Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0341503 (bacterial peritonitis)
 1,303 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Two patients developed spontaneous bacterial peritonitis after infusions of vasopressin into the superior mesenteric or gastroduodenal arteries for upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The peritonitis in these patients differed from the typical picture in which a single aerobic organism is responsible, by the presence of multiple organisms, some of which were anaerobic. These findings suggest that the arterial vasoconstriction decreased the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier and permitted the transmural migration of enteric organisms from the lumen of the bowel into the ascites-filled peritoneal cavity.
 ...
PMID:Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis induced by intraarterial vasopressin therapy. 108 26

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), a fascinating disease that had been reported perhaps 50 times in varying guises over the preceding century, suddenly burst forth in the 1960s and was recognized in clusters of cases almost simultaneously in Paris, London, and West Haven, Connecticut. The spectrum of the disease has broadened. Initially, it was associated almost exclusively with alcoholic cirrhosis, but it has now been found in association with posthepatitic cirrhosis, cryptogenic cirrhosis, chronic active liver disease, and, occasionally, in biliary cirrhosis and cardiac cirrhosis. Recently, it has been reported in alcoholic hepatitis and acute viral hepatitis. It occurs occasionally in malignant ascites and in pancreatitis in the absence of cirrhosis. It is surprisingly common in disseminated lupus, in which it occurs relatively more commonly than in alcoholic cirrhosis. A similar syndrome, primary peritonitis, occurs frequently in children with nephrotic ascites. The clinical pattern of SBP has broadened. Initially it consisted of abdominal pain, fever, rebound tenderness, hypoactive bowel sounds, hypotension, encephalopathy, and cloudy ascites with large numbers of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in ascitic fluid. Each and every symptom, sign, and laboratory abnormality may be absent; indeed, the syndrome can be completely silent. Initially, the causative bacteria appeared to be almost exclusively enteric, but now the list of bacteria isolated in cases of SBP looks like a bacteriology textbook. Anaerobes are rare. Multiple organisms usually suggest nonspontaneous origin such as perforation or vasopressin induction. The differentiation between spontaneous and nonspontaneous bacterial peritonitis is crucial in the differential diagnosis. The great majority of cases of SBP develop in the hospital, 80% more than one week after admission. It is therefore a nosocomial disease that may be precipitated by procedure-induced bacteremia, gastrointestinal bleeding, or diarrhea, and it tends to occur in patients with low ascitic fluid protein (complement) concentrations and severe portal-systemic shunting.
 ...
PMID:Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: variant syndromes. 368 33

Ultrasonography detects ascites easily even in trace amounts. 80% of the cases are caused by hepatic disease, in the remaining 20% cancer, inflammation, pancreatic, renal, or cardiac disease can be found. The underlying disease should be investigated by few inexpensive laboratory test from serum, urine and ascites and by abdominal sonography. Hepatic ascites is caused by portal hypertension and disturbances of humoral factors. Sodium retention, peripheral, vasodilation, hyperdynamic circulation and progressive renal vasoconstriction lead to a stepwise deterioration of patients condition. Treatment with diuretics (furosemide, torsemide, or xipamide and spironolactone) and sodium-restriction (< 60 mval per day) control 85-90% of the cases with hepatic ascites. If this regimen fails, non-compliance, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hyponatremia or additional complications such as renal failure, Budd-Chiari syndrome or tumor should be considered. Ten to 15% of the patients develop refractory ascites and finally hepatorenal syndrome and have a poor prognosis. Early liver transplantation should be considered. Large volume paracentesis with albumin substitution is a therapeutic option in these patients. The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (TIPS) may be superior for patients with concurrent esophageal varices or hepatorenal syndrome. If TIPS is considered the patient should be referred to an experienced center. The peritoneo-venous shunt is restricted to rare indications. In the future, new drugs such as antagonists of endothelins or of the antidiuretic hormone may offer new therapeutic options.
 ...
PMID:[Current ascites therapy]. 906 26

