Predictors of Intra-Hospital Mortality in Patients with Cirrhosis

Intra-hospital mortality in cirrhotic patients is variable depending on the studies reported in literature. Several studies have demonstrated independent predictors of mortality. The aim of this work is indeed to identify these predictors. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 1080 cirrhotic patients hospitalized in our department of gastroenterology and hepatology between January 2001 and August 2010. A descriptive study of the study population was performed, and a univariate analysis looking for an association between intra-hospital mortality, and clinical, biological, etiological and sociodemographic characteristics of our patients. Results: The average age of our patients was 54 years, with an equal number of men and women. 41.1% of patients had cirrhosis secondary to hepatitis C and 18.5% had cirrhosis secondary to hepatitis B. 26.1% of our patients were CHILD C. Intra-hospital mortality was 8.7% (97 deaths) with a mean of 23.4 ± 35.8 months. Univariate analysis showed that the intra-hospital mortality was significantly associated with higher age (p = 0.049) as well as the reasons for admissions like hepatic encephalopathy, and hematemesis (p < 0.0001), melena, jaundice and ascites (p = 0.001). Among the biological parameters analyzed in univariate analysis, significant associations with mortality were objectified for high white blood cell count (p = 0.035), and high serum bilirubin and creatinine (p < 0.0001);low rate of prothrombin time (PT) (p < 0.0001), of albumin (p = 0.0001) and of serum sodium (p < 0.0001). Among the complications analyzed, significant associations with mortality were objectified for jaundice, ascites (p = 0.001), hemorrhagic decompensation, hepatic encephalopathy, and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (p < 0.001). Univariate analysis of the etiology of cirrhosis objectified significant associations for cirrhosis secondary to hepatitis B (p = 0.001) and hepatitis C (p = 0.022). Multivariate analysis objectified four independent predictors of mortality: hepatic encephalopathy, infection (hyper leukocytosis ≥ 10,000/mm3), renal failure (serum creatinine ≥ 15 mg/l) and hyponatremia. Conclusion: In our series, we identified four independent predictors of intra-hospital mortality in cirrhotic patients: hepatic encephalopathy, infection, renal failure and hyponatremia.

Predictors of early rebleeding and mortality after acute variceal haemorrhage in patients with cirrhosis

The upper gastrointestinal bleeding from esophageal or gastric varices is the most dangerous complication of portal hypertension. The purpose of this study was to identify the predictors of early rebleeding and mortality after a bleeding episode. Patients and Methods: It was a retrospective study including 215 patients admitted in our department of hepatology and gastroenterology at the Hassan II University Hospital of Fez, from January 2001 to January 2010. Results: The mean age of our patients was 51 years. Thirty percent of patients had cirrhosis due to virus (B or C). The majority of patients (79%) had only esophageal varices. Fifty patients (23%) had a bleeding recurrence. Twenty-five patients (11.5%) died during the first ten days, of which 52% had presented rebleeding (p = 0.01). In 30% of cases, the rebleeding was secondary to a fall of pressure ulcers. Univariate analysis showed that early mortality of patients was significantly associated with advanced age (p = 0.018), low prothrombin time (PT) (p = 0.022), low serum sodium (p = 0.03), low platelet count (p = 0.05), and elevated transaminases (p = 0.02). Conclusion: The survival of cirrhotic patients after a bleeding episode was influenced by advanced age, a low rate of PT, of serum sodium, and of the platelet count, and elevated transaminases.

The association of Crohn’s disease with celiac disease

We report two cases of a man and a woman whose association of Crohn’s disease (CRD) and celiac disease (CD) was evident and significant. The characteristic of our patients was the young age of discovery, and the localization of the CRD which was different in the two cases: colic localization in the woman and ileal stenosing in the man. The diagnosis of MCO was confirmed by the histological study of the jejunal biopsies in both cases and by serologies (anti-gliadines Antibody) in one case. Through these two observations, we insist on the singularity of the association of the celiac disease to the Crohn’s disease and on the complex etiopathogenesis of CRD which could have common points with that of CD. This fact can help us to understand more the two diseases and thereafter master their management.

A Rare Cause of Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Cholecystoenteric Fistula

A 60-year-old woman presented to the emergency department of our university hospital for several episodes of upper gastro-intestinal bleeding (hematemesis and melena). The endoscopic examination (Figure 1) showed a large ulcer at the front of the bulb, with a calculation within it and a visible vessel on the banks of the ulcer treated by putting two clips. Computer tomography (CT), demonstrated a sclerotic, atrophic and multi gallstone gallbladder, with a calculation protruding in the duodenum. The patient underwent surgery which consisted on partial cholecystectomy with duodenal suture and closing of cystic duct.

Pregnancy with Gastric Stromal Tumor

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. GIST are rare during pregnancy. We report here the case of a patient who was admitted in our university hospital for GIST discovered during the second trimester of pregnancy. She was 42 years old, in the fifth months of pregnancy. She was admitted for biliary colic pain with vomiting. On abdominal examination, we objectified a distended abdomen with uterine height of 18 cm and epigastric mass of 10 cm. Abdominal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a hepatic, tissue and cystic mass, developing at the expense of the left liver. Endoscopy objectified an aspect of extrinsic compression at the front of the stomach. A cesarean was scheduled at the 35th month of pregnancy for fetal extraction and rescue. Exploration of the peritoneal cavity during surgery has objectified a hepatic highly vascularised mass reaching up to the umbilicus. This mass was unresectable. A postoperative CT scan revealed a large bilobed epigastric mass adhering to the stomach and the left liver. Histological and immunohistochemical study of hepatic process showed a gastrointestinal stromal tumor of high risk of malignancy. Conclusion: few cases have been reported in the literature on GIST during pregnancy showing the rarity of the condition that requires multidisciplinary care.