Epidemiological and Paraclinical Aspects of Helicobacter pylori Infection among Hepatitis B Virus Carriers in the Republic of Congo

Objective: Describe the epidemiological and paraclinical aspects of HP infection in hepatitis B virus carriers. Population and Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study running from January 1 to August 30, 2019, a period of 8 months. It took place in the Hospital Centers of the two major cities of Congo (Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire). The target population of our study consists of patients carrying HBV under antiviral treatment or not. Patients aged at least 18 years and consenting with a biological and morphological assessment were included. We did not include in our study patients taking or having taken antibiotics and/or PPIs less than 4 weeks ago. We excluded all patients who did not deposit fresh stools and those in whom stool extraction could not be done manually. The variables studied covered sociodemographic, clinical and paraclinical aspects. Data entry was done using Excel 8.0 software. Statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS 20.0 software. Results: During our study, we included 169 patients. The frequency of HPAG in the stools of HBV carriers in our study population was 63.9% (n = 109). Male patients represented 69% (n = 75) and female patients represented 31% (n = 34). The average age of the patients is 43.92 ± 13.51 years with extremes of 18 years and 80 years. Concerning profession, unemployed patients and those working in the private sector were the most represented in respectively 28.4% (n = 31) and 22.9% (n = 25) without statistical link. Households comprising between 4 - 10 people and the use of public latrines were the risk factors most represented in respectively 69% (n = 75) and 88% (n = 96) without statistical link. Clinically, hepatomegaly and signs of portal hypertension were most represented in 53% (n = 58) and 47% (n = 51). Biologically, HBV DNA was detectable in 60.5% of cases (n = 66).

Surgical Treatment of Hemorrhoidal Disease at Brazzaville University Hospital Center

Introduction: Hemorrhoidal disease is a common pathology and its surgical treatment is based, among other things, on pedicular resection after failure of medical and instrumental treatment. The aim of this study is to analyze the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and evolving aspects of hemorrhoidal disease at the stage of surgical treatment at the University Hospital Center of Brazzaville. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective and descriptive study carried out from January 2020 to December 2021, a 24 months period, in the Digestive surgery department of the University Hospital Center of Brazzaville. It concerned patients who underwent a surgical procedure for hemorrhoidal disease. Results: 21 cases were collected, representing a hospital frequency of 2.3%, with a sex ratio of 4.3 in favor of men. The average age of patients was 42.2 ± 11.9 years. The symptoms were mainly proctalgia, mass sensation and rectal bleeding. We recorded five cases (19.1%) of hemorrhoidal thrombosis and 16 cases (80.9%) of hemorrhoidal prolapse including 12 cases requiring manual integration (Goligher grade III) and four irreducible permanent cases (Goligher grade IV). The Grade III prolapse was associated with a polyp in one patient and with posterior anal fissure in another patient. Out of the 21 patients, 14 underwent a tripedicular hemorrhoidectomy according to Milligan and Morgan. Two patients underwent mono- and bipedicular hemorrhoidectomy with resection of associated lesions and five patients underwent emergency thrombectomy. The outcome was favorable for all our patients. The average length of hospital stay was 1.5 ± 2.1 days. Conclusion: In the event of failure of medical and instrumental treatment, the hemorrhoidal cure according to Milligan and Morgan is the surgical treatment of reference for hemorrhoidal disease at the University Hospital Center of Brazzaville.

Recurrent Iron Deficiency Anemia Revealing Chronic Gastritis with <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>

We report a clinical case of a 21-year-old patient with iron deficiency anemia related to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. The pan gastritis due to H. pylori and an unexplained iron deficiency anemia has recently been proposed although still discussed. Among the possible causes the role played by this bacterium remains controversial. The diagnosis had been mentioned in view of the recurrence of anemia and confirmed by endoscopic biopsy. Anemia was corrected by iron supplementation associated with a specific treatment of this germ.

Risk Factors for Mortality Upper Digestive Haemorrhages at the University Hospital Centre of Brazzaville

In the absence of interventional endoscopy, the treatment of upper digestive haemorrhages (HDH) at Brazzaville University Hospital is essentially medicinal. The objective of this work was to identify the risk factors for HDH mortality at Brazzaville University Hospital by conducting a retrospective prognostic case-control study over a period of 2 years, from January 2017 to December 2018. The 180 patients included in the study for an HDH were divided into 2 groups according to their evolutionary modality: deceased patients (cases) and non deceased patients (controls). The mortality risk factors were studied by logistic regression. Mortality related to upper digestive haemorrhages was 36.6%;the risk factors for death were age between 30 and 60 years with a (OR: 9.79;95% CI [1.24 - 76.83];p = 0.003);male sex (OR: 2.03;95% CI [1.03 - 4];p = 0.0393);late consultation beyond 24 hours (OR: 6.30;95% CI [2.12 - 18.72];p = 0.0009), blood transfusions (OR: 3.5;95% CI [1.66 - 7.40];p = 0.0001). Protective factors were haemoglobin greater than 7 g/dL (OR: 0.28;95% CI [0.14 - 0.54];p = 0.0001);treatment with proton pump inhibitors (OR: 0.36;95% CI [0.15 - 0.84];p = 0.0191). In conclusion, the reduction of the still high mortality rate in our country requires taking into account the identified risk factors and the acquisition of endoscopic haemostasis equipment.

