Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient Measurement in Bangladeshi Cirrhotic Patients: A Correlation with Child's Status, Variceal Size, and Bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) reflects the portal pressure in patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension. The aim of the study was to assess the relation of HVPG to variceal size, Child-Pugh status, and variceal bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 96 patients with cirrhosis of liver were enrolled prospectively and each patient's HVPG level was measured via the transfemoral route. Clinical and biochemical evaluation and upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy were done in each subject. Severity of cirrhosis was assessed by Child's status. RESULTS: The mean HVPG was higher in patients with Child's B and C (14.10 ± 7.56 and 13.64 ± 7.17 mm Hg respectively) compared with those of Child's A (10.15 ± 5.63 mm Hg). The levels of HVPG differed significantly between Child's classes A and B (p = 0.011) and Child's A and C (p = 0.041). The mean HVPG was also higher in bleeders compared with nonbleeders with large varices (17.7 ± 5.5 vs 14.9 ± 4.7 mmHg respectively; p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Hepatic venous pressure gradient seems to be important to assess the severity of liver cirrhosis.How to cite this article: Al Mahtab M, Noor E Alam SM, Rahim MA, Alam MA, Khondaker FA, Moben AL, Mohsena M, Akbar SMF. Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient Measurement in Bangladeshi Cirrhotic Patients: A Correlation with Child's Status, Variceal Size, and Bleeding. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2017;7(2):142-145.

Distribution of Liver Disease in Bangladesh: A Cross-country Study.

INTRODUCTION: 'Hepatology', as an independent discipline of medical science, has recently been established in Bangladesh. The aim of this study was to formulate the distribution of pattern of liver diseases in this country. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, data regarding patients of liver diseases from the seven different administrative divisions of Bangladesh between January 2012 and 2013 were compiled. RESULTS: The study included 59,227 patients (age ranged 15-95 years). Majority of the patients were males (67.9%). Although all patients appeared at the department of hepatology, 13.2% were diagnosed with liver diseases, but a vast majority of patients (77.35%) were suffering from nonulcer dyspepsia or irritable bowel syndrome. Patients with liver diseases were mostly suffering from chronic liver diseases (CLDs) (37 -69%). Complication of CLD, like hepatic encephalopathy, was less frequent in regions with better healthcare system. Nonviral infections, like liver abscess and biliary ascarisis, were not uncommon. Acute hepatitis was another very common entity and contributed to approximately 20% cases. CONCLUSION: This study provides insight about heterogeneous distribution pattern of liver diseases in different regions of Bangladesh.How to cite this article: Rahman S, Ahmed MF, Alam MJ, Debnath CR, Hoque MI, Hussain MM, Shamsul Kabir AKM, Karim MF, Khondokar FA, Mahtab MA, Masud MG, Mollick MKU, Moben AL, Noor-E-Alam SM, Podder PK, Raha AK, Rahim MA, Rashid MHO, Zaki KMJ, Akbar SMF. Distribution of Liver Disease in Bangladesh: A Cross-country Study. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2014;4(1):25-30.

An Outbreak of Acute Hepatitis in a Medical Facility of Bangladesh.

A total of 45 patients with acute hepatitis were detected in a medical facility of Bangladesh over a period of 6 months. All of them were physicians, nurses, students or employees of the hospital. About 50% of these patients suffered from acute hepatitis within a period of 2 months. All of them had clinical and biochemical evidences of acute hepatitis. All of them shared common working places as well as common dining and cooking facilities. Although the disease was supposed to be caused by hepatitis viruses, none of them were expressing IgM type antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (IgM anti-HBc) or hepatitis C virus (IgM anti-HCV). IgM type antibody to hepatitis A virus (IgM HAV) was detected in one patient and IgM type antibody to hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV IgM) were found in 14 patients. In conclusion, diagnosis of etiological agent of viral acute hepatitis constitutes a formidable challenge to the existing health care delivery system in developing countries as available serological and routine screening fails to find the proper etiological agent. How to cite this article: Mahtab MA, Akbar SMF, Podder DC, Saha PK, Jahan M, Begum L, Afrose T, Chowdhury F, Rahman S. An Outbreak of Acute Hepatitis in a Medical Facility of Bangladesh. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2014;4(1):66-67.