Introdução e objetivos: A infecção crônica pelo VHC é considerada um grave problema de saúde pública mundial. O perfil epidemiológico vem mudando desde 1992 com a obrigatoriedade da pesquisa sorológica em doadores de sangue. Atualmente o uso de drogas ilícitas injetáveis é o fator de risco mais importante. Em muitos casos o mecanismo de contaminação não é identificado sendo definido como forma esporádica. O presente trabalho avaliou aspectos demográficos e epidemiológicos de pacientes com infecção crônica pelo VHC, em acompanhamento no ambulatório de Hepatologia do Serviço de Gastroenterologia da Divisão de Clínica Médica II do Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP. Pacientes e métodos: Foram entrevistados 700 de um total de 1.112 pacientes adultos, no período de outubro de 2001 a novembro de 2003 (49% homens, 51% mulheres). Após a assinatura do termo de consentimento esclarecido, todos os pacientes foram submetidos à entrevista com questionário elaborado para este estudo, abrangendo aspectos demográficos, fatores de risco e uso de bebida alcoólica. O diagnóstico da infecção pelo VHC foi realizado através de teste sorológico Elisa de terceira geração e pesquisa do RNA viral através da reação em cadeia da polimerase. A determinação do genótipo do VHC foi realizada em 540 amostras de soro através do sequenciamento da região 5\' UTR. A biópsia hepática foi analisada em 470 pacientes e estadiada segundo critérios das Sociedades Brasileiras de Patologia e Hepatologia. Resultados: Não houve diferença significante entre a média de idade de homens e mulheres (49 ± 12,2 anos e 51 ± 12,5, respectivamente). 60% cursaram até o ensino fundamental, 19,7% o ensino médio e 12,4% o superior. 1% dos pacientes tem ocupações ligadas ao setor primário da economia, 8% ao setor secundário e 52% ao setor terciário. 62% foram classificados como brancos e 67% como católicos. 60% referiram relacionamento estável monogâmico. Em 68,5% dos casos o diagnóstico foi estabelecido através de exames de rotina e em 19,4% durante doação de sangue. O principal fator de risco para infecção foi a realização de hemotransfusão antes de 1993 (46,4%). 10% dos pacientes referiram uso de drogas injetáveis e 3%, apresentavam ambos os fatores. Em 42% dos casos o mecanismo de infecção foi considerado como forma esporádica. O genótipo 1 foi responsável por 70% das infecções seguidas pelo genótipo 3 (25%). Grau leve de fibrose classificado como 0 ou 1 foi encontrado em 48,7% dos pacientes, estádio 2 em 18,5%, estádio 3 em 12,3% e estádio 4 (cirrose) em 20,4% dos casos. A análise multivariada mostrou que os fatores de risco para desenvolvimento de cirrose foram: uso de álcool(> 60g/dia, odds ratio 2.01), raça branca (odds ratio 2,2) e idade acima de 55,8 anos (odds ratio 2,2). Conclusões: A infecção crônica pelo VHC foi caracterizada por alta freqüência de formas esporádicas e predominância dos genótipos 1 e 3. Na maioria dos casos o diagnóstico da infecção foi realizado através de exames de rotina. Consumo de álcool acima de 60 g/dia, raça branca e idade acima de 55,8 anos foram fatores de risco para a progressão para a cirrose / Background and aims: Hepatitis C virus infection is considered a world-wide serious public health problem. Since 1992, the epidemiological profile of the infection has changed with the systematic serological testing in blood donors. Nowadays the use of illicit intravenous drugs remains one of the most important risk factor. Nevertheless, in a variable percentage of cases, the mechanisms of contamination can not be identified and those cases are referred as sporadic forms. The current work was aimed at evaluating the demographic and epidemiological profile of HCV infection in outpatients attending the Hepatology branch of the Division of Gastroenterology of University of São Paulo School of Medicine teaching hospital. Patients and methods: From October 2001 and November 2003, 700 out of 1.112 adult patients were enrolled in this study (49% men, 51% women). After the written informed consent was obtained, all patients were interviewed, using standardized questionnaire for collecting data about demographic data, risk factors and alcohol use. Routine serological testing for HCV was performed using third-generation ELISA assays and circulating HCV-RNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction. HCV genotyping was performed in 540 subjects by sequencing of the 5\' UTR region. Liver biopsy slides from 470 patients were available for the assessment of the degree of fibrosis, which was performed according to the criteria of the Brazilian Societies of Pathology and Hepatology Results: There was no significant difference between the mean age of men and women (49 ± 12.2 years and 51 ± 12.5, respectively). 60% had completed no more than basic education, 19.7% had finished high school and 12.4% had graduated from university. 1% worked in activities of the primary sector of economy, 8% in the secondary and 52% in the tertiary one. 62% were caucasian descendants. 67% were catholic. 70% were born in the Southeastern region of Brazil and 97% lived in the State of São Paulo. 60% declared to have a monogamic relationship in the last 6 months. In 68.5% the diagnosis of HCV infection was established by routine check-up tests and in 19.4% during blood donation. The major risk factor for HCV infection was blood transfusion before 1993 (46.4%). 10% of the patients were intravenous drug users, and 3% had both risk factors. In 42% of the cases, the mechanism of infection was considered sporadic. Genotype 1 was found in 70% of the cases, followed by genotype 3 (25%) and genotype 2 (2.7%). Liver fibrosis stage 0 or 1 was found in 48.7%, stage 2 in 18.5%, stage 3 in 12.3% and stage 4 (liver cirrhosis) in 20.4% of cases. Linear regression multivariate analysis showed that risk factors for developing liver cirrhosis were: alcohol abuse (> 60g/day, odds ratio 2.01), caucasian origin (OR 2.2) and age > 55.8 year old (OR 2.2). Conclusions: HCV infection profile in this cohort was characterized by a high frequency of sporadic forms and predominance of genotypes 1 and 3. The infection was diagnosed in most of the cases by routine check-up tests. Heavy alcohol use, caucasian origin and older age were risk factors for progression to cirrhosis

Portal hypertension (PHT) is a condition with serious complications, such as variceal bleeding, refractory ascites and bowel ischemia. The cause of PHT may be pre-, intra- or post-hepatic. Initial treatment is pressure-reducing drugs and the treatment of acute symptoms. Ten patients presented with severe abdominal pain and acute portomesenteric venous thrombosis. Their response to systemic anticoagulation was insufficient. Treatment with primary continuous thrombolysis by a transhepatic or transjugular approach in four patients resulted in major complications, incomplete recanalization and a 75% survival rate. Treatment with repeated transjugular thrombectomy (TT) combined with the creation of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) achieved near complete recanalization, prompt symptom relief and 100% survival in five patients treated with this method as the primary intervention. In one patient, treated with TT and TIPS secondary to surgical thrombectomy and bowel resection, the outcome was fatal. Nineteen patients with portal vein thrombosis presented with acute or threatening variceal bleeding or refractory ascites. TIPS was feasible in 16 of the 18 patients in whom it was attempted and symptom relief was achieved in the majority of them. In 14 patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome, 13 patients were treated with TIPS, four of them after previous liver vein angioplasty. The 5-year transplantation-free survival rate was 100% in patients treated with primary TIPS. In 131 patients with variceal bleeding treated with TIPS, the survival at 12 months in patients with and without cirrhosis was 70% and 100% respectively and in accordance with previous studies. A high Child-Pugh score prior to TIPS and severe HE within 12 months after TIPS was related to an increased mortality. The occurrence of HE after TIPS did not correlate with the PSG after TIPS. Re-bleeding within 12 months after TIPS occurred in 10 patients and was associated with TIPS dysfunction. In conclusion, endovascular intervention, mainly TIPS, seems to be safe and effective for treating patients with complications of PHT, regardless of the underlying cause of disease and site of venous blood flow obstruction. HE may occur more frequently after TIPS than medical and endoscopic treatment, but is often mild and easily treated. In selected patients with PHT, TIPS may improve survival.

Survival analysis pertains to a statistical approach designed to take into account the amount of time an experimental unit contributes to a study. A Mayo Clinic study of 418 Primary Biliary Cirrhosis patients during a ten year period was used. The Kaplan-Meier Estimator, a non-parametric statistic, and the Cox Proportional Hazard methods were the tools applied. Kaplan-Meier results include total values/censored values.

