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Biomedical subjects

I Colle

Publications and source records attributed to I Colle.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Biliary complications of large Echinococcus granulosus cysts: report of 2 cases and review of the literature.

Hydatid cysts are often incidentally found and remain clinically silent. However complications can occur. We present 2 patients who developed biliary complications due to a large hydatid cyst. In the first patient compression on the intrahepatic bile ducts and cystic duct by the cyst, caused cholangitis and cholecystitis. Moreover the cyst had ruptured into the right intrahepatic bile ducts. A sphincterotomy was performed with extraction of hydatid sand. A pericystectomy was necessary because of infectious deterioration of the patient. Albendazole was continued for 8 weeks after surgery. The second case presented with jaundice and weight-loss since 1 month. A large hydatid cyst caused compression on the bile duct bifurcation with proximal bile duct dilatation. A cystectomy was performed 2 weeks after albendazole therapy initiation, which was continued for 8 weeks after surgery. Follow-up of both surgical interventions was unremarkable. Although Echinococcus granulosus in not prevalent in Belgium, we must be aware of this pathology in patients coming from high endemic regions.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Liver transplantation and mental retardation.

Mental retardation has been a controversial relative contraindication to organ transplantation. We present a case report of a 54 year old man with alcoholic cirrhosis and mental retardation who was sent for evaluation for liver transplantation. We discuss the ethical considerations of transplantation in the mental retarded patient.

Belgium↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Risk factors for hepatitis C: past, present and future.

Patients at risk for hepatitis C (HCV) are those exposed to a major risk factor (i.e. blood transfusion prior 1990, and intravenous drug abuse), and those exposed to a minor risk factor (sexual, mother-to-infant transmission, household contact, nosocomial contamination). The present paper aims to review the current and past modes of transmission of the virus C.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of posture on haemodynamics, sodium and hormonal homeostasis in cirrhotic patients with and without ascites.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Previous studies in preascitic cirrhosis demonstrated sodium retention during upright posture and sodium hyperexcretion during bed-rest. In patients with ascites, sodium excretion and creatinine clearance decreased during upright posture. Head-down tilting (HDT) accentuated the natriuretic effect of bed-rest in short term studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of prolonged change in posture on sodium homeostasis and on haemodynamics in cirrhotic patients. METHODS: Eighteen cirrhotic patients (9 with, 9 without ascites), were studied during 12 h upright, supine and HDT position (-10 degrees). During each position, 12 h urine collections were performed and blood samples were obtained before and after change in position. Non-invasive systemic hemodynamic measurements were performed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between HDT and supine position in both ascitic and preascitic groups for urinary volume, fractional sodium excretion, creatinine clearance, urinary and plasma hormones and hemodynamics. Urinary volume (in supine and HDT) and fractional sodium excretion (in supine) were significantly higher and urinary noradrenaline and plasma renin (in supine and HDT) significantly lower in the preascitic group compared with the ascitic patients. Cardiac output and heart rate decreased after 12 h supine and HDT, suggesting a deactivation of sympatic nervous system and catecholamines. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that prolonged HDT had no advantage over normal bed-rest in both patient groups. Possibly, a short-term beneficial effect of HDT was lost after several hours.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The management of patients with mild hepatitis C.

Infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) represents an important public health problem and is a leading cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Chronic hepatitis C is a heterogeneous disease. Many patients have mild disease at presentation but not all of them will develop advanced liver disease. However, the identification of these patients with mild hepatitis C who will show progressive disease is difficult and is based on histological criteria and the assessment of co-factors (age, alcohol intake, steatosis). In addition, serum transaminases that are persistently normal on several occasions during 18 months may point to a more benign course. Patients with mild hepatitis C should not be excluded "a priori" from the possibility of being treated, as treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin is safe and effective in this group. Overall, the decision to initiate therapy should be individualized and based on the severity of the disease by liver biopsy, the potential of serious side effects, the probability of response and the motivation of the patient.

Antiviral Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The HepCar registry: report on a one-year registration program of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Belgium. What is daily practice in HCC?

INTRODUCTION: Due to a rise in HCV induced liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma becomes more prevalent in Western European countries. The HepCar registry is an initiative in which patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, their treatment and follow up are registered. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Belgian physicians were asked to report all new cases of hepatocellular carcinoma which were seen between January 2003 and December 2003. Reporting was done on a voluntary basis. Data reported were: demographic figures, the nature of the underlying liver disease, presentation characteristics of the tumour, laboratory findings and choice of therapy. Every six months, a reminder was sent to determine survival. RESULTS: 131 patients (94 male/37 female) were reported. Mean age was 63 years +/- 13. Underlying liver disease was HCV (n = 54, 41%), HBV (n = 22, 17%), alcoholic liver disease (n = 39, 30%) and miscellaneous (n =16, 12%). Diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma was made by surveillance in 47 (36%) patients. After logistic regression, survival was 5 times better for patients inside the Milan criteria (one lesion less than 5 cm in diameter or less than 3 nodules each less than 3 cm in the absence of vascular invasion and metastasis). DISCUSSION: Tumours inside the Milan criteria have a better survival. The majority of the patients have an underlying cirrhosis as background for the development of a HCC.

Age Distribution↗