Associação entre ângulos de fase, estadiamento da fibrose hepática, gravidade da cirrose hepática e da resistência à insulina em portadores de hepatite C

O vírus da hepatite C (VHC) afeta cerca de 170 milhões de pessoas, sendo que aproximadamente 3% da população mundial são portadores da sua forma crônica. A cronficação do VHC acarreta diversas complicações como cirrose hepática, carcinoma hepatocelular, além de constituir uma das principais causas de morte por doença hepática e de indicação de transplante hepático. Grande parte desses pacientes evolui com desnutrição energético-protéica, o que torna o acompanhamento do status nutricional imprescindível para o acompanhamento dessa doença. A Bioimpedância Elétrica (BIA) é um instrumento que ganhou espaço na prática clínica e nutricional, em especial por causa do Ângulo de Fase (Å). Baixos valores de Å sugerem morte ou diminuição da integridade celular, e foi considerado como marcador prognóstico em diversas situações clínicas. Contudo, há poucas evidências sobre sua aplicação em portadores do VHC. : O principal objetivo desse estudo foi investigar a associação entre o Å e o estadiamento da fibrose hepática, da gravidade da cirrose hepática e da resistência à insulina dessa população. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, com aplicação de formulário específico, com dados socioeconômicos, exames bioquímicos e avaliação antropométrica. Para avaliação nutricional foram avaliados: peso atual, estatura, índice de massa corporal (IMC), circunferência do braço (CB), circunferência muscular do braço (CMB), área muscular do braço (AMB) e Å. Para determinar a gravidade da cirrose hepática foram utilizados os escores de Child e MELD, e para determinar a presença de resistência insulínica o HOMA-IR. : Os dados foram apresentados em média e desvio padrão, mediana e percentis 25 e 75 e número de vezes...The hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects around 170 million people worldwilde and 3% of the global population suffers from its chronic form. The chronification of the HCV leads to a variety of complications as liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, besides being one of the main causes of death for hepatic disease and indication for liver transplantation. Most of the patients evolve with proteic energetic desnutrition, so the follow-up of the nutritional status is essential to monitor the disease. The bioelectrical impedance (BIA) is a device that has gained ground in the clinical and nutritional practice, especially because of the phase angle (Å). Low values of Å imply death or decrease in cellular integrity, and it was considered as a prognostic marker in a series of clinical situations. However, there is few evidence of its use in HCV carriers. : The main objective of this study was to investigate the associations between Å and the staging of hepatic fibrosis, the severity of hepatic cirrhosis and the resistance to insulin of this population. : It is a transversal study with the use of specific forms, socioeconomic data, biochemical tests and anthropometric evaluation. The nutritional assessment considered the following factors: actual weight, height, body mass index (BMI), arm circumference (AC), arm muscle circumference (AMC), arm muscle area (AMA) and Å. The scores of Child and MELD were used to determine the gravity of hepatic cirrhosis and the HOMA – IR to determine the presence of insulin resistance. The data were presented in average and standard deviation, median and the 25th and 75th percentile and the number of times the upper limit of normal (n x ULN). The t-test, Mann-Whitney, the Spearman test and Pearson correlation were used to make comparisons between the fibrosis groups. The covariance analysis (ANCOVA) was ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Investigação do Ângulo de Fase como preditor da resposta virológica em pacientes portadores de hepatite C

Introdução. O virus da Hepatite C é um ads principais causa de cirrose hepática e carcinoma hepatocelular. O objetivo do tratamento com Interferon Peguilado e ribavirina é alcançar a cura. Não obstante, ainda não há metodologia padrã-ouro para a valiação da composição corporal desses pacientes. O obejtivo desse estudo foi avaliar a associação dos valores pré-tratamento do Ângulo de Fase, e sua variação, com a resposta virológica na semana 24 e resposta virológica sustentada no tratamento com Interferon Peguilado e Ribavirina. Método. Foi realizado um estudo prospectivo, por 6 meses, de Abril de 2010 a Junho de 2013. Bioimpedância Elétrica, tetrapolar, unifrequência foi realizada no pré-tratamento e na semana 24 de tratamento. Exames bioquímicos e biópsia hepática foram coletados dos prontuários médicos. Resultados. Foram avaliados 87 pacientes com idade média de 49.78 ± 10.51,47.12% do sexo masculino. A media do ângulo de fase foi de 6.56 ± 0.78°. No total, 49 (56.32%) obtiveram resposta virológica na semana 24 de tratamento e 43 (49.4%) atingiram resposta virológica sustentada. Em relação aos pacientes genótipo-1 51% obtiveram resposta virológica na semana 24, 24, 46% resposta virológica sustentada e 54% foram não-respondedores. Na população estudada, 38.88% dos pacientes virgens de tratamento e do genótipo- 1alcançaram resposta virológica sustentada,36.84% dos pacientes em retratamento obtiveram resposta virológica sustentada. Quanto aos pacientes nãogenótipo-1 57.14% obtiveram resposta virológica sustentada, e, entre eles,70% eram virgens de tratamento. No que diz respeito à resposta virológica sustentada (p>0.05). Em relação a resposta virológica na semana 24, os valores do ângulo de fase não mostraram diferença estatística entre os grupos. Ângulo de Fase não esteve associado à resposta virológica na semana 24(OR:1.423; CI95%: 0.328- 6.172; p: 0.637). A variação do ângulo de fase durante as 24 semanas de tratamento esteve, no entanto, associado à resposta virológica na semana 24 de tratamento antiviral(OR:1.099; CI95%:1.027-1.176; p:0.006). Conclusão. Nossos achados sugerem que os valores do ângulo de fase no pré-tratamento não estiveram associados nem a resposta virológica na semana 24, nem a resposta virológica sustentada. No entanto, sua variação (delta) nas 24 semanas de tratamento esteve associado a resposta virológica na semana 24.Background. Hepatitis C virus is one of the major causes of liver chirrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The objective of the treatment with Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin was to achieve the cure of the virus. So far, we have no gold-standard methodology to assess the body composition of these patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate the association of baseline Phase Angle (PhA), and it’s variation, with virological response treatment week 24 with Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin and sustained virological response. Methods. Patients were prospectively evaluated for 6 months, from April 2010 to June 2013. A tetrapolar single-frequency bioimpedance were performed at baseline and at treatment week 24. Biochemical and liver biopsy data were collected from the patient´s medical chart. Results. A total of 87 patients with mean age of 49.78 ± 10.51 y were studied ,47.12% were male. The phase angle mean was 6.56 ± 0.78°.A total of 49 (56.32%) of them achieved virological response at treatement week 24 and 43 (49.4%) reached sustained virological response. Considering the genotype- 1 population 51% achieved virological response at tw 24, 46% SVR and 54% were non-responders. Among the population studied, 38.88% of näive genotype-1 patients achieved sustained virological response, 