The pathophysiology of circulatory and renal dysfunction in cirrhosis and the treatment of ascites and related conditions (hepatorenal syndrome and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis) have been research topics of major interest during the last two decades. However, many aspects of these problem remain unclear and will constitute major areas of investigation in the next millennium. The pathogenesis of sodium retention, the most prevalent renal function abnormality of cirrhosis, is only partially known. In approximately one third of patients with ascites, sodium retention occurs despite normal activity of the renin-aldosterone and sympathetic nervous systems and increased circulating plasma levels of natriuretic peptides and activity of the so-called natriuretic hormone. These patients present an impairment in circulatory function which, although less intense, is similar to that of patients with increased activity of the renin-aldosterone and sympathetic nervous systems, suggesting that antinatriuretic factors more sensitive to changes in circulatory function that these systems may be important in the pathogenesis of sodium retention in cirrhosis. The development of drugs that inhibit the tubular effect of antidiuretic hormone and increase renal water excretion without affecting urine solute excretion has opened a field of great interest for the management of water retention and dilutional hyponatremia in cirrhosis. Two families of drugs, the V2 vasopressin receptor antagonists and the kappa-opioid agonists, have been shown to improve free water clearance and correct dilutional hyponatremia in human and experimental cirrhosis with ascites. The first type of drugs blocks the tubular effect of antidiuretic hormone and the second inhibits antidiuretic hormone secretion by the neurohypophysis. On the other hand, two new treatments have also been proved to reverse hepatorenal syndrome in cirrhosis. The most interesting one is that based on the simultaneous administration of plasma volume expansion and vasoconstrictors. The second is transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt. The long-term administration (1-3 weeks) of analogs of vasopressin (ornipressin or terlipressin) or other vasoconstrictors together with plasma volume expansion with albumin is associated with a dramatic improvement in circulatory function and normalization of serum creatinine concentration in patients with severe hepatorenal syndrome. Of interest is the observation that in many of these patients, hepatorenal syndrome does not recur following discontinuation of the treatment, thus raising important questions about the mechanism by which hepatorenal syndrome follows a progressive course in most untreated cases. The pathogenesis of circulatory dysfunction in cirrhosis and the role of local mechanisms in the development of the splanchnic arteriolar vasodilation associated with portal hypertension will continue as important topics in clinical and basic research in Hepatology. Of special interest is the study of the mechanism by which circulatory function further deteriorates following complications such as severe bacterial infection or therapeutic interventions such as therapeutic paracentesis, and the adverse consequences of the impairment in circulatory function on renal and hepatic hemodynamics. Finally, although major advances have been made concerning the treatment and secondary prophylaxis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhosis, many aspects of the pathogenesis of this infection remain unclear. The mechanism of bacterial translocation and of the colonization of bacteria in the ascitic fluid are particularly important to design adequate measures for primary prophylaxis of this severe bacterial infection.
 ...
PMID:Complications of cirrhosis. II. Renal and circulatory dysfunction. Lights and shadows in an important clinical problem. 1072 2

In cirrhosis of the liver, according to the peripheral arterial vasodilation hypothesis, relative underfilling of the arterial tree triggers a neurohumoral response (activation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, sympathetic nervous system, nonosmotic release of vasopressin) aimed at restoring circulatory integrity by promoting renal sodium and water retention. Evidence has accumulated for a major role of increased vascular production of nitric oxide as the primary cause of arterial vasodilation in cirrhosis. Ascites is a common complication in cirrhosis. Treatment of ascites consists of a low salt diet with diuretics, and paracentesis together with plasma volume expanders in diuretic-resistant patients. Progression of cirrhosis may result in hepatorenal syndrome, a state of functional renal failure that carries an ominous prognosis. Orthotopic liver transplantation has remained the only curative treatment for patients with advanced liver disease; other modalities such as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt or vasopressin analogues may serve as a bridge to transplantation. Another complication of decompensated cirrhosis is spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, the incidence of which can be reduced by primary or secondary antibiotic prophylaxis by using orally active antibiotics.
 ...
PMID:Update on peripheral arterial vasodilation, ascites and hepatorenal syndrome in cirrhosis. 1111 Jun 23

For patients with refractory ascites, paracentesis is the standard therapy and for many it is the only treatment option. When more than five litres of ascitic fluid are removed, the use of a plasma expander effectively prevents "postparacentesis circulatory dysfunction", which is associated with a high mortality. Randomised controlled studies show that albumin is more effective than synthetic plasma expanders in the prevention of this complication. In selected patients with ascites, long-term administration of albumin may improve the diuretic response. A randomised controlled study in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis has demonstrated that treatment with albumin infusion in addition to an antibiotic reduces the incidence of hepatorenal syndrome. Albumin infusion in combination with the administration of a vasopressin analogue may be able to reverse established hepatorenal syndrome; however, no controlled studies have been published. Whereas the use of albumin infusion with large-volume paracentesis is strongly supported by the available evidence, additional conclusive studies of the use of albumin for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis are awaited.
 ...
PMID:[The use of albumin infusion in decompensated liver cirrhosis]. 1189 6

