Subkapsularës leberhämatom bei HELLP-syndrom

Zusammenfassung Das HELLP-Syndrom (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelets) tritt als Komplikation einer Schwangerschaftspräeklampsie auf und kann zu ausgedehnten subkapsulären Leberhämatomen führen. Wegen der Rupturgefahr der Hämatome besteht eine lebensbedrohende Notfallsituation für Mutter und Ungeborenes. Anhand von 2 Fallbeispielen wird das interdisziplinäre Vorgehen diskutiert. Mit Diagnosestellung der subkapsulären Leberhämatome sollte die notfallmäßige Entbindung durch Sectio erfolgen. Dann kann die chirurgische Entscheidung für eine konservative, abwartende Therapie mit Intensivüberwachung oder für eine Notfalloperation im Falle einer Leberkapselruptur ohne vermeidbares Risiko getroffen werden.

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Subcapsular liver hematoma with HELLP-syndrome — an interdisciplinary urgency

Summary The HELLP-syndrome (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelets), known as a complication during pregnancy, is associated with preeclampsia and may cause subcapsular liver hematomas. In case of hepatic rupture the lives of mother and unborn are threatened. Therefore, an interdisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic approach is discussed and compared to two examples. The diagnosis of subcapsular liver hematoma must lead to urgent delivery through Cesarean section. Thereafter, the surgeon may decide between observation on an intensive care unit and urgent operation in case of hepatic rupture, without endangering the unborn.

     

Nodular sarcoidosis of the liver and spleen: Appearance on MR images

Small nodular lesions in the liver and spleen have been reported as an infrequent manifestation of sarcoidosis. Five patients with this appearance on either dynamic contrast material—enhanced computed tomographic (CT) or ultrasound scans underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with and without dynamic gadolinium enhancement. The lesions were relatively uniform in size, ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 cm. On CT scans, they were hypoattenuating relative to surrounding parenchyma. On MR images, the lesions were hypointense relative to background parenchyma with all sequences. No substantial enhancement was observed in the lesions, although lesion conspicuity decreased over time on serial postcontrast images. Lesion conspicuity was greatest on either T2-weighted fat-suppressed (T2FS) images or early-phase dynamic contrast-enhanced images. Abdominal adenopathy was seen in three of the five patients and was hyperintense relative to liver on T2FS images in two and intermediate in intensity in one patient.     

Adjuvant treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid reduces acute rejection after liver transplantation

Acute rejection, occurring with a reported frequency of 50–70%, is still a dominating problem after liver transplantation. Medication with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has beneficial effects in different cholestatic conditions and has also been shown to reduce HLA class I antigen expression on hepatocytes in patients with PBC. Since August 1989 we have consecutively treated all patients with primary graft function with UDCA (n = 41). Patients transplanted in the first half of 1989 served as a control group (n = 8). All patients in this study were given sequential quadruple drug immunosuppression. The treatment group were given oral UDCA 10 mg/kg per day. During the first postoperative month, 17% of the UDCA-treated patients had an episode of acute rejection compared with 75% of the control patients (P < 0.01). Liver biochemistry tests 1 month postoperatively were significantly better in patients treated with UDCA. The results suggest that adjuvant treatment with UDCA reduces acute liver graft rejection.     

Liver lesion detection,characterization, and effect on patient management: Comparison of single-phase spiral CT and current MR techniques

This study compares liver lesion detection, characterization, and effect on patient management between single-phase spiral CT and MRI using spoiled gradient echo (SGE), T2-weighted fat-suppressed spin echo, and serial post gadolinium SGE. All patients with suspected liver lesions who underwent spiral CT and MRI within a 1-month period between January 1993 and September 1996 were included in the study. Spiral CT and MRI were interpreted prospectively in a blinded fashion by separate individual experienced investigators, and lesion detection and characterization were determined. Confirmation was obtained by surgery (6 patients), biopsy (18 patients), imaging follow-up (36 patients), or combined reading of all imaging studies and clinical follow-up (29 patients). Effect on patient management was determined by combined chart review and interview of the patients' physicians and by retrospective clinical assessment performed by a surgical oncologist and medical oncologist separately. Eighty-nine patients were included in the study. Regarding true positive lesion detection, 295 and 519 lesions were detected on spiral CT and MR images, respectively, which was significantly different on a patient-by-patient basis (P < .001). More lesions were detected on MR than on spiral CT in 44 of 89 patients (49.4%), and 11 of these 44 patients had lesions shown on MRI in whom no lesions were apparent on CT images. No patients had true positive lesions shown on spiral CT that were not shown on MRI. Regarding lesion characterization, 129 and 466 lesions were characterized on spiral CT and MRI images, respectively, which was significantly different on a patient-by-patient basis (P < .001). More lesions were characterized on MR than CT images in 67 patients (75.3%). Regarding effect on patient management, chart review with physician interview demonstrated that findings on MRI provided information that altered patient management as compared with findings on spiral CT in 57 patients. Retrospective clinical evaluation by the surgical and medical oncologist showed that MRI was considered to have a greater effect on patient management than spiral CT in 58 and 55 patients, respectively. Comparing current MRI technique to single-phase spiral CT, MRI detected more lesions in 49.4% and characterized more lesions in 75.3% of patients investigated for focal liver disease. MRI had a greater effect on patient management in each of the three methods than singlephase spiral CT in more than 61% of patients.     

