Colangitis biliar primaria: experiencia de cinco años en el Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile / Primary biliary cholangitis. Experience in 179 patients

BACKGROUND: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic autoimmune cholestatic disease, which can progress to cirrhosis. It mainly affects middle-aged women. Its most frequent form of presentation is asymptomatic with biochemical cholestasis and the presence of antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA). AIM: To describe the epidemiological characteristics, clinical presentation and treatment for patients with PBC at a clinical hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive, observational, retrospective study, carried out between January 2015 and December 2020. Results: 179 patients (158 women) were cared in the study period. At the time of diagnosis, the median age was 54 years (range 24-76), 55% of them were asymptomatic, 45% had fatigue and 28% had pruritus. Positive AMA were present in 65% of patients, antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in 51%, and anti-smooth muscle antibodies (ASMA) in 9%. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) was elevated in 30% of the patients and 50% of patients were biopsied. Splenomegaly and esophageal varices were present in 24 and 22% of patients, respectively. PBC was associated with Sjogren's syndrome in 15%, hypothyroidism in 14%, osteoporosis in 13%, and scleroderma in 8%. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiological characteristics of our patients agree with those published abroad. Laboratory cholestasis associated with the presence of AMA, currently allows diagnosis without the need for histological study. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the first-line treatment for patients with PBC. The use of biochemical response criteria is essential to identify patients who require other UDCA alternatives for isolated or combined treatment.

Tratamiento endoscópico en la pancreatitis crónica: seguimiento a largo plazo / Endoscopic treatment in chronic pancreatitis: long-term results in 18 patients

Background: Intraductal stones, ductal abnormalities and pancreatic pseudocysts are part of chronic pancreatitis (CP). The goal of treatment is pain relief, resolution of local complications and relapse prevention. Endoscopic therapy (ET) can be considered in those who do not respond to medical treatment. Aim: To evaluate the indication, immediate and long-term results of ET in CP patients. Patients and Methods: Review of a database of patients with CP analyzing results of ET in 18 patients aged 16 to 60 years (13 males). Demographics, etiology, endoscopic technique, indication for treatment, pain relief, relapses and complications were recorded. Results: The etiology of CP was alcohol consumption in 5, idiopathic in 11, hereditary in one and autoimmune in one case. The follow-up period was 6 months to 14 years. Seven patients had diabetes mellitus type 3c and eight had moderate to severe exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Pancreatic papillotomy was performed in all patients, with removal of some stones, without attempting a complete clearance of the pancreatic duct. In addition, a 7-10 French stent was placed in the main pancreatic duct in 15 patients with varying permanence (months to years). The stent was changed guided by recurrence of clinical symptoms. During the follow-up period, 10 patients remained asymptomatic and in three, pain or relapse were significantly reduced. Stenting failed in one patient for technical reasons. Two patients were operated. There were neither immediate nor late complications from ET. Conclusions: Long-lasting improvement of CP was observed in 13 of 18 patients treated with ET, without complications associated with the procedure.

Daño arterial asociado a la enfermedad renal crónica: evaluación mediante técnicas de laboratorio no invasivo en pacientes hemodializados / Assesment of arterial damage by noninvasive peripheral arterial tonometry in non-diabetic hemodialysis patients

Background: Hemodialysis patients (HD) display high rates of cardiac disease and mortality. The cardiovascular morbidity and mortality of HD patients is attributable in a significant proportion to endothelial dysfunction, arterial stiffness, and vascular calcifications. Aim: To measure vascular reactivity in HD subjects and compare them with healthy volunteers. Material and Methods: Forty eight non diabetic patients aged 58 ± 4.6 years (29 males) on hemodialysis for a mean lapse of 4.8 years were studied. Arterial stiffness was measured in the radial artery. Pulse wave velocity was measured by noninvasive peripheral arterial tonometry in carotid and femoral arteries. Endothelial function was assessed, measuring reactive hyperemia response after a 5 min period of ischemia. As a control, all values were also measured in age and gender-matched healthy volunteers. Results: Arterial stiffness was significantly higher in HD patients than controls (23.9 ± 3.3 and 18.4 ± 3.4% respectively, p < 0.05). HD subjects had an increased pulse wave velocity (10.0 ± 0.8 and 7.6 ± 0.9 m/s respectively, p < 0.05). A reduction in the change in pulse amplitude pressure, as a measure of arterial dysfunction, was only observed in male patients (1.7± 0.4 and2.7 ± 0.4 respectively p < 0.01). Conclusions: Noninvasive assessment of peripheral vascular function may be useful for the identification of patients at risk for late cardiac events.