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Biomedical subjects

R K Dhiman

Publications and source records attributed to R K Dhiman.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Prevalence of hepatopulmonary syndrome in cirrhosis and extrahepatic portal venous obstruction.

OBJECTIVE: Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is characterized by arterial hypoxemia in patients with chronic liver disease caused by abnormal intrapulmonary vasodilations. Data on its frequency vary from 5% to 29%. Most of these studies are from the West and in patients with cirrhosis. We, therefore, studied the prevalence of HPS in patients with liver cirrhosis and extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO). METHODS: We studied 54 consecutive patients with liver cirrhosis (42 men and 12 women; mean age = 44.2 +/- 13 yr; Child grade A: 13, B: 22, and C: 19) and 50 patients with EHPVO (31 men and 19 women; mean age = 23.3 +/- 7.8 yr) Diagnosis of cirrhosis was made by history, liver function abnormalities, endoscopy, and sonography, whereas EHPVO was diagnosed by demonstration of a block in the splenoportovenous axis on sonography. Each of the patients underwent chest x-ray, arterial blood gas analysis, contrast-enhanced echocardiography (CEE), and pulmonary function tests. HPS was diagnosed in a patient with positive CEE, in the presence of hypoxia (PaO2 < 70 mm Hg) and/or elevated alveolar arterial oxygen gradient of > 20 mm Hg in the absence of any underlying cardiopulmonary disease. RESULTS: Ten of 54 patients (18.5%) with cirrhosis were positive on CEE compared with two of 50 patients (4%) with EHPVO. Six of the 10 patients positive with cirrhosis for CEE had associated hypoxia, whereas only one EHPVO patient with positive CEE had an elevated pulmonary alveolar arterial oxygen gradient of > 20 mm Hg. Thus, the incidence of HPS was 11.1% in patients with cirrhosis, compared with 2% in patients with EHPVO. One patient with HPS and cirrhosis had clinical cyanosis. CONCLUSION: HPS occurs more commonly in patients with cirrhosis but can also be seen in patients with EHPVO.

Adolescent↗

Immunogenicity of plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine in preterm infants.

The objective was to determine whether plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine is immunogenic in preterm appropriate for gestation babies when administered at birth and to compare the immunogenicity between 5 micrograms and 10 micrograms doses of the vaccine in these babies. Fifty preterm neonates (31-36 weeks gestation) were randomized to receive 5 micrograms or 10 micrograms doses of plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine at birth, with subsequent doses 1 and 6 months later. Serum specimens were obtained a month after each dose of the vaccine and were tested for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs). Thirty six babies (gestation 31-36 weeks), 18 from each group competed the study. While 89.2% of the babies seroconverted, 82.1% achieved seroprotective titres of anti-HBS (> 10 mIU/ml). There was no difference between weight, gestational age, age of administration of vaccine and age of estimation of anti-HBs between 5 micrograms and 10 micrograms groups. The difference in the seroprotective rates were not statistically different between the groups (5 micrograms 78.5%; 10 micrograms--85.7%). Although immune response to plasma derived hepatitis B vaccine in preterm babies is suboptimal when the first dose is administered at birth, the full course achieves adequate seroprotective levels.

Female↗

Clinical significance of patent paraumbilical vein in patients with liver cirrhosis.

A patent paraumbilical vein (PUV) is a frequent finding in patients with cirrhosis when studied by duplex Doppler ultrasound. There is controversy regarding the clinical significance of this finding. We studied 50 patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension as evidenced by the demonstration of esophageal varices on endoscopy. All 50 patients were evaluated for a significant PUV (diameter of > or =3 mm) using duplex Doppler sonography. The patients were divided into two groups based on the size of esophageal varices (group A with small varices, N = 30; group B with large varices, N = 20). A significant PUV was seen in 21 (42%) patients. The patients with portosystemic encephalopathy had a significantly greater prevalence of PUV (70%) than those without (32%, P < 0.02). Of the group with large esophageal varices, 6 (30%) had a significant PUV, while in the group with small varices, 15 (50%) had a significant PUV (P > 0.05). In no patient with large varices did the PUV diameter exceed 6 mm, while in as many as six patients with small varices, the PUV diameter exceeded 6 mm. A significantly enlarged PUV seen on duplex Doppler ultrasound in cirrhotics may have important hemodynamic consequences. Besides predisposing the patient to portosystemic encephalopathy, it may also offer some protection against formation of large varices. In particular, a very large patent PUV (> or =6 mm) might identify a subgroup of patients with small varices and thus a lesser likelihood of variceal bleeding.

Adolescent↗

Efficacy of lactulose in cirrhotic patients with subclinical hepatic encephalopathy.

To investigate the role of lactulose in the treatment of cirrhotic patients with subclinical hepatic encephalopathy (SHE), 40 cirrhotic patients, 33 males and 7 females, were included in the study. The diagnosis of SHE was made by quantitative psychometric tests including the number connection test (NCT), figure connection test (FCT) parts A and B, and two performance subtests of Wechsler adult intelligence scale, ie, picture completion (PC) and block design (BD) tests. SHE was diagnosed in 26 (65%) of 40 patients. Of these 26 patients, 14 patients were randomized to treatment group (lactulose 30-60 ml/day for three months, SHE-L) and 12 patients to no treatment group (no lactulose, SHE-NL). Psychometric tests were repeated in all patients in both groups and in six patients with no SHE (group NSHE, N = 14) after three months. The mean scores and number of the abnormal psychometric tests at entry were significantly higher in patients in groups SHE-L and SHE-NL than in patients in group NSHE; however, there was no significant difference between SHE-L and SHE-NL. The mean number of the abnormal psychometric tests decreased in patients in group SHE-L after three months of treatment with lactulose (2.9 +/- 0.9 vs 0.8 +/- 1.2; P = 0.004); however, there was no change in patients in group SHE-NL after three months (3.7 +/- 1.5 vs 3.5 +/- 1.3; P = NS). While SHE improved in 8 of 10 patients in group SHE-L, none of the patients in group SHE-NL improved after three months of follow-up (P < 0.001). Two patients in group SHE-NL also developed overt encephalopathy during the study period. We conclude that lactulose treatment in cirrhotic patients with SHE is effective.

Adult↗

CYP2C19 genetic mutations in North Indians.

OBJECTIVES: To identify defective alleles of CYP2C19 (CYP2C19*2 and *3) in North Indians. METHODS: One hundred extensive metabolizers and 21 poor metabolizers of omeprazole were genotyped with respect to CYP2C19*2 and *3 alleles with polymerase chain reaction-based diagnostic tests. RESULTS: Fifty-two extensive metabolizers and six poor metabolizers were homozygous with the CYP2C19*1/*1 genotype, and 48 extensive metabolizers and six poor metabolizers were heterozygous with the CYP2C19*1/*2 genotype. Nine poor metabolizers were homozygous with the CYP2C19*2/*2 genotype. No extensive or poor metabolizers demonstrated the presence of the CYP2C19*3 allele. CYP2C19*2 could explain 43% (9/21) of the poor metabolizers and 57% (24/42) of the defective alleles in poor metabolizers. Allele frequency of CYP2C19*1 and *2 was 0.7 (95% confidence interval of 0.65 to 0.75) and 0.3 (95% confidence interval of 0.25 to 0.35), respectively. Homozygous extensive metabolizers excreted 7.85 +/- 7.6 micromol 5-hydroxyomeprazole in 8 hours, which was 28% more as compared with heterozygous extensive metabolizers who excreted 5.6 +/- 3.6 micromol 5-hydroxyomeprazole in 8 hours (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: CYP2C19*2 demonstrated allele frequency of 0.3, whereas CYP2C19*3 was absent in North Indians. Because CYP2C19*2 is not able to explain 57% of poor metabolizers, other mutations (CYP2C19*4 to *8) might be present in North Indians. CYP2C19 demonstrated differential evolution in North Indians because the frequency of CYP2C19*2 was similar to that in Oriental subjects, but that of CYP2C19*3 was similar to that in white subjects.