Background: Endoscopic band ligation (EBL) is generally accepted as the treatment of choice for bleeding from esophageal varices. It is also used for secondary prophylaxis of esophageal variceal hemorrhage. However, there is no data or guidelines concerning endoscopic control of ligation ulcers. We conducted a retrospective study of EBL procedures analyzing bleeding complications after EBL. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from patients who underwent EBL. We analyzed several data points, including indication for the procedure, bleeding events and the time interval between EBL and bleeding. Results: 255 patients and 387 ligation sessions were included in the analysis. We observed an overall bleeding rate after EBL of 7.8%. Bleeding events after elective treatment (3.9%) were significantly lower than those after treatment for acute variceal hemorrhage (12.1%). The number of bleeding events from ligation ulcers and variceal rebleeding was 14 and 15, respectively. The bleeding rate from the ligation site in the group who underwent emergency ligation was 7.1% and 0.5% in the group who underwent elective ligation. Incidence of variceal rebleeding did not vary significantly. Seventy-five percent of all bleeding episodes after elective treatment occurred within four days after EBL. 20/22 of bleeding events after emergency ligation occured within 11 days after treatment. Elective EBL has a lower risk of bleeding from treatment-induced ulceration than emergency ligation. Conclusions: Patients who underwent EBL for treatment of acute variceal bleeding should be kept under medical surveillance for 11 days. After elective EBL, it may be reasonable to restrict the period of surveillance to four days or even perform the procedure in an out-patient setting.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of esophageal varices in cirrhotic patients is made by the upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Multiple non-invasive predictors have been studied for the diag-nosis of esophageal varices. The objective of this study is to testthe FIB4 index as screening of esophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional analytic study was developed in four national hospital using hepatic cirrhosis patient's medi-cal files. We assessed the information using univariate and bivariate analysis, sensitivity, speci-ficity, predictive positive and negative value, the positive and negative likelihood ratio calcu-lation of the esophageal varices screening and its size. We built ROC curve for every analysis group. RESULTS: The study included 289 liver cirrhosis patients. Most of the patients were male (54.33%). 77.85% patients had esophageal varices. The distribution of varices was 19.03%, 35.99% and 22.84% for large, medium and small varices, respectively. In the FIB-4 index analysis for the presence of varices, it was found a sensitivity of 81.3%, specificity of 37.5% (AUC: 0.57). The calculation for variceal size showed a sensitivity of 81.8%, specificity of 23.9% (AUC: 0.50). In the analysis of FIB-4 index for prophylaxis groups was found a sensitivity of 81.8% and a specificity of 28.5% (AUC: 0.54). CONCLUSIONS: The FIB-4 index has no good performance in the screening for the presence of esophageal varices and its size in liver cirrhosis patients. / Revisión por pares

This thesis focuses on the importance of heme catabolic pathway in hepatic carcinogenesis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary malignant liver tumour. It is primarily caused by hepatic cirrhosis or chronic viral hepatitis. Hepatic carcinogenesis is associated with increased oxidative stress. Thus, our study aimed to assess the expression of the genes involved in the homeostasis of oxidative stress in patients with HCC. The study was performed on patients with primary HCC (n = 29) and control subjects (n = 11), gene expressions of heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1), biliverdin reductase A/B (BLVRA/B), endothelial growth factor (VEGFA), NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) and p22phox were analyzed in the liver tissue; the identical gene expressions were analyzed in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) in HCC patients (n = 32) and in healthy controls (n = 27). Expression of BLVRA in liver tissue and PBL was significantly increased in cancer patients, as was NOX2 expression in PBL. Expression of VEGFA in liver tissue and PBL was significantly decreased in cancer patients. The expression of the other genes studied did not differ between HCC patients and controls. These data are consistent with the results of our previous study on patients with chronic hepatitis C, in which BLVRA expression was also...