Hepatic Steatosis in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome at the Brazzaville University Hospital Center

Objective: To study the epidemiological, clinical and paraclinical particularities of fatty liver disease in patients with metabolic syndrome. Patients and Method: This was a cross-sectional and analytical study carried out over a period of seven months, from February 1 to September 30, 2019, in the outpatient services of Gastroenterology and Metabolic and Endocrine Diseases of the Brazzaville University Hospital. It interested all patients with metabolic syndrome, according to the criteria of the FID harmonized in 2009, namely known diabetic and hypertensive patients, having abdominal obesity. Results: The variables studied were socio-demographic, clinical, morphological and biological. The search for fatty liver was done using an abdominal ultrasound. Results: During the study period, 124 patients with metabolic syndrome were included. The average age of the population was 52.8 ± 12 years with extremes ranging from 30 and 84 years. The population was mainly female with a Sex-Ratio of 2.54 (F/M). The frequency of fatty liver disease was 38.7%. The frequency of dyslipidemia was high in the study. Conclusion: The prevalence of hepatic steatosis is high in patients with metabolic syndrome at Brazzaville University Hospital. The gender, lack of occupation and high level of education were the factors associated with fatty liver disease.

Cardiovascular Disorders in Cirrhosis at the Brazzaville Teaching Hospital in 2022

Cirrhosis is a liver disease that can lead to cardiovascular lesions that are often asymptomatic but potentially fatal. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate electrical and echographic cardiovascular abnormalities during cirrhosis at the Brazzaville University Hospital. Patients and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study over a 2-year period at the Brazzaville Universitary Hospital. Cirrhotic patients at least 18 years of age who had undergone electrocardiogram and echocardiography were included. Patients with cardiac cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma or spontaneous bacterial peritonitis were excluded. The outcome variables were cardiac electrical and echographic abnormalities. Data were analyzed using Epi info 7.2 software. Pearson’s chi-square, Fisher’s exact and Student’s exact tests were used to compare proportions and means at a significance level of 0.05. Results: A total of 76 cirrhotic patients were recruited out of 186 patients, i.e. 40.9% of cirrhotic patients. There were 48 men and 28 women, for a sex ratio of 1.7. The median age was 56 (IQR 41.5 - 69.0). QTc prolongation, microvoltage and sinus tachycardia were the most frequent electrical disorders, respectively in 19 (29.7%), 11 (17.2%) and 11 (17.2%) cases. Electrical disorders were statistically related to cirrhosis stage (p = 0.0364). The most frequent ultrasound disorders were left ventricular systolic failure 11 (28.9%) and dilated cardiomyopathy 8 (21.1%). Seven (9.2%) patients had high pulmonary arterial pressure. Death, observed in 12 cases (15.8%), was statistically linked to the presence of echocardiographic disorders (p = 0.0089) and congestive heart failure (p = 0.0001). Conclusion: The search for cardiac disorders should be systematic during decompensated cirrhosis to detect potentially fatal abnormalities.

Midwives’s Knowledge and Practice in Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission on Hepatitis B Virus in Brazzaville in 2023

Background: Maternal-fetal transmission is the most frequent mode of hepatitis B virus (HBV) contamination in Africa. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of hepatitis B is still poorly understood, and training of the health workers involved, such as midwives, is rare. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and practices of midwives prevention of HBV’ mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) in Brazzaville. Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted in Brazzaville from June 1 to July 31, 2023. Midwives present at the time of the survey in the various Brazzaville health centers visited and who agreed to answer the questionnaire during a face-to-face interview with the investigator were included. Univariate analyses were performed using epi info7.2 software. Pearson’s chi-square and Student’s t-tests were used to compare proportions and means, which were significant at the 0.05 level. Results: At the end of our study, 93 midwives out of 127 agreed to take part in the study, i.e. a participation rate of 73.2%. Their median age was of 41.7 years, a median professional experience of 13.7 years, and they worked mainly in primary health care facilities. Global knowledge of HBV PMTCT was satisfactory in 51 (54.3%) midwives. Knowledge of the HBV vaccine was significantly related to professional experience (p = 0.0167). PMTCT practice was poor in 48 (51.6%) cases. Overall, the practice of PMTCT was statistically associated with the midwives’ place of practice (p = 0.0262). Conclusion: Midwives had good knowledge but insufficient practice of PMTCT in Brazzaville. Training and awareness-raising are needed to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HBV.