Alleles↗

Ascites and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in fulminant hepatic failure.

OBJECTIVE: Although presence of ascites has been reported in patients with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) has not been studied in a large group of such patients. Hence, the present study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and prognostic significance of ascites and SBP in FHF patients. METHODS: Two hundred ninety-eight consecutive patients (mean age 32.9+/-14.8 yr) with FHF were studied. There were 133 (44.6%) men and 165 (55.4%) women. Acute viral hepatitis accounted for 91.6% of the patients and were analyzed in the present study. RESULTS: Ascites was clinically detected in 79 (28.9%) patients. The patients with ascites were older (p = 0.005), had longer jaundice-encephalopathy interval (p<0.0000001), lesser grade of encephalopathy on admission (p = 0.0000043), and a lower incidence of raised intracranial pressure on admission (p = 0.0007). Patients with ascites had significantly lower serum albumin (p = 0.021), ALT (p = 0.0005), AST (p = 0.00017), and PT (p = 0.002) on admission than in patients without ascites. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that jaundice-encephalopathy interval (> or =14 days) and serum albumin (< or =2.5 g/dl) were the only independent predictors of ascites. SBP was detected in 14 (17.7%) patients (neutrocytic culture positive, 4; neutrocytic culture negative, 9; and monomicrobial bacterascites, 1). Escherichia coli was identified in three patients. Survival was no different between patients with and those without ascites and also between patients with and those without SBP. CONCLUSIONS: Ascites is a frequent accompaniment of FHF and is complicated by SBP. Jaundice-encephalopathy interval of 14 days or more and serum albumin (< or =2.5 g/dl) on admission predicts the development of ascites in these patients.

Adolescent↗

Endosonographic, endoscopic, and histologic evaluation of alterations in the rectal venous system in patients with portal hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal varices and congestive rectopathy or colopathy have been erratically reported in patients with portal hypertension. The clinical importance of these entities has not been described. We assessed the changes in the venous system of the rectum by endoscopy and rectal endosonography (EUS). We also assessed the role of factors such as etiology of portal hypertension, grade of esophageal varices, sclerotherapy, and liver disease severity on the occurrence of these vascular changes. METHODS: We studied changes in the venous system of the rectum using endoscopy and EUS in 60 patients with portal hypertension (cirrhotic 41, noncirrhotic 19). Ten patients with irritable bowel syndrome and 6 patients with hemorrhoids served as controls. Rectal varices were classified as tortuous, nodular, and tumorous. Corresponding appearances on rectal EUS were classified as single or discrete multiple, multiple, and innumerable submucosal veins, respectively. Evidence of congestive rectopathy was also recorded. RESULTS: Prevalence of rectal varices was 43.3% on endoscopy (73% tortuous, 19% nodular, and 8% tumorous) and 75% on EUS (p < 0.0005). The latter showed corresponding appearances of submucosal veins in 25 of 26 patients and detected submucosal veins not identified at endoscopy in 19 other patients. Congestive rectopathy was found in 38.3% of patients. Multiple small dilated vessels in the submucosa were seen in 23.3% patients on rectal EUS. The development of these vascular changes was significantly influenced by sclerotherapy, but not by higher grade of esophageal varices, the etiology of portal hypertension, or severity of liver disease. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in the rectal venous system are common, with rectal EUS being superior to endoscopy in detecting early, as well as florid, changes.

Adolescent↗

Biliary changes in extrahepatic portal venous obstruction: compression by collaterals or ischemic?

