Jiannis Vlachogiannakos

Sustained rise of portal pressure after sclerotherapy, but not band ligation, in acute variceal bleeding in cirrhosis

During variceal bleeding, several factors may increase portal pressure, which in turn may precipitate further bleeding. This study investigates the early effects of endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) and endoscopic band ligation (EBL) on hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) during acute bleeding and the possible influence in outcome. In 50 cirrhotic patients with bleeding esophageal varices treated with EIS (n = 25) or EBL (n = 25), we performed repeated HVPG measurements before and immediately after endoscopic treatment (time 0) and every 24 hours for a 5‐day period. Endotherapy was continued until the varices were too small for further treatment. Both groups were comparable with regard to age, gender, Child‐Turcotte‐Pugh grade, and HVPG. In the EBL and EIS groups, a significant (P < .0001) increase was observed in mean portal pressure (20.7 mm Hg ± 4.4 SD and 21.5 mm Hg ± 4.5 SD, respectively) immediately after treatment (time 0) as compared with pretreatment (18.1 ± 4.5 and 18.1 ± 4.0). However, HVPG in the EBL group returned to baseline values within 48 hours after treatment, while in the EIS group it remained high during the 120‐hour study period (P < .0001). Bleeding stopped in all patients after endotherapy. During the 42‐day follow‐up period, the rebleeding rate over time was lower in the EBL group compared with the EIS group (P = .024). Patients with an initial HVPG greater than 16 mm Hg had, despite endoscopic treatment, a significantly higher likelihood of rebleeding (P = .05) and death (P = .024) and overall failure (P = .037). In conclusion, during acute variceal bleeding EIS, but not EBL, causes a sustained increase in HVPG, which is followed by a higher rebleeding rate. (HEPATOLOGY 2004;39:1623–1630.)

Long-term administration of rifaximin improves the prognosis of patients with decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis

Cirrhotic patients are predisposed to intestinal bacterial overgrowth with translocation of bacterial products which may deteriorate liver hemodynamics. Having shown that short‐term administration of rifaximin improves liver hemodynamics in decompensated cirrhosis, we conducted this study to investigate the effect of intestinal decontamination with rifaximin on the long‐term prognosis of patients with alcohol‐related decompensated cirrhosis (Child‐Pugh > 7) and ascites.

Clinical Course of Lamivudine Monotherapy in Patients with Decompensated Cirrhosis due to HBeAg negative chronic HBV infection

OBJECTIVES:We have evaluated the efficacy of long-term lamivudine monotherapy in patients with decompensated HBeAg-negative/HBV-DNA positive cirrhosis.METHODS:We analyzed the clinical course and outcome of lamivudine treatment in 30 consecutive cirrhotics and compared with 30 HBV untreated historical HBeAg-negative controls matched for age and gender.RESULTS:Significant clinical improvement, defined as a reduction of at least two points in Child-Pugh score was observed in 23 of the 30 treated patients (76.6%) versus none of the 30 patients in the control group (p < 0.0001) after a mean follow-up of 20.6 ± 12.1(±SD) months. There were 10 deaths in the treated group versus 24 in the control group (p= 0.07). Liver-related deaths occurred in five of the eight patients soon after the development of biochemical breakthrough. Patients with clinical improvement had better survival than patients with no improvement (p= 0.04) or those who developed biochemical breakthrough due to YMDD mutants (p= 0.001).CONCLUSIONS:Lamivudine significantly improves liver function in HBeAg-negative decompensated cirrhosis. However, the development of the biochemical breakthrough due to YMDD mutants is associated with fatal outcome.

Systematic review: Coca-Cola can effectively dissolve gastric phytobezoars as a first-line treatment

Gastric phytobezoars represent the most common bezoars in patients with poor gastric motility. A variety of dissolution therapies and endoscopic fragmentation techniques have been evaluated as conservative treatment so as to avoid surgery.

Antiviral therapy reduces portal pressure in patients with cirrhosis due to HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B and significant portal hypertension

BACKGROUND/AIMS Lamivudine improves liver histology in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), but its effects on portal pressure remain unknown. We evaluated the effect of lamivudine monotherapy on hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) in CHB-related cirrhosis with significant portal hypertension. METHODS We studied 19 patients with cirrhosis due to HBeAg-negative CHB and HVPG >or=10 mm Hg treated with oral lamivudine (100mg daily). Liver biochemistry, Child-Pugh and MELD score were determined every 3 months, alpha-fetoprotein and HBV DNA every 6 months and HVPG at baseline and at 12 months after lamivudine initiation. Diuretics, beta-blockers, antibiotics and/or endoscopic therapy were used for routine indications. RESULTS At 12 months, a significant reduction was observed in ALT (p=0.001), HBV DNA (p=0.002), Child-Pugh (p=0.012) and MELD score (p=0.006). Four patients developed virological breakthrough during treatment. At 12 months, HVPG decreased in all but one patient [baseline: 14.4+/-3.9 and 12 months: 12.4+/-3.3 mm Hg (p=0.007)]. HVPG decreased >20% or below the 12 mm Hg threshold in 10 of 13 patients with baseline HVPG >or=12 mm Hg. HVPG increased in a patient with hepatic flare after virological breakthrough. CONCLUSION In conclusion, in patients with cirrhosis due to HBeAg-negative CHB, lamivudine monotherapy reduces HVPG, especially when virological suppression and biochemical remission is achieved.

Primary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding in cirrhotics unable to take beta-blockers: a randomized trial of ligation.

