Eikenella corrodens perirenal abscess resulting from a pancreatic fistula in a patient with chronic pancreatitis. Case report and literature review.

We present a case of a right perirenal Eikenella corrodens abscess in a patient with chronic pancreatitis and poor dental hygiene. Endoscopic Retrograde CholangioPancreaticography (ERCP) revealed a pancreatic fistula draining to the right perirenal loge. The patient was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, percutaneous drainage and endoscopic stenting of the duct of Wirsung, stopping the supply of the fistula. A full recovery in our patient was observed. Considering the uncommon location of the abscess, a review of the different aetiologies of perirenal abscesses and their distrubution patterns, and the endoscopic treatment of symptomatic pancreatic fistulas seemed worthwhile.

Stopping nucleos(t)ide analogue treatment in Caucasian hepatitis B patients after HBeAg seroconversion is associated with high relapse rates and fatal outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Stopping nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA) after hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion is associated with high relapse rates in Asian patients, but data in Caucasian cohorts are scarce. Clinical course, outcomes and immunological aspects of chronic hepatitis B infections differ substantially between distinct ethnicities. AIM: The aim of this study was to determine relapse rates, factors predicting relapse and clinical outcomes after nucleos(t)ide analogue cessation in a large, predominantly Caucasian cohort of chronic hepatitis B patients with nucleos(t)ide analogue-induced HBeAg seroconversion. METHODS: This is a nationwide observational cohort study including HBeAg positive, mono-infected chronic hepatitis B patients with nucleos(t)ide analogue-induced HBeAg seroconversion from 18 centres in Belgium. RESULTS: A total of 98 patients with nucleo(s)tide analogue-induced HBeAg seroconversion were included in the study. Of the 62 patients who stopped treatment after a median consolidation treatment of 8 months, 30 relapsed. Higher gamma-glutamyl transferase levels at both treatment initiation (HR 1.004; P = 0.001 per unit increment) and HBeAg seroconversion (HR 1.006; P = 0.013 per unit increment) were associated with an increased risk of clinically significant relapse in a multivariate Cox regression model. Treatment cessation led to liver-related death in 2 patients, of whom one showed a severe flare. Of the patients who continued treatment after HBeAg seroconversion, none relapsed or developed severe hepatic outcomes. CONCLUSION: Treatment withdrawal in Caucasian chronic hepatitis B patients after nucleos(t)ide analogue-induced HBeAg seroconversion results in viral relapses in more than half of patients with potential fatal outcomes. These real-world data further lend support to preferentially continue NA treatment after HBeAg seroconversion until HBsAg loss.

[Isolated increase of the serum aspartate aminotransferase level in a young asymptomatic patient: macro-AST]. / Geïsoleerde stijging van de serumactiviteit van aspartaataminotransferase bij een jonge patiënt zonder symptomen: macro-AST.

A 23-year-old asymptomatic patient wanted to become pregnant and had a blood analysis done at her general practitioner's office. The serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level was unexpectedly elevated: 139 U/l (reference value: < 32). The values for the other liver enzymes were normal. Extensive biochemical and imaging studies revealed no other abnormalities. The presence of so-called macro-AST was suspected. In this condition, AST forms complexes with other proteins, primarily IgG, which leads to an increased serum level. This has no clinical consequences. The presence of such complexes was confirmed by means ofa polyethylene glycol precipitation assay. This is a simple test for the detection of macro-AST, which saves the asymptomatic patient further invasive diagnostic procedures.

A suspicious pancreatic mass in chronic pancreatitis: pancreatic actinomycosis.

Introduction. Pancreatic actinomycosis is a chronic infection of the pancreas caused by the suppurative Gram-positive bacterium Actinomyces. It has mostly been described in patients following repeated main pancreatic duct stenting in the context of chronic pancreatitis or following pancreatic surgery. This type of pancreatitis is often erroneously interpreted as pancreatic malignancy due to the specific invasive characteristics of Actinomyces. Case. A 64-year-old male with a history of chronic pancreatitis and repeated main pancreatic duct stenting presented with weight loss, fever, night sweats, and abdominal pain. CT imaging revealed a mass in the pancreatic tail, invading the surrounding tissue and resulting in splenic vein thrombosis. Resectable pancreatic cancer was suspected, and pancreatic tail resection was performed. Postoperative findings revealed pancreatic actinomycosis instead of neoplasia. Conclusion. Pancreatic actinomycosis is a rare type of infectious pancreatitis that should be included in the differential diagnosis when a pancreatic mass is discovered in a patient with chronic pancreatitis and prior main pancreatic duct stenting. Our case emphasizes the importance of pursuing a histomorphological confirmation.