Helicobacter Pylori Infection in Brazzaville: Comparative Study of Two Identification Tests

Objective: To determine the place of two identification tests for Helicobacter pylori infection available in Congo. Materials and Methods: This was a comparative study carried out in two digestive endoscopy centers in Brazzaville from 1 January to 31 May 2018. Symptomatic patients referred for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were included systematically. The frequency of infection was determined from two identification tests, namely the rapid urease test in gastric biopsies and the detection of antigen (Ag) for the germ in the stool. The criterion for judging the presence of the germ in each patient was the positivity of at least one of the two tests. The McNEMAR X2 test (p < 0.05) was used for the comparison of averages. Results: During the study period, 137 consenting patients were included, including 62 men and 75 women. The overall incidence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection was 79.6% (109/28). Of the 137 patients, 18 were urease positive only;6 were looking for Hp Ag in the stool, and 85 were in the two tests. The frequency of infection was 75.2% (103/137) with the rapid urease test and 66.4% (91/137) with the Hp Ag test in stool. The rapid urease test proved more reliable in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection than the stool antigen test.

Evolutionary and Pronostic Aspects of Cirrhosis at the University Hospital of Brazzaville (Congo)

Introduction: cirrhosis is a serious pathology that leads to complications whose management remains difficult in our country. This study aimed to evaluate the evolutionary aspects of cirrhosis at the Brazzaville University Hospital. Patients and methods: this was a retrospective study over a period of 18 months (from January 2015 to July 2016), performed in the Gastroenterology Department of the Brazzaville University Hospital. All patients regularly followed for decompensated cirrhosis were included. The studied variables were the epidemiological, clinical and paraclinical characteristics, the occurrence of complications, the survival, and the causes of death. Univariate analysis was used to determine prognostic factors based on the Child Pugh score. Results: There were 43 patients, including 32 men and 11 women, with a mean age of 52 ± 9.5 years. Viral hepatitis B was the most common etiology (39.5%). Child Pugh stage C was found in 60.5%. Oesophageal varices were present in 93% of cases. Survival at 18 months was 72%. In univariate analysis, two variables were significantly associated with decreased survival, including Child Pugh stage C and esophageal varices (grade II and III). Conclusion: cirrhosis remains a worrying pathology because the diagnosis is often made at the stage of often serious complications putting at risk of vital prognosis.

Knowledge Attitude and Practice of Viral Hepatitis B and C Screening by General Practitioners in Brazzaville

The involvement of general practitioners in the early detection of viral hepatitis B and C must be paramount. The objectives of this work were to assess GPs’ knowledge, attitude and practice with regard to screening for viral hepatitis B and C. We carried out a cross-sectional analytical study among GPs recruited by simple random sampling from the list of GPs in the city of Brazzaville. The judgement criteria were knowledge and practice of screening for viral hepatitis B and C, assessed according to a Likert scale divided into 3 categories: very good, good and bad. One hundred and twenty-one general practitioners were included, including 48 women and 73 men, with a sex ratio of 1.52;the average age was 33 years;52.89% of them worked in the private sector with an average period of activity of 4 years. The majority of the doctors had a good knowledge (69.42%) and a bad practice (56.20%) of screening for viral hepatitis B and C. The duration of activity was the factor linked to knowledge of viral hepatitis B and C (p = 0.006) while age was the factor linked to the practice of screening for viral hepatitis B and C (p = 0.0366). In conclusion, in Brazzaville, general practitioners’ knowledge of screening for viral hepatitis B and C is good in general, but the practices are poor and require targeted in-service training.

Lymphadenectomy for Colorectal Cancer: Experience of the Brazzaville Teaching Hospital

