Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0023890 (cirrhosis)
 42,195 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Hypersplenism is defined as the association of anemia, leukopenia, or thrombocytopenia with bone marrow hyperplasia and splenomegaly. Hypersplenism is common in liver cirrhosis and frequent in patients with portal hypertension. The effects of portacaval shunt are variable; hypersplenism hardly ever improves but rarely develops after surgery. Since the spleen is a major component of the mononuclear phagocyte system, splenectomy reduces antibody synthesis. Although splenectomy abolishes hypersplenism, it may lead to sepsis. Recently, partial splenic embolization, using gelform injected directly into the splenic artery, has been performed in patients with cirrhosis. Partial splenic embolization induces an increase in the number of circulating blood cells. In addition, the levels of albumin, hepaplastintest, cholesterol and cholinesterase are increased significantly after treatment. Partial splenic embolization rarely causes problems and may actually be beneficial.
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PMID:[Hypersplenism in liver cirrhosis]. 811 16

By selectively infiltrating and destroying the internal elastica of a major cerebral artery, Aspergillus fungus (Af) induces disruption and incipient dilatation of the vascular wall with or without inflammation. This unique pathogenetic mechanism of forming "true" fungal mycotic aneurysms (FMAs) was clearly demonstrated in a middle-aged adult male who died of a pontine stroke. The latter was secondary to thrombosis in the basilar artery of which the internal elastica was infiltrated and replaced by Af hyphae. The patient had diabetes, liver cirrhosis with oesophageal varices, and received multiple blood transfusions. However, leukopenia was not present and immunosuppressive drugs were not used. This case prompted comparison of the natural history and pathogenesis of bacterial and fungal mycotic aneurysms in cerebral arterial branches. Selective destruction of the internal elastica with progressive dilation at a segment of vascular wall insinuates a potential pathogenetic process involved in the formation of saccular or berry aneurysm. Management and therapeutic approaches for FMA are discussed.
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PMID:A proposed pathogenetic process in the formation of Aspergillus mycotic aneurysm in the central nervous system. 821 10

Anorexia, weight loss, fatigue, symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and hepatomegaly are common early presenting signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse. The clinical diagnosis of alcoholic hepatitis can be made in alcoholics with associated fever, leukocytosis, jaundice and tender hepatomegaly. Associated laboratory abnormalities may include leukocytosis or leukopenia, anemia, a prolonged prothrombin time and elevated liver enzymes, including aspartate amino-transferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin. An AST-to-ALT ratio greater than 2 is common in patients with alcoholic hepatitis. Liver biopsy may be required to establish the diagnosis and to identify other pathology, such as cirrhosis. Histologic diagnosis of alcoholic hepatitis requires the presence of liver cell damage, an inflammatory infiltrate and fibrosis. Biopsy-proven cirrhosis with alcoholic hepatitis or a significantly elevated total bilirubin level and prolonged prothrombin time are associated with a worse prognosis. Abstinence from alcohol, nutritional supplementation and corticosteroids are the mainstays of treatment for severe alcoholic hepatitis.
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PMID:Alcoholic hepatitis. 846 12

Hepatic arterial infusion of low-dose CDDP (10 mg/day), 5-FU (250 mg/day) was performed in 5 unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with tumor thrombi in the trunk and/or the first branch of the portal vein. Infusion chemotherapy was continued for five days, then discontinued for the subsequent two days. This procedure was performed repeatedly for at least three weeks. Decrease in the serum levels of the alpha-fetoprotein after the treatment was found in 3 of 4 patients. In one patient, the size of the primary tumor decreased 92%. In two of five patients, the tumor thrombi in the portal vein disappeared, or decreased in size. Side effects of the chemotherapy included liver functional disorder (Grade 3; 1 case), thrombocytopenia (Grade 3; 1 case, Grade 2; 1 case), and leukopenia (Grade 2; 1 case). The present protocol proved to be effective and applicable for patients with advanced HCC associated with severe cirrhosis.
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PMID:[Hepatic arterial infusion of low-dose cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil for hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombi in the portal vein]. 1056 Apr 6

