Prevalence and Predictors of Metabolic Syndrome After Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The development of metabolic syndrome (MS) after liver transplantation (LT) is a major source of mortality derived from cardiovascular events. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of MS after LT. METHODS: One-hundred seventy-four consecutive LT patients from January 2004 to June 2010 surviving longer than 1 year after LT were included. Median follow-up after LT was 48 months. Independent predictors of MS were obtained by means of multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: At 3 years after LT, 25.5% of patients reached a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2, 35.6% of patients developed arterial hypertension, 54.2% showed impaired fasting glucose, 22.5% had serum cholesterol >200 mg/dL, and 22.5% showed hypertriglyceridemia >150 mg/dL. The prevalence of MS ranged from 49% to 86% depending on the considered period. The pre-LT variables associated with MS were age at LT (odds ratio [OR], 1.08; P = .002), BMI of recipient before LT (OR, 1.23; P = .001), serum glucose (OR, 1.02; P = .005), and non-heart-beating donor (OR, 1.02; P = .046). The post-LT predictors of MS were body weight (OR, 1.04; P = .005), arterial hypertension (OR, 1.02; P = .047), and serum glucose (OR, 1.02; P = .011) at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: LT patients develop MS in a high proportion and progressively despite current efforts (ie, lifestyle modifications and aggressive management of hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia). The associated risk factors include age, increased BMI, and pre- and post-LT glucose.

Combined liver-kidney transplantation: survey of a single center in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Renal dysfunction is a common complication of advanced liver failure and liver transplantation. Since the introduction of the MELD criteria the proportion of patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and need for liver transplantation has increased. One alternative is the combined liver-kidney transplant (CLKT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of this type of transplant in our center. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all combined simultaneous or sequential transplants from 1989 to 2012. We studied demographic and clinical variables. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: In the study period, 1,265 kidney and 1,050 liver transplantations were performed; 34 were CLKT (to 29 adults and 5 children); 13 of these were simultaneous and 12 sequential liver-kidney. We also carried out 4 triple liver-pancreas-kidney transplantations, 3 simultaneous and 1 sequential. The mean age was 44.1 ± 15 years, and 27 were male (93.1%); 9 (37.5%) were diabetic. The main causes of liver disease were viral (n = 11 [41.3%; hepatitis virus B, C, or both] and alcoholism (9 [31%]). The renal disease etiology was unknown in 16 (55.1%), IgA nephropathy in 2 (6.8%), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in 2 (6.8%), and calcineurin inhibitor toxicity in 4 (13.6%). Transjugular renal biopsy was performed in 6 sequential transplants. Survival of patients who received a CLKT was excellent: 91%, 51%, and 40%, at 1, 5, and 10 years, respectively. No significant difference was found between sequential and simultaneous transplants (log rank 0.5). CONCLUSIONS: Our results of CLKT show results similar or superior to those of other series and are an alternative to consider in candidates for liver transplantation with chronic kidney disease. Transjugular biopsy is an alternative to study the etiology of renal disease in patients with hepatic dysfunction before or after liver transplantation.

Biliary complications after liver transplantation using side-to-side choledochocholedochostomy reconstruction with or without T-tube.

BACKGROUND: Biliary complications are a frequent cause of morbidity, graft loss, and death after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The choledochocholedochostomy anastomosis without a T-tube is controversial, as it has been related to more biliary complications. AIMS: The aims of this study were to determine the incidence and to identify the risk factors of post-OLT biliary complications after reconstruction with or without a T-tube. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-five consecutive adult patients with deceased donor liver transplantations (overall survival rate, 86.3%; mean follow-up, 22.2 months) were analyzed to determine the incidence and type of biliary complications in 2 groups: choledochocholedochostomy with (45 patients, Group I) or without a T-tube (50 patients, Group II). The incidence of biliary complications in Groups I and II was 40% (18/45) and 30% (15/50), respectively (P > .05). In Group I, 49% of the complications were directly related to the T-tube. Biliary anastomosis stricture was more frequent in Group II (28% vs 8.9% in Group I; P = .018). Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was the most common therapeutic procedure for the resolution of biliary complications in both groups (Group I, 66.5%; Group II, 58.2%). Arterial thrombosis, high pretransplantation Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, and donor obesity were identified as risk factors for biliary complications after OLT. CONCLUSION: OLT biliary reconstruction without a T-tube is not related to an increased risk of biliary complications, although stricutre of the anastomosis is more frequent in this group of patients. Donor obesity, arterial thrombosis, and high pretransplantation MELD score are associated with a higher incidence of biliary complications after OLT.

