RESUMEN
UNLABELLED: AIMS/BACKGROUNDS: Large spontaneous portal-systemic shunts can occasionally be the cause of chronic and disabling encephalopathy in cirrhotic patients. Shunt embolization has been proposed, however the clinical relevance of this technique remains uncertain. METHODS/RESULTS: We report our results in seven patients treated by shunt embolization. Although the procedure was achieved and technically successful in all patients, the clinical results were poor as long-term improvement was obtained in only one patient. Three patients died within 3 months after the procedure from cirrhoses' end stage complications. CONCLUSION: We believe that optimal management of these patients with chronic spontaneous encephalopathy is liver transplantation.
Asunto(s)
Embolización Terapéutica , Encefalopatía Hepática/terapia , Cirrosis Hepática Alcohólica/terapia , Anciano , Angiografía , Enfermedad Crónica , Encefalopatía Hepática/diagnóstico por imagen , Hepatitis C Crónica/diagnóstico por imagen , Hepatitis C Crónica/terapia , Humanos , Cirrosis Hepática Alcohólica/diagnóstico por imagen , Trasplante de Hígado , Persona de Mediana Edad , Sistema Porta/diagnóstico por imagen , Estudios Retrospectivos , Tasa de Supervivencia , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Normal colonic bacteria possessing alcohol dehydrogenase activity can oxidize ethanol to acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde recently has been shown to be a local carcinogen in humans. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of lactulose feeding on fecal and cecal pH, intracolonic acetaldehyde concentration, and total ethanol elimination rate in rats. METHODS: Sixty Wistar rats were divided into four groups. Groups 2 and 4 received lactulose daily (11 g/kg body weight for 14 days). On days 7 and 14, groups 1 and 2 received ethanol (1.5 g/kg body weight) intraperitoneally, whereas groups 3 and 4 received saline. RESULTS: Fecal and cecal pH values decreased significantly after lactulose treatment compared with the controls. Lactulose feeding reduced the total ethanol elimination rate by 13.8% (257 +/- 0.008 mg/kg/hr vs. 298 +/- 0.003 mg/kg/hr, p < 0.001) and the intracecal acetaldehyde concentration by 66.2% after ethanol (49 +/- 29 microM vs. 145 +/- 47 microM, p = 0.03) compared with the controls. CONCLUSION: Lactulose feeding to rats significantly reduces ethanol elimination rate and intraluminal acetaldehyde concentration in the colon after ethanol administration. This prebiotic thus could be used as an effective agent to block the microbial production of carcinogenic acetaldehyde in the large intestine.