Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System Treatment Can Reduce Blood Levels of N-Acetylcysteine in Patients With Acetaminophen Overdose: Case Reports.

BACKGROUND: Acetaminophen poisoning continues to be a major cause of liver failure that can lead to liver transplantation. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is the cornerstone of treatment. Some authors use a Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System (MARS) system in acetaminophen poisoning. It is reported that the MARS system eliminates acetaminophen more efficiently than conventional dialysis. It is theoretically possible that treatment with MARS administered after NAC will increase the effectiveness of treatment. CASE REPORTS: The first patient, a woman of 14 years old, presented blood levels of 112 mg/dL 12 hours after ingestion of 15 g of acetaminophen. Treatment with NAC was initiated. At 17 and 23 hours after ingestion, blood levels were 23.5 µg/mL and 5.9 µg/mL, respectively. The second patient, a woman of 28 years old, presented blood levels of 115 mg/dL 4 hours after ingestion of 40 g of acetaminophen. Treatment with NAC was initiated. At 14 and 23 hours after ingestion, blood levels were 15.8 µg/mL and <2 µg/mL, respectively. In both patients, we performed MARS after completing treatment with NAC, and after the first session, blood levels were below the lower limit of detection (≤2 µg/mL). DISCUSSION: The correct timing of MARS to avoid interactions with the administered dose of NAC in acetaminophen overdose is essential so as to not impair the effectiveness of this treatment. These considerations in the management of this entity help in the resolution of liver failure, thus avoiding the need for a liver transplant.

Oncological Evaluation by Positron-emission Tomography, Circulating Tumor Cells and Alpha Fetoprotein in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma on the Waiting List for Liver Transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: The objectives of this study are the determination of the number of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), by means of the IsoFlux enrichment system (Fluxion Biosciences Inc, San Francisco, California, United States) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in compliance with the Milan criteria and on the waiting list for hepatic transplantation, as well as the study of its relation with the of α-fetoprotein levels (AFP) and positron-emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) findings. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An oncologycal evaluation with PET-CT, CTCs, and AFP was conducted in 24 consecutive patients with HCC eligible for orthotopic liver transplantation according to the Milan criteria. The diagnosis of HCC was made according to clinical, biological, and radiological findings. RESULTS: We detected CTCs in peripheral blood in 21 of 24 patients (87.5%) before liver transplantation, with a mean number CTCs of 156 ± 370 (range, 2 to 1768) with statistically significant association between number of CTCs detected in peripheral blood and the time within the waiting list (P < .05), but not betwen AFP levels and standard uptake value and time to orthotopic liver transplantation (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: PET-TC, CTCs, and AFP levels could be an essential key for the correct management of the patients with HCC on the waiting list for liver transplantation.

Clinical Significance of Contamination of the Preservation Solution in Liver Transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to describe the incidence and microbiological profiles of positive cultures obtained from preservation solution (PS) and correlate these findings with infectious complications detected in the liver transplant (LT) recipient. PATIENTS: We conducted a single-center, retrospective study between December 2010 and August 2014 among 178 LT. In all grafts, a PS culture was carried out. All the infections in the receipt until hospital discharge were collected. In patients with >1, infection was considered the most severe according to Clavien-Dindo classification. RESULTS: PS culture was positive for bacterial or fungal agents in 79 of 178 LT recipients (44%). The most commonly cultured organisms were coagulase-negative staphylococci (64%), Enterobacteriaceae (17%), and Staphylococcus aureus (4.7%). In the 79 patients with positive PS, 49 blood cultures were requested in the period after LT. Twenty-five postoperative infections (31.7%) were diagnosed. Only 4 of 79 patients (5%) with PS contamination had a postoperative infections related with isolated microorganism. CONCLUSIONS: Contamination of PS appears in a high percentage of liver grafts before LT, although there is a poor correlation with postoperative infections in LT recipient. In these patients, a standardized process including fungal and bacterial cultures could be useful.

Improving the waiting list by using 75-year-old donors for recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

The best treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with liver cirrhosis is liver transplantation and the best results are obtained when the tumors fulfill the Milan criteria. However, although the number of transplants is increasing, the organ deficit is growing, which lengthens time on the waiting list, increasing the risk of tumor progression of and exclusion from the list. The use of elderly donors is a valid option for patients on the transplant waiting list with HCC, reducing time on the waiting list. We report our experience with patients transplanted for HCC associated with hepatic cirrhosis using livers from donors >75 years of age. Our preliminary results supported the use of elderly suboptimal donors making it possible to give priority to these patients. All patients in the series achieved good graft function after a follow-up of 2 years with a 100% disease-free survival rate. More extensive long-term studies are needed to confirm these findings.

[Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and long-term outcome of 29 patients with Wilson's disease]. / Presentación clínica, diagnóstico y evolución a largo plazo en 29 pacientes con enfermedad de Wilson.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment, and follow-up of a cohort of 29 patients with Wilson's disease (WD) within the region of Murcia. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We reviewed the medical records of 29 cases of WD (mean age, 20.3 +/- 13.4 years) diagnosed during the last 16 years. RESULTS: The most frequent reason for consultation was upon discovering a high transaminase level in almost half the patients, followed by tremors or dystonia in 17% of patients, respectively. A Kayser-Fleischer ring was observed in 17/29 (58.6%) of patients (100% of patients with pure neurological involvement and 35% of patients with pure clinical hepatic disease; p < 0.001). Blood copper levels not associated with ceruloplasmin as well as cupruria were notably superior in patients with neurological symptoms and in those with liver cirrhosis at the time of diagnosis. Patient clinical symptoms remained stable with D-penicillamine or trientine, or improved during the observation period, for 18 out of 29 patients (62%), while 11 out of 29 patients (38%) got worse. CONCLUSIONS: In our region patients with WD are diagnosed at a younger age, and in most cases for hepatic disease. Patients with neurological disease or liver cirrhosis had a high level of free copper not associated to ceruloplasmin and cupruria. The disease had a favorable evolution in all patients but those diagnosed with hepatic disease or advanced neurological disease.

[Giant hepatic hemangioma associated with Kasabach-Merrit syndrome]. / Hemangioma hepático gigante asociado a síndrome de Kasabach-Merrit.

Hepatic hemangioma is the most frequent liver's tumor. The majority are small, asymptomatic and have an excellent prognosis. Those larger than 5 cm can be associated to a consumptive coagulopathy called Kasabach-Merrit syndrome. We present a patient with a giant hepatic hemangioma with multiple hemangimatosis associated to Kasabach-Merrit syndrome.

[The effect of a fibre enriched dietary milk product in chronic primary idiopatic constipation]. / Efecto de la ingesta de un preparado lácteo con fibra dietética sobre el estreñimiento crónico primario idiopático.

BACKGROUND: fibre is effective in some types of constipation. Our objective was to determine if the administration of an enriched dairy preparation with a supplement of soluble fibre (Naturfibra) [inulin and digestion resistant maltodextrin (Fibersol 2)], improves primary chronic constipation. METHODS: Prospective, randomized, double blind clinical trial randomized with dietary intervention in 32 subjects with constipation according to the Rome II criteria. Thirty two subjects (men 4; women 28) with an average age of 47 +/- 15 years were randomly divided in two homogeneous groups. A type of milk (A or B) was assigned to each group. Group A received fibre enriched semi-skimmed milk; Group B received semi skimmed milk. The subjects drank half a litre of milk per day during 20 days, meaning that those who drank the enriched milk ingested 20 grams of fibre a day. RESULTS: The subjects that presented straining at defecation (p < 0.001), sensation of incomplete evacuation (p < 0.001), sensation of obstruction in the evacuation (p < 0.001) and days between bowel movements, diminished significantly after the intake of milk supplemented with fibre. CONCLUSION: The intake of a dairy preparation with a supplement of fibre containing 20 grams of soluble fibre (inulin and digestion resistant maltodextrin), improves the situation of idiopathic primary chronic constipation based on the Rome II criteria.

[Acute liver failure caused by hepatitis C virus in the puerperium]. / Fallo hepático agudo por el virus de la hepatitis C en el puerperio.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global problem in our health systems. The prevalence of infected patients in general population is about 2%. In the subgroup of pregnant woman the percentage of infected patients ranges from 1-3%. Several studies have described the relationship between pregnancy and chronic HCV infection, and in most cases serum transaminases levels return to normal values while HCV-RNA levels increase during the second and third trimester. The influence of maternal hormones after delivery in the natural history of HCV infection has not been sufficiently studied and consequently remains controversial. This case report shows the peculiar clinical course of a patient with chronic HCV infection in the puerperium.

[Ultrasonographic diagnosis of intestinal fistulae associated with Crohn disease]. / Diagnóstico ultrasonográfico de fístulas intestinales asociadas a enfermedad de Crohn.

In two patients with Crohn's disease, abdominal mass and fever, abdominal ultrasound disclosed enteroenteric fistula in one, and intestinal fistula associated to subcutaneous abscess in the second. We emphasize the role of ultrasound in the diagnosis of active Crohn's disease, especially as a complementary method for the detection of intraabdominal complications.

[Clinical and epidemiological features of hepatic cirrhosis. Analysis of 200 patients]. / Aspectos clinicoepidemiológicos de la cirrosis hepática. Análisis en 200 pacientes.

We have evaluated the clinical and epidemiological features of hepatic cirrhosis in a retrospective study of 200 patients admitted to our Area Hospital from 1984 to 1987. 77% of patients were 40-69 years old and 74% were males, with a M/F ratio of 2.84. 56% were caused by high alcohol intake, 25% were cryptogenic and 13% post-hepatitis. 29.2% were diagnosed in a compensated stage of the disease. 52.2% presented with ascites, and 30.5% with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. We found superimposed hepatocellular carcinoma in 4.5% of patients, all of them males, with a mean age of 63.5 years. 18% died during their hospital admission, 50% from hepatic coma, 19.4% from hypovolemic shock and 16.6% from hepatorenal syndrome. Survival from the time of diagnosis in the patients who died was shorter than one year in 41.5%.