HBV相关肝硬化合并急性上消化道出血的危险因素分析

目的分析HBV相关肝硬化合并急性上消化道出血(AUGIB)的危险因素。方法以2011年1月-2011年12月于巩义市人民医院住院的58例HBV相关肝硬化合并AUGIB患者为研究组,另外随机抽取同期未发生上消化道出血的100例HBV相关肝硬化患者为对照组。收集其入院时的一般临床资料。计量资料组间比较采用t检验;计数资料组间比较采用χ~2检验。采用多因素Cox回归模型分析其影响AUGIB的危险因素;采用life tables法统计患者1、2、3年累积生存率并绘制生存曲线。结果 HBV相关肝硬化并发AUGIB患者的1、2、3年的累积生存率分别为72.2%、51.9%、35.2%,中位生存时间是24.7个月。单因素分析结果显示:出血史(χ~2=7.128,P=0.008)、病程(t=8.283,P0.001)、不良饮食习惯(χ~2=7.612,P=0.006)、Child-Pugh分级(χ~2=6.045,P=0.049)、食管静脉曲张程度(χ~2=46.241,P0.001)、胃底静脉曲张(χ~2=14.211,P0.001)及门静脉高压(χ~2=6.846,P=0.009)在2组间比较,差异均有统计学意义。多因素Cox回归分析显示,病程[(风险比)RR=0.745,95%CI(95%可信区间):0.824~0.967,P=0.026]、不良饮食习惯(RR=1.426,95%CI:1.033~2.582,P=0.032)、Child-Pugh分级(RR=2.032,95%CI:1.05~2.34,P=0.036)、食管静脉曲张程度(RR=0.796,95%CI:1.23~3.37,P=0.015)、胃底静脉曲张(RR=0.825,95%CI:2.46~3.92,P=0.043)、门静脉高压(RR=0.983,95%CI:1.26~3.75,P=0.007)为AUGIB发生的独立危险因素。结论病程、不良饮食习惯、Child-Pugh分级、食管静脉曲张程度、胃底静脉曲张以及门静脉高压是影响HBV相关肝硬化并发AUGIB的独立危险因素,临床医生应加以重视,以期改善患者的预后。     

肝硬化消化道出血院内感染的危险因素及其临床意义

目的探讨肝硬化消化道出血患者院内感染的危险因素及其临床意义。方法收集重庆医科大学附属第二医院2009年10月-2014年1月肝硬化并发消化道出血患者的临床资料,分析院内感染、再出血的高危因素,预防性使用抗生素对院内感染及再出血的影响。结果 (1)肝硬化消化道出血患者院内感染率20.9%,同期因肝硬化入院未并发消化道出血患者院内感染发生率5.5%(P0.01);(2)感染组与非感染组比较,两组患者在白细胞计数、Child-Pugh分级、出血方式、有无使用抗生素、院内再出血方面差异有统计学意义(P0.05);(3)再出血患者与无再出血患者相比,两组患者在年龄、白细胞计数、Child-Pugh分级、院内感染方面差异有统计学意义(P0.05);(4)预防性使用抗生素组与未预防性使用抗生素组院内感染率分别为11.3%、27.8%,差异有显著统计学意义(P0.01);再出血率分别为13.0%、12.0%,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);(5)预防性使用抗生素能够明显降低肝硬化呕血患者院内感染率,抗生素组与非抗生素组院内感染率分别为13.4%、37.0%,差异有统计学意义(P0.01);预防性使用抗生素对黑便患者院内感染率没有明显影响,抗生素组与非抗生素组院内感染率分别为12.1%、6.1%,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);(6)预防性使用抗生素对Child-Pugh A级肝硬化消化道出血患者院内感染发生率没有明显影响,抗生素组与非抗生素组院内感染率分别为7.9%、13.6%,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);预防性使用抗生素能够明显降低Child-Pugh B~C级肝硬化伴消化道出血患者院内感染率的发生,抗生素组与非抗生素组院内感染率分别为13.0%、38.0%,差异有统计学意义(P0.01);(7)多因素分析显示呕血、Child-Pugh分级高、白细胞计数高为院内感染危险因素。结论肝硬化消化道出血增加院内感染发生率,ChildPugh分级高、白细胞计数高、呕血为院内感染独立危险因素,高龄、Child-Pugh分级高是院内再出血的高危因素,Child-Pugh B~C级肝硬化呕血患者推荐入院时预防性使用抗生素。     

