Adenocarcinoma de bulbo duodenal, un diagnóstico poco sospechado / Bulbar duodenal adenocarcinoma. An unsuspected diagnosis

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Partial splenic embolization and peg-IFN plus RBV in liver transplanted patients with hepatitis C recurrence: safety, efficacy and long-term outcome.

BACKGROUND: There is limited information on the long-term outcome in liver transplant (LT) subjects undergoing partial splenic embolization (PSE) prior to full dose pegylated interferon/ribavirin (peg-IFN/RBV). METHODS: Retrospective review of eight LT subjects after PSE and antiviral therapy. RESULTS: Baseline platelets and neutrophils were <50 000 cells/mL and <1000 cells/mL in 75% and 50%. Mean splenic infarction volume was 85 +/- 13%. PSE produced major complications in three (37.5%): recurrent sterile netrophilic ascites and renal insufficiency (n = 2), and splenic abscess (n = 1). Full-dose peg-IFN/RBV was started in seven (87.5%), with two early withdrawals (28.6%) despite early virological response (toxicity and infection); both subjects died. Anemia led to RBV dose-adjustment in six (86%), with human recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) use in four (57%). No peg-IFN adjustments or granulocyte-colonies stimulating factor were needed. Two patients reached sustained virological response (SVR) (28.6%). Two non-responders maintained prolonged therapy with biochemical/histological improvement. After a median follow-up of 151 wk, we observed significant improvements in hematological parameters, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, international normalized ratio, and prothrombin activity. CONCLUSIONS: Extensive PSE after LT produced significant morbidity (37.5%). Peg-IFN/RBV was completed in five out of seven (71%), with SVR in two (28.6%). RBV adjustement due to anemia was high despite EPO use. Only patients able to complete or maintain antiviral therapy survived, with long-term significant benefits in hematological parameters and liver function tests.

Improved graft function in liver-transplanted patients after partial splenic embolization: reversal of splenic artery steal syndrome?

AIM: To describe the functional effect of partial splenic embolization (PSE) in liver-transplanted (LT) patients with hypersplenism and hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From May 2002 to May 2005, five LT patients with persistent hypersplenism, viral recurrence and graft dysfunction underwent PSE prior to pegylated interferon/ribavirin (peg-IFN/RBV). RESULTS: The mean splenic size was 19.5 cm (16-21) and there was evidence of an enlarged splenic artery (10.7+/-1 mm). PSE produced a median splenic infarction of 90% and a significant reduction in the splenic artery diameter to 5.8+/-0.4 mm (p=0.04). PSE significantly improved hematologic parameters, bilirubin levels, prothrombin activity, international normalized ratio and the Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score despite high HCV-RNA (6.2 log10 IU/mL). It was demonstrated histologic amelioration of ischemic changes in all subjects. PSE allowed the safe use of full-dose peg-IFN plus RBV in all subjects. CONCLUSIONS: In HCV LT patients with chronic graft dysfunction and cholestasis the improvement in the liver function following PSE might be due to the reversal of an undiagnosed splenic artery steal syndrome related to chronic hypersplenism masked by HCV recurrence.

Safe use of pegylated interferon/ribavirin in hepatitis C virus cirrhotic patients with hypersplenism after partial splenic embolization.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Partial splenic embolization (PSE) is a non-surgical alternative for the treatment of hypersplenism. Thrombocytopenia precludes the use of pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) and ribavirin in cirrhotic patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV). We aimed to evaluate the role of PSE as a procedure allowing combined HCV therapy in this setting. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the safety and rate of sustained virological response (SVR) after a full-dose course of peg-IFN plus ribavirin in eight HCV cirrhotic patients with severe hypersplenism undergoing PSE at a tertiary centre in Madrid, Spain, from May 2002 to August 2004. RESULTS: Six patients (75%) were in Child-Pugh class B (median score 7). PSE significantly improved the mean platelet (P = 0.012), leucocyte (P = 0.017) and haemoglobin (P = 0.035) levels, and prothrombin activity (P = 0.012). After a mean of 20 weeks after PSE all patients started weight-adjusted ribavirin plus peg-IFN-alpha2b (n = 6) or 180 microg/week of peg-IFN-alpha2a (n = 2). Six subjects (75%) completed therapy with no peg-IFN dose reductions; the dose of ribavirin was reduced in two patients reaching haemoglobin levels of less than 10 g/dl (one also received erythropoietin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor because of neutrophil counts < 300 cells/microl). Three patients (38%) achieved SVR. Portal vein thrombosis was observed in 50% of patients, but did not preclude antiviral therapy. The pathogenic mechanism was multifactorial. It was successfully managed with anticoagulant therapy in two cases. CONCLUSIONS: PSE allowed the safe use of peg-IFN plus ribavirin in HCV cirrhotic patients with severe cytopenias who otherwise would never have been treated. The rate of SVR was 38%.

Partial splenic embolization for the treatment of hypersplenism in cirrhotic HIV/HCV patients prior to pegylated interferon and ribavirin.

Partial splenic embolization (PSE), a non-surgical treatment for hypersplenism, has also been reported to improve hepatic function. As severe thrombocytopaenia or leukopaenia contraindicate the use of combined therapy with pegylated interferons (PEG-IFNs) and ribavirin (RBV) in HCV-related cirrhosis, we evaluated, from July 2002 to October 2003, the safety and effectiveness of PSE as a procedure to allow therapy for HCV in three Child-Pugh class B cirrhotic patients with hypersplenism and HIV co-infection. HCV genotypes were 1b (n=2) and 3a (n=1). Severe thrombocytopaenia (in all) and leukopaenia (in two) precluded therapy for HCV. PSE was successfully performed in all with a mean infarcted area of 80%, leading to a significant increase in platelet and leukocyte counts that allowed therapy with weight-adjusted RBV and PEG-IFN-alpha-2b (patients 1 and 3) or 180 microg of PEG-IFN-alpha-2a (patient 2) 8 weeks after the procedure. Moderate pain, well controlled with conservative measures, followed PSE in 100% of cases, but during follow-up (mean 422 days) there were no infectious complications or liver decompensation episodes. Although preliminary, these results suggest the potential role of PSE in HIV/HCV-cirrhotic subjects with hypersplenism as a procedure to allow the use of combined PEG-IFN and RBV.

Respuesta a la terapia combinada con albendazol y prazicuantel de hidatidosis multiorgánica / Response of multiorganic hydatdosis to combined therapy with albendazole and praziquantel

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