0000000000644361
AUTHOR
Bonfissuto G
Ultrasound detection of abdominal lymph nodes in chronic liver diseases. A retrospective analysis
Aim: To retrospectively evaluate the prevalence of lymph nodes of the hepato-duodenal ligament in a group of patients with chronic liver disease of various aetiologies and to investigate what clinical, aetiological and laboratory data may lead to their appearance. Materials and methods: One thousand and three patients (554 men, 449 women) were studied, including 557 with chronic hepatitis and 446 with liver cirrhosis. The presence of lymph nodes near the trunk of the portal vein, hepatic artery, celiac axis, superior mesenteric vein and pancreas head was investigated using ultrasound. Results: Lymph nodes were detected in 394 out of the 1003 study patients (39.3%); their number ranged from …
Acetylcysteine therapy for chronic hepatitis C: are its effects synergistic with interferon alpha? A pilot study.
This trial reports the 6-month results of a pilot study using lymphoblastoid interferon alpha (IFNalpha) and acetylcysteine (N-acetylcysteine) separately and in combination in patients with chronic hepatitis C, genotype 1b, who were nonresponders to previous treatment with recombinant IFNalpha alone.21 patients were randomly divided into three groups of seven each. Group A was treated with lymphoblastoid IFNalpha 6MU three times a week for 6 months; group B received the same schedule of lymphoblastoid IFNalpha as group A plus acetylcysteine 1200 mg/day per os in two administrations, and group C received only acetylcysteine 1200 mg/day per os in two administrations.Mean serum alanine aminotr…
Ultrasound detection of abdominal lymphadenomegaly in subjects with hepatitis C virus infection and persistently normal transaminases: a predictive index of liver histology severity.
The indications for liver biopsy in anti-HCV-positive patients with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels are not clearly established. Recent studies have correlated the presence of abdominal lymphoadenomegaly with disease severity in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Our study aimed to evaluate the frequency of abdominal lymphoadenomegaly in an anti-HCV positive blood donor population with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase and the relationship of abdominal lymphoadenomegaly with the severity of liver changes.Eighty-six anti-HCV positive blood donors (58 M, 28 F) with normal alanine aminotransferase were followed up for a median of 31 months (range 12-50). To evalu…
Perihepatic lymph nodes and antiviral response in chronic HCV-associated hepatitis.
To identify predictive factors of response to interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) plus ribavirin therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), the presence of lymphadenopathy (LyA) of the hepatoduodenal ligament and other variables were investigated. A total of 110 patients with histologically proven CHC were enrolled in this study. Ultrasound (US) was performed at the start and end of therapy and 6 months after stopping therapy. At baseline, LyA was present in 35 (43.7%) of 80 patients with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values and grading was significantly higher than in the LyA-negative group. LyA was more frequent in nonresponders (nonR) than in relapsers (relR) or sustained responders (…
Evaluation by Ultrasound of Abdominal Lymphadenopathy in Chronic Hepatitis C
Objective: Abdominal ultrasound has shown a frequent association between abdominal lymphadenopathy (LA) and chronic liver disease, but contradictory data have been reported on its relationship with the main parameters of hepatic function. The aim of this study was to correlate the prevalence of LA in patients who were chronic hepatitis-anti-hepatitis C virus positive prospectively followed-up over the last 3 years and its relationship with biochemical and histological data. Methods: 136 RIBA II confirmed positive patients with ALT levels >2N were included. None of these had been or was at the time of study on interferon treatment. Ultrasound was performed using a Toshiba SSA 240 A apparatus…