End-stage liver disease due to chronic hepatitis C is the leading indication for orthotopic liver transplantation in the United States. Twenty percent to 30% of hepatitis C patients are at increased risk of developing cirrhosis, and 1% to 4% of cirrhotic patients will develop hepatocellular carcinoma. These findings warrant treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients. Currently, the mainstay in treatment of HCV is the use of recombinant alpha interferon, or its equivalent, in combination with the oral antiviral agent ribavirin. The major goals of therapy are clearance of the virus, achieving a noninfectious state, and halting the necro-inflammatory process that leads to fibrosis and progression to cirrhosis. End of treatment response (ETR) is biochemical and virological remission-- normalization of serum aminotransferase (ALT) and undetectable levels of HCV RNA, at the end of therapy. Sustained virological response (SVR) is defined as the absence of viremia and persistently normal aminotransferase 6 months off treatment, and is the ultimate goal of therapy. Patients who achieve SVR will have significant and persistent histologic improvement. HCV genotype, pretreatment levels of HCV-RNA (viral load), the presence of advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis, gender, and age are independent predictors of response. Ribavirin is teratogenic, therefore, contraception is mandatory for both males and females during and up to 6 months after therapy. Side effects of combination therapy are dose-dependent and most commonly include symptoms of irritability, depression and fatigue, and laboratory evidences of leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and hemolytic anemia.
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PMID:Hepatitis C. 1109 32

Partial splenic embolization is used to treat patients with liver cirrhosis accompanied by hypersplenism for improving thrombocytopenia and leukopenia. We report a case in which partial splenic embolization was used before nephrectomy because both renal cell carcinoma and liver cirrhosis were present. A 75-year-old woman visited our hospital complaining of abdominal distension. Computed tomography revealed a 5.5 cm left renal tumor. Liver cirrhosis, ascitis, splenomegaly was observed. Blood tests revealed pancytopenia; platelet count was 2.9 x 10(4)/mm3. The patient was treated by partial splenic embolization in an attempt to ensure a safe nephrectomy. After the embolization, her platelet count increased immediately to 19.2 x 10(4)/mm3, and left nephrectomy was performed successfully.
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PMID:[Surgical removal of renal cell carcinoma after partial splenic embolization in a patient with liver cirrhosis: a case report]. 1121 7

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is common, although the majority of cases are mild. A subset of transplant recipients develops progressive allograft injury, including cirrhosis and allograft failure. Minimal data are available on the safety and efficacy of antiviral treatment in this group of patients. The aim of this study is to review our experience in the treatment of moderate to severe HCV recurrence with combination interferon-alpha2b and ribavirin (IFN/RIB). Between October 1993 and October 1999, a total of 197 patients underwent OLT for HCV-related liver failure. This study describes 12 transplant recipients with moderate to severe recurrence treated with IFN/RIB. All patients met at least 1 of the following inclusion criteria: (1) moderate to severe inflammation (grade III to IV) on allograft biopsy, (2) bridging fibrosis on allograft biopsy, or (3) severe cholestasis attributable solely to HCV recurrence. Two patients had undergone re-OLT for allograft cirrhosis secondary to HCV recurrence and now had evidence of progressive HCV in their second allografts. Appropriate dose reductions of both IFN and RIB, as well as initiation of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), for marked leukopenia were recorded. IFN/RIB therapy was started 60 to 647 days post-OLT, and duration of therapy ranged from 39 to 515 days. Seven patients were administered G-CSF to successfully treat leukopenia. Six of the 12 patients (50%) became HCV RNA negative by polymerase chain reaction. One of these 6 patients (no. 1) was HCV RNA negative at 6 months but chose to discontinue therapy because of intolerable side effects, experienced a relapse, and was HCV RNA positive at 12 months. Two of the remaining 5 patients were HCV RNA negative at 2 and 9 months off therapy. For the entire group, there was a statistically significant decrease in serum biochemical indices assessed at initiation of therapy and 1, 3, and 6 months into therapy. Most patients required dose reductions of both IFN and RIB. Five patients died; 3 patients died of liver-related complications that included severe intrahepatic biliary cholestasis, severe HCV recurrence, and chronic rejection with profound cholestasis. In the subset of HCV-positive liver transplant recipients with moderate to severe recurrence, combination IFN/RIB therapy resulted in complete virological response (serum RNA negative) in 6 of 12 patients ( approximately 50%). However, only 1 of 12 patients (8.3%) had sustained virological clearance after cessation of IFN/RIB therapy. Dose reductions of both IFN and RIB were required in most patients. The use of G-CSF (sometimes preemptively) allowed correction of leukopenia and full-dose antiviral therapy. Multicenter trials using combination therapy to identify factors predictive of response are needed in the subset of patients with progressive allograft injury.
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PMID:Treatment of progressive hepatitis C recurrence after liver transplantation with combination interferon plus ribavirin. 1124 58

