More than 80% of cirrhotic patients who have been treated successfully for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis （SBP） experience a recurrence. Long-term prophylaxis with single daily oral antibiotic has been shown to b...More than 80% of cirrhotic patients who have been treated successfully for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis （SBP） experience a recurrence. Long-term prophylaxis with single daily oral antibiotic has been shown to be cost effective in delaying a recurrence but only for a short time. What has never been tested in this population is the cycling of antibiotics. We report the beneficial use of antibiotic cycling for 36 weeks in a 74-year-old woman with cryptogenic cirrhosis and recurrent SBE展开更多
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide due to the high prevalence of HCV infection and the high rate of HCC occurrence in patients with HCV cirrhosis. A striking increase ...Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide due to the high prevalence of HCV infection and the high rate of HCC occurrence in patients with HCV cirrhosis. A striking increase in HCC incidence has been observed during the past decades in most industrialized countries, partly related to the growing number of patients infected by HCV. HCC is currently the main cause of death in patients with HCV-related cirrhosis, a fact that justifies screening as far as curative treatments apply only in patients with small tumors. As a whole, treatment options are similar in patients with cirrhosis whatever the cause. Chemoprevention could be also helpful in the near future. It is strongly suggested that antiviral treatment of HCV infection could prevent HCC occurrence, even in cirrhotic patients, mainly when a sustained virological response is obtained.展开更多
AIM： To elucidate the pre-treatment clinical and imaging findings affecting the tumor response to the transcatheter treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. METHODS： Two hundred cirrhotic patients...AIM： To elucidate the pre-treatment clinical and imaging findings affecting the tumor response to the transcatheter treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. METHODS： Two hundred cirrhotic patients with HCC received a total of 425 transcatheter treatments. The tumor response was evaluated by helical CT and a massive necrosis （MN） was defined as a necrosis 〉 90%. Twenty-five clinical and imaging variables were analyzed： uninodular/multinodular HCC, unilobar/bilobar, tumor capsula, hypervascular lesion, portal vein thrombosis, portal hypertension, ascites, platelets count, aspartate transaminases/alanine transaminases （AST/ALT）, alfa- fetoprotein （AFP） 〉 100, AFP 〉 400, serum creatinine, virus hepatitis C （VHC） cirrhosis, performance status, age, Okuda stage, ChUd-Pugg stage, sex, CLIP （Cancer of the Liver Italian Program） score, serum bilirubin, constitutional syndrome, serum albumine, prothrombin activity, BCLC （Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer） stage. Prognostic factors of response were subjected to univariate analysis and thereafter, when significant, to the multivariate analyses. RESULTS： On imaging analysis, complete response wasobtained in 60 （30%） patients, necrosis 〉 90% in 38 （19%） patients, necrosis 〉 50% in 44 （22%） patients, and necrosis 〈 50% in 58 （29%） patients. Ninety-eight （49%） of the 200 patients were considered to have a MN. In univariate analysis, significant variables （P 〈 0.01） were： uninodular tumor, unilobar, tumor size 2-6 cm, CLIP score 〈 2, absence of constitutional syndrome, and BCLC stage 〈 2. In a multivariate analysis, the variables reaching statistical significance were： presence of tumor capsule （P 〈 0.0001）, tumor size 2-6 cm （P 〈 0.03）, CLIP score 〈 2 （P 〈 0.006）, and absence of constitutional syndrome （P 〈 0.03）. Kaplan-Mayer cumulative survival at 12 mo was 80% at 24 mo was 56%. MN was associated with a longer survival （P 〈 0.0001）. CONCLUSION： MN after transcatheter treatment is more common in the presence of tumor capsule, maximum diameter of the main lesion between 2 and 6 cm, CLIP score 〈 2 and absence of constitutional syndrome. The ability to predict which patients will respond to transcatheter treatment may be useful in the clinical decision-making process, and in stratifying the randomization of patients in clinical trials.展开更多