Strongyloidiasis pre and post autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

Hyperinfection with strongyloides stercolis occurs in the setting of chronic strongyloides infection in conjunction with immune suppression. Although malnutrition remains the major secondary cause worldwide in the developed world, iatrogenic immune suppression is an important precipitant. Autologous stem cell transplantation recipients are significantly immunocompromised albeit temporarily. Despite the increasing use of haemopoetic stem cell transplantation, hyperinfection with strongyloides has rarely been reported. We describe two cases of patients transplanted with chronic strongyloidiasis. In one case eradication therapy was given prior to the transplant which was uncomplicated. In the second case strongyloidiasis was diagnosed post transplant which was complicated by infection and respiratory compromise. Fatal hyperinfection subsequently developed after corticosteroid therapy was started for a disease progression in the CNS.

The treatment of hepatitis C: history, presence and future.

The treatment of chronic hepatitis C has made remarkable progress over the past two decades. For interferon-alpha monotherapy, sustained virological response rates were between 2 and 9% in genotype 1 and between 16 and 23% in genotypes 2 and 3. By adjusting treatment duration up to 48 weeks for genotype 1 and combining regular interferon-alpha with ribavirin, sustained response rates could be improved to 28 to 31% in genotype 1 and around 65% in genotypes 2 and 3. Attempts to further increase efficacy included the addition of amantadine without conclusive evidence up till now. With the recent introduction of long-acting pegylated interferon-alpha in combination with ribavirin, sustained virological response rates of 8o% can be obtained in genotypes 2 and 3. However, sustained virological response rates for patients with either genotype 1, nonresponse to prior treatment, cirrhosis or a combination of these characteristics are still less than 50%. In view of results with daily high-dose interferon-alpha induction in combination with prolongation of treatment duration up to 18 months, such patients might benefit from induction and prolonged PEG-IFN-alpha treatment and should be treated in an experimental setting.

[The treatment of hepatitis C]. / Behandeling van hepatitis C.

The recent advances in the antiviral therapy of hepatitis C have significantly lowered the threshold for offering such therapy to patients. Sustained virological response rates of 42-46% are achieved after 48 weeks of combination therapy with peginterferon alpha and ribavirin in patients with genotype 1 infection. In patients with a genotype 2 or 3 infection, 24 weeks of combination therapy leads to a sustained response rate of almost 80%. The U.S. National Institutes of Health consensus states that every patient with hepatitis C should be considered for antiviral therapy. Identification of the patients, selection for therapy, the provision of good information, guidance of the patient during therapy and a successful management of side effects lead to better treatment compliance and are of paramount importance in obtaining maximal therapeutic efficacy. Supportive guidance during substance abuse withdrawal programmes and the adequate use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors should be part of these measures.

Hepatitis C 2002 guidelines: summary and annotations.

BACKGROUND: The current NIH and French consensus provide physicians with clear guidelines on how to care best for patients with hepatitis C. METHODS: Review and discussion. RESULTS: Confirming the diagnosis and guiding the initial investigations have become straightforward. The standard treatment and its monitoring have been described in many publications. Recommending therapy to patients with moderate fibrosis has been the custom since the 1999 EASL guidelines. The 2002 guidelines have widened the spectrum of patients with chronic hepatitis C that should be considered for antiviral therapy. Patient categories not previously considered for therapy, such as alcoholics, intravenous drug users, prison inmates and social subgroups of society that lack adequate medical care, can now be offered therapy provided they are well supported in specific programmes. Liver physicians have learned throughout the years to manage side effects successfully and encourage patient adherence. This is reflected in the higher sustained viral response rates with standard interferon and ribavirin reported in the pegylated interferon registration trials compared with the interferon-ribavirin trials. Reducing the dose rather than stopping therapy is the key issue. Antidepressive agents have their place in the management of mood disorders prior to or during therapy. CONCLUSION: Every patient with chronic hepatitis C should be considered for antiviral therapy. It is probably best for a patient to be treated by a physician who has experience in managing possible side effects and in coaching a patient through his 6 or 12 months of treatment.

Giant fibrovascular polyp of the esophagus.

We report on a patient who presented a fibrovascular polyp of the esophagus, which is an uncommon submucosal tumor that can attain giant proportions. It is covered with squamous epithelium and consists of a mixture of myxoid-collagenous fibrous elements, vascular structures and adipose cells. Diagnosis is made via upper endoscopy, echoendosonography and barium studies. CT and MR imaging can be helpful for full evaluation of this rare lesion.

High prevalence of advanced fibrosis in association with the metabolic syndrome in a Belgian prospective cohort of NAFLD patients with elevated ALT. Results of the Belgian NAFLD registry.