BACKGROUND: The postulated mechanisms of biliary abnormalities in extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) are either extrinsic compression by collaterals or ischemic injury due to venous thrombosis. If the former hypothesis is correct, then biliary changes should revert to normal after portasystemic shunt surgery. METHODS: Five patients with EHPVO who underwent portasystemic shunt surgery were studied. One of these patients had obstructive jaundice due to portal cavernoma. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) was performed before as well as after the shunt surgery. Doppler ultrasound and splenoportovenography were obtained to confirm the diagnosis of EHPVO as well as shunt patency. RESULTS: All patients had biliary abnormalities on pre-shunt ERC. The post-shunt ERC showed partial reversal of biliary abnormalities in 3 patients, complete reversal in 1 patient, and no reversal in 1 patient. Smooth strictures opened after shunt surgery and proximal dilatation disappeared in most patients. The indentations and caliber irregularities disappeared after shunt surgery, whereas angulations and ectasias of biliary ducts persisted. CONCLUSION: Shunt surgery results in regression of some of the biliary abnormalities and relieves biliary obstruction, suggesting that mechanical compression by collaterals is the mechanism behind biliary abnormalities in EHPVO. However, some biliary changes persist after shunt surgery signifying fixed obstruction due to ischemia or fibrous scarring. Thus, the two theories are not mutually exclusive.

Adolescent↗

Duplex Doppler sonography in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Angiography has been the mainstay for diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome even though other modalities are increasingly being used. We have evaluated our findings of duplex Doppler sonography (DDS) in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome. METHODS: Duplex Doppler sonography was performed in 37 consecutive angiographically proven patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome. RESULTS: Real time ultrasonography showed abnormalities of right, middle and left hepatic veins (HV) in 21, 15 and 18 patients, respectively. Duplex Doppler sonography showed abnormal flow patterns in 37, 22 and 31 patients in the right, middle and left HV, respectively, thereby increasing the diagnostic yield by 40%. An abnormal waveform in one or more HV was present in all 37 patients. Uniphasic flow was the commonest abnormality and was seen in 22, nine and 14 patients, respectively, in the right, middle and left HV, while there was no flow in five, four and seven patients in the right, middle and left HV, respectively. Intrahepatic collaterals were seen in 35 of 37 patients (94.6%). Hepatopetal flow was found in the portal vein of 21 of 23 patients (91.3%), while flow was hepatofugal in one and portal vein thrombosis was found in another. CONCLUSION: Duplex Doppler sonography is a useful procedure which helps in the diagnosis of patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Adolescent↗

Pregnancy and cirrhosis of the liver.

Pregnancy in patients with cirrhosis of the liver is uncommon. We reviewed 9 pregnancies in 7 patients with cirrhosis. One patient conceived within 1 month of diagnosis and in another the disease was diagnosed during the index pregnancy. Four patients has associated portal hypertension and 1 of them conceived after lienorenal shunt. Complications associated with these pregnancies were jaundice (1) jaundice plus ascites (2) and gastrointestinal bleeding (1). In 2 patients endoscopic sclerotherapy was done during the index pregnancy. The incidence of preterm delivery was 50% (4 of 8) and the majority (75%) occurred in pregnancies where associated complications were present. There was 1 maternal death in the postpartum period due to fulminant hepatic failure.

Adult↗

CT of liver cysts in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to illustrate the CT appearances of liver cysts in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Contrast-enhanced CT images of 24 patients with ADPKD were retrospectively evaluated for the presence, number, size and distribution of liver cysts. An attempt was made to categorize these cysts into peribiliary cysts (located adjacent to larger portal triads or in the hepatic hilum) and intrahepatic cysts (within the liver parenchyma but not in contact with larger portal triads). When it was not possible to definitely categorize the cysts into either type, the cysts were labeled as indeterminate. RESULTS: Liver cysts were seen in 13 (54%) patients. Intrahepatic cysts were seen in 12 patients, and were mainly peripheral in location with sizes ranging from less than 10 mm to 8 cm. Peribiliary cysts were seen in all 13 patients and were usually less than 10 mm in size. These cysts were seen as discrete cysts (8 patients), a string of cysts (10 patients), or as a tubular structure paralleling the portal vessels, mimicking biliary dilatation (11 patients). Twelve patients also showed indeterminate cysts which defied definite categorization into either type; two common causes of confusion included large (more than 10 mm) discrete cysts in the hilar region and the presence of a vessel adjacent to peripheral cysts. CONCLUSION: Liver cysts in patients with ADPKD show a wide variety of appearances on CT. Familiarity with these findings is essential to avoid confusion with other abnormalities.