Ascites accumulation is the product of a complex process involving hepatic, renal, systemic, hemodynamic, and neurohormonal factors. The main pathophysiologic theories of ascites formation include the "underfill," "overflow," and peripheral arterial vasodilation hypotheses. These theories are not necessarily mutually exclusive and are linked at some level by a common pathophysiologic thread: The body senses a decreased effective arterial blood volume, leading to stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, arginine-vasopressin feedback loops, and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Cornerstones of ascites management include dietary sodium restriction and diuretics. Spironolactone is generally tried initially, with furosemide added if clinical response is suboptimal. More refractory patients require large-volume paracentesis (LVP) accompanied by volume expansion with albumin. Placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt is reserved for individuals with compensated liver function who require very frequent sessions of LVP. Peritoneovenous shunts are not used in contemporary ascites management. Liver transplantation remains the definitive therapy for refractory ascites. Although treatment of ascites fails to improve survival, it benefits quality of life and limits the development of such complications as spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.
 ...
PMID:Pathophysiology and management of pediatric ascites. 1273 47

In recent years, the use of vasopressin analogues in the treatment of hepatorenal syndrome has become an effective therapeutic strategy leading to improved survival and often allowing the completion of liver transplantation. Terlipressin, in particular, has proven to be safe and effective. Due to the limited number of patients treated so far, it is, however, difficult to draw any definite conclusions on the optimal dosage and on the occurrence of side-effects in these patients. The case is reported of an ascitic cirrhotic patient who developed spontaneous bacterial peritonitis followed by a type-I hepatorenal syndrome. Treatment with terlipressin boluses (0.5 mg/4 h) associated with albumin infusion was then started. The course of the disease was monitored by clinical and laboratory means. After 10 boluses of terlipressin, rectorrhagia and severe ischaemic complications involving the skin of the abdomen, lower limbs, scrotus, and penis, occurred. These ischaemic complications improved after terlipressin withdrawal, while renal failure evolved leading to the patient's death. This case report shows that, in patients with type-I hepatorenal syndrome, the use of terlipressin, even at low dosages, may induce life-threatening ischaemic complications and, moreover, suggests that the recent occurrence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, even if properly treated, may significantly increase the risk of major ischaemic complications.
 ...
PMID:Is spontaneous bacterial peritonitis an inducer of vasopressin analogue side-effects? A case report. 1287 Jul 38

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a common complication of advanced cirrhosis, characterised by renal failure and major disturbances in circulatory function. Renal failure is caused by intense vasoconstriction of the renal circulation. The syndrome is probably the final consequence of extreme underfilling of the arterial circulation secondary to arterial vasodilatation in the splanchnic vascular bed. As well as the renal circulation, most extrasplanchnic vascular beds are vasoconstricted. The diagnosis of HRS is currently based on the exclusion of other causes of renal failure. The prognosis is very poor, particularly when there is rapidly progressive renal failure (type 1). Liver transplantation is the best option in patients without contraindications to the procedure, but it is not always possible owing to the short survival expectancy. Therapies introduced during the past few years, such as vasoconstrictor drugs (vasopressin analogues, alpha-adrenergic agonists) or the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, are effective in improving renal function. Nevertheless, liver transplantation should still be done in suitable patients even after improvement of renal function because the outcome of HRS is poor. Finally, recent findings suggest that the risk of developing HRS in the setting of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis may be reduced by the administration of albumin together with antibiotic therapy, and that of HRS occurring in severe alcoholic hepatitis can be lowered by administration of pentoxifylline. Although these findings need to be confirmed, these two strategies represent innovative approaches to lower the frequency of HRS in clinical practice.
 ...
PMID:Hepatorenal syndrome. 1465 22

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a complex syndrome. In addition to severe reduction of renal function due to renal vasoconstriction, there is impairment in systemic haemodynamics, activation of the renin-angiotensin and sympathetic nervous systems and antidiuretic hormone, vasoconstriction of the brain, muscle and skin, and dilutional hyponatraemia. Treatment in patients with type 2 HRS, the most frequent form of HRS, is directed towards managing refractory ascites. Paracentesis is the treatment of choice. TIPS is also effective but is more expensive, is associated with higher incidence of hepatic encephalopathy, and does not increase survival. Although a rapidly progressive renal failure is the most characteristic manifestation of type 1 HRS, there is failure in other organs such as the liver and the brain. A decrease in cardiac output develops in these patients, associated with a decrease in cardiopulmonary pressures. Since type 1 HRS mainly occurs in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and massive release of cytokines within the peritoneal cavity, it may be considered as a special form of multiorgan failure of circulatory origin. Not surprisingly, the treatment of choice in type 1 HRS is the combination of vasoconstrictors to reduce arterial vasodilation and plasma volume expansion with albumin to increase cardiac preload. TIPS is also effective in these patients and the combination of pharmacological treatment followed by TIPS may be the most effective approach.
 ...
PMID:Review article: hepatorenal syndrome--how to assess response to treatment and nonpharmacological therapy. 1533 2


1 2 3 Next >>