各种肝病的肝纤维化标志改变的探讨

目的 :探讨各种肝病患者血清肝纤维化标志的改变 ,甘草酸二胺注射液对肝脏炎症、纤维化指标的作用。方法 :用放免法检测透明质酸 (HA)、层粘蛋白 (LN)、Ⅲ型前胶原多肽 (PCⅢ )。结果 :急性肝炎的三种肝纤指标均升高 (P <0 0 5 )。急黄肝高于急无黄肝 (P <0 0 5 )。慢性肝炎 1 1 2例 ,三项肝纤指标显著高于正常对照 (P <0 0 5 )。慢肝重度显著高于慢肝轻度 (P<0 0 0 1 )。肝硬化的三项肝纤指标又显著高于慢肝 (P <0 0 0 1 ) ,其它肝病的肝纤指标也升高。 2 5例慢肝用甘草酸二胺注射液治疗 2月 ,ALT、AST、GGT显著降低 (P <0 0 1 )。三项肝纤指标中HA降低较显著 (P =0 0 5 ) ,LN和PCⅢ虽有降低 ,但差异不明显 (P =0 4 5 9,P =0 1 92 )。结论 :各种肝病的三项肝纤维化指标均升高 ,以慢肝重度 ,肝硬化升高明显。甘草酸二胺注射液治疗有抗炎及改善肝纤维化的作用     

Personal experience with the procurement of 132 liver allografts

A single donor surgeon's experience procuring the livers from 132 donors is described. Thirty-seven grafts (28.9%) had hepatic arterial anomalies, 19 (14.4%) of which required arterial reconstruction prior to transplantation. Of the 121 grafts evaluated for early function, 103 grafts (85.2%) functioned well, whereas 14 grafts (11.6%) functioned poorly and 4 grafts (3.3%) failed to function at all. The variables associated with less than optimal function of the graft consisted of donor age (P<0.05), duration of donor's stay in the intensive care unit (P<0.005), abnormal graft appearance (P<0.05), and such recipient problems as vascular thromboses during or immediately following transplantation (P<0.005). A new preservation fluid, University of Wisconsin solution, allowed safe and longer cold storage of the liver allograft than did Euro-Collins' solution (P<0.0001). A parameter of liver allograft viability, which is simple and predictive of allograft function prior to the actual transplant procedure, is urgently needed.     

Peripheral blood CD3 and CD4 T-lymphocyte reduction correlates with severity of liver cirrhosis

Summary Immunological disturbances with impairment of immune function and a higher incidence of lymphoproliferative disorders and other malignancies have been described in liver cirrhosis patients. To investigate the pathogenetic mechanism(s) involved in such associated we looked for a possible imbalance in peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with liver cirrhosis of differing severity. Immunophenotyping and counts of peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subpopulations were carried out using monoclonal antibodies conjugated with different fluorochromes in 31 consecutive cirrhotic patients and 23 matched healthy volunteers. Univariate and multivariate analyses of lymphocyte phenotype counts were performed and odds ratios were computed. Statistically significant associations, according to both univariate and multivariate analyses, were found between case/control status and mean CD3 and CD4 T-lymphocyte counts (P<0.0001). A strong correlation was found between the Pugh’s index and CD3 and CD4 lymphocyte counts, with a clear reduction of these phenotypes with increasing liver cirrhosis. Median CD3 and CD4 values were 2,283 and 1,329/μl respectively among controls and 896, 801, and 492/μl and 515, 514, and 307/μl, respectively in categories A, B, and C of Pugh’s classification. Very high odds ratios were found using the median values of CD3 and CD4 as a threshold. There was a statistically significant decrease for each of the T-cell phenotypes studied (CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16, CD19, CD20, CD56, CD57) between patients and controls (P<0.0001). The progressive and severity-related decrease in mean peripheral blood CD3 and CD4 counts in liver cirrhosis suggests a progressive impairment of protective immune function and may be a factor facilitating malignancy in cirrhotic patients.     

Biliary cystadenoma with mesenchymal stroma of the liver: Correlation between unusual MR appearance and pathologic findings

We reported a case of the biliary cystadenoma of the liver. The cystic mass had labulation and septation and showed marked hyperintensity on T1-weighted images and hypointensity on T2-weighted images; MR findings were very unusual for cystadenoma. The content of the cystic mass was jelly-like, thick mucinous fluid without intracystic hemorrhage. We concluded that these unusual signal intensities of the cyst were due to hyperproteinous mucinous fluid.     

Portal vein stenosis after liver transplantation: treatment with percutaneous transhepatic angioplasty

We used transhepatic percutaneous transluminal angioplasty to treat two patients who developed a severe anastomic portal vein stricture 7 months and 4 years respectively after liver transplantation. All signs of portal hypertension (pressure gradient, massive venous collateral circulation) disappeared following the procedure and remained absent 12 months later. Our results suggest that percutaneous transhepatic angioplasty should be considered for treatment of liver transplant recipients with anastomotic portal vein strictures. Correspondence to: P. Legmann     

Patterns of calcifications and cholangiographic findings in hepatobiliary tuberculosis

The radiologic findings on conventional examinations (plain films and cholangiograms) in a large group of patients with proven hepatobiliary tuberculosis are reviewed. The plain film findings of large chalky and confluent hepatic calcifications or nodal-type calcifications along the course of the common bile duct are suggestive of hepatobiliary tuberculosis. Small, discrete, scattered calcifications may be mimicked by histoplasmosis but can be differentiated from hepatobiliary tuberculosis. Obstructing defects seen on cholangiography are indicative of tuberculosis when adjacent calcifications are present. The patterns of liver calcifications could provide a clue to the diagnosis of hepatobiliary tuberculosis and its differentiation from liver calcifications of various other etiologies.