Background: Bleeding esophageal varices (OVs) due to portal hypertension are one of the major complications with high mortality in liver cirrhosis. So, early detection and management are mandatory. Aim: To evaluate th...Background: Bleeding esophageal varices (OVs) due to portal hypertension are one of the major complications with high mortality in liver cirrhosis. So, early detection and management are mandatory. Aim: To evaluate the role of Von Willebrand factor (VWF) in predicting the presence of OVs. Patients and Methods: 62 patients with liver cirrhosis representing different Child-Pugh classes were included. The diagnosis of liver cirrhosis was based on the combination of clinical, laboratory and US examinations. All included patients underwent the following investigations: complete blood count, liver function tests (ALT, AST, serum bilirubin, albumin and total protein, prothrombin time (PT) and concentration (PC), INR and serum alkaline phosphatase), serum creatinine, Von Willebrand factor antigen (VWF-Ag) measurement and abdominal US. Upper endoscopic evaluation was done to detect presence or absence of varices (esophageal or gastric) and/or PHG. Results: 38 males and 24 females with their mean age (46 ± 12 years old) were included. Plasma Von Willebrand factor-Ag level was significantly higher in patients with OVs than those without varices (P value = 0.000). Also, its level was significantly higher in patients with higher grade of OVs, G3 than those with G1 or G2 (P value = 0.000). Patients with large OVs including those with G2 and G3 showed significantly higher values of VWF than those with small OVs (NO and G1) (P value = 0.000). VWF was independent predictor for detecting the presence of OVs with good sensitivity (90), specificity (77.3) and accuracy (85.5) at a cutoff value of 1.74 U/ml. Also it was an independent predictor for detecting the presence of large OVs with good sensitivity (91.2), specificity (85.7) and accuracy (88.7) at a cutoff value of 2.16 U/ml. Conclusion: VWF-Ag could be used as a non invasive laboratory independent predictor for the detection of OVs.展开更多
Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is considered as one of the most prevalent gastric infections which cause chronic gastritis and predispose to cancer stomach. So, diagnosis and eradication should be rapid t...Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is considered as one of the most prevalent gastric infections which cause chronic gastritis and predispose to cancer stomach. So, diagnosis and eradication should be rapid to decrease the risk of gastric cancer. Aim of the study: To evaluate the role of rapid urease test (RUT) and faecal antigen test (FAT) added to serological test for rapid diagnosis of active H. pylori infection. Patients and methods: 270 patients with dyspepsia and positive serology for H. pylori infection were included. Two antral and two corporal gastric biopsies were taken for RUT and Histopathological examination. Fresh stool samples were obtained from all patients for FAT. Results: The mean age of the studied patients was 45 ± 25. H. pylori infection was found in 256 (94.8%) of the included patients: 236 (92.18%) with positive all tests, 5 (1.95%) with positive both RUT and FAT, 8 (3.12%) with positive both histology and RUT and 7 (2.73%) with positive histology and FAT. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive values for RUT were as follows: 97.27%, 85.71% and 99.20% respectively and 96.88%, 85.71% and 99.20% respectively for FAT. Conclusions: RUT or FAT in patients with positive serological test could be used for rapid diagnosis of active H. pylori infection with good sensitivity and specificity without waiting for the results of histology or culture.展开更多
文摘Background: Bleeding esophageal varices (OVs) due to portal hypertension are one of the major complications with high mortality in liver cirrhosis. So, early detection and management are mandatory. Aim: To evaluate the role of Von Willebrand factor (VWF) in predicting the presence of OVs. Patients and Methods: 62 patients with liver cirrhosis representing different Child-Pugh classes were included. The diagnosis of liver cirrhosis was based on the combination of clinical, laboratory and US examinations. All included patients underwent the following investigations: complete blood count, liver function tests (ALT, AST, serum bilirubin, albumin and total protein, prothrombin time (PT) and concentration (PC), INR and serum alkaline phosphatase), serum creatinine, Von Willebrand factor antigen (VWF-Ag) measurement and abdominal US. Upper endoscopic evaluation was done to detect presence or absence of varices (esophageal or gastric) and/or PHG. Results: 38 males and 24 females with their mean age (46 ± 12 years old) were included. Plasma Von Willebrand factor-Ag level was significantly higher in patients with OVs than those without varices (P value = 0.000). Also, its level was significantly higher in patients with higher grade of OVs, G3 than those with G1 or G2 (P value = 0.000). Patients with large OVs including those with G2 and G3 showed significantly higher values of VWF than those with small OVs (NO and G1) (P value = 0.000). VWF was independent predictor for detecting the presence of OVs with good sensitivity (90), specificity (77.3) and accuracy (85.5) at a cutoff value of 1.74 U/ml. Also it was an independent predictor for detecting the presence of large OVs with good sensitivity (91.2), specificity (85.7) and accuracy (88.7) at a cutoff value of 2.16 U/ml. Conclusion: VWF-Ag could be used as a non invasive laboratory independent predictor for the detection of OVs.
文摘Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is considered as one of the most prevalent gastric infections which cause chronic gastritis and predispose to cancer stomach. So, diagnosis and eradication should be rapid to decrease the risk of gastric cancer. Aim of the study: To evaluate the role of rapid urease test (RUT) and faecal antigen test (FAT) added to serological test for rapid diagnosis of active H. pylori infection. Patients and methods: 270 patients with dyspepsia and positive serology for H. pylori infection were included. Two antral and two corporal gastric biopsies were taken for RUT and Histopathological examination. Fresh stool samples were obtained from all patients for FAT. Results: The mean age of the studied patients was 45 ± 25. H. pylori infection was found in 256 (94.8%) of the included patients: 236 (92.18%) with positive all tests, 5 (1.95%) with positive both RUT and FAT, 8 (3.12%) with positive both histology and RUT and 7 (2.73%) with positive histology and FAT. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive values for RUT were as follows: 97.27%, 85.71% and 99.20% respectively and 96.88%, 85.71% and 99.20% respectively for FAT. Conclusions: RUT or FAT in patients with positive serological test could be used for rapid diagnosis of active H. pylori infection with good sensitivity and specificity without waiting for the results of histology or culture.
