Pseudomembranous colitis associated with a triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication

Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)is one of the most common chronic bacterial infections in humans,affecting half of world’s population.Therapy for H.pylori infection has proven to be both effective and safe.The oneweek triple therapy including proton pump inhibitor,clarithromycin,and amoxicillin or metronidazole is still recommended as a first-line treatment to eradicate H.pylori infection in countries with low clarithromycin resistance.Generally,this therapy is well-tolerated,with only a few and usually minor side effects.However,rare but severe adverse effects such as pseudomembranous colitis have been reported,Clostridium difficile(C.difficile)infection being the main causative factor in all cases.We report the cases of two women who developed pseudomembranous colitis after a 1-wk triple therapy consisting of pantoprazole 20 mg bid,clarithromycin 500 mg bid,and amoxicillin 1 g bid to eradicate H.pylori infection.A limited colonoscopy showed typical appearance of pseudomembranous colitis,and the stool test for C.difficile toxins was positive.Rapid resolution of symptoms and negative C.difficile toxins were obtained in both patients with oral vancomycin.No relapse occurred during a four and eleven-month,respectively,follow up.These cases suggest that physicians should have a high index of suspicion for pseudomembranous colitis when evaluate patients with diarrhea following H.pylori eradication therapy.

Split-dose or hybrid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and Nacetylcysteine therapy for prevention of post-retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis

BACKGROUND Despite significant technical and training improvements, the incidence of postendoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP) pancreatitis(PEP) has not significantly dropped. Although many studies have evaluated the efficacy of various agents, e.g. nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, octreotide,antioxidants, administered via various dosages, routes(oral, intrarectal or parenteral), and schedules(before or after the procedure), the results have been conflicting.AIM To evaluate efficacy of three pharmacologic prophylactic methods for prevention of PEP.METHODS In this prospective, single-center randomized trial, patients who underwent firsttime ERCP for choledocholithiasis were randomly assigned to three groups. The first group received 600 mg N-acetylcysteine 15 min prior to ERCP, and perrectum administration of 50 mg indomethacin both prior to and after completion of the ERCP. The second group was administered only the 50 mg indomethacin per-rectum both prior to and after the ERCP. The third group was administeredper-rectum 100 mg indomethacin only after the ERCP, representing the control group given the guideline-recommended regimen. The primary end-point was PEP prevention.RESULTS Among the total 211 patients evaluated during the study, 186 fulfilled the inclusion criteria and completed the protocol. The percentages of patients who developed PEP in each of the three groups were not significantly different(χ2 =2.793, P = 0.247). Among the acute PEP cases, for all groups, 14 patients developed mild pancreatitis(77.77%) and 4 moderate. No severe cases of PEP occurred, and in all PEP cases the resolution was favorable. No adverse events related to the medications(digestive hemorrhage, rectal irritation, or allergies)occurred.CONCLUSION The efficacies of split-dose indomethacin and combined administration(Nacetylcysteine with indomethacin) for preventing PEP were similar to that of the standard regimen.

Role of ammonia in predicting the outcome of patients with acuteon- chronic liver failure