INTRODUCTION: Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is increasingly recognised as a source of liver related morbidity and mortality. Hard data on epidemiology and natural history are scarce. AIM: To study demographic and metabolic characteristics of the NAFLD patients seen by Belgian hepatologists. METHODS: Belgian hepatologists filled in a questionnaire for every newly diagnosed NAFLD patient between January 1st and December 31st 2004. Liver biopsy was advised if ALT > 1.5 x ULN and if 3/5 of the criteria for the metabolic syndrome (MS) (ATPI-II) were present, but was not mandatory. Biopsy was scored using the Brunt classification. RESULTS: 230 patients were prospectively included in 9 centres; 54% were males; mean age was 49.4 +/- 13.9 y; mean BMI was 30.6 +/- 4.6 kg/m2. The MS was present in 53%. In 16% formerly undiagnosed diabetes was discovered. 51% had a liver biopsy: 25% met the criteria, 26% did not. Grading did not differ between patients with or without MS. Staging was significantly more severe in patients with MS (2.43 +/- 1.25 vs. 1.73 +/- 1.18, p < 0.001). A subgroup of patients with GGT > 5 x ULN were significantly older (55.9 vs. 47.64 y, p = 0.02), more frequently diabetic (53% vs. 23%, p = 0.01) and had more advanced fibrosis (3.42 vs. 1.08, p = 0.008). ALT levels were variable. CONCLUSIONS: The MS is highly prevalent in Belgian NAFLD patients and is associated with more severe disease. Mild to moderate fibrosis is frequent, and the proposed criteria for liver biopsy are not accurate in selecting these patients. Patients with elevated GGT constitute a subgroup with more advanced disease.

A pilot observational survey of hepatitis C in Belgium.

AIM OF THE STUDY: There is a lack of epidemiological data on hepatitis C (HCV) infected patients in Belgium. Therefore our purpose was to address this important question and to evaluate the feasibility of a national HCV observatory. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From November 2003 to November 2004, every new patient prospectively seen for HCV antibody positivity in 9 Belgian hospital centres was recorded and a standardised 10-items questionnaire was completed during the consultation, including a Quality of Live (QOL) visual analogue scale. RESULTS: Three hundred and eighteen consecutive patients were recruited. Fifty five percent were male with a median age of 45 y (11-87 y). The main risk factors for infection were IV drug use (27%), blood transfusion (23%), and invasive medical procedure (11%). On the QOL scale, ranging from 0 and 100, mean value was 61 +/- 31. Transaminases were abnormal in 66% with a median elevation 2 times above normal value. HCV RNA was positive in 87% with a viral load above 800 000 IU/ml in 42%. Genotype 1 was predominant (59%), followed by genotypes 3 (19%) and 4 (14%). A liver biopsy was performed in 190 patients, with minimal fibrosis (METAVIR F0-F1) in 43%, moderate fibrosis (F2) in 35% and advanced stages (F3-F4) in 22%. Antiviral treatment was not considered in 53% because of normal ALT (30%), old age (7%), minimal histological stage (6%) or patient refusal (4%). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the feasibility of a national HCV survey using a simple questionnaire. This pilot study could be generalised throughout Belgium, and, if repeated, could allow a regular assessment of the changes in epidemiology and management of HCV infection in our country.

Acute pancreatitis after double-balloon enteroscopy: an old pathogenetic theory revisited as a result of using a new endoscopic tool.

Double-balloon enteroscopy is a novel technique for visualizing the entire small bowel. Complications have been reported relatively rarely in the small series published up until now. In this report we describe two patients who developed acute pancreatitis immediately after double-balloon enteroscopy, diagnosed on clinical, biochemical, and radiological grounds. In both patients the pancreatitis resolved with supportive care. Based on early studies on the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis, we discuss the possible pathogenetic mechanism for pancreatitis arising as a complication of this novel endoscopic technique.

The management of patients with mild hepatitis C.

Infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) represents an important public health problem and is a leading cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Chronic hepatitis C is a heterogeneous disease. Many patients have mild disease at presentation but not all of them will develop advanced liver disease. However, the identification of these patients with mild hepatitis C who will show progressive disease is difficult and is based on histological criteria and the assessment of co-factors (age, alcohol intake, steatosis). In addition, serum transaminases that are persistently normal on several occasions during 18 months may point to a more benign course. Patients with mild hepatitis C should not be excluded "a priori" from the possibility of being treated, as treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin is safe and effective in this group. Overall, the decision to initiate therapy should be individualized and based on the severity of the disease by liver biopsy, the potential of serious side effects, the probability of response and the motivation of the patient.