Hepatotoxicidad asociada a hipérico (hierba de San Juan) / Hepatotoxicity associated with Hypericum (St. John’s wort)

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Survival of patients receiving a liver transplant for hepatocellular carcinoma, and risk of tumor recurrence.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this research has been to evaluate the survival, in long and short term, of the patient receiving liver transplant for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the risk of post-transplant tumor relapse and factors related to this complication. DESIGN: Retrospective study of a consecutive series of patients having had liver transplant for HCC. PATIENTS AND METHODOLOGY: Transplant patients for HCC from 1989 to November 2003. Patients were selected due to general limitations of nodule size and quantity, which were subsequently published as Milan criteria. Also, criteria agreed in the Conference of Barcelona were followed in the pre-transplant diagnosis. RESULTS: The survival of this 81 patients group was of the 80, 61 and 52% for 1, 5 and 10 years respectively. In the 32% of the cases the HCC was an incidental finding in the explant. In the 12.3%, the tumor relapse was verified. The multivariate research identified the size of the nodule (OR=1,7944) (IC 95%=1,1332-2,8413) and the vascular invasion (OR=6,6346) (IC 95%=1,4624-30,1003) as risk factors of relapse. CONCLUSIONS: The liver transplant in selected patients with HCC has good results in medium and long term. The risk of post-transplant tumor relapse becomes notably reduced and is associated with the size of the nodule and the microscopic vascular invasion.

Failure of endoscopic therapy in upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to duodenal ulcers.

OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic treatment in patients with upper gastrointestinal (UGIH) due to duodenal ulcer with high risk of persistent or recurrent bleeding and to determine the associated failure factors of this procedure. PATIENTS AND METHOD: three hundred and thirty-six patients with UGIH due to duodenal ulcer requiring endoscopic treatment were analyzed between January 1992 and December 2001. The patients were classified according to the endoscopic findings: a) patients with limited bleeding; and b) patients with persistent and/or recurrent bleeding due to therapeutic failure. The clinical guidelines followed in patients with endoscopic treatment failure were previously established in the internal protocol. The variables that obtained statistical significance in the univariate analysis were included in the logistic regression model to identify those with an independent predictive value for failure of the endoscopic treatment. RESULTS: mean age of the patients was 60 +/- 17 years, 271 (81%) were male. Bleeding with severe hemodynamic affectation was detected in 82 patients (24%). The most common location of the duodenal ulcer was on the anterosuperior part of the duodenal bulb (227 patients, 68%). In 43 patients (13%) the ulcer was larger than 2 cm. The bleeding stigmata were classified as: Forrest I in 125 (38%) and Forrest II in 211 (62%). It was initially reached in 297 patients (88%). Twenty-two patients required emergency surgery (6,5%) and the global mortality rate was 3%. Severe hemodynamic affectation at admission (OR 11.8, p>0.001), ulcers exceeding 2 cm (OR 6.95, p = 0.019) and the presence of active bleeding during endoscopy (Forrest I) (OR 3.55, p = 0.08) were the variables included in the multivariate analysis independently associated to endoscopic therapy failure. CONCLUSION: endoscopic therapy is an efficient treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to duodenal ulcer. By means of a clinical variable, the hemodynamic status and two endoscopies, bleeding stigmata and the size of the ulcer, a group of patients with high risk of endoscopic treatment failure can be selected.

Fracaso de la terapéutica endoscópica en enfermos con hemorragia digestiva por úlcera duodenal / No disponible

