Terlipressin and albumin for type 1 hepatorenal syndrome: does bacterial infection affect the response?

Vasoconstrictor therapy with terlipressin and concomitant albumin can improve renal function in patients with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) type 1, but the efficacy of therapy in patients with active infection is controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy, adverse effects, and predictors of terlipressin therapy and to find out whether there was a difference in response rates between the patients with or without active infections. Data of 58 patients with type 1 HRS treated with terlipressin and albumin were retrospectively evaluated. Twenty-six patients (44.8 %) showed complete response to treatment. Response rates of patients with or without active bacterial infection were 47 and 43.9 %, respectively (p > 0.05). Only baseline serum creatinine level was significantly related to response in univariate/multivariate analyses (p < 0.05). Twenty-three patients (39.6 %) developed adverse effects probably related to treatment. In 8.6 % of patients, treatment was discontinued because of adverse effects of therapy. Four patients (6.9 %) developed ischemic adverse events, including nonfatal myocardial infarction, intestinal ischemia, and cutaneous necrosis. Terlipressin plus albumin therapy improved renal function in nearly half of patients with type 1 HRS. Thus, it seems a reasonable treatment for patients with active bacterial infections. Baseline serum creatinine level is a potential predictor of terlipressin response.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt: where are we?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the technical/hemodynamic success, complications, and biochemical/ hematologic consequences of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) created with 10-mm bare stents in our patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of 27 cirrhotic patients (18 men and 9 women; mean age, 39.7±18.7 years) with a median MELD score 14 (range 7-31) treated with TIPS between January 2000 and August 2010 were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: The indications were refractory bleeding varices in 48.2%, refractory ascites in 22.2%, and Budd-Chiari syndrome in 29.6% of the patients. Technical and hemodynamic success rates were 96.3% and 92.3%, respectively. Mean portosystemic pressure gradient decreased from 21.5±5.3 mm Hg to 9±2.7 mm Hg (p<0.05). The rate of primary stent patency was 76.9% 1 year after the procedure. No statistically significant difference in shunt dysfunction was found between the groups of patients treated for Budd-Chiari syndrome and other indications (p>0.05). One patient (3.7%) had shunt dysfunction due to thrombosis within 24 hours. New and/or worsening hepatic encephalopathy occurred in 34.6% of patients. Increased age (≥40 years) was significantly related to hepatic encephalopathy in both univariate and multivariate analyses (p<0.05). Thirty-day mortality rate and 1-year transplant-free survival rate were 0% and 80.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt procedure is a safe treatment for many patients with cirrhosis, but post-procedure hepatic encephalopathy and shunt dysfunction are still problems. Especially, patient age should be taken into consideration in predicting hepatic encephalopathy risk.

Effect of HLA on hepatitis C virus clearance and persistence in anti-HCV-positive end-stage renal disease patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The efficacy of immune response against hepatitis C virus (HCV) is determined by human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules of the host which present HCV antigens to CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the possible relationship between the frequencies of certain HLA class I-II alleles and the natural history of HCV in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study conducted in a university hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The present study comprised 189 ESRD patients (candidates for renal transplantation) who had positive anti-HCV antibody test. The results concerning HCV and HLA status were gathered from patients' files. The viral persistence was compared between the groups that were determined by HLA sub-typing. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Statistical evaluation was performed using Mann-Whitney U-test, Chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test. Level of error was set at 0.05 for all statistical evaluations, and P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: We found possible association between the course of HCV infection and specific HLA alleles. HLA class I CwFNx016 and HLA class II DRBFNx0110 alleles were observed more frequently in the viral clearance group (P < 0.05). The HLA class I BFNx0138 allele group was more prone to develop chronic hepatitis C (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that HLA class I CwFNx016 and HLA class II DRBFNx0110 alleles may be associated with immunological elimination of HCV in Turkish patients on hemodialysis. HLA sub-typing could help predict the prognosis of HCV infection.

Idiopathic chylous ascites treated with total parenteral nutrition and octreotide. A case report and review of the literature.

Chylous ascites is the accumulation of lipid-rich lymph in the peritoneal cavity. The usual cause in adults is lymphatic obstruction or leakage caused by malignancy. Non-malignant causes include postoperative trauma, cirrhosis, tuberculosis, pancreatitis and filariasis. A variety of treatment options have been proposed for the management of chylous ascites; however, their effectiveness in idiopathic or primary form is unknown. Here we report a case of chylous acid rapidly resolved with the treatment of fasting, total parenteral nutrition and somatostatin analogue.