Bakgrund: Levercirros är en sjukdom där en omfattande leverskada medfört att levern förlorat stora delar av dess egenskaper. Leversjukdomar ger symtomdebut i sent stadium vilket ger förödande och snabbt inverkande konsekvenser för de drabbade. Syfte: Syftet var att belysa patienters erfarenheter av att leva med levercirros. Metod: En allmän litteraturstudie med en induktiv ansats genomfördes med nio resultatartiklar. Resultatartiklarna bearbetades och granskades vilket sedan sammanställdes till olika kategorier. Resultat: Fyra kategorier identifierades: Erfarenheter av begränsningar i vardag och arbete, erfarenheter av inverkan på nära relationer, erfarenheter av emotionell påfrestning och erfarenheter av bemötande från omgivningen. Patienter upplevde en negativ påverkan på vardags- och fritidsaktiviteter samt att en påverkan på den psykiska hälsa och nära relationer anträffades. Patienterna präglas av fördomar och dåligt bemötande från omgivningen respektive vårdpersonal. Konklusion/implikation: Bristen på personcentrerad omvårdnad relaterat till fördomar hos vårdpersonal leder till ökade vårdköer samt höjda vårdkostnader. Genom vidare forskning kan erfarenheter av att leva med levercirros spridas och bidra till att dessa personer får en mer adekvat och personcentrerad vård. / Background: Liver cirrhosis is a disease in which extensive liver damage causes the liver to lose large parts of its properties. Liver diseases cause the onset of symptoms at a late stage, which has devastating and fast-acting consequences for those affected. Aim: The purpose was to elucidatepatients' experiences of living with liver cirrhosis. Method: The study was ageneral literature study with an inductive approach and included nine result articles. The resulting articles were processed and reviewed, which were then compiled into different categories. Results: Four categories were identified: experience of limitations of everyday life and work, experience ofthe impact on close relationships, experience of emotional stress and experience of treatment from the environment. Patients experienced a negative impact on every day and leisure activities and a negative impact on mental health and close relationships were encountered. The patients were met by preconceptions and bad treatment from the environment and care staff. Conclusion/implication: The lack of person-centered care related to preconceptions of nursing staff leads to increased care queues and care costs. Through further research, experiences of living with liver cirrhosis can be spread and contribute to these people receiving more adequate and person-centered care.

Background: Liver cirrhosis is a global health problem and a national health problem in Egypt. There is a lack of literature on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) and symptoms experience of liver disease and cirrhotic patients in Middle East, particularly in Egypt. Aims: This PhD had three major aims: First aim: To describe HRQOL of Egyptian liver cirrhotic patients and to identify and evaluate the factors associated with (HRQOL) physical and mental health domains. Second aim: To explore and describe experienced symptoms (prevalence, severity and hindrance) in Egyptian cirrhotic patients and to identify and evaluate factors associated with symptoms severity and symptoms hindrance (distress). Third aim: To explore and describe how cirrhotic patients in Egypt perceive social support from spouse, family and friends and to identify and evaluate factors associated with general perceived social support. Method: A cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of 401 patients from three hospitals in Cairo, Egypt, was conducted between June and August 2011. Patients were interviewed to complete a background data sheet, Short Form-36v2 (SF-36), the Liver Disease Symptom Index (LDSI)-2.0 and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Results: Findings for first aim: The findings showed that all domains and component summary scores [Physical component summary score (PCS) and mental component summary score (MCS)] of the generic SF-36 were below the norm (cut-off score 50), suggesting that patients with liver cirrhosis in Egypt have poor HRQOL. About 87.2% of the patients rated their general health as poor or fair, which means the majority of these patients have low perceived general health. Many socio-demographic and medial factors were shown to be significantly associated with perceived HRQOL. Women, illiterate and unemployed people, and patients with frequent hospitalisation had poor PCS and MCS, while patients with advanced disease stage, increasing number of comorbidities and complications and those admitted to inpatients had significantly poorer PCS only. Perceived social support from a spouse had a statistically significant positive association with PCS and MCS, while perceived social support from family and friends had a