Adult↗

Genetic polymorphism of the hepatic cytochrome P450 2C19 in north Indian subjects.

One hundred unrelated healthy North Indian subjects were phenotyped with respect to their ability to metabolize omeprazole to 5-hydroxyomeprazole. Each volunteer was requested to ingest 20 mg (57.9 mumol) omeprazole. Urine was collected for a period of 8 hours and the amount of 5-hydroxyomeprazole excreted was estimated by HPLC. Histogram, probit, and normal test variable plots showed the antimode value for the log hydroxylation index of omeprazole to be 1.7. Of 100 North Indian subjects, 11 demonstrated log hydroxylation index values more than 1.7. Thus it is inferred that the frequency of occurrence of poor metabolizers of omeprazole in North Indian subjects is 11% (95% confidence interval, 5% to 17%). From the Hardy-Weinberg Law it was computed that the frequency of occurrence of the mutant allele of hepatic CYP2C19 in the North Indian subjects was 0.33.

Adult↗

Bile lithogenicity and gallbladder emptying in patients with microlithiasis: effect of bile acid therapy.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Biliary cholesterol supersaturation, rapid nucleation of cholesterol, and altered gallbladder motility are prerequisite for gallstone formation. However, the pathogenesis of microlithiasis is not clear. The aim of this study was to determine the abnormalities of gallbladder emptying and bile composition in patients with microlithiasis. METHODS: Nucleation time, cholesterol saturation index (CSI), and gallbladder emptying were studied in patients with microlithiasis (n = 10), patients with gallstones (n = 10), and healthy volunteers (n = 10). Bile analysis was repeated in 6 patients with microlithiasis treated with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) for 8 weeks. RESULTS: Nucleation time was shorter in patients with microlithiasis and those with gallstones than in healthy volunteers (P < 0.0001). Patients with microlithiasis had longer nucleation time than those with gallstones (P < 0.001). There was no difference in cholesterol levels and CSI in gallstone and microlithiasis patients. However, healthy volunteers had lower cholesterol levels (P < 0.01) and CSI (P < 0.01). Patients with microlithiasis had prolongation of nucleation time (P < 0.001) and lowering of CSI (P < 0.001) after UDCA therapy. Gallbladder ejection fraction was higher in microlithiasis patients than in gallstone patients (P < 0.01) but lower than in healthy volunteers (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with microlithiasis have longer nucleation time and better gallbladder emptying than patients with gallstones. Bile abnormalities can be successfully corrected with UDCA therapy in patients with microlithiasis.

Adult↗

Portal hemodynamics by duplex Doppler sonography in different grades of cirrhosis.

Not much is known about the relationship between portal hemodynamics and the grades of cirrhosis. Using pulsed Doppler ultrasonography, we studied portal vein diameter, portal flow velocity, and portal blood flow rate in 37 patients with liver cirrhosis (11 Child's A, 13 Child's B, and 13 Child's C) and 10 healthy controls. There was no difference in the maximum inner diameter of the portal vein in cirrhotics and controls. However, there was a significant decrease in the portal flow velocity in patients with Child's C cirrhosis, as compared to controls and patients with Child's A and Child's B cirrhosis. The portal blood flow rate in Child's B and Child's C cirrhosis was also significantly less as compared to controls and patients with Child's A cirrhosis. Patients with ascites and encephalopathy had significantly lower portal flow velocities and blood flow rate as compared to those without ascites and encephalopathy, respectively. This study indicates that portal flow significantly decreased in cirrhotic patients with worsening Child's grade of cirrhosis.

Adult↗