食管静脉曲张首次套扎术后早期再出血的危险因素分析

目的探讨首次食管静脉曲张套扎(EVL)对肝硬化患者肝功能的影响及术后早期再出血的危险因素。方法收集2013年12月-2016年12月于吉林大学中日联谊医院接受EVL治疗的125例肝硬化食管静脉曲张患者临床资料。所有患者按照不同肝功能Child-Pugh评分进行分级,观察EVL手术前与术后1周的肝功能情况,分析EVL术后早期再出血患者的特点。符合正态分布的计量资料2组间比较采用t检验,多组间比较采用单因素方差分析;非正态分布的计量资料比较采用Wilcoxon检验。计数资料组间比较采用χ~2检验。采用Cox回归风险模型分析术后出血的危险因素,Kaplan-Meier曲线分析各观察指标与术后出血的关系,log-rank检验其差异。结果不同Child-Pugh分级患者EVL治疗前后肝功能指标差异均无统计学意义(P值均0.05)。125例患者中11例发生早期再出血,早期再出血率为8.8%。Cox单因素分析结果显示,出血患者与未出血患者术前血红蛋白、PT、AST、TBil、Alb、有无门静脉血栓、腹水量及肝功能分级比较,差异均有统计学意义(P值均0.05);多因素Cox风险模型分析显示,Child-Pugh C级[风险比(HR)=6.363,95%可信区间(95%CI):1.629~26.580,P=0.021]、腹水量(HR_(少量)=6.581,95%CI:1.060~66.681,P=0.046;HR_(中/大量)=8.447,95%CI:1.763~11.641,P=0.022)、术前PT越长(HR=1.146,95%CI:1.039~1.264,P=0.006)及伴有门静脉血栓(HR=9.691,95%CI:1.185~19.281,P=0.034)均是导致EVL术后早期再出血的独立危险因素。将多因素Cox回归分析结果进行Kaplan-Meier曲线分析和log-rank检验,验证了Child-Pugh C级(χ~2=3.972,P=0.046)、腹水量阳性(χ~2=20.916,P0.001)、PT延长(χ~2=21.302,P0.001)及伴有门静脉血栓(χ~2=10.608,P=0.001)是EVL术后早期再出血的危险因素。结论 EVL不会在短期内对患者的肝功能造成损伤,较为安全有效。应在术前及时纠正患者的肝功能、减少腹水量、改善凝血功能,从而降低EVL早期再出血的发生率。     

肝硬化患者食管静脉曲张套扎术后早期再出血的危险因素分析

目的探讨肝硬化食管静脉曲张套扎(EVL)术后早期再出血的相关危险因素。方法回顾性分析2000年1月-2016年5月收入陕西省人民医院的肝硬化食管静脉曲张并接受EVL治疗的506例患者资料,根据是否有术后早期出血分成出血组(n=38)和无出血组(n=468)。收集可能导致术后再出血的影响因素。符合正态分布的计量资料组间比较采用t检验;计数资料组间比较采用χ~2检验;独立危险因素分析采用非条件多因素logistic回归分析。结果单因素分析结果显示,2组患者在性别(χ~2=5.675)、治疗前呕血次数(t=1.335)、治疗前呕血量(χ~2=1.983)、黑便次数(t=2.984)、静脉曲张条数(t=1.083)、血清PT(t=2.182)、PTA(t=2.584)、Alb(t=1.046)、TBil(t=2.463)、AST(t=3.473)、腹水严重程度(χ~2=8.484)、Child-Pugh评分(t=1.664)、Child-Pugh分级(χ~2=15.675)、套扎点数(t=1.134)、套扎次数(t=3.902)等方面比较差异均有统计学意义(P值均0.05)。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,男性[比值比(OR)=1.598,95可信区间(95%CI):1.038~2.929],Child-Pugh评分7.2(OR=2.306,95%CI:1.443~3.031),治疗前呕血:少量(OR=1.342,95%CI:1.014~2.627)、中量(OR=2.763,95%CI:1.356~4.122)、大量(OR=4.675,95%CI:2.321~6.929)等为EVL术后早期再出血的独立危险因素(P值均0.05);Alb31.5 g/L是EVL术后早期再出血的保护因素(OR=0.411,95%CI:0.288~0.641,P0.05)。结论 EVL术后应加强对男性患者的健康教育,早期纠正肝功能、凝血功能异常,改善患者Alb水平,防治腹水,提高扎套术实施技术水平,以降低EVL术后早期再出血的发生率。     

