Revisiting Mac-2-Binding Protein Glycosylation Isomer (M2BPGi) for Diagnosing High-Risk Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients: A Stepwise Diagnostic Analysis.

Background: The level of liver fibrosis is the basis for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and it is necessary to adapt non-invasive liver fibrosis modalities. We aimed to investigate the use of M2BPGi as a single or combined diagnostic modality for liver fibrosis in CHB patients through a stepwise diagnostic analysis. Methods: Cross-sectional data were taken from patients between October 2021 and August 2022. Demographic data, blood profile, liver function, and liver stiffness were measured in CHB patients over 18 years old, willing to take part in the research, and had complete data. APRI, FIB-4, and AAR were calculated using the well-known formulas. Serum M2BPGi-levels were converted into a cut-off index (COI). The patients were divided into low-risk (LR) and high-risk fibrosis (HR) groups. A cut-off for each predictor variable to differentiate between the LR and HR groups was determined. The obtained cut-off was assessed for its association with the grouping of liver elastography results. Models to diagnose the liver stiffness measurement (LSM) ≥8 kPa were created and compared through multivariate and ROC analyses. Results: The number of patients that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria was 143 (HR = 65, LR = 78). The cut-off for diagnosing LSM ≥8kPa was 0.311, 0.742, 0.635, and 1.434 for APRI, FIB-4, AAR, and M2BPGi, respectively. This cut-off was significantly associated with the results of the HR and LR groupings. A multivariate analysis found that FIB4, AAR, and M2BPGi added significantly to the model. Statistically, the most optimal use of M2BPGi was combined with FIB-4, with an AUC of 0.835. Conclusions: The optimal cut-off of M2BPGi for diagnosing high-risk liver fibrosis in this study was 1.434. M2BPGi should be used with FIB-4 as a diagnostic tool for diagnosing liver fibrosis, especially in the absence of a liver biopsy or elastography.

Secondary Choledocholithiasis in Obstructive Jaundice Patient due to Choledochoduodenal-fistula Stricture.

Choledochoduodenal fistula (CDF) is a rare condition marked by an abnormal connection between the biliary duct and duodenum. The common etiology of secondary CDF are cholecystolithiasis, tumor, and duodenal ulcer. CDF may also caused by prior inflammatory condition or as a complication of radiation therapy. Management for this case is based on the patient condition. Herein we aimed to present a case of secondary choledocholithiasis due to stricture in the CDF which presented with cholangitis treated by self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) for biliary drainage. Patient admitted with jaundice, fever, right upper quadrant pain, and history of cholecystectomy. Diagnosis of CDF was determined by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and followed by putting biliary stent for urgent biliary drainage. The follow up result after stent removal was excellent.

Successful Nucleoside Analog and Corticosteroid Therapy for Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy in a Patient With Hepatitis B Virus Liver Cirrhosis.

Here, we describe the case of a 44-year-old man with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, who was admitted with progressive muscle weakness and paresthesia in all extremities. He showed slight icterus. Positive HBV e-antigen test, significant HBV-deoxyribonucleic acid load, hypoalbuminemia, hyperbilirubinemia, mild ascites, and demyelinating peripheral axonal lesions in both sensory and motor nerves led to the diagnosis of Child-Pugh class B HBV cirrhosis with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. Oral lamivudine, intravenous steroids, calcium, and vitamin D therapy led to a significant recovery of muscle strength within 6 weeks and a gradual return to normal after 24 weeks.

Pancreas Divisum as a Rare Etiology of Recurrent Pancreatitis: A Rare Case Ever Documented and Reported In Indonesia.

Pancreas divisum is an abnormal condition of pancreas duct that occurs from organogenesis. This abnormal condition defined as a failure in fusion between dorsal and ventral part of the pancreas. The incidence reported 4%-14% in general population. Majority patient with pancreas divisum will not present with any sign or symptom, but in some cases may present with signs of pancreatitis. We illustrate a case of 39 years old male with pancreas divisum presenting as acute recurrent pancreatitis. Diagnosis of pancreas divisum was determined through magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Patient treated by sphincterotomy and dilation using Soehendra's dilator catheter. This is the first pancreas divisum case successfully treated and reported in Indonesia.

Lethal Arrhythmia (Torsade de Pointes) in COVID-19: An Event Synergistically Induced by Viral Associated Cardiac Injury, Hyperinflammatory Response, and Treatment Drug?

Arrhythmias in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are prevalent and deserve special attention because they are associated with an increased risk of fatal outcome. The mechanism of arrhythmia in COVID-19 remains unclear. Here, we report our first case of confirmed COVID-19 with documented Torsade de Pointes (TdP). A 64-year-old woman, previously healthy, presented to our emergency department with progressive shortness of breath, dry cough, and 1 week of fever. She was treated with chloroquine phosphate, meropenem, and ciprofloxacin. After 5 days of admission, her condition deteriorated and she was admitted to the intensive care unit. The patient had two episodes of malignant arrhythmias within 24 hours. The former was TdP, and the latter was a fatal pulseless ventricular tachycardia that occured even after chloroquine was discontinued. There was evidence of cardiac injury shown by increased serum level of troponin I. We propose a synergistic concept of lethal arrhythmia due to direct severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2-associated cardiac injury, hyperinflammatory response, and drug-induced arrhythmia.

Low-Stage Gastric MALT Lymphoma Causing Life-Threatening Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

Gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is an uncommon tumor of the stomach that only comprises around 1-6% of all tumors of the stomach. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma more commonly affects the lymph nodes and may spread to the spleen and bone marrow, whereas extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma is less common. Primary gastric lymphoma is further divided based on histologic features; one of the types is MALT lymphoma, which is strongly associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. The first sign of the disease is usually mimicking gastritis. However, in the case reported here, the first sign of gastric MALT lymphoma was massive gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding with hemodynamic instability in a 75-year-old male. The patient came to the emergency department and was immediately resuscitated, intubated, and admitted to the intensive care unit. Urgent endoscopy (<6 h) was done to identify the source of bleeding, which were oozing ulcerated polypoid masses; endoscopic hemostasis was done, which successfully stopped the bleeding. However, the next day, rebleeding occurred and a second endoscopic hemostasis was performed. The bleeding stopped and the patient showed gradual improvement. The biopsy result of a gastric MALT lymphoma of grade IE1 with H. pylori infection warranted a treatment regimen for Helicobacter eradication. The patient recovered, with follow-up endoscopy at 3 months, at 6 months, and yearly thereafter with no sign of recurrence. This case shows that gastric MALT lymphoma, even at a low stage (1E1), can cause life-threatening upper GI bleeding that requires aggressive resuscitation and urgent endoscopy.