Decompensated liver disease associated with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common indication for liver transplantation. It was shown previously that greater pretransplantation HCV titers are associated with relatively poor patient and graft survival. The tolerability and efficacy of antiviral therapy in patients with decompensated liver disease are not known. We conducted a pilot study to determine the likely tolerability and efficacy of pretransplantation antiviral therapy with interferon alfa-2b, with or without ribavirin. HCV RNA-positive patients at or near the top of their respective waiting lists were randomly assigned to one of three treatment regimens until the time of liver transplantation: (1) group A, interferon alfa-2b, 1 x 10(6) U/d; (2) group B, interferon alfa-2b, 3 x 10(6) U three times weekly; or (3) group C, interferon alfa-2b, 1 x 10(6) U/d, plus ribavirin, 400 mg twice daily. Less than half the patients screened met entry criteria, with thrombocytopenia and leukopenia the most common reasons for exclusion. Fifteen patients were administered antiviral therapy; three patients in group A and six patients each in groups B and C. Loss of detectable HCV RNA was seen in 33% of patients, whereas 55% had a decrease in viral titers on therapy. Twenty-three adverse events occurred, including 20 serious adverse events. Thrombocytopenia was the most common adverse event. Two infectious complications occurred; one of these had a fatal outcome. We conclude that although pretransplantation antiviral therapy may reduce HCV titers in a minority of patients who meet treatment initiation criteria, adverse events associated with therapy are frequent and often severe in patients with Child's class B and C cirrhosis.
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PMID:A pilot study of the tolerability and efficacy of antiviral therapy in hepatitis C virus-infected patients awaiting liver transplantation. 1196 79

Three rare case reports of HIV-related Streptococcus bovis bacteremia are described, and discussed on the basis of a literature review. The association with an advanced immunodeficiency, leukopenia-neutropenia, and liver cirrhosis is underlined as well as the possibility of multiple recurrences and the lack of apparent gastrointestinal lesions as risk factors.
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PMID:[Streptococcus bovis as an opportunistic pathogen during advanced HIV disease] 1273 56

Various types of non-tuberculous mycobacteria can be the aetiologic factors of chronic lung infections especially in patients with underlying chronic lung diseases. The aim of this study is to present the cases of pulmonary mycobacterioses observed in Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases in the years 1995-2001. There were 23 patients, 12 men and 11 women in the age between 35-77 years, mean 56 years. 16 out of 23 patients had underlying respiratory problems, mainly healed tuberculosis (7) and COPD (6). Two additional patients suffered from other diseases with potential immunosuppression (leukopenia). In 5 patients no disease other than mycobacteriosis was found, but they were chronic smokers. In 19 cases cough and expectoration of purulent sputum lasting from several months to several years was observed. In 5 patients onset of disease was acute or subacute with high fever. Eight patients had haemoptysis. In chest X-ray pathological lesions including (18 cases) lung cirrhosis (10) and cavities (15) were found. In 4 cases disseminated bronchiectases with small nodules were the main radiologic feature. Mycobacteriosis was caused by M. kansasii in 11 cases, by M. intracellularae in 6, by M. xenopi in 5 and by M. scrofulaceum in 1 case.
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PMID:[Pulmonary mycobacterioses--frequency of occurrence, clinical spectrum and predisposing factors]. 1288 64


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