Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0033774 (pruritus)
 14,546 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is characterized by troublesome maternal pruritus, elevated serum bile acids (> or =10 micromol/L) and increased fetal risk. Recently we determined a cutoff level of serum bile acids, > or =40 micromol/L, to be associated with impaired fetal outcome. We have now studied the effects of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and dexamethasone on pruritus, biochemical markers of cholestasis, and fetal complication rates in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. For this purpose, 130 women with ICP were randomly allocated to UDCA (1 g/day for three weeks), or dexamethasone (12 mg/day for 1 week and placebo during weeks 2 and 3), or placebo for 3 weeks. Pruritus and biochemical markers of cholestasis were analyzed at inclusion and after 3 weeks of treatment. Fetal complications (spontaneous preterm delivery; asphyxial events; and meconium staining of amniotic fluid, placenta, and membranes) were registered at delivery. An intention-to-treat analysis showed significant reduction of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (P = .01) and bilirubin (P = .002) in the UDCA group only. In a subgroup analysis of ICP women with serum bile acids > or =40 micromol/L at inclusion (n = 34), UDCA had significant effects on pruritus (-75%), bile acids (-79%), ALT (-80%), and bilirubin (-50%) as well, but not on fetal complication rates. Dexamethasone yielded no alleviation of pruritus or reduction of ALT and was less effective than UDCA at reducing bile acids and bilirubin. In conclusion, 3 weeks of UDCA treatment improved some biochemical markers of ICP irrespective of disease severity, whereas significant relief from pruritus and marked reduction of serum bile acids were only found in patients with severe ICP.
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PMID:Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial comparing dexamethasone and ursodeoxycholic acid. 1631 69

A 66-year-old white male presented with jaundice, pruritus, and a 30-pound weight loss over two months. Physical examination revealed scleral icterus. Laboratory evaluation revealed ALT 161 U/L, AST 290 U/L, alkaline phosphatase 2004 U/L, GGT 2,552 U/L, total bilirubin 10.2 mg/dL, and a carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) level of 4,374 U/mL. Initial endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was unsuccessful due to ulceration in the duodenum healed with esomeprazole therapy. Subsequent ERCP showed a possible filling defect in the common bile duct treated with sphincterotomy and balloon sweeping of the common bile duct. Symptoms and jaundice resolved five months after initial presentation with normal labs and studies. While elevated CA 19-9 levels occur in most patients with carcinoma of the pancreas, it can also be elevated in patients with extrapancreatic malignancies and acute cholangitis. This case illustrates the fact that a markedly elevated CA 19-9 can be secondary to causes other than carcinoma.
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PMID:Patient with markedly elevated CA 19-9 not associated with malignancy. 1655 91

In order to observe the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in the treatment of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), 68 patients with ICP were equally divided into treatment group and control group at random. The patients in treatment group were administered with UDCA 300 mg three times every day and those in control group received a combination of 10% glucose, Vitamin C and Inosine. Itching scores, serum ALT and total bile acids (TBA) were measured before, during and after treatment. The results showed that as compared with those before treatment, itching scores, serum ALT and TBA were significantly reduced after treatment (P < 0.05). The occurrences of premature labor, fetal asphyxia and meconium staining in amniotic fluid were significantly lower in treatment group than in control group (P < 0.05). It was suggested that UDCA was an effective drug in the treatment of ICP.
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PMID:Ursodeoxycholic acid in the treatment of intraheptic cholestasis of pregnancy. 1696 Dec 91

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is the chronic inflammatory liver disease of unknown etiology, demonstrating progressive injury of liver, finally leading to insufficiency of this organ. Possible association between clinical forms, course and prognosis of AIH has been considered recently. Aim of this study is to evaluate autoimmune hepatitis exacerbation risk in respect to epidemiological, clinical and laboratory signs demonstrated in patients with freshly diagnosed AIH. Retrospective study included 42 patients hospitalized in Liver Unit of Department of Infectious Diseases Medical University of Bialystok between 1999 and 2003, suspected for autoimmune hepatitis. In majority of patients onset of the disease was sudden and associated with significant increase of ALT activity. The most frequent, first sign of the disease was jaundice, that was observed in over 50% among patients, pruritus was reported by 1/4 patients. In 12 patients (41.4%) beginning of the disease was oligosymptomatic, i.e. without jaundice and pruritus. These patients demonstrated significantly lower ALT activity, bilirubin and gamma-globulin concentrations. Moreover prevalence of antinuclear antibodies in this group was less frequent, and frequency of hospitalization because of AIH exacerbations was also lower. Concluding, oligosynptomatic course of the disease accompanied by lower ALT activity can be related to better prognosis of AIH, and indicate mild course associated with low risk of exacerbations. On the c:her hand faster progression of the disease can be expected in younger patients demonstrating significant increase of ALT activity at the moment of initial diagnosis.
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PMID:[Analysis of prognostic factors in patients with autoimmune hepatitis]. 1707 91