statistically significant positive association with MCS only. Also, severity and hindrance of symptoms significantly correlated with PCS and MCS. Using stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, two models were developed to identify factors associated with PCS (Model 1) and MCS (Model 2) health. Model 1 could significantly explain 19% of the variation in PCS (R2 = 0.190, R2adj = 0.180, p = 0.0005), and four factors (symptoms severity, disease stage, comorbidities and employment status) were significantly (p ≤ 0.02) associated with PCS. Model 2 could significantly explain 31.7% of the variation in MCS (R2 = 0.317, R2adj = 0.308, p = 0.0005), and four factors (symptoms severity, employment status, perceived spouse support and perceived family support) were associated (p ≤ 0.04) with MCS. The key findings of this study were that severity of symptoms and social support from spouse and family were associated with HRQOL. Where patients with high symptoms severity were likely to report poor PCS and MCS; and patients with low perceived social support were likely to report poor MCS. Symptoms severity contributed significantly in explaining 28.7% of the variation in PCS and 43.6% of the variation in MCS. Findings for second aim: This study found that the majority of patients had one or more of a wide range of symptoms and social problems. Two-thirds of patients reported joint pain (78.3%), decreased appetite (75.6%) and memory problems (77.3%). Joint pain and depression were reported to have the biggest impact on daily life. Symptoms severity and distress were significantly higher among patients who were: female, illiterate, unemployed, and who had advanced cirrhosis with more complications and comorbidities (p ≤ 0.006). Symptoms severity (r=-0.206) and symptoms distress (r=-0.205) were negatively associated with perceived social support (p=0.005). Stepwise regression analysis showed that the regression model could significantly explain 19.6% of the variation in symptoms severity (R2 = 0.196, R2adj = 0.180, p = 0.0005), and 14% of the variation in hindrance of symptoms (R2 = 0.140, R2adj = 0.132, p = 0.0005). Being female, having an increasing number of liver disease complications, and having low perceived support from spouse were significantly associated with high-perceived symptoms severity and hindrance (p≤0.01). Findings for third aim: This study found that social support score was relatively high among patients with cirrhosis in Egypt (total score mean of MSPSS was 2.02± standard deviation (0.537), while perceived support from spouse was the highest source of support. 67.5% of the patients felt their spouse is around when they need him/her and 71.7% of them share their joys and sorrows with their spouse. Likewise, 64.9% of married people feel their spouse cares about their feelings. In relation to the perception of adequacy of family support, it was observed that 52.6% felt that their families do not really try to help them. At the same time, 52.1% reported that they got the emotional help and support that they needed from their families. Regarding perceived support from friends, more than half of the patients reported that their friends do not really try to help them (57.9%), they cannot count on their friends when things go wrong (65.6%) and they cannot talk about their problems with their friends (56.4%). There was a significantly positive association between the perception of social support and general health perception (GHP), suggesting that when social support decreases GHP also decreases or and vice versa (r= 0.208, p = 0.0005). Stepwise regression analysis showed that the regression model could significantly explain 10.9% of the variation in perceived social support (R2 = 0.109, R2adj = 0.100, p = 0.0005). Marital status, gender, age and employment status were significantly associated with general perceived social support (p ≤ 0.01), while unmarried, females, unemployed and elderly cirrhotic patients were vulnerable groups that were likely to perceive low social support. Overall discussion and conclusion: This is the first study to investigate HRQOL, symptoms experience and perceived social support in patients with liver cirrhosis in Egypt. All aspects of HRQOL of Egyptian cirrhotic patients were poor, and they were experiencing various symptoms that can affect their daily life. However, social support was found to be related to perceived symptoms severity and perceived poor mental health. Hence, social support may alleviate suffering for certain cirrhotic patients. Nurses have a responsibility to assess and treat symptoms that cirrhotic patients experience, particularly such treatable symptoms as depression, pain and decreased appetite. Also, nurses should involve the patient’s family in any plan of care. Future intervention studies that aim to develop programs to relieve treatable symptoms and enhance social support are also recommended.