BACKGROUND High venous ammonia(VA)values have been proven to be a part of the mechanism of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with liver cirrhosis(LC)as well as acute hepatitis.Moreover,VA has been associated with poor prognosis and high mortality in these clinical settings.However,the role of ammonia in acuteon-chronic liver failure(ACLF)has not yet been clearly established.AIM To assess the role of VA in predicting the outcome of cirrhotic patients with ACLF in a tertiary care center.METHODS We performed a retrospective observational study including consecutive patients with LC hospitalized for acute non-elective indications such as ascites,hepatic encephalopathy(HE),upper gastrointestinal bleeding,or bacterial infections that fulfilled the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver(APASL)criteria for ACLF.The study was conducted in“St.Spiridon”University Hospital,Iasi,Romania,a tertiary care center,between January 2017 and January 2019.The APASL ACLF Research Consortium(AARC)score was calculated and ACLF grade was established accordingly.West-haven classification was used for HE.Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 22.0.RESULTS Four hundred and forty-six patients were included,aged 59(50-65)years,57.4%men.Child-Pugh,model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)and AARC scores were 11(10-12),19.13±6.79,and 7(6-8),respectively.66.4%had ACLF grade I,31.2%ACLF grade II,and 2.5%ACLF grade III.HE was diagnosed in 83.9%,34%grade I,37.2%grade II,23.5%grade III,and 5.3%grade IV.Overall mortality was 7.8%.VA was 103(78-148)μmol/L.Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed good accuracy for the prediction of in-hospital mortality for the AARC score[Area under the curve(AUC)=0.886],MELD score(AUC=0.816),VA(AUC=0.812)and a fair accuracy for the Child-Pugh score(AUC=0.799).Subsequently,a cut-off value for the prediction of mortality was identified for VA(152.5μmol/L,sensitivity=0.706,1-specificity=0.190).Univariate analysis found acute kidney injury,severe HE(grade III or IV),VA≥152.5μmol/L,MELD score≥22.5,Child-Pugh score≥12.5,and AARC score≥8.5 to be associated with inhospital mortality.Multivariate analysis identified AARC score≥8.5 and venous ammonia≥152μmol/L to be independent predictors of in-hospital mortality.CONCLUSION VA could be used as an inexpensive predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients with ACLF.Patients with both ACLF and VA>152.5μmol/L have a high risk for a poor outcome.

Hepatocellular carcinoma after direct-acting antiviral hepatitis C virus therapy:A debate near the end

Direct acting antivirals(DAAs)have revolutionized the treatment of hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection,achieving high rates(≥95%)of sustained virological response,with a good safety profile and high compliance rates.Consequently,it had been expected that viral clearance will reduce morbidity and mortality rates,as well as the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).However,since 2016,concerns have been raised over an unexpected high rate of HCC occurrence and recurrence after DAA therapy,which led to an avalanche of studies with contradictory results.We aimed to review the most recent and relevant articles regarding the risk of HCC after DAA treatment and identify the associated risk factors.

Did the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 pandemic cause an endemic Clostridium difficile infection?

BACKGROUND Clostridium difficile infection(CDI)has increased in prevalence during the last years.The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has negatively influenced patient outcomes.The majority of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)-infected patients received antibiotics during hospitalization.AIM To analyze the factors that influenced CDI development after SARS-CoV-2 infection.METHODS Between March 2020 to December 2020,we performed a prospective observational study including 447 patients diagnosed with CDI who were admitted to our tertiary referral university hospital.The diagnosis of CDI was based on the presence of diarrhea(≥3 watery stools within 24 h)associated with Clostridium difficile toxins A or B.We excluded patients with other etiology of acute diarrhea.RESULTS Among the total 447(12.5%)patients with CDI,most were male(54.3%)and mean age was 59.7±10.8 years.Seventy-six(17.0%)had history of COVID-19,most being elderly(COVID-19:62.6±14.6 years vs non-COVID-19:56.8±17.6 years,P=0.007),with history of alcohol consumption(43.4%vs 29.4%,P=0.017),previous hospitalizations(81.6%vs 54.9%,P<0.001)and antibiotic treatments(60.5%vs 35.5%,P<0.001),requiring higher doses of vancomycin and prone to recurrent disease(25.0%vs 13.1%,P=0.011).Age over 60 years[odds ratio(OR):2.591,95%confidence interval(CI):1.452-4.624,P=0.001],urban residence(OR:2.330,95%CI:1.286-4.221,P=0.005),previous antibiotic treatments(OR:1.909,95%CI:1.083-3.365,P=0.025),previous hospitalizations(OR:2.509,95%CI:1.263-4.986,P=0.009)and alcohol consumption(OR:2.550,95%CI:1.459-4.459,P=0.001)were risk factors of CDI in COVID-19.CONCLUSION CDI risk is unrelated to history of SARS-CoV-2 infection.However,previous COVID-19 may necessitate higher doses of vancomycin for CDI.