Comparing the Effectiveness of Carvedilol and Propranolol to Prevent Reoccurrence of Esophageal Variceal Bleeding in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of carvedilol and propranolol to prevent reoccurrence of esophageal variceal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis. Study Design: Place and Duration: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, Pakistan for six months duration from 15th November 2020 to 15th May 2021. Methods: Total one hundred and forty patients of ages between 18-65 years were presented in this study. Patients detailed demographics age, sex, body mass index and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) class were recorded after taking written informed consent. Patients were equally (n=70) divided into two groups. Group A had 70 patients and received carvedilol while group B had 70 patients and received propranolol for 6 months. Reoccurrence ofesophageal variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients among both groups were observed at 2nd, 4th and 6th months and patients pulse rate, arterial pressure and portal vein flow were recorded at these time points. Complete data was analyzed by SPSS 26.0 version. Results: Mean age of the patients in group A was 40.38 ± 5.87 years with mean BMI 28.09 ± 7.33 kg/m2 and in group B mean age was 39.43 ± 12.69 years with mean BMI 27.53 ± 8.84 kg/m2. In group A 45 (64.3%) patients were males and 25 (35.7%) were female patients while in group B 50 (71.43%) were male patients and 20 (28.7%) patients were females. We found that there was no statistically significant difference observed among both groups regarding these demographic variables. Reoccurrence of bleeding observed in group A was significantly lower (among 20 (28.6%) cases) as compared to group B (among 36 (51.43%) cases). Pulse rate, mean arterial pressure and portal vein flow was found lower in the carvedilol group as compared to propanol group with p value < 0.05 upon follow up at2,4 and 6 months. Conclusion: We found in this study that the drug carvedilol was more effective and safe to prevent reoccurrence of esophageal variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients as compared to propanol. Keywords: Cirrhotic patients, Carvedilol, Propanol, Portal vein flow, Mean arterial pressure

Metastases can occur in cirrhotic livers with patent portal veins

Objectives Metastases are common in non-cirrhotic livers but are considered unlikely in the setting of cirrhosis. However, the degree of fibrosis in cirrhosis may vary; thus metastases may still access the liver vasculature and present as a mass in cirrhotic livers. This possibility may affect pathologists’ diagnostic algorithms when faced with a liver mass biopsy. Methods We hypothesized that metastases can occur in cirrhotic livers if fibrous remodeling is not severe or abnormal veno-arterial shunting exists to override an obstructed portal system. We searched departmental archives for cirrhotic livers with masses, categorizing fibrosis by Laennec staging: 4A = mild cirrhosis, 4B = moderate, 4 C = severe. Results Of 1453 cirrhotic livers with masses, 1429 were primary tumors and 24 were metastases (1.7 %). Of livers with metastases, most had 4A or 4B cirrhosis by Laennec staging (n = 17; 71 %). Eleven patients were evaluated by ultrasound Doppler; 2 of 5 with Laennec 4 C had reversal of portal vein flow, but all 4A & 4B patients had patent portal veins without reversed flow. Echocardiograms (13 patients) showed no ventricular or atrial septal defects or arteriovenous shunts. Conclusions Metastases are uncommon in cirrhotic livers, accounting for 1.7 % of masses. Most involved livers had mild or moderate cirrhosis (Laennec 4A/4B) and patent portal veins; however, as some Laennec 4 C cases also contained metastases, obstructed portal access may not be enough to deter metastatic access.

Dynamic Changes in Portal Vein Flow during Decongestion in Patients with Heart Failure and Cardio-Renal Syndrome: A POCUS Case Series

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Optimal method for noninvasive assessment of venous congestion remains an unresolved issue. Portal vein (PV) and intrarenal venous flow alterations are markers of abdominal venous congestion and have been associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) in cardiac surgery patients. It is currently unknown if portal vein flow (PVF) alterations in heart failure can be reversed with diuretic treatment and track decongestion. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> The aim of this study is to evaluate PVF alterations in patients with ADHF at arrival and after decongestive treatment. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Assessment of venous congestion using point-of-care ultrasound was performed in 12 patients with ADHF (6 patients with left-sided heart failure and 6 patients with right-sided heart failure). Evaluation included inferior vena cava (IVC) size and collapsibility in addition to PV Doppler to determine pulsatility fraction (PF). <b><i>Results:</i></b> Increased PV PF (81.75 ± 13%) was found on admission. After effective decongestive treatment, it improved to (17.43 ± 2.2%). Improvement in IVC size and collapsibility was seen in most patients with left-sided heart failure and none of the patients with right-sided heart failure. Improvement in PV PF coincided with return to baseline of Serum Cr in patients that presented with AKI. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Evaluation of abdominal venous congestion by point-of-care ultrasound could aid in diagnosis and follow-up of patients with congestive kidney injury.