INTRODUÇÃO: A realização de procedimentos invasivos e o comprometimento da função hepática têm sido apontados como importantes fatores predisponentes à peritonite bacteriana primária (PBE) em pacientes cirróticos. Apesar das bactérias gram-negativas ainda serem os agentes mais freqüentemente isolados, a incidência de infecção por bactérias gram positivas tem aumentado. OBJETIVOS: Analisar os fatores de risco para PBE em pacientes cirróticos e relacionar o perfil da flora infectante do líquido ascítico com o uso de antibióticos. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo de resultados de 1.114 paracenteses realizadas em 348 pacientes no período de 2005 a 2007 no Departamento de Gastroenterologia do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo. Foram definidos dois grupos: com e sem PBE, segundo resultado da leucometria do líquido ascítico. Os seguintes fatores foram analisados: aspartato aminotransferase (AST); alanina aminotransferase (ALT); bilirrubinas totais; INR; creatinina; uso do propranolol e sua resposta hemodinâmica; antecedente de hemorragia digestiva alta; choque hipovolêmico; tratamento endoscópico de varizes de esôfago; sondagem vesical; cateteres intravenosos; gravidade da doença hepática (escores de Child-Pugh, MELD e MELD-Na); infecções associadas e o perfil da flora infectante, segundo o uso de antibióticos. RESULTADOS: 852 paracenteses em 303 pacientes foram incluídas. A etiologia mais freqüente da cirrose hepática foi hepatite crônica C (25,4%), seguida por álcool (24,1%). O diagnóstico de PBE foi estabelecido em 82 (9,6%) paracenteses, 27 (33%) da forma clássica e 55 (67%) com cultura negativa. No grupo com PBE, observamos níveis mais elevados de bilirrubinas totais e INR (p<0,0001 e p= 0,0016, respectivamente). Não houve diferença entre os grupos, quanto ao uso de betabloqueadores e risco de PBE (32,9% versus 37,3%, p=0,533) e a resposta hemodinâmica ao propranolol (68,2% versus 70%, p=1,00), assim como em relação às seguintes variáveis: hemorragia digestiva alta (6,1% versus 2,5%, p=0,074), escleroterapia endoscópica (2,4% versus 0,8%, p=0,178), sondagem vesical (4,9% versus 2,3%, p=0,138), cateterismo venoso (2,4% versus 1,7%, p= 0,649). O grupo com PBE apresentou maior percentual de pacientes Child C, 51% versus 37%, (p=0,022) e maior frequência de choque hipovolêmico 2,5% versus 0,3% (p=0,0484). Não houve diferença quanto às infecções associadas (p=1,00). No grupo com PBE, as bactérias gram-positivas foram isoladas em 55,6% e as gram-negativas em 44,4% (p=0,3848). Não houve relação entre a presença de infecção por gram positivos e o uso de quinolonas (p=1,00). O aumento de um ponto no escore MELD aumentou o risco de infecção em 1,059 vezes [IC 95% : 1,0266; 1,0930] ou 6%. Não houve diferença no risco de PBE quando analisamos faixas de valores do MELD. O aumento de um ponto no MELD-Na aumentou o risco de infecção em 1,0283 vezes [IC 95%: 1,0073; 1,0497] ou 2,8%. Entretanto, o aumento de um ponto de MELD-Na na faixa entre 6 e 15 aumentou a probabilidade de infecção em 1,3371vezes [IC 95%: 1,0230; 1,7476], entre 16 e 24 aumentou em 3,2371 vezes [IC 95%: 0,1958; 53,5291] e acima de 24 pontos em 14,2663 vezes [IC 95%: 1,2441; 163,5990]. CONCLUSÕES: Pacientes com PBE apresentaram níveis mais elevados das bilirrubinas e de INR, maior frequência de choque hipovolêmico e maior gravidade da cirrose hepática, avaliada pelos escores Child-Pugh, MELD e MELD-Na, sendo o declínio da função hepática, o principal fator de risco para desenvolvimento de PBE. O uso de betabloqueadores e a resposta hemodinâmica ao propranolol não foram associados à proteção contra PBE. O MELD-Na discriminou o risco de infecção em faixas de pontuação e de gravidade. Não houve diferença significante na frequência de infecção por bactérias gram positivas e gram negativas nos pacientes com PBE. Não observamos relação entre a frequência de infecção por gram positivos e uso de quinolonas / INTRODUCTION: Invasive procedures and the decline of the liver function have been considered predisposing factors for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in cirrhotic patients. In spite of the predominance of gram negative, the incidence of gram positive agents is increasing in literature. OBJETIVES: To analyze the risk factors for SBP in cirrhotic patients and to assess if there is increase in the frequency of infection by gram positive agents, according to the use of antibiotics. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the results of 1.114 paracentesis carried out in 348 patients from 2005 to 2007 in the Department of Gastroenterology of the University of São Paulo were enrolled. According to the result of ascitic fluid leucometry, two groups were formed: with and without SBP. The following factors were assessed: aspartate aminotransferase; alanine aminotransferase; bilirubin; INR; creatinine; use of propranolol and hemodynamic response; previous gastrointestinal hemorrhage; hypovolemic shock; endoscopic therapy of esophageal varices; vesical catheter, indwelling vascular catheter, severity of the underlying liver disease (scores Child-Pugh, MELD and MELD-Na); concurrent bacterial infections and the frequency of gram positive bacteria according to the use of antibiotics. RESULTS: 852 paracentesis performed in 303 patients were included. The most prevalent etiology of cirrhosis was hepatitis C virus infection (25.4%), followed by alcoholic (24.1%). The diagnosis of SBP was established in 82 (9.6%) paracentesis, 27 (33%) of them were classical SBP and 55 (67%) were negative-culture SBP. In the SBP group, we found higher levels of bilirubin and more enlarged INR (p<0.0001 e p= 0.0016, respectively). There was no difference between the groups regarding the risk of SBP and the use of betablockers (32.9% versus 37.3%, p=0.533) or hemodynamic response to propranolol therapy (68.2% versus 70%, p=1.00). The following parameters did not reach statistical significance: gastrointestinal bleeding (6.1% versus 2.5%, p=0.074), endoscopic sclerotherapy of varices (2.4% versus 0.8%, p=0.78), vesical catheters (4.9% versus 2.3%, p=0.138), vascular catheters (2.4% versus 1.7%, p= 0.649). The SBP group had a higher frequency of Child C status patients, 51% versus 37%, (p=0.022) and higher frequency of hypovolemic shock 2.5% versus 0.3% (p=0.0484). There was no difference in the frequency of SBP in patients with or without concurrent bacterial infections (p=1,00). In the SBP group, gram positive staining bacteria were found in 55.6% and gram negative in 44.4% (p=0.3848). We found no relationship between gram positive bacteria infection and the use of quinolones (p=1.00). Every single point increased in the MELD score increased the risk of SBP in 1.059 times [95% IC: 1.0266; 1.0930] or by 6%. There was no significant difference in the odds ratio for SBP according to the stratification of MELD values. Every single point increased in the MELD-Na increased the risk of infection in 1.0283 times [95% IC: 1.0073; 1.0497] or 2.8%. Nevertheless, every point increased in the MELDNa between 6 and 15 increased the probability of infection in 1.3371 times [95%] IC: 1.0230; 1.7476], between 16 and 24 in 3.2371 times [95% IC: 0.1958; 53.5291] and higher than 24 points in 14.2663 times [95% IC: 1.2441; 163.5990]. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SBP had higher levels of bilirubin and INR, higher frequency of hypovolemic shock and more severe underlying liver cirrhosis, as assessed by the Child-Pugh score, MELD and MELD-Na, indicating that the decline of the liver function is the main risk factor for developing SBP in cirrhosis. The use of betablockers and the hemodynamic response to propranolol were not associated to protection against developing SBP. The odds ratios for developing SBP increased according to the stratification of MELD-Na values, but not according to MELD stratification. There was no significant difference in the frequency of gram positive and gram negative infections in patients with SBP. The use of quinolones was not associated with increased frequency of gram positive infections in this series .

