Stopping nucleos(t)ide analogue treatment in Caucasian hepatitis B patients after HBeAg seroconversion is associated with high relapse rates and fatal outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Stopping nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA) after hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion is associated with high relapse rates in Asian patients, but data in Caucasian cohorts are scarce. Clinical course, outcomes and immunological aspects of chronic hepatitis B infections differ substantially between distinct ethnicities. AIM: The aim of this study was to determine relapse rates, factors predicting relapse and clinical outcomes after nucleos(t)ide analogue cessation in a large, predominantly Caucasian cohort of chronic hepatitis B patients with nucleos(t)ide analogue-induced HBeAg seroconversion. METHODS: This is a nationwide observational cohort study including HBeAg positive, mono-infected chronic hepatitis B patients with nucleos(t)ide analogue-induced HBeAg seroconversion from 18 centres in Belgium. RESULTS: A total of 98 patients with nucleo(s)tide analogue-induced HBeAg seroconversion were included in the study. Of the 62 patients who stopped treatment after a median consolidation treatment of 8 months, 30 relapsed. Higher gamma-glutamyl transferase levels at both treatment initiation (HR 1.004; P = 0.001 per unit increment) and HBeAg seroconversion (HR 1.006; P = 0.013 per unit increment) were associated with an increased risk of clinically significant relapse in a multivariate Cox regression model. Treatment cessation led to liver-related death in 2 patients, of whom one showed a severe flare. Of the patients who continued treatment after HBeAg seroconversion, none relapsed or developed severe hepatic outcomes. CONCLUSION: Treatment withdrawal in Caucasian chronic hepatitis B patients after nucleos(t)ide analogue-induced HBeAg seroconversion results in viral relapses in more than half of patients with potential fatal outcomes. These real-world data further lend support to preferentially continue NA treatment after HBeAg seroconversion until HBsAg loss.

Nodular Regenerative Hyperplasia in HIV-positive patients : a case series and review of the literature.

Nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) is a well-described condition that leads to non-cirrhotic portal hypertension and is histologically characterised by a nodular transformation of the liver without fibrosis. It seems to be a consequence of obliterative portal venopathy of small hepatic veins. Its precise aetiology remains to be clearly determined. NRH was reported to occur in HIV-positive patients ten years ago. In this article, three consecutive clinical cases of HIV-related NRH were identified in a high volume reference centre of HIV positive patients and are presented. Clinical, diagnostic aspects and strategies for management of this under-diagnosed medical condition in the HIV population are also developed.

Incidence and characteristics of type 2 hepatorenal syndrome in patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Type 2 hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a well described progressive impairment of renal function in patients with cirrhosis but its natural history, especially in patients with refractory ascites, is not well known. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence, predictive factors and outcome of type 2 HRS in patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with refractory ascites were followed-up for 17.5 +/- 26.3 months. The clinical characteristics, biological findings and outcome were analysed. The occurrence of renal dysfunction, and type 2 HRS in particular, was systematically analysed. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients (83.3%) developed renal dysfunction. Type 2 HRS was diagnosed in 16 patients (53.3%). Patients with type 2 HRS were older than patients without (64.8 +/- 9.1 yr vs 52.8 +/- 9.0 yr ; p < 0.001). All the others studied variables were similar between type 2 HRS and non-type 2 HRS patients. There was no significant difference in the overall probability of survival between these 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites, the development of type 2 HRS is frequent but does not occur in more severe liver disease and does not affect prognosis.

Peripheral cholangiocarcinoma with endoluminal tumor thrombus in main bile duct mimicking a Klatskin tumor.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral cholangiocarcinoma with endobiliary thrombus could be confused with Klatskin tumor, eventually leading to inappropriate therapeutic decision. CASE REPORT: A 56-year-old man presented with an obstructive jaundice. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a segment 7 liver tumor associated with a complete stop at the biliary bifurcation compatible with a Klatskin tumor. Surgical exploration revealed that biliary obstruction was caused by endobiliary tumor-related thrombus. A right hepatectomy was performed, allowing complete endobiliary thrombus extraction. At pathology, a T2N0 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma was demonstrated. No adjuvant chemotherapy was given and currently, 22 months after surgery, the patient remains disease free. DISCUSSION: This case underlines the fact that intraductal growth of peripheral cholangiocarcinoma does not represent a contraindication for surgical treatment. MRI could be useful to differentiate such presentation of peripheral cholangiocracinoma from Klatskin tumor and orientate the surgical treatment.

Klebsiella and E. coli liver abscess associated with aerobilia: a case report.

Pyogenic liver abscesses are commonly caused by biliary tract infections. We report here a case of liver abscess developed secondary to a biliary-enteric fistula. A 83 year old diabetic woman was admitted because of sepsis due to Klebsiella pneumoniae and E. Coli and with upper right quadrant pain. Six months before admission, a laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed. The abdominal sonography showed a liver abscess associated with an important aerobilia. The Magnetic Resonance Cholangiography showed a choledocho-colic fistula with an important inflammatory background. There was no evidence of neoplasia or inflammatory bowel disease. The evolution was marked by the development of urinary and bronchial tract infection due to Klebsiella. Septic metastasis are characteristics of Klebsiella liver abscesses. Percutaneous drainage associated with a intravenous antibiotherapy was performed.

Expiratory flow limitation during exercise in COPD: detection by manual compression of the abdominal wall.

Manual compression of the abdomen (MCA) during spontaneous expiration is a simple method for the detection of flow limitation in the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients during resting breathing, based on comparison of flow/volume curves obtained during MCA with that of the preceding control breath. It was assessed whether this nonstandardized technique is also feasible during exercise. MCA was performed during resting breathing and constant-exercise work at one- and two-thirds maximal mechanical power output (W'max) in six normal subjects and 12 COPD patients. Changes in end-expiratory lung volume (EELV) were also studied. With the aid of inspection, abdominal palpation and lung auscultation, MCA could always be applied during expiration. Flow limitation was never detected in the six normal subjects, whereas four of the COPD patients were flow limited at rest, seven during exercise at one-third W'max and nine during exercise at two-thirds W'max. Expiratory flow limitation detected by MCA was always associated with an increase in EELV during exercise, indicating dynamic hyperinflation occurrence or increase. It is concluded that manual compression of the abdomen is a very simple and reliable method for the detection of flow limitation during exercise.