Browsing by Author "Štulić, Miloš (55895099100)"

AIM: To evaluate the clinical significance of cystatin C and renal resistive index for the determination of renal function in patients with liver cirrhosis. METHODS: We conducted a study of 63 patients with liver cirrhosis. A control group comprised of 30 age and gender-matched healthy persons. Serum cystatin C was determined in all study subjects and renal Doppler ultrasonography was made. Estimated glomerular filtration rate from serum creatinine (GFRCr) and cystatin C (GFRCys) was calculated. RESULTS: We confirmed significant differences in values of cystatin C between patients with different stages of liver cirrhosis according to Child-Pugh (P = 0.01), and a significant correlation with model of end stage liver disease (MELD) score (rs= 0.527, P < 0.001). More patients with decreased glomerular filtration rate were identified based on GFRCys than on GFRCr (P < 0.001). Significantly higher renal resistive index was noted in Child-Pugh C than in A (P < 0.001) and B stage (P = 0.001). Also, a significant correlation between renal resistive index and MELD score was observed (rs= 0.607, P < 0.001). Renal resistive index correlated significantly with cystatin C (rs= 0.283, P = 0.028) and showed a negative correlation with GFRCys (rs= -0.31, P = 0.016). CONCLUSION: Cystatin C may be a more reliable marker for assessment of liver insufficiency. Additionally, cystatin C and renal resistive index represent sensitive indicators of renal dysfunction in patients with liver cirrhosis. © 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.

Introduction : Calprotectin is a cytoplasmatic protein of neutrophilic granulocytes and it is an established marker for the assessment of localized intestinal inflammation. Aim : To explore correlation between values of fecal calprotectin and degree of liver cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy. Methods : We included 60 patients with liver cirrhosis and 37 healthy patients as controls. Patients revealing other causes of abnormal calprotectin results (gastrointestinal bleeding or inflammatory bowel disease) were excluded. The degree of liver insufficiency was assessed according to the Child-Pugh classification and Model of End Stage Liver Disease (MELD), and degree of hepatic encephalopathy by West-Haven criteria, serum concentration of ammonium ion and the number connection test. Results : The mean value of fecal calprotectin in patients with liver cirrhosis was 189.1 ± 168.0 µg/g, and 35.0 ± 26.0 µg/g in the control group, respectively. We have confirmed significantly higher fecal calprotectin in patients with cirrhosis (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in values of fecal calprotectin between the patients with different stages of liver cirrhosis according to Child- Pugh classification and MELD score (p > 0.05). We observed statistically significant difference comparing fecal calprotectin by West- Haven criteria of hepatic encephalopathy (p < 0.001), while there were no correlation with the number connection test and serum concentration of ammonium ion (p > 0.05). Conclusion : We confirmed significantly higher values of fecal calprotectin in patients with liver cirrhosis, especially in hepatic encephalopathy according to West-Haven criteria. © 2014, (publisher).All right reserved

Introduction. There is a rise of visceral leishmaniasis in immunocompromised patients due to increased availability of immunomodulatory drugs. In order to point at the occurrence of visceral leishmaniasis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we reported a case of female patient with a travel history to European Mediterranean countries, who was on immunosuppressive treatment due to ulcerative colitis. Case report. A 29-year-old female patient was admitted to hospital due to severe relapse of ulcerative colitis. Corticosteroid therapy was administered in addition to previous longterm azathioprine, with clinical response to the treatment. During the course of the disease she had recurrent high-grade fever with marked hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia. The diagnosis of leishmaniasis was established by positive serology tests and microscopic finding of amastigotes in bone marrow smears. The disseminated infection was responsive to treatment with liposomal amphotericin B, but therapy had to be discontinued due to urticarial rush. Subsequent therapy with antimony was administered, but it had to be stopped too due to liver toxicity. No further treatment for leishmaniasis was initiated as the clinical and laboratory data suggested that the patient had responded to the treatment. She was discharged from hospital in IBD remission and without signs of the infection. Conclusion. Visceral leishmaniasis should be considered in IBD patients with fever of unknown origin and relevant travel history in order to achieve favorable disease outcome. © 2020 Inst. Sci. inf., Univ. Defence in Belgrade. All rights reserved.