A hepatite C é um processo inflamatório do tecido hepático que acomete milhões de pessoas em todo mundo. A evolução crônica da doença pode levar a transformação da fibrose hepática em cirrose e carcinoma hepatocelular em um grande número de casos. A avaliação dos graus de fibrose hepática é importante para o estudo da gravidade e progressão da doença, bem como decisão terapêutica e avaliação de sua eficácia. Os métodos não invasivos de avaliação da fibrose hepática têm sido uma opção aos possíveis riscos da biópsia hepática, ainda considerada o melhor método de avaliação de fibrose hepática. No presente trabalho, 107 pacientes portadores de hepatite C foram submetidos à biópsia hepática e Elastografia transitória hepática, 106 pacientes APRI e FIB4, ELF em 68 pacientes e ARFI em 51 pacientes. Usando a área abaixo da Curva ROC, AUROC, para obter a acurácia da fibrose hepática, encontramos na fibrose significativa ( >= F2): Elastografia transitória hepática: 0,83; FIB4: 0,76; ELF: 0,70; APRI: 0,69; ARFI: 0,67; na fibrose avançada ( >= F3): Elastografia transitória hepática: 0,85; ELF: 0,82; FIB4: 0,77; ARFI: 0,74; APRI: 0,71 e na cirrose ( >= F4) APRI: 1; FIB4: 1; Elastografia transitória hepática: 0,99; ARFI: 0,96; ELF: 0,94. Podemos dizer que em todos os graus de fibrose avaliados, a Elastografia transitória hepática foi o método que apresentou a melhor acurácia. Em se de tratando de cirrose (>=F4), todos os métodos não invasivos apresentam excelente acurácia. Utilizando o método Obuchowski, encontramos em cada grau de fibrose hepática classificado pelo escore METAVIR as acurácias: F1= Elastografia transitória hepática: 0,81; ARFI: 0,78; APRI: 0,72; FIB4: 0,67; ELF: 0,44; F2= Elastografia transitória hepática: 0,73; FIB4: 0,68; ELF: 0,63; APRI: 0,60; ARFI: 0,53; F3= ELF: 0,77; Elastografia transitória hepática: 0,70; FIB4: 0,67; ARFI: 0,64; APRI: 0,60 e F4: APRI e FIB4: 1; Elastografia transitória hepática: 0,98; ARFI: 0,96; ELF: 0,82. A Elastografia transitória hepática se mantém como um método eficiente para todos os graus de fibrose, sendo que nos extremos apresenta discreta superioridade em relação aos graus intermediários. A acurácia de todos os métodos é superior em F4 / Hepatitis C is an inflammatory condition of the hepatic tissue that affects millions worldwide. The chronic stages of the disease turns from hepatic fibrosis into cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in many cases. The evaluation of fibrosis staging is important for prognosis, as well as understanding the progression of the disease, choice of treatment options and assessing their effectiveness. Non-invasive methods of fibrosis assessment have increasingly become alternatives to liver biopsy, which is still considered the best method of fibrosis assessment. In this study, 107 consecutive patients with hepatitis C virus were submitted to liver biopsy and transient elastography, 106 underwent APRI and FIB-4, 68 underwent ELF and 51 underwent ARFI. Using the area under ROC curve (AUROC) to obtain the degree of accuracy of each test, the following cutoffs were found for significant fibrosis (F >= 2): transient elastography: 0,83; FIB4: 0,76; ELF: 0,70; APRI: 0,69; ARFI: 0,67; For advanced fibrosis (F>=3): transient elastography: 0,85; ELF: 0,82; FIB4: 0,77; ARFI: 0,74; APRI: 0,71; For cirrhosis (F >= 4): APRI: 1; FIB4: 1; transient elastography: 0,99; ARFI: 0,96; ELF: 0,94. Of the methods assessed, transient elastography presented the greatest diagnostic accuracy across all levels of fibrosis. When assessing cirrhosis (F>= 4), all of these non-invasive methods showed excellent diagnostic accuracy. Using the Obuchowski method, the accuracy of each degree of fibrosis categorised by the METAVIR score was determined: F1= transient elastography: 0,81; ARFI: 0,78; APRI: 0,72; FIB4: 0,67; ELF: 0,44; F2=transient elastography: 0,73; FIB4: 0,68; ELF: 0,63; APRI: 0,60; ARFI: 0,53; F3= ELF: 0,77; transient elastography: 0,70; FIB4: 0,67; ARFI: 0,64; APRI: 0,60; F4: APRI and FIB4: 1; transient elastography: 0,98; ARFI: 0,96; ELF: 0,82. Transient elastography remained the most effective method for all degrees of fibrosis, although at the higher levels this superiority was less than at the intermediate levels. The accuracy of all methodologies was best at F >= 4