1/7. Chronic viral hepatitis.Although less common in childhood, hepatitis b virus (HBV) and hepatitis c virus (HCV) remain the most common causes of chronic hepatitis in the united states and worldwide. Children with chronic HBV or HCV are often asymptomatic, with normal or mildly elevated serum transaminases. Although chronic HBV and HCV are indolent diseases in childhood, they cause significant morbidity and mortality later in life. Because the dreaded complications of chronic HBV and HCV--cirrhosis with liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma--can be seen in childhood, routine follow-up with a pediatric gastroenterologist or hepatologist is recommended. The most important role of the primary care physician and pediatric gastroenterologist or hepatologist is prevention of chronic viral hepatitis through education and screening programs.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/7. Fatal hepatic failure secondary to acute herpes simplex virus infection.Acute hepatitis with severe hepatic failure is an uncommon manifestation of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection. It has been described in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients and is usually fatal. Due to the better survival after acyclovir treatment in a few reported cases, physicians need to be aware of the characteristic clinical abnormalities so that early diagnosis and treatment can be implemented. The authors describe an adolescent diagnosed with hodgkin disease who developed fatal hepatic failure secondary to acute HSV. Typical signs and symptoms in patients at risk, when there is no other obvious cause of fulminant hepatitis, should lead to early empirical treatment with acyclovir.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/7. labetalol hepatotoxicity.The food and Drug Administration has received 11 reports of cases (three fatal) in the united states in which hepatocellular damage was associated with labetalol. The temporal circumstances strongly implicate labetalol; the conditions of nine patients improved after cessation of labetalol therapy, and one patient had a recurrence after therapy was restarted. Follow-up with each reporting physician failed to provide historic or laboratory evidence for other viral, toxic, or drug-induced causes of hepatocellular damage, and the case series did not show the demographic and historic risk factors that would be expected if non-A, non-B hepatitis were the cause. Reports of microscopic liver examinations were available in the 5 cases in which they were done. The reported histologic changes were consistent with hepatocellular necrosis in four instances and chronic active hepatitis in one. The clinical presentation of the cases was most compatible with the mechanism of metabolic idiosyncracy, but other pathogenetic explanations could not be entirely excluded.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/7. liver diseases in pregnancy.Mild abnormalities of liver function tests are frequently seen in pregnancy but return to normal after delivery. A raised serum alkaline phosphatase is common, along with a decline in the serum albumin, but the aminotransferases remain within normal limits. The physician must interpret abnormal liver function tests in pregnancy with these changes in mind, but most liver diseases in pregnancy result in more marked alterations. Viral hepatitis is the most common cause of jaundice in pregnancy, and the maternal prognosis is generally good. Perinatal transmission of hepatitis b virus is likely when the mother is positive for HBsAg. Concurrent administration of hepatitis B vaccine and HBIG to the infant has an efficacy of 90 per cent in preventing transmission to the infant. ICP is the second most common cause of jaundice in pregnancy. The condition is generally benign, although maternal and fetal mortality occasionally result, probably due to premature delivery and the bleeding tendency of cholestatic patients. Vitamin K administration may correct the coagulopathy, and cholestyramine is effective in controlling pruritus. AFLP is rare but carries a high mortality rate for both the mother and the fetus. early diagnosis, correction of the coagulopathy, and prompt delivery may improve the outcome significantly. patients with cirrhosis have reduced fertility, and in those who become pregnant, fetal loss is high. The effect of pregnancy or hepatocellular function is variable, but, when evidence of liver failure is present in the first trimester, termination should be considered. Variceal size and the risk of bleeding may be assessed by endoscopy. Pregnant cirrhotic patients with large esophageal varices and a history of bleeding can undergo shunt surgery. Conservative management may be appropriate for patients with small varices and no history of bleeding.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/7. Non-A, non-B hepatitis and chronic dialysis--another dilemma.To define the incidence of non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis and evaluate possible risk factors, we reviewed records of 163 patients on chronic dialysis during a 3-year period. 23 cases of NANB hepatitis occurred, 13 (27%) in 49 center dialysis, 8 (10%) in 77 home hemodialysis (p less than 0.02) and 2 (5%) in 37 peritoneal dialysis patients (p less than 0.01). Hepatitis patients received significantly more transfusions than controls. Numbers of transfusions and of patients transfused were not significantly different in center patients compared to home and peritoneal. 8 NANB patients received no transfusions. NANB was the most common cause of hepatitis in our unit (68%). Although transfusions were a likely etiologic factor, to explain the increased risk in center dialysis patients, disease in patients not transfused and development of NANB hepatitis without a known parenteral exposure in a physician assigned to the nephrology Service, we feel another etiologic factor was important, the dialysis center.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/7. suicide associated with alfa-interferon therapy for chronic viral hepatitis.We report on two attempted suicides and one successful suicide during or shortly after alfa-interferon therapy for chronic viral hepatitis. While on therapy, all three patients developed a psychiatric disorder leading to their suicidal behavior. In a survey of 15 European hospitals, three cases of attempted and two of successful suicide during alfa-interferon therapy for chronic viral hepatitis, were additionally reported. None of the patients had a psychiatric history. Alfa-interferon is known to lead to neuropsychiatric symptoms, and our observations strongly suggest that these mental disorders could lead to suicidal behavior. Therefore it is important that physicians, patients and their families are informed about the potential risk of the emotional and psychiatric disturbances that can occur during alfa-interferon therapy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/7. An adolescent girl with abnormal liver profile.A 17-year-old previously healthy high school student who lived in a dormitory was referred to our office by her private physician for evaluation of abnormal liver function tests. She was sexually active with one partner but denied any current or past substance abuse. The patient was not taking any medications or nutritional supplements. family history was unremarkable. physical examination revealed scleral icterus and minimal hepatomegaly. spleen was not palpable. The liver function tests are shown in table 1. Total leucocyte count was 6.3 x 10(9)/1 with 53% lymphocytes. The platelet count was normal. Anti-Hbc IgM antibody was negative, so were anti-HAV IgM and anti-HCV antibodies. HBsAg was negative and anti-HBs antibody was positive. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 16 mm in the first hour. An abdominal sonogram was done to evaluate a persistent elevation in alkaline phosphatase and it showed only hepatomegaly.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |