[Case of cardial varices rupture due to danaparoid sodium with portal venous thrombosis].

A 54-year-old man had been admitted to Nara city hospital because of hematemesis and dyspnea caused by physical exertion, and was given a diagnosis of esophago-cardial varices and portal venous thrombosis. He was transferred to our hospital for further examinations and treatments. Ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) revealed the progression of portal venous thrombosis. Danaparoid sodium was administered to treat the portal vein thrombus. 5 days later, the patient was found to have hematemesis resulting from a cardial varices rupture. After endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) and endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) was performed, danaparoid sodium was administered for 2 weeks. After the treatment, portal vein thrombus had almost disappeared. Due to an increased risk of bleeding, cases of esophago-cardial varices with portal venous thrombosis must be treated with care. This is the first report of upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to danaparoid sodium. Danaparoid sodium must be carefully administered when patients have portal venous thrombosis with delicate varices.

Cryptogenic cirrhosis in the region where obesity is not prevalent.

AIM: Recent studies have demonstrated that obesity is the common feature of cryptogenic cirrhosis (CC) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. However, there is little information on CC in the region where obesity is not prevalent. METHODS: The clinical features, and the liver-related morbidity and mortality of CC were analyzed in Japan where the prevalence of obesity is low. Among 652 cirrhotic patients, we identified 29 patients (4.4%) with CC. Of these, 24 CC patients who were followed up for more than 6 months were compared in a case-control study with age-, sex-, and Child-Pugh score-matched controls having cirrhosis of viral etiology. RESULTS: Obesity (BMI>or=25 kg/m(2)), diabetes mellitus, and hypertriglyceridemia were more frequent, and the visceral fat area was larger in the CC patients than in the controls. The indices of insulin resistance were higher and the serum aminotransferase levels were lower in the CC patients than in the controls. Logistic regression analysis identified the elevated hemoglobin A1c, BMI>or=25 kg/m(2), and normal aminotransferase levels as independent predictors of CC. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated lower occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma and higher survival rate in the CC than in the controls in contrast to the similar cumulative probability of liver-related morbidity between those groups. CONCLUSION: CC more frequently presents with the clinical features suggestive of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis compared with controls even in the region where obesity is not prevalent. The lower occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma and higher survival rate may indicate an indolent clinical course in CC as compared with viral cirrhosis.

Sclerotherapy for gastric fundal variceal bleeding: is complete obliteration possible without cyanoacrylate?

BACKGROUND: Many studies have suggested that endoscopic obliteration using cyanoacrylate for bleeding gastric fundal varices is effective. However, serious complications by injection of cyanoacrylate into varices have also been reported. METHODS: Thirty patients with bleeding gastric fundal varices underwent endoscopic injection sclerotherapy using 5% ethanolamine oleate under fluoroscopic guidance plus infusion of vasopressin and a transdermal nitroglycerin patch. The injection of 5% ethanolamine oleate was continued until it filled the varices and their feeder veins under fluoroscopic guidance. The injection needle was removed while thrombin glue was sprayed at the puncture site through the side hole of the injector needle to prevent bleeding from the puncture site. RESULTS: Complete hemostasis was achieved in 28/30 patients (93.3%). The cumulative rebleeding rate after 1, 3 and 5 years was 13%, 19% and 19%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year cumulative mortality rates were 31%, 54% and 59%, respectively. There was no complication related to infusion of vasopressin and sclerotherapy procedure. CONCLUSION: The sclerotherapy method carried out using 5% ethanolamine oleate combined with infusion of vasopressin under fluoroscopic guidance might be a feasible method for obliteration of gastric fundal varices as an alternative to cyanoacrylate.