We report a case of acute hepatotoxicity in a 42-year-old woman after administration of clindamycin for a dental infection. After 6 d of treatment, she had fatigue, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, pruritus and jaundice. Her laboratory analysis showed alanine aminotransferase (ALT), 1795 IU/L (normal range 0-40); aspartate aminotransferase (AST), 1337 IU/L (normal range 5-34); alkaline phosphatase (ALP), 339 IU/L (normal range 40-150); gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), 148 IU/L (normal range 9-64 IU/L); total bilirubin, 4.1 mg/dL; direct bilirubin, 2.9 mg/dL and prothrombin time (PT), 13.5 s, with international normalized ratio (INR), 1.04. She was hospitalized, with immediate drug discontinuation. Her liver biopsy specimen showed mixed-type (both hepatocellular and cholestatic) hepatic injury, compatible with a diagnosis of drug-induced hepatitis. An objective causality assessment using the Naranjo probability scale suggested that clindamycin was the probable cause of the acute hepatitis. In susceptible individuals, clindamycin use may lead to acute mixed-type liver toxicity. Complete recovery may be possible if the drug is discontinued before severe liver injury is established.
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PMID:Clindamycin-induced acute cholestatic hepatitis. 1787 18

A 23-year-old woman presented to our polyclinic complaining of itching, generalized dermatitis, and jaundice. She was in her 31st gestational week and had developed pruritus and the dermatitis since the first month of pregnancy; her jaundice started about a month before presentation. Her history included similar complaints in a previous pregnancy, which resulted in premature birth of a baby with a permanent brain defect. One of her sisters had had jaundice and itching in her 27th gestational week and delivered a healthy baby; a second sister had experienced itching and dermatitis in her second trimester and delivered a healthy baby. Physical examination of the patient showed that her eyes were jaundiced (Figure 1); skin examination revealed generalized erythematous excoriated papules, symmetrically distributed all over her body (Figure 2 Figure 3). Laboratory analyses revealed the following results: leukocyte count, 14.30/mm(3) (3.8-10.3/mm(3)); erythrocyte sedimentation rate, 25 mm/h (<20 mm/h); aspartate aminotransferase, 44 U/L (5-40 U/L); alanine aminotransferase, 63 U/L (5-40 U/L); lactate dehydrogenase, 1158 U/L (220-450 U/L); total bilirubin, 6.88 mg/dL (<1.10 mg/dL); and direct bilirubin, 3.27 mg/dL (<0.35 mg/dL). Urinalysis results were positive for bilirubin and urobilinogen. Positive serologic findings included rubella immunoglobulin G, 93 AU/mL (<15) and cytomegalovirus, 188 AU/mL (<10); negative findings included herpes simplex virus type 2 and hepatitis. Histopathologic examination of material collected from the left breast via punch biopsy showed parakeratosis, acanthosis, and perivascular lymphocyte infiltration in dermal vessels. Treatment with 2 g/d cholestyramine and a topical corticosteroid was effective in the patient, who was diagnosed with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and prurigo of pregnancy based on the clinical, histopathologic, and laboratory findings. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first such reported case in the literature.
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PMID:Intrahepatic cholestasis occurring with prurigo of pregnancy. 1797 52