AIM:To determine the role of interferon(IFN)with or withoutribavirin in preventing or delaying hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)development in patients with hepatitis C virus(HCV)related cirrhosis.Data on the preventive e...AIM:To determine the role of interferon(IFN)with or withoutribavirin in preventing or delaying hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)development in patients with hepatitis C virus(HCV)related cirrhosis.Data on the preventive effect of IFN plusribavirin treatment are lacking.METHODS:A total of 101 patients(62 males and 39 females,mean age 55.1±1.4 years)with histologically proven HCVrelated liver cirrhosis plus compatible biochemistry andultrasonography were enrolled in the study.Biochemistryand ultrasonography were performed every 6 mo.Ultrasoundguided liver biopsy was performed on all detected focallesions.Follow-up lasted for 5 years.Cellular proliferation,evaluated by measuring Ag-NOR proteins in hepatocytesnuclei,was expressed as AgNOR-Proliferative index(AgNOR-PI)(cut-off=2.5).Forty-one patients(27 males,14 females)were only followed up after the end of anyearly treatment with IFN-alpha2b(old treatment controlgroup=OTCG).Sixty naive patients were stratified accordingto sex and AgNOR-PI and then randomized in two groups:30 were treated with IFN-alpha2b+ribavirin(treatmentgroup=TG),the remaining were not treated(control group=CG).Nonresponders(NR)or relapsers in the TG receivedfurther IFN/ribavirin treatments after a 6 mo of withdrawal.RESULTS:AgNOR-PI was significantly lowered by IFN(P<0.001).HCC incidence was higher in patients withAgNOR-PI>2.5(26% vs3%,P<0.01).Two NR in the OTCG,none in the TG and 9 patients in the CG developed HCCduring follow-up.The Kaplan-Mayer survival curves showedstatistically significant differences both between OTCG andCG(P<0.004)and between TG and CG(P<0.003).CONCLUSION:IFN/ribavirin treatment associated with re-treatment courses of NR seems to produce the best resultsin terms of HCC prevention.AgNOR-PI is a useful markerof possible HCC development.展开更多
Acute haemorrhage from ruptured gastroesophageal varices is perhaps the most serious consequence of uncontrolled portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients.It represents a medical emergency and is associated with a hig...Acute haemorrhage from ruptured gastroesophageal varices is perhaps the most serious consequence of uncontrolled portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients.It represents a medical emergency and is associated with a high morbidity and mortality.In those who survive the initial bleeding event,the risks of further bleeding and other decompensated events remain high.The past 30 years have seen a slow evolution of management strategies that have greatly improved the chances of surviving a variceal haemorrhage.Liver cirrhosis is a multi-staged pathological process and we are moving away from a one-size-fits-all therapeutic approach.Instead there is an increasing recognition that a more nuanced approach will yield optimal survival for patients.This approach seeks to risk stratify patients according to their disease stage.The exact type and timing of treatment offered can then be varied to suit individual patients.At the same time,the toolbox of available therapy is expanding and there is a continual stream of emerging evidence to support the use of endoscopic and pharmacological therapies.In this review,we present a summary of the treatment options for a variety of different clinical scenarios and for when there is failure to control bleeding.We have conducted a detailed literature review and presented up-to-date evidence from either primary randomized-controlled trials or meta-analyses that support current treatment algorithms.展开更多
文摘More than 80% of cirrhotic patients who have been treated successfully for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis （SBP） experience a recurrence. Long-term prophylaxis with single daily oral antibiotic has been shown to be cost effective in delaying a recurrence but only for a short time. What has never been tested in this population is the cycling of antibiotics. We report the beneficial use of antibiotic cycling for 36 weeks in a 74-year-old woman with cryptogenic cirrhosis and recurrent SBE
文摘Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide due to the high prevalence of HCV infection and the high rate of HCC occurrence in patients with HCV cirrhosis. A striking increase in HCC incidence has been observed during the past decades in most industrialized countries, partly related to the growing number of patients infected by HCV. HCC is currently the main cause of death in patients with HCV-related cirrhosis, a fact that justifies screening as far as curative treatments apply only in patients with small tumors. As a whole, treatment options are similar in patients with cirrhosis whatever the cause. Chemoprevention could be also helpful in the near future. It is strongly suggested that antiviral treatment of HCV infection could prevent HCC occurrence, even in cirrhotic patients, mainly when a sustained virological response is obtained.
