Implementation of a re-linkage to care strategy in patients with chronic hepatitis C who were lost to follow-up in Latin America.

To achieve WHO's goal of eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV), innovative strategies must be designed to diagnose and treat more patients. Therefore, we aimed to describe an implementation strategy to identify patients with HCV who were lost to follow-up (LTFU) and offer them re-linkage to HCV care. We conducted an implementation study utilizing a strategy to contact patients with HCV who were not under regular follow-up in 13 countries from Latin America. Patients with HCV were identified by the international classification of diseases (ICD-9/10) or equivalent. Medical records were then reviewed to confirm the diagnosis of chronic HCV infection defined by anti-HCV+ and detectable HCV-RNA. Identified patients who were not under follow-up by a liver specialist were contacted by telephone or email, and offered a medical reevaluation. A total of 10,364 patients were classified to have HCV. After reviewing their medical charts, 1349 (13%) had undetectable HCV-RNA or were wrongly coded. Overall, 9015 (86.9%) individuals were identified with chronic HCV infection. A total of 5096 (56.5%) patients were under routine HCV care and 3919 (43.5%) had been LTFU. We were able to contact 1617 (41.3%) of the 3919 patients who were LTFU at the primary medical institution, of which 427 (26.4%) were cured at a different institutions or were dead. Of the remaining patients, 906 (76.1%) were candidates for retrieval. In our cohort, about one out of four patients with chronic HCV who were LTFU were candidates to receive treatment. This strategy has the potential to be effective, accessible and significantly impacts on the HCV care cascade.

Prospective Latin American cohort evaluating outcomes of patients with COVID-19 and abnormal liver tests on admission.

INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES: The independent effect of liver biochemistries as a prognostic factor in patients with COVID-19 has not been completely addressed. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of abnormal liver tests on admission of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. MATERIALS & METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study including 1611 hospitalized patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from April 15, 2020 through July 31, 2020 in 38 different Hospitals from 11 Latin American countries. We registered clinical and laboratory parameters, including liver function tests, on admission and during hospitalization. All patients were followed until discharge or death. We fit multivariable logistic regression models, further post-estimation effect through margins and inverse probability weighting. RESULTS: Overall, 57.8% of the patients were male with a mean age of 52.3 years, 8.5% had chronic liver disease and 3.4% had cirrhosis. Abnormal liver tests on admission were present on 45.2% (CI 42.7-47.7) of the cohort (n = 726). Overall, 15.1% (CI 13.4-16.9) of patients died (n = 244). Patients with abnormal liver tests on admission presented higher mortality 18.7% (CI 15.9-21.7), compared to those with normal liver biochemistries 12.2% (CI 10.1-14.6); P < .0001). After excluding patients with history of chronic liver disease, abnormal liver tests on admission were independently associated with death [OR 1.5 (CI 1.1-2.0); P = 0.01], and severe COVID-19 (2.6 [2.0-3.3], P < .0001), both adjusted by age, gender, diabetes, pneumonia and body mass index >30. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of abnormal liver tests on admission is independently associated with mortality and severe COVID-19 in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection and may be used as surrogate marker of inflammation. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: NCT04358380.

[Predictors of infection and mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis in the high complexity hospital Virgen de la Puerta from Trujillo, Peru]. / Predictores de infección y mortalidad en pacientes con cirrosis hepática en el hospital de alta complejidad Virgen de la Puerta de Trujillo, Perú.

INTRODUCTION: Liver cirrhosis decompensated due to bacterial infections is one of the main diagnoses of admission to hospitalization, taking into account that the risk per se in it is higher than in non-cirrhotic patients, leading to high mortality rates. OBJECTIVE: The present study sought to determine the predictors of infection and mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis, as well as the epidemiological-clinical characteristics of patients with cirrhosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective data were collected from hospitalized cirrhotic patients in the Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine Service of the Hospital High Complexity "Virgen de la Puerta", from 2015 to June 2018. RESULTS: The study included 66 patients. The infection frequency was of 37.88%, being more frequent the spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (21.2%) and the total mortality was of 12.12%. When performing binary logistic regression and ROC curve, the MELD value> 13.5 (p=0.003), TP >18.26 (p=0.003) and the Child Pugh C stage were obtained as predictors of mortality (p=0.02, IC 95% EXP(B) 0.13-0.365). The variables that predict absence of mortality were a platelet value ≥74 500 /mm3 (p=0.01) and sodium ≥133 (p=0.019). The predictors of infection, MELD value ≤14.5 (p=0.0004) and sodium level ≥134.5 (AUC 0.696, p=0.028), to predict absence of infection. CONCLUSIONS: High MELD is a predictor of both mortality and infection. Child Pugh C and high values of Prothrombin time are predictors of mortality. The normal sodium level is a predictor of absence of mortality and infection, as well as platelet values discreetly low are predictors of absence of mortality.