Interferon-alpha-n1 (lymphoblastoid interferon-alpha) is a nonrecombinant 'natural' interferon derived from lymphoblastoid cells exposed to Sendai virus. In common with endogenous and recombinant interferon-alpha molecules, interferon-alpha-n1 has antiviral, immunomodulatory and antiproliferative properties. Interferon-alpha-n1 shows some efficacy in immunocompetent adults with well-compensated chronic viral hepatitis B. Rates of complete virological response (defined as an absence of detectable hepatitis B virus-DNA in the serum) ranged from 5 to 79% of adults who received various dosage regimens of interferon-alpha-n1 in monotherapy trials. Clearance of hepatitis B 'e' antigen was reported in 5 to 70% of patients treated with the drug. Spontaneous virological responses occurred in 0 to 48% of untreated patients. The clinical efficacy of interferon-alpha-n1 in patients with chronic hepatitis B is not improved by concomitantly administered deflazacort, zidovudine or levamisole, but may be increased by a course of corticosteroid pretreatment in some patients. Interferon-alpha-n1 also shows therapeutic benefit in adults with chronic hepatitis C. Complete biochemical responses (defined as normalisation of serum ALT levels) were achieved in 27 to 60% of adult patients treated with the drug, whereas spontaneous normalisation of serum ALT levels occurred in up to 11% of untreated patients. Responses to interferon-alpha-n1 were temporary in 27 to 78% of treatment responders but were sustained in 6 to 40% of patients. Emerging data delineating baseline factors predictive of a positive response to interferon-alpha-n1 treatment may aid in the selection of patients with hepatitis B or C most likely to benefit from treatment with this drug. Most patients receiving interferon-alpha-n1 experience a transient 'influenza-like' syndrome during the first week of treatment. The syndrome, which is dose related and alleviated by paracetamol (acetaminophen), is characterised by fever, chills, and arthralgia. Dose-limiting adverse effects occurring during longer term interferon-alpha-n1 therapy include fatigue, myalgia, headache, depression, pruritus and seizures. Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia may also occur during interferon-alpha-n1 treatment. Autoimmune thyroid disease may develop in up to 9% of patients treated with interferon-alpha-n1 for >or=6 months. At present, interferon-alpha-n1 and the recombinant forms of interferon-alpha are the only drugs available for the treatment of adults with well-compensated hepatitis B or C. Interferon-alpha-n1 produces moderate response rates in adults with well-compensated chronic hepatitis B or C. Thus, it is positioned alongside recombinant interferon-alpha products as a useful first-line treatment option for patients with chronic hepatitis B or C.
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PMID:Interferon-alpha-n1: a review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic efficacy in the management of chronic viral hepatitis. 1802 May 50

Clinical manifestations of liver involvement in multiple myeloma (MM) are uncommon. Rare cases of MM present as acute liver disease. We report a case of a 55-year-old woman with MM who presented with painless jaundice, mild pruritus, and abnormal liver function tests resembling acute cholestatic hepatitis without the stigmata of chronic liver disease. Initial laboratories included elevated liver function tests (aspartate aminotransferase 74 U/L and alanine aminotransferase 45 U/L) and an elevated white blood cell count of 19,600 cells/microL with 33% circulating plasma cells. Myeloma parameters demonstrated an immunoglobulin G lambda monoclonal protein with lambda light-chain Bence-Jones proteinuria. Bone marrow was hypercellular with 70% plasmacytosis. A liver biopsy revealed a diffuse portal and sinusoidal infiltration of plasma cells with lambda light-chain restriction. In this report, we review the literature of liver involvement in MM.
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PMID:Liver involvement in multiple myeloma. 1802 72

Arterial complications after liver transplantation are frequent. Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) is usually associated with biliary complications. Herein we have reported a case of a patient who was admitted for jaundice, itch, and elevated aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels at 6 weeks after liver transplantation. HAT associated with a biloma was diagnosed and an urgent operation performed requiring a new biliodigestive anastomosis technique. Fourteen months after the first transplant, the patient was retransplanted. The operation performed may be an alternative to treat biliary complications due to late HAT.
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PMID:A new biliodigestive anastomosis technique after hepatic artery thrombosis as bridge to liver retransplantation: a case presentation. 1808 27

R-etodolac is a novel pro-apoptotic agent with potential antitumor activity against B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). This phase I clinical trial was conducted to determine the tolerability, safety, and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of R-etodolac, administered orally twice a day (BID), in patients with B-CLL. Secondary objectives included evaluating clinical response, pharmacodynamic activity (reduction of lymphocytes), and pharmacokinetic (PK) profile. Forty-three patients were enrolled in the study. The most frequently reported adverse events were diarrhea, rash, pruritus, and headache. Increases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were also observed. Adverse events were generally mild and self-limiting, although in an apparent dose-response relationship, grade 2 and 3 gastrointestinal toxicities and grade 3 skin toxicities were reported with the highest dose regimens (1,800 and 2,400 mg BID). Hematologic toxicity was rare. The MTD was determined to be 1,200 mg BID. PK results indicated that oral absorption of R-etodolac was rapid (time to maximum concentration ranged from 2 to 4 h), and the half-life ranged from 5 to 7 h. The increase in maximum concentration, however, was not proportional to the increase in dose. R-etodolac significantly reduced absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) in B-CLL patients in a dose-dependent manner up to 1,800 mg BID and caused partial responses in 2 patients. Further study of R-etodolac as a possible new maintenance therapy or as a part of combination therapy of B-CLL appears warranted.
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PMID:Phase I study of a novel pro-apoptotic drug R-etodolac in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. 1809 35


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