Introduction: Lymph node (LN) metastasis are important biomarkers in the resection of colorectal cancer translating into accurate disease staging. It is therefore obvious that lymph node dissection in the curative treatment of colorectal cancer is a prognostic factor that influences survival and guides management strategy. This study aims to evaluate lymph node dissection in colorectal cancers (CRC) managed at the Teaching Hospital, Brazzaville, Congo. Patients and Method: We carried out a descriptive prospective study during a period of 18 months from October 2020 to March 2021 involving patients who underwent curative treatment for colorectal cancer at the visceral surgery department of the Brazzaville Teaching Hospital. Results: Thirty (30) cases of CRC were recorded out of 738 hospitalizations in the visceral surgery departments, which constitute 4.06% of the in-patient activity of the department during the period under study. Mean age was 55.13 years and a male predominance was observed with a sex ratio of 1.14. Colonic involvement was predominant in our series and was found in 22 of the patients. 25 patients underwent surgical resection while 5 patients could not undergo operative treatment. 17 out of the 25 patients underwent curative treatment, 6 were offered palliative care, whereas surgical abstention was decided in 2 patients. The average number of lymphadenectomies per patient was 16.43. Lymphadenectomy was greater than or equal to 12 in 88% of patients. Nine patients had vascular emboli whereas 10 patients had perineural invasion. The tumor was staged as T3 in 15 patients;six patients had a negative lymph node and 11 patients had at least one lymph node invasion. Distant metastasis status could not be determined in 10 patients. Conclusion: Lymphadenectomy is a hallmark in the curative treatment of colorectal cancer as it allows for optimal staging. This represents a strong prognostic factor that defines adjuvant therapy and overall patient outcome.

Viral Hepatitis B: Seroprevalence and Genetic Diversity in Blood Donors North of Congo

Introduction: Viral hepatitis B is the most formidable and confusing of all viral hepatitis, given its cirrhogenic and carcinogenic potential. The objective of the study is to characterize the molecular profile of hepatitis virus B in northern Congo. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study that was carried out between January and September 2014, that is 9 months, in the establishments of the National Center for Blood Transfusion (CNTS) of the 4 departments of the north of the Congo. Epidemiological, serological and molecular variables (HBsAg, HBV DNA, genotypes and subtypes) were studied. The HBs antigen was searched by rapid test and confirmed by ELISA. For all positive donors, conventional and specific gene extraction and amplification techniques were performed for the identification of genotypes and subtypes from the serum. Results: A total of 892 donors were included. The average age was 35.36 ± 12.36 years with extremes ranging from 18 to 65 years old. The sex ratio (M/F) was 3.3. The prevalence of HBV was 8.6%. The viral DNA of HBV was amplified in 83.1%. Four genotypes were found: E (40.6%), A (3.1%), B (3.1%) and C (1.6%). Two cases of co-infection were identified: E/A (15.6%) and B/C (1.6%). Subgenotypes A1, B2 and C1 were highlighted. Conclusion: The prevalence of HBV is high, HBV infection remains a major public health problem for blood donors in Congo. Genotypes E, A, B, C as well as subtypes A1, B2, C1 have been identified in northern Congo.

Antiretroviral Therpay Induced Liver Toxicity among Immunecompromised HIV Patients at Chu Brazzaville

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a public health problem of concern. Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is associated with multiple side effects. This study aimed at identifying the different hepatic manifestations of antiretroviral therapy and the responsible molecules. Patients and Methods: This was an eight months period prospective descriptive study, from January 1st to August 31st, 2015, conducted in the Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine at the Brazzaville University Teaching Hospital. Study participants were treatment-na?ve HIV patients who were initiated on ART treatment during the study period. Patients with liver disease, liver cytolysis prior to initiation of therapy, and those with alternative therapy that may cause hepatotoxicity were excluded. The sample size was 110 patients. Results: The age was ranging from 25 to 70 years with a mean age of 47.5 ± 7.5 years. During the six months of follow-up, the alarming hepatic signs were observed in 26.36% of cases (n = 29) in the 3rd month of treatment. There was no observed alarming sign in the 6th month of follow-up. The cytolytic pattern was observed in 54.55% of cases (n = 60) in the 3rd month. The cholestatic pattern was observed in 6.36% of cases (n = 7) in the 3rd month. Triple therapy combination of Zidovudine, Lamivudine and Nevirapine (AZT + 3TC + NVP) was the most used in 57.27% (n = 63) with a statistically significant p value to the occurrence of cytolytic pattern (p Conclusion: Drug induced liver toxicity occurs in a significant number of patients starting ART. The prevalence of hepatic events was high at the third month of treatment and the triple therapy of Zidovudine, Lamivudine and Nevirapine (AZT + 3TC + NVP) was the most incriminated.

Plummer-Vinson Syndrome: A Rare Entity in Sub-Saharan Africa

Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS) is a rare condition characterized by classical triad;high dysphagia, iron-deficiency anemia and oesophageal ring formation. We report a case of PVS in a 62-year-old patient admitted to the department of gastroenterology and internal medicine for high dysphagia. The clinical examination showed anemic syndrome, general impairment and polyarthritis. Biological examinations concluded to iron deficiency anemia. The endoscopy had observed a circular ring immediately above Killian’s mouth ruptured during the examination. The patient was treated with iron and proton pump inhibitors. The oesophageal symptomatology regressed completely from the second day of treatment.