis tras tratamiento antiviral en pacientes con infección crónica por VHB.ResumenDescribimos un caso de desaparición de cirrosis hepática por VHB tras años de tratamiento con distintos antivirales, y que se ha podido documentar mediante sucesivas biopsias hepáticas. Además se ha acompañado de normalización de cifra de plaquetas, gammglobulina y las imágenes radiológicas (AU)

AbstractReversibility of liver fibrosis or cirrhosis involves complete restoration of normal liver architecture. This phenomenon has been well documented in chronic liver diseases such as autoimmune hepatitis, biliary obstruction, hemochromatosis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and viral hepatitis. There are very few reports of reversal of cirrhosis after antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.AbstractWe report a case of disappearance of HBV-induced liver cirrhosis after years of treatment with distinct antiviral drugs, documented by successive biopsy results. This disappearance was accompanied by normalization of platelet count, gammaglobulin titers, and radiologic findings (AU)

Nuevas técnicas para extraer prótesis biliares metálicas recubiertas impactadas / New techniques to extract impacted partially covered metallic biliary stents

Uno de los problemas que aparecen en las prótesis metálicas de vía biliar es su dificultad para retirarlas, sobre todo si han pasado meses o han migrado. Para eso se han usado varios métodos a fin de poder extraer las prótesis biliares metálicas, tanto las recubiertas como las no recubiertas, con diferente eficacia.Se describen 2 nuevas formas para poder extraer prótesis parcialmente recubiertas que presentan migración proximal y se han impactado en el área papilar y el colédoco distal. Una prótesis se extrajo mediante papilectomía y la otra con balón de dilatación con colangiografía retrógrada endoscópica; para esto, se usó un duodenoscopio. En ambos casos se pudieron retirar las prótesis sin complicaciones graves para los enfermos y con un buen resultado para el calibre final de la estenosis(AU)

One of the problems affecting metallic biliary stents is the difficulty of removing them, especially after a period of months or if they have migrated. Several approaches have been used to remove both covered and uncovered stents, although with different degrees of effectiveness.We report two new approaches to removing partially covered stents that migrated proximally and that impacted in the papillary area and distal common bile duct. One stent was removed by papillectomy and the other by using duodenoscopy-guided controlled radial expansion balloon dilation. In both cases, the stents were removed without severe complications for the patient, leaving a good caliber in the stenosis(AU)

Efecto de la erradicación de Helicobacter pylori en la anemia ferropénica de origen incierto / Effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on iron deficiency anemia of unknown origin

La anemia ferropénica (AF) de origen incierto es una causa frecuente de ferropenia. A pesar de las técnicas disponibles en la actualidad, no se llega a establecer su diagnóstico etiológico. Recientes estudios sugieren que la infección por Helicobacter pylori podría ser causa de AF en ausencia de lesiones del tracto digestivo, debido a la alteración que se produce en la absorción gástrica de hierro. Objetivos: Evaluar si la eliminación de H. pylori consigue la desaparición de la AF y suprime la necesidad del consumo de hierro oral. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio observacional descriptivo, en el que se han incluido pacientes con AF refractaria al tratamiento con hierro oral y sin causas que la justifiquen. Se realizó una gastroscopia, una ileocolonoscopia, un tránsito intestinal y/o una cápsula endoscópica, así como un estudio ginecológico a las mujeres. Todos los pacientes presentaban H. pylori positivo, por lo que se realizó un tratamiento erradicador estándar hasta su eliminación. Se hizo un seguimiento mínimo de 3 meses tras la eliminación de H. pylori y se valoraron las necesidades de hierro oral tras la erradicación. Resultados: Se incluyó a 10 pacientes con una media ± desviación estándar de edad de 53 ± 8,2 años. La hemoglobina (Hb) antes del tratamiento era de 10,06 ± 0,53 mg/dl, el volumen corpuscular medio (VCM) de 75,43 ± 6,02 fl y la ferritina de 6,1 ± 3,28 ng/ml. Se llevó a cabo un tratamiento erradicador hasta la desaparición de H. pylori. El tiempo medio hasta la desaparición de la anemia fue de 4,5 meses. Los parámetros analíticos tras el tratamiento fueron: Hb 12,86 ± 0,75 mg/dl, VCM 85,02 ± 4,8 fl y ferritina 28 ± 22,19 ng/dl. Conclusiones: La AF de origen incierto, en ausencia de lesiones que la justifiquen, puede relacionarse con la infección por H. pylori. La eliminación de esta infección se sigue a corto plazo con la desaparición de la anemia y de la ferropenia

Iron deficiency anemia of unknown origin is a frequent cause of anemia in which etiological diagnosis is often not achieved, despite currently available diagnostic techniques. Recent studies suggest that, in the absence of digestive tract lesions, Helicobacter pylori infection could be the cause of iron deficiency anemia, due to the alterations produced in gastric iron absorption. Objectives: To evaluate whether H. pylori eradication resolves iron deficiency anemia and removes the need for oral iron administration. Patients and methods: We performed an observational descriptive study in patients with iron deficiency anemia refractory to treatment with oral iron administration and with out causes that could explain their anemia. Gastroscopy, ileocolonoscopy, intestinal transit study and/or endoscopic capsule were performed. Female patients also underwent gynecological study. All patients were H. pylori-positive and standard eradication therapy was administered until elimination was achieved. The patients were followed-up for a minimum of 3 months after H. pylori eradication and the need for oral iron intake after eradication was evaluated. Results: Ten patients, aged 53 ± 8.2 years, were included. Hemoglobin (Hbg) before treatment was 10.06 ± 0.53 mg/dl, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was 75.43 ± 6.02 fl and ferritin was 6.1 ± 3.28 ng/ml. Eradication therapy was administered until elimination of H. pylori. The mean time before disappearance of anemia was 4.5 months. Laboratory parameters after treatment were as follows: Hgb 12.86 ± 0.75 mg/dl, MCV 85.02 ± 4.8 fl and ferritin 28 ± 22.19 ng/dl. Conclusions: In the absence of lesions that could explain iron deficiency anemia, this disease can be related to H. pylori infection. Eradication of this infection is closely followed by disappearance of anemia and ferropenia (AU)