Hepatic venoocclusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome with normal portal vein flow mimicking aggravated chronic hepatic GVHD following inotuzumab ozogamicin salvage therapy: a case report of pathologic-radiologic discrepancy

Inotuzumab ozogamicin (INO) showed improved treatment outcomes for relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) but can induce hepatotoxic adverse events. Hepatic venoocclusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (VOD/SOS) frequently develops after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT), and INO is a strong pretransplant risk factor. However, VOD/SOS can occur just after INO therapy. Here, we describe a BCP-ALL patient treated with INO for isolated extramedullary relapse after allo-HCT. The patient experienced elevated liver enzymes with ascites at 21 days from the last INO dose. Although she met the criteria for VOD/SOS, the diagnosis was challenging because of her ongoing hepatic graft- versus-host disease (GVHD) and normal portal vein flow on Doppler sonogram. The radiologist suggested liver cirrhosis based on computed tomography, with VOD/SOS, liver cirrhosis, and GVHD assumed to be differential diagnoses. She received supportive care with GVHD management; however, due to progressive hepatic failure, we conducted emergent deceased-donor liver transplantation, and the pathologic findings indicated VOD/SOS. Her leukemia was stable, but she died of sepsis after 3 months. INO use is a high-risk factor for VOD/SOS, but an accurate diagnosis can be challenging due to various hepatic complications. Early diagnosis and proper management for VOD/SOS is important for improved outcomes.

Pediatric acute appendicitis: Searching the diagnosis in portal vein

Introduction Acute appendicitis is the most common reason for emergency abdominal surgery in the pediatric population. Ultrasound (US) is a widely used modality to diagnose acute appendicitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of portal vein diameter and flow velocity in acute appendicitis diagnosis. Methods Portal vein diameter and flow velocity were measured in children who were referred to radiology with a clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis. The largest appendix diameter and leukocyte count of the patients were recorded. A control group was created which consisted of healthy children, and their portal vein diameter and flow velocities were also measured. Results The median age of the population was 10 years (range, 3–17 years). Mean portal vein diameter was 7.53 ± 1.55 mm in the control group, 7.92 ± 1.88 mm in the other diagnosis group, and 8.76 ± 1.91 mm in the acute appendicitis group. Mean portal vein diameter was significantly higher in the acute appendicitis group (p = 0.001). Median portal vein flow velocity was 17 cm/s (10–29 cm/s) in the control group, 18.3 cm/s (8–27 cm/s) in the other diagnosis group, and 20.5 cm/s in the acute appendicitis group. Median portal vein flow velocity was significantly higher in the acute appendicitis group (p = 0.00). Conclusion Detecting an increase in portal vein diameter and/or flow velocity in equivocal cases may support other clinical signs associated with acute appendicitis. Portal vein diameter and flow velocity can serve as additional diagnostic markers in acute appendicitis cases.

RAF1 expression is correlated with HAF, a parameter of liver computed tomographic perfusion, and may predict the early therapeutic response to sorafenib in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients

ObjectivesMonitoring the early treatment effect of sorafenib in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients is a diagnostic challenge. In a previous study, we reported the potential role of liver computed tomography perfusion (CTP) in the assessment of the response to sorafenib therapy in HCC. The present study aims to investigate whether sorafenib-targeted genes is correlated with CTP parameter, and investigate the potential of sorafenib-targeted genes in early prediction of therapeutic response to sorafenib in advanced HCC.MethodsA total of 21 HCC patients were enrolled. Sorafenib was administered orally at a dose of 400 mg twice daily continuously. Treatment response was assessed using modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST) criteria. CTP scanning was performed before and after two weeks of sorafenib treatment using a 320-detector row CT scanner. The perfusion parameters of portal vein flow (PVF), hepatic artery flow (HAF), and perfusion index (PI) were acquired by CTP. The expression levels of several sorafenib-targeted genes were assayed using real-time quantitative PCR and western blot analysis. Logistic regression was performed to analyze the relationship between HAF values and RAF1 expression levels.ResultsAccording to mRECIST, the disease control rate (CR+PR+SD) of treatment group was 70.5% after two months of treatment. Compared to background controls, tumor tissues exhibited higher HAF. A sorafenib-targeted gene, RAF1 expression, was increased in tumor tissues especially in the sorafenib-resistant group. The sorafenib-resistant group exhibited a significantly higher RAF1 expression and HAF than the sensitive group. Moreover, the RAF1 expression is positively correlated with the HAF value.ConclusionRAF1 expression might predict therapeutic effects of sorafenib in advanced HCC, where RAF1 could potentially serve as a molecular marker for monitoring early therapeutic effects after sorafenib treatment.