Objetivos: analizar la eficacia de la terapéutica endoscópica en enfermos con alto riesgo de persistencia y/o recidiva del sangrado específicamente en hemorragia digestiva alta (HDA) por úlcera duodenal y determinar los factores asociados al fracaso de esta técnica. Pacientes y método: se analizaron 336 enfermos con HDA por úlcera duodenal que requirieron terapéutica endoscópica, entre enero 1992 y diciembre 2001. Se clasificaron los enfermos en función de la respuesta al tratamiento endoscópico: a) pacientes con hemorragia limitada; y b) pacientes con persistencia y/o recidiva del sangrado por fracaso terapéutico. La pauta de actuación en los enfermos con fallo del tratamiento endoscópico se hizo en función de un protocolo previamente establecido. Las variables que alcanzaron significación estadística en el análisis univariante se incluyeron en un modelo de regresión logística para identificar aquellas con un valor predictivo independiente para el fracaso de la terapéutica endoscópica. Resultados: la edad media fue de 60 ± 17 años, 271 (81%) eran hombres. La hemorragia se presentó con afectación hemodinámica grave en 82 pacientes (24%). La localización más frecuente de la úlcera duodenal fue en cara anterosuperior de bulbo duodenal en 227 pacientes (68%). En 43 enfermos (13%) la úlcera era mayor de 2 cm. Los estigmas de sangrado encontrados en la endoscopia fueron: Forrest I, en 125 (38%) y Forrest II, 211 (62%). La hemostasia inicial se logró en 297 pacientes (88%). Requirieron cirugía urgente 22 enfermos (6,5%) y la mortalidad global de nuestra serie fue del 3%. En el análisis multivariante, las variables que se asociaron independientemente al fracaso de la terapéutica endoscópica fueron la afectación hemodinámica grave al ingreso (OR 11,8, p<0,001), el tamaño de la úlcera mayor a 2 cm (OR 6,95, p= 0,019) y la presencia de sangrado activo en la endoscopia (Forrest I) (OR 3,55, p=0,08). Conclusión: la terapéutica endoscópica es eficaz en la hemorragia digestiva alta por úlcera duodenal. Mediante una variable clínica, el estado hemodinámico y dos endoscópicas, los estigmas de sangrado y el tamaño de la úlcera, podemos seleccionar un grupo de enfermos con mayor riesgo de fracaso del tratamiento endoscópico (AU)

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[Head and neck symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux]. / Manifestaciones en cabeza y cuello del reflujo gastroesofágico.

In otorhinolaryngology, the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and pharyngolaryngeal disorders is well-known. In fact, many patients with GER debut with head and neck symptoms or are first seen by an otolaryngologist. We proposed to identify the ENT symptoms most frequently associated with GER, to differentiate between physiological and pathological GER, and to confirm the effectiveness of antacid treatment. Our study included 20 ambulatory patients who presented pharygolaryngeal symptoms and clinical manifestations of GER (heartburn and regurgitation). The patients underwent a complete ENT examination and were referred to a gastroenterologist for esophagoscopy, manometry, and 24-hour pH monitoring. All patients received antireflux therapy for one month (ranitidine 150 mg given twice daily). We conclude that GER produces a variety of manifestations, but the most frequent pharyngolaryngeal symptoms and physical findings were globus pharyngeus and erythema of the arytenoids, respectively. Pathological GER was found in only one third of our patients and 90% responded well to treatment.

[Portal thrombosis, common bile duct varices and cholestasis]. / Trombosis portal, varices coledocianas y colestasis.

A case of cholestasis in a young patient with portal cavernomatosis is reported. This clinical picture is very infrequent and appears as a consequence of extrinsic compression on the common bile duct due to which the derivative venous collaterals. There does not appear to be any relationship between the intensity of the morphologic alteration of the biliary tract and the level of portal hypertension and the degree of extrahepatic obstruction. Diagnosis was fundamentally achieved by arteriography and retrograde cholangiography with differential diagnosis with the previously mentioned diseases being required. Chronic cholestasis advises derivative surgery in which difficulties may be found due to the presence of thick collaterals in the hepatic pedicle as occurred in this patient.

[Value of duodenal drainage in the etiologic diagnosis of acute pancreatitis]. / Valor del sondaje duodenal en el diagnóstico etiológico de la pancreatitis aguda.

The most common etiology of acute pancreatitis (PA) in western Countries is gallstone disease. From recent data it has become clear that up to 30% of the so-called idiopathic AP are due to microlithiasis. Overlooking this diagnosis precludes to carry out a correct treatment and leads to relapses. In this prospective study bile for microscopic examination has been collected by duodenal intubation from 50 patients admitted because of AP of unknown etiology (history, laboratory data, ultrasound). In 21 patients the bile contained crystals, but only in 15 were considered as significant. Seven of these 15 patients underwent surgery which confirmed microlithiasis in all but one who had cholesterolosis. After cholecystectomy only one patient presented with a new episode of AP. In conclusion, microscopic examination of the bile may establish reliably a biliary origin in cases of AP of unknown etiology, allowing an adequate treatment of these patients and decreasing their risk of recurrences.