肝硬化患者并发上消化道出血和急性脑梗塞临床分析

目的探讨肝硬化并发上消化道出血和急性脑梗死的临床特点。方法比较肝硬化上消化道出血并发急性脑梗死与同期肝硬化消化道出血未合并脑梗塞患者的临床特点。结果消化道出血量（x2=24.238,P〈0.01）、脾切除手术（x2=37.10,P〈0.01）、Child-Pugh分级、腹水量（x2=29.002,P〈0.01）、动脉硬化因素和应用强力抗纤溶药物在梗塞组与非梗塞组之间差别明显。结论肝硬化患者在上消化道出血后,应尽早评估并发脑梗塞的危险因素,以预防急性脑梗塞的发生。     

伴门静脉栓子的食管胃静脉曲张破裂出血急诊胃镜下硬化术联合组织胶注射术止血失败的危险因素分析

目的探讨急诊胃镜下硬化术(EIS)序贯联合组织胶注射术(HI)在合并门静脉栓子(PVE)的肝硬化食管胃静脉曲张破裂出血(EGVB)治疗中失败的危险因素。方法选取2018年1月—2019年12月首都医科大学附属北京世纪坛医院和解放军总医院第五医学中心急诊胃镜治疗的合并PVE的EGVB患者共109例,按照急诊胃镜下止血疗效分为止血失败组(n=28)和止血成功组(n=81),比较两组间的一般资料、胃镜下静脉曲张及出血表现、血液生化指标、Child-Pugh分级及MELD评分,分析其止血失败的危险因素。计量资料两组间比较采用t检验或Mann-Whitney U秩和检验,计数资料两组间比较采用χ2检验,多因素分析采用logisitc回归分析。结果止血失败组外周血WBC、TBil、Child-Pugh分级、MELD评分均显著高于止血成功组(统计值分别为Z=3.794、Z=4.751、χ2=40.104、Z=6.412,P值均<0.001),而PTA、Alb、CHE均显著低于止血成功组(统计值分别为t=9.653、Z=3.093、Z=4.092,P值分别为<0.001、0.002、<0.001);其中WBC、PTA、TBil、Alb、Child-Pugh分级为其止血治疗失败的独立危险因素[OR(95%CI)分别为:28.543(1.285~634.113)、0.194(0.045~0.835)、2.197(1.004~4.810)、0.448(0.209~0.961)、5.164(1.307~20.406),P值均<0.05]。结论WBC、PTA、TBil、Alb、Child-Pugh分级为急诊EIS序贯联合HI治疗合并PVE的EGVB失败的独立危险因素,术前充分评估并纠正有助于提高止血成功率。     

基于倾向性评分匹配分析门静脉血栓对肝硬化患者预后的影响

目的分析门静脉血栓(PVT)对肝硬化患者短期预后的影响并探讨肝硬化患者预后的危险因素。方法回顾性分析西南医科大学附属医院2018年9月—2020年3月的肝硬化住院患者临床资料,其中合并PVT患者58例为PVT组,随机选取同期无PVT患者116例为非PVT组,通过1∶1倾向性评分匹配(PSM)均衡组间协变量获取PVT组及非PVT组各44例。满足正态性计量资料2组间比较采用t检验,非正态性计量资料2组间比较采用Mann-Whitney U秩和检验;计数资料2组间比较采用χ~2检验和Fisher确切概率法。利用Kaplan-Meier法及log-rank法分析PSM前后2组患者的生存情况及出血情况,并使用Cox风险模型分析PSM前后影响肝硬化患者预后的危险因素。结果 PSM前非PVT组患者总体生存率明显高于PVT组(P=0.008),而PSM后2组患者总体生存率无明显差异(P=0.076)。PSM前非PVT组上消化道出血或再出血率明显低于PVT组(P 0.001),PSM后结果与PSM前一致(P=0.028)。PSM前肝硬化患者预后多因素分析显示,PVT(HR=2.944, 95%CI:1.364～6.441,P=0.007)和MELD评分≥15(HR=3.531,95%CI:1.630～7.650,P=0.001)是肝硬化患者短期死亡的危险因素。PSM后肝硬化患者预后多因素分析显示,MELD评分≥15是肝硬化患者短期死亡的危险因素(HR=3.312, 95%CI:1.049～10.457,P=0.041)。结论肝硬化合并PVT增加上消化道出血或再出血风险,但其不是肝硬化患者短期死亡的独立危险因素,MELD评分≥15是肝硬化患者短期死亡的独立危险因素。     

