Quantitative Assessment of Liver Fibrosis by Elastography in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study in Lomé (Togo)

Aim: To describe the two-dimensional elastographic profile according to the Shearwave (2D-SWE) technique in patients with chronic liver disease in Lom. Materials and method: Cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted over seven month at the Autel dElie Clinic in Lom, from January to August 2022, on adult patients with chronic liver disease who underwent abdominal ultrasound coupled with two-dimensional elastography. Results: The sample size was 54 patients. The mean age of the patients was 33 12 years, with extremes of 18 and 66 years. Patients aged 30 years or less accounted for 48.1% (n = 26). All patients (n = 54) had at least one transaminase assay with a mean of 69.3 78.3 IU/l (AST) and 59.3 82.8 IU/l (ALT). There was no statistically significant association between the biological parameters and the presence of fibrosis. Viral liver disease was the main cause, accounting for 81.5% (n = 44) of cases, with no significant association with the degree of fibrosis. Ultrasound revealed a dysmorphic liver (57.4%;n = 31) and portal hypertension (18.5%, n = 10). Fibrosis stages F1, F2 and F4 accounted for (48.1%, n = 26), (24.1%, n = 13) and (13%, n = 7) of cases respectively. Liver dysmorphia was significantly associated with the presence of fibrosis (p = 0.012) and portal hypertension was significantly associated with the degree of fibrosis (p = 0.0063). Conclusion: Assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease using 2D-SWE elastography is essential for patient follow-up.

Patients’ Lived Experience and Injuries Observed during Upper Digestive Endoscopy at KARA Teaching Hospital (Togo)

Background: Endoscopy remains the most performant medical exam exploring the upper digestive tract;but depending on patients, its tolerance is variable. Objective: This study aimed at describing the experience and evaluating the tolerance, acceptability and injuries observed during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Methods: This is a prospective and descriptive study carried out from April to July 2017 in the digestive endoscopy unit of the Kara teaching hospital (Togo). The gastroscopy was performed by the same operator (Hepatogastroenteroloogist). The premedication was done with direct intravenous injection of 10 mg of Metoclopramide hydrochloride and viscous Lidocaine oral gel. Previously, essential information about the examination course was given to patients after obtaining their verbal consent. Patients’ impressions of the experience, tolerance and acceptability were collected on a survey sheet, before and after the examination. Results: One hundred and eleven patients were included, 62 women and 49 men. The average age was 45.9 years (15 - 88 years), and the sex ratio (F/M) was 1.2. Most of the patients (89.2%) were experiencing the gastroscopy for the first time, and the main reason was epigastralgia in 55%. The examination duration was good at 88.3% and tolerance was good at 72.1%. Tingling, irritation, pain or sore throat feelings were noted in 13.5%. Patients agreeing to make an ulterior UDE if necessary were up to 92.8%. Observed injuries were dominated by antral erythematous gastropathy (28.8%). Conclusion: UDE is well tolerated among our patients and its acceptability is high. Injuries are dominated by inflammatory pathologies of the stomach in our population.

Hematological Profile of Anemia in Hospitalized Cirrhotics in the Hepato-Gastroenterology Unit of the University Hospital Campus of Lome (Togo)

Background: Anemia is multifactorial and very frequently observed in the evolution of cirrhosis. Only biological investigations can clarify its mechanisms. Objective: To determine the frequency of anemia in cirrhosis patients and to identify the different types of anemia encountered. Patients and Methods: Descriptive and analytical study based on the retrospective collection of data was carried out over 12 months in the hepato-gastroenterology unit of the University Hospital Campus of Lome (Togo). This study included hospitalized cirrhotic patients with a complete medical file including a blood count and presenting anemia. Results: During the study period, we collected 253 cases of cirrhosis, of which 153 patients had anemia (60.5%);there was a male predominance of 73.2%. The mean age was 51 ± 13 years. The B viral origin of cirrhosis was the most common (60.1%). Oedemato-ascitic decompensation (82.4%) and hepatocellular carcinoma (34%) were the main complications. The Child-Pugh B score was the most represented (74.5%). Hypochromic microcytic anemia was noted (48.4%) followed by normochromic normocytic anemia (46.4%);82 patients (53.6%) had thrombocytopenia;pancytopenia was noted in 17 patients (11.1%). Hepatitis B virus was most commonly found with 50% hypochromic microcytic anemia followed by 46.7% normochromic normocytic anemia (p = 0.311). Hepatic encephalopathy was significantly more frequent in patients with hypochromic microcytic anemia (45.5%) (p = 0.025);hepatocellular carcinoma was significantly noted with 63.5% hypochromic microcytic anemia (p = 0.016). Child-Pugh C score with 47.4% hypochromic microcytic anemia was more frequent (p = 0.673). Conclusion: Hypochromic microcytic anemia was the most common type of anemia noted in our study. Hepatic encephalopathy and hepatocellular carcinoma were the major complications of cirrhosis significantly associated with the hypochromic microcytic anemia.

Effectiveness of Treatment of Chronic Viral Hepatitis C by Direct-Acting Antivirals in Togo

Background: Viral hepatitis C is the second leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatitis B in Africa and Togo in particular. The advent of direct acting antivirals has revolutionized the care and prognosis of patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Objective: To evaluate the sustained virological response (SVR) 12 weeks after oral treatment without interferon in HCV infected patients with genotypes 1 and 2. Patients and Method: Descriptive and analytical study based on the retrospective collection of data in the hepatogastroenterology unit of the University Hospital Campus of Lome (Togo) from July 11, 2016 to April 22, 2018. All patients who had a chronic viral hepatitis C with viral replication, naive, regardless of the genotype, regardless of the degree of liver fibrosis, and who had completed their treatment with direct-acting antivirals were included. Results: We recruited 84 patients, 60 of whom were infected with HCV genotype 2 (71.43%) and 24 with HCV genotype 1 (28.57%). There were 58 men and 26 women (sex ratio: 0.45). In HCV genotype 1 patients, the median age was 54.29 years and Sofosbuvir/Ledipasvir was the most used combination (62.50%). In HCV genotype 2 patients, the median age was 54.5 years and Sofosbuvir associated with Ribavirin was the most used treatment (81.66%). The virological response at the end of treatment was 100% (genotype 1) and 93.30% (genotype 2). The SVR 12 was 100% (genotype 1) and 91.70% (genotype 2). Five patients were in treatment failure (genotype 2). Conclusion: Direct-acting antivirals were effective in our patients. The rate of sustained virological response was above 90%.

Interest of Serum-Ascites Albumin Concentration Gradient in the Diagnosis of Portal Hypertension in Cirrhotic Patients

Objective: To find a more accessible and less restrictive mean such as serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) to predict esophageal varices (EV) in cirrhotics with ascit. Patients and methods: Descriptive and analytical studies based on the retrospective collection of data on 125 patients’ records in the hepatogastroenterology unit of the University Hospital Campus of Lome (Togo) from January 1, 2008 to March 31, 2018 were included. Cirrhotic patients aged 15 years and older had performed cytochemical analysis of ascites fluid and upper gastrointestinal fibroscopy and had a protidogram. Statistical analysis was done by R Studio Software 3.4.2. Results: The mean age was 48.70 years;there was a male predominance (70.40%) with a sex ratio of 2.38. Protein levels in ascitic fluid was Conclusion: Our study noted that at an upper threshold of 1.10 g/dl, the SAAG significantly predicted the presence of EV.