Aim : To compare endoscopic banding ligation vs. no treatment in cirrhotics with intolerance or contraindications to β‐blockers for prevention of first bleeding in portal hypertension.

Long-Term Acid Suppressive Therapy May Prevent the Relapse of Lower Esophageal (Schatzki's) Rings: A Prospective, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

OBJECTIVES:Distal esophageal (Schatzkis) rings are a frequent cause of dysphagia. Bougienage is generally effective, but relapses are common. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of long-term antisecretory therapy on the relapse rate of lower esophageal rings after successful bougienage with Savary dilators.PATIENTS AND METHODS:The study was performed on 44 consecutive patients with symptomatic Schatzkis rings, detected endoscopically, and/or radiologically. Graded esophageal dilation was performed as an outpatient procedure in a single session. After appropriate assessment with esophageal manometry and 24-h ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring, patients with documented GERD (n = 14) were treated with long-term omeprazole therapy. The remaining patients were blindly randomized to receive maintenance treatment with either omeprazole (group A—15 patients) or placebo (group B—15 patients). The necessity for redilation after documentation of the ring with endoscopy and/or radiology was considered as a relapse of the ring. The relapse rate was evaluated in all groups.RESULTS:All bougienages were performed without significant side effects. Eight patients (8 of 44, 18.2%) had one or more relapses after a mean (SD) of 19.0 (10.1) months. Patients with (n = 14) or without (n = 30) GERD were comparable with respect to sex, age, body mass index, cigarette and alcohol consumption, diameter of the esophageal lumen at the level of the ring, resting lower esophageal sphincter pressure, duration of dysphagia, need for taking antacids during the follow-up period, and duration of follow-up. There were no recurrences of Schatzkis ring in the group of patients with documented GERD (follow-up [mean ± SD]: 43.8 ± 9.3 months, range: 27–62). In group A (follow-up [mean ± SD]: 37.1 ± 17.1 months, range: 11–66), one patient relapsed after 13 months, while in group B (follow-up [mean ± SD]: 34.3 ± 14.6 months, range: 10–58), seven patients relapsed after a mean (SD) of 19.9 (10.6) months. The actuarial probability of relapse was higher in patients without therapy (group B) (p= 0.008).CONCLUSIONS:Our data support the hypothesis that, in patients with symptomatic Schatzkis rings, acid suppressive maintenance therapy after bougienage may prevent relapse of the ring.

Gastrointestinal and liver side effects of drugs in elderly patients.

It is expected that the percentage of people >60 years of age will be 22% worldwide by the year 2050. Multi-morbidity and poly-pharmacy are common in individuals during old age, while adverse drug reactions are at least twice as common in the elderly compared to younger adults. Publications related to drug side effects are rather rare in this age group since most clinical trials exclude patients >75-80 years of age. Gastrointestinal adverse drug reactions studied in the elderly include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and anticoagulant-induced gastrointestinal tract mucosal injuries. Malabsorption, diarrhoea and constipation are common side effects of laxatives, antibiotics, anticholinergics and calcium channel blockers. Drug (amoxycilin/clavulanic acid, isoniazide, nitrofurantoin, diclifenac and methotrexate)-induced hepatotoxicity in the elderly is four times more common than in younger adults and may simulate almost all known liver disorders. Further clinical studies are needed to investigate gastrointestinal and hepatic side effects of drugs in elderly patients.

Ultrasound‐guided liver biopsy in real life: Comparison of same‐day prebiopsy versus real‐time ultrasound approach

Background and Aim:  Currently, an increasing number of liver biopsies are performed by radiologists under real‐time ultrasound control. A routine ultrasound assessment of a puncture site before performing percutaneous biopsy is reported to increase diagnostic yield and decrease complication rates. It is not clear if real‐time ultrasound is superior to marking the puncture site before biopsy as regards reducing biopsy size and avoiding fragmentation and complications. The aim of this study was to compare ultrasound assessment of the puncture site before performing percutaneous liver biopsy with real‐time ultrasound liver biopsy for suspected diffuse liver disease.

Wireless capsule endoscopy versus enteroclysis in the diagnosis of small-bowel Crohn's disease.

Objectives The aim of this study was to prospectively compare the diagnostic yield of wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) and enteroclysis in the detection of Crohns disease (CD) of the small bowel. Methods Twenty-nine patients with known CD (group 1) suspected to have more extensive small-bowel involvement and 26 patients, who were suspected to suffer from CD but did not have an earlier history of it (group 2) were prospectively evaluated with enteroclysis and WCE. Each examiner was blinded to the results of other investigations. Results Enteroclysis was unsuccessful in two patients from group 1 8and six patients from group 2, respectively. In group 1, abnormal findings consistent with CD were detected in 20 patients by using WCE and in 11 patients by using enteroclysis, out of the total 27, at per-protocol analysis (74.1 vs. 40.7%, P<0.05). Of the 11 patients who had ileal CD on enteroclysis, three had more extensive small-bowel disease, which was detected only by WCE. In group 2, WCE showed findings consistent with CD in 13 of 20 patients, in contrast with enteroclysis, which was positive for CD in only six of 20 patients (65 vs. 30%, P<0.05). Three more patients had findings compatible with CD on WCE, but they failed their enteroclysis. Overall, a new diagnosis of CD was made in 16 patients. Conclusion WCE has a higher diagnostic yield than enteroclysis in the detection of CD of the small bowel, both in patients with known and newly suspected CD.