文摘AIM： To elucidate the pre-treatment clinical and imaging findings affecting the tumor response to the transcatheter treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. METHODS： Two hundred cirrhotic patients with HCC received a total of 425 transcatheter treatments. The tumor response was evaluated by helical CT and a massive necrosis （MN） was defined as a necrosis 〉 90%. Twenty-five clinical and imaging variables were analyzed： uninodular/multinodular HCC, unilobar/bilobar, tumor capsula, hypervascular lesion, portal vein thrombosis, portal hypertension, ascites, platelets count, aspartate transaminases/alanine transaminases （AST/ALT）, alfa- fetoprotein （AFP） 〉 100, AFP 〉 400, serum creatinine, virus hepatitis C （VHC） cirrhosis, performance status, age, Okuda stage, ChUd-Pugg stage, sex, CLIP （Cancer of the Liver Italian Program） score, serum bilirubin, constitutional syndrome, serum albumine, prothrombin activity, BCLC （Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer） stage. Prognostic factors of response were subjected to univariate analysis and thereafter, when significant, to the multivariate analyses. RESULTS： On imaging analysis, complete response wasobtained in 60 （30%） patients, necrosis 〉 90% in 38 （19%） patients, necrosis 〉 50% in 44 （22%） patients, and necrosis 〈 50% in 58 （29%） patients. Ninety-eight （49%） of the 200 patients were considered to have a MN. In univariate analysis, significant variables （P 〈 0.01） were： uninodular tumor, unilobar, tumor size 2-6 cm, CLIP score 〈 2, absence of constitutional syndrome, and BCLC stage 〈 2. In a multivariate analysis, the variables reaching statistical significance were： presence of tumor capsule （P 〈 0.0001）, tumor size 2-6 cm （P 〈 0.03）, CLIP score 〈 2 （P 〈 0.006）, and absence of constitutional syndrome （P 〈 0.03）. Kaplan-Mayer cumulative survival at 12 mo was 80% at 24 mo was 56%. MN was associated with a longer survival （P 〈 0.0001）. CONCLUSION： MN after transcatheter treatment is more common in the presence of tumor capsule, maximum diameter of the main lesion between 2 and 6 cm, CLIP score 〈 2 and absence of constitutional syndrome. The ability to predict which patients will respond to transcatheter treatment may be useful in the clinical decision-making process, and in stratifying the randomization of patients in clinical trials.
文摘AIM:To determine the role of interferon(IFN)with or withoutribavirin in preventing or delaying hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)development in patients with hepatitis C virus(HCV)related cirrhosis.Data on the preventive effect of IFN plusribavirin treatment are lacking.METHODS:A total of 101 patients(62 males and 39 females,mean age 55.1±1.4 years)with histologically proven HCVrelated liver cirrhosis plus compatible biochemistry andultrasonography were enrolled in the study.Biochemistryand ultrasonography were performed every 6 mo.Ultrasoundguided liver biopsy was performed on all detected focallesions.Follow-up lasted for 5 years.Cellular proliferation,evaluated by measuring Ag-NOR proteins in hepatocytesnuclei,was expressed as AgNOR-Proliferative index(AgNOR-PI)(cut-off=2.5).Forty-one patients(27 males,14 females)were only followed up after the end of anyearly treatment with IFN-alpha2b(old treatment controlgroup=OTCG).Sixty naive patients were stratified accordingto sex and AgNOR-PI and then randomized in two groups:30 were treated with IFN-alpha2b+ribavirin(treatmentgroup=TG),the remaining were not treated(control group=CG).Nonresponders(NR)or relapsers in the TG receivedfurther IFN/ribavirin treatments after a 6 mo of withdrawal.RESULTS:AgNOR-PI was significantly lowered by IFN(P<0.001).HCC incidence was higher in patients withAgNOR-PI>2.5(26% vs3%,P<0.01).Two NR in the OTCG,none in the TG and 9 patients in the CG developed HCCduring follow-up.The Kaplan-Mayer survival curves showedstatistically significant differences both between OTCG andCG(P<0.004)and between TG and CG(P<0.003).CONCLUSION:IFN/ribavirin treatment associated with re-treatment courses of NR seems to produce the best resultsin terms of HCC prevention.AgNOR-PI is a useful markerof possible HCC development.
文摘Acute haemorrhage from ruptured gastroesophageal varices is perhaps the most serious consequence of uncontrolled portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients.It represents a medical emergency and is associated with a high morbidity and mortality.In those who survive the initial bleeding event,the risks of further bleeding and other decompensated events remain high.The past 30 years have seen a slow evolution of management strategies that have greatly improved the chances of surviving a variceal haemorrhage.Liver cirrhosis is a multi-staged pathological process and we are moving away from a one-size-fits-all therapeutic approach.Instead there is an increasing recognition that a more nuanced approach will yield optimal survival for patients.This approach seeks to risk stratify patients according to their disease stage.The exact type and timing of treatment offered can then be varied to suit individual patients.At the same time,the toolbox of available therapy is expanding and there is a continual stream of emerging evidence to support the use of endoscopic and pharmacological therapies.In this review,we present a summary of the treatment options for a variety of different clinical scenarios and for when there is failure to control bleeding.We have conducted a detailed literature review and presented up-to-date evidence from either primary randomized-controlled trials or meta-analyses that support current treatment algorithms.