Macroamilasemia en el Hospital Víctor Lazarte Echegaray de Trujillo, Perú: reporte de un caso / Macroamylasemia at the Hospital Víctor Lazarte Echegaray in Trujillo (Peru): Case report

Resumen La macroamilasemia debe sospecharse en todo paciente con aumento catalítico de amilasa α plasmática persistente y sin clínica de dolor abdominal, descartando otras etiologías de patología pancreáticas y extrapancreática. La macroamilasemia se caracteriza por la unión de complejos de amilasa α con inmunoglobulina, más frecuente inmunoglobulina A; pueden presentarse 3 tipos de macroamilasemia. Es importante realizar el diagnóstico diferencial de otras patologías que puedan causar el aumento de la amilasa y así evitar los procedimientos innecesarios. Se presenta el caso de un paciente de 53 años, de sexo femenino, que ingresó a emergencia por clínica de dolor abdominal y hiperamilasemia, que fue diagnosticada inicialmente de pancreatitis aguda.

Abstract Macroamylasemia should be suspected in any patient with a persistent catalytic increase of plasma α-amylase but no other clinical signs of abdominal pain after ruling out other causes of pancreatic and extra-pancreatic disease. The binding of α-amylase complexes with immunoglobulin, most commonly immunoglobulin A, characterizes this condition. Macroamylasemia is classified into three kinds. To prevent unnecessary procedures, it is critical to make a differential diagnosis of other conditions that can cause amylase increase. The present article reports the case of a 53-year-old female patient who was admitted to the emergency room with abdominal pain and hyperamylasemia, who was initially diagnosed with acute pancreatitis.

Predictores de infección y mortalidad en pacientes con cirrosis hepática en el hospital de alta complejidad Virgen de la Puerta de Trujillo, Perú / Predictors of infection and mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis in the high complexity hospital Virgen de la Puerta from Trujillo, Peru

Introducción: La cirrosis hepática descompensada por infecciones bacterianas es uno de los principales diagnósticos de admisión a hospitalización, teniendo en cuenta que el riesgo per se en ello es más alto que en pacientes no cirróticos, conllevando a cifras altas de mortalidad. Objetivo: El presente estudio buscó determinar los predictores de infección y mortalidad en pacientes con cirrosis hepática, así como las características epidemiológicas-clínicas de los pacientes con cirrosis. Materiales y métodos: De manera prospectiva se recolectaron los datos de los pacientes cirróticos hospitalizados en el servicio de Gastroenterología y Medicina interna del hospital de alta complejidad Virgen de la Puerta desde el 2015 a Junio del 2018. Resultados: El estudio incluyó 66 pacientes. La frecuencia de infección fue de 37,88%, siendo más frecuente la peritonitis bacteriana espontánea (21,2%) y la mortalidad total fue de 12,12%. Al realizar regresión logística binaria y curva ROC se obtuvieron como predictores de mortalidad, el valor de MELD >13,5 (p=0,003), TP >18,26 (p=0,003) y el estadio Child Pugh C (p=0,02, IC 95% EXP(B) 0,13-0,365). Las variables que predicen ausencia de mortalidad fueron un valor de plaquetas ≥ 74 500 /mm3 (p=0,01) y Sodio ≥133 mEq/l (p=0,019). Los predictores de infección, valor de MELD ≤14,5 (p=0,0004) y el nivel de sodio ≥134,5 mEq/l (AUC 0,696, p=0,028), para predecir ausencia de infección. Conclusiones: El MELD alto es un factor predictor tanto de mortalidad como de infección. El Child Pugh C y los valores de tiempo de Protrombina altos son predictores de mortalidad. El nivel de sodio normal es un predictor de ausencia de mortalidad e infección, así como el valor de plaquetas discretamente disminuido es predictor de ausencia de mortalidad.

Introduction: Liver cirrhosis decompensated due to bacterial infections is one of the main diagnoses of admission to hospitalization, taking into account that the risk per se in it is higher than in non-cirrhotic patients, leading to high mortality rates. Objective: The present study sought to determine the predictors of infection and mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis, as well as the epidemiological-clinical characteristics of patients with cirrhosis. Material and methods: Prospective data were collected from hospitalized cirrhotic patients in the Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine Service of the Hospital High Complexity "Virgen de la Puerta", from 2015 to June 2018. Results: The study included 66 patients. The infection frequency was of 37.88%, being more frequent the spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (21.2%) and the total mortality was of 12.12%. When performing binary logistic regression and ROC curve, the MELD value> 13.5 (p=0.003), TP >18.26 (p=0.003) and the Child Pugh C stage were obtained as predictors of mortality (p=0.02, IC 95% EXP(B) 0.13-0.365). The variables that predict absence of mortality were a platelet value ≥74 500 /mm3 (p=0.01) and sodium ≥133 (p=0.019). The predictors of infection, MELD value ≤14.5 (p=0.0004) and sodium level ≥134.5 (AUC 0.696, p=0.028), to predict absence of infection. Conclusions: High MELD is a predictor of both mortality and infection. Child Pugh C and high values of Prothrombin time are predictors of mortality. The normal sodium level is a predictor of absence of mortality and infection, as well as platelet values discreetly low are predictors of absence of mortality.