老年肝癌伴肝硬化病人上消化道出血的高危因素分析

目的分析老年肝癌伴肝硬化病人上消化道出血的高危因素。方法回顾性分析2014～2018年我院收治的86例老年肝癌伴肝硬化病人的病例资料,按照是否出现上消化道出血将病人分为观察组和对照组,其中合并上消化道出血为观察组(n=40),无上消化道出血为对照组(n=46)。对2组病人临床资料进行比较,包括性别、年龄、BMI、家族史、吸烟史、饮酒史、病程、凝血酶原时间(prothrombin time,PT)、Hb、肝功能Child-Pugh分级、肝癌类型、伴门静脉癌栓、门静脉内径、腹水程度、食管胃底静脉曲张程度,并分析上消化道出血的高危因素。结果肝功能Child-Pugh分级、伴门静脉癌栓、腹水程度、食管胃底静脉曲张程度、PT、门静脉内径是上消化道出血的独立危险因素(P 0.05),Hb是上消化道出血的保护因素。结论老年肝癌伴肝硬化上消化道出血高危因素较多,PT、Hb、Child-Pugh分级、门静脉癌栓、腹水、食管胃底静脉曲张变化均与肝癌伴肝硬化病人上消化道出血有关。     

生长抑素联合泮托拉唑治疗肝硬化合并上消化道出血的效果观察

目的评价生长抑素联合泮托拉唑治疗肝硬化合并上消化道出血的疗效。方法选取2011年1月-2015年8月泰州市姜堰中医院收治的肝硬化合并上消化道出血患者70例,随机分为两组,联合组与对照组各35例。两组患者入院后均给予常规基础治疗,联合组加用生长抑素联合泮托拉唑治疗,对照组予以生长抑素治疗。观察治疗前后两组临床疗效、止血时间、输血量、48 h再出血率、住院时间及不良反应。计量资料组间比较采用t检验,计数资料组间比较采用χ2检验,等级资料组间比较采用Wilcoxon秩和检验。结果联合组的临床疗效明显优于对照组,联合组总有效率94.3%,对照组总有效率62.9%,两组临床疗效差异有统计学意义(χ2=10.27,P0.05),联合组显效率为60.0%,对照组显效率34.3%,两组显效率差异无统计学意义(χ2=2.80,P0.05);在止血时间、输血量、住院时间方面,联合组明显低于对照组,两组比较差异均有统计学意义(t值分别为9.036、6.419、4.186,P值均0.05);联合组48 h再出血率低于对照组,两组间差异无统计学意义(χ2=0.22,P0.05);不良反应发生率两组均较轻,差异无统计学意义(χ2=0.16,P0.05)。结论生长抑素联合泮托拉唑治疗肝硬化合并上消化道出血疗效优于单用生长抑素,止血时间短、输血量少、再出血率低、住院时间短且治疗期间无严重不良反应,是一种治疗肝硬化合并上消化道出血的有效方法。     

内镜下套扎术治疗肝硬化食管静脉曲张的疗效及术后再出血的危险因素分析

目的观察内镜下套扎术作为二级预防在肝硬化食管静脉曲张患者中应用的有效性,并研究套扎术后再出血的危险因素。方法回顾性分析2000年-2012年北京大学第一医院肝硬化合并食管静脉曲张破裂出血(EVB)的患者资料,选择行套扎治疗的患者作为套扎组,行内科保守治疗的患者作为对照组,对两组患者预后情况进行随访观察。在套扎组中,按照套扎术后是否发生再次出血分为再出血组和未再出血组,对其临床资料进行对比分析。计量资料组间比较采用独立样本t检验,必要时进行数据转换后的t检验,等级资料采用Mann-Whitney U检验;计数资料组间比较采用χ2检验。结果共有139例患者纳入分析,其中套扎组119例,对照组20例,随访时间为1~24个月。随访结束时,套扎组的再出血率、早期再出血率和病死率分别为41.2%、8.4%、7.6%,对照组分别为70.0%、20.0%、40.0%,两组差异具有统计学意义(P值均0.05)。在套扎组中,对再出血组和未再出血组患者的临床资料进行对比分析发现,肝性脑病病史、腹水、Child-Pugh分值、血小板水平等因素在两组间差异具有统计学意义(P值均0.05)。结论内镜套扎术作为二级预防能够有效改善肝硬化合并EVB患者的预后。肝功能的恶化可能预示着再出血风险增高,因此,在套扎治疗的同时,改善患者基础情况对于再出血的预防具有重要意义。     

The immunoneuroendocrine role of melatonin

Abstract: A tight, physiological link between the pineal gland and the immune system is emerging from a series of experimental studies. This link might reflect the evolutionary connection between self-recognition and reproduction. Pinealectomy or other experimental methods which inhibit melatonin synthesis and secretion induce a state of immunodepression which is counteracted by melatonin. In general, melatonin seems to have an immunoenhancing effect that is particularly apparent in immunodepressive states. The negative effect of acute stress or immunosuppressive pharmacological treatments on various immune parameters are counteracted by melatonin. It seems important to note that one of the main targets of melatonin is the thymus, i.e., the central organ of the immune system. The clinical use of melatonin as an immunotherapeutic agent seems promising in primary and secondary immunodeficiencies as well as in cancer immunotherapy. The immunoenhancing action of melatonin seems to be mediated by T-helper cell-derived opioid peptides as well as by lymphokines and, perhaps, by pituitary hormones. Melatonin-induced-immuno-opioids (MHO) and lymphokines imply the presence of specific binding sites or melatonin receptors on cells of the immune system. On the other hand, lymphokines such as -γ-interferon and interleukin-2 as well as thymic hormones can modulate the synthesis of melatonin in the pineal gland. The pineal gland might thus be viewed as the crux of a sophisticated immunoneuroendocrine network which functions as an unconscious, diffuse sensory organ.     

Changes in connexin43, the gap junction protein of astrocytes, during development of the rat pineal gland

Abstract: The abundance of gap junctions between rat pineal astrocytes formed by connexin43 (Cx43) was studied during development. Levels and distribution of Cx43 were measured by immunoblotting and indirect immunofluorescence, respectively. The amount of Cx43 in cells located within the gland was low until about the 7th postnatal day and increased to adult values between the 14th and 21st days postpartum. Although astrocytes, recognized by their vimentin immunoreactivity, were scarce before birth, they were abundant by the 7th postnatal day suggesting that the low levels of Cx43 found at this age corresponded to a low expression of this protein. Localization of the immunoreactivity to Cx43 and vimentin showed a close correlation, indicating that mature or immature pineal astrocytes form gap junctions made of Cx43. Since Cx43 levels attained their adult values at about the time the innervation and the functional state of the gland reached maturity (2–3 weeks after birth), it is proposed that astrocyte gap junctions are involved in the function of the adult rat pineal gland.     

Response of rat pineal melatonin to calcium, magnesium, and lithium is circadian stage dependent

Abstract: Herein we documented the response of pineal melatonin production to electrolytes known to be effective on pineal function in view of a possible circadian stage dependence. We studied the release of melatonin by perifused rat pineal glands at 2 different circadian stages corresponding to the middle of the light and dark periods, i.e., respectively, 7 and 19 HALO (Hours After Light Onset, L:D = 12:12). The initial efflux rates were, as expected, much higher in the perifusates of glands removed from rats sacrificed during the dark phase than of those removed during the light phase. After 3 hr of perifusion, melatonin release reached similar levels which were found constant up to the 8th hr of perifusion, whatever the circadian stage. Perifusion of the glands with physiological concentrations for the rat of calcium (5.2 mmol/1) and magnesium (1.34 mmol/1) resulted in a stimulatory effect on the pineal glands removed from rats sacrificed in the middle of the dark period (19 HALO), whereas no effects were observed on the pineal glands removed from rats sacrificed during the light (7 HALO). Lithium (0.28 and 0.55 mmol/1) was ineffective on melatonin release in pineal glands removed 7 and 19 HALO. Our results show differences in the initial efflux rates of melatonin and in the response of perifused pineal glands to calcium and magnesium according to the circadian stage.     

Conservative management of perforated duodenal diverticulum： A case report and review of the literature

Duodenal diverticula are a relatively common condition. They are asymptomatic, unless they become complicated, with perforation being the rarest but most severe complication. Surgical treatment is the most frequently performed approach. We report the case of a patient with a perforated duodenal diverticulum, which was diagnosed early and treated conservatively with antibiotics and percutaneous drainage of secondary retroperitoneal abscesses. We suggest this method could be an acceptable option for the management of similar cases, provided that the patient is in good general condition and without septic signs.     

Presence of immunoreactive growth hormone and prolactin in the ovine pineal gland

Abstract: The use of antisera raised against bovine growth hormone (GH) and ovine prolactin (PRL) enabled the detection of related immunoreactive (ir) sequences of proteins in ovine pineal tissue. The isolation of PRL-like ir-material was accomplished using a 0.25 M ammonium sulphate (pH 5.5) extraction followed by ethanol precipitation, whereas the resulting 2.0 M ammonium sulphate (pH 7.0) precipitate contained a GH-like immunoreactivity. Gel chromatography of the GH-like immunoreactivity (Sephadex G-100) indicated the presence of several GH-like fragments ranging in the M_r range of 7,000 to 55,000. Analyses of the PRL-like ir-material found in pineal tissue on HPLC using a TSK 545-DEAE column led to the resolution into a single peak of immunoreactivity. A single peak of activity was also observed following chromatofocusing and hydrophobic interaction chromatography of the ir-peak from the TSK 545-DEAE column. The PRL-like ir-material inhibited the binding of [¹²⁵I]ovine PRL-S14 to anti-ovine PRL antibodies without showing an affinity for binding to anti-rat PRL or anti-bovine GH antibodies. Scatchard analysis of the binding of pineal PRL-like ir-material and pituitary ovine PRL-S14 to liver membranes from day-20 pregnant rats revealed similar affinity constants (K_a of 4.7 ± 0.2 × 10⁹ M^-1). In addition, the replication of Nb 2 Node rat lymphoma cells was stimulated by pineal PRL-like ir-material, an effect known to be specific for lactogenic hormones. The pineal PRL-like immunoreactivity appeared on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels as a single major band of M_r 24,000. The functional status of PRL-and GH-like ir-material in the ovine pineal remains to be determined, but evidence is presented that the overall protein synthesis rate of the rat pineal responded to circulating concentrations of PRL.     

Microbiology of human immunodeficiency virus anorectal disease

PURPOSE: Individuals who are seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus are at high risk for opportunistic infection and anorectal disorders. Little prospective information is available regarding anorectal pathogens in these patients. METHODS: One hundred sixty-three HIV-seropositive patients presented to the colorectal clinic between 1989 and 1992. Forty-seven (29 percent) patients were thought to have an infectious process and were prospectively studied using a standardized multiculture protocol. RESULTS: Mean age was 33 (range, 19–59) years. All were male; high-risk behavior accounted for 87 percent of HIV transmissions. Presenting complaints included anorectal pain (79 percent), pus per anum (28 percent), and blood per anum (26 percent). Examination revealed perianal tenderness (60 percent), condyloma (38 percent), perianal ulcers (38 percent), and anal fissures (34 percent). Sixty-six sets of cultures were performed; 28 patients had one set, 15 had two sets, and 4 had three sets. Thirty-two of these 47 patients (68 percent) had positive cultures including herpes (50 percent), cytomegalovirus (25 percent),Neisseria gonorrhoeae (16 percent), chlamydia (16 percent), acidfast bacilli (2 percent), and others (9 percent). Six of 32 patients with positive cultures had more than one organism cultured. Sixteen (50 percent) patients with positive cultures were treated medically, 8 (25 percent) were treated surgically and 8 (25 percent) were treated with both modalities. Sixty-one procedures were performed on 17 patients for condylomata. Eighteen patients had 20 procedures for abscesses, 50 percent of whom had positive cultures for other than common bowel flora; all improved. Fourteen patients underwent 33 procedures for perianal fistulas.Mycobacterium fortuitum was cultured from one patient who required 13 procedures for abscesses and fistulas. Forty-five (96 percent) patients were followed for an average of 12.5 months ±2.9 SEM (range, 1–94 months). Symptoms were improved or resolved in 22 of 32 (69 percent) patients with positive cultures and in 11 of 13 (84 percent) with negative cultures. CONCLUSIONS: Specific pathogens may often be identified in human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive patients with anorectal disorders if aggressively sought. Although patients without specific pathogens identified may be expected to improve with planned empiric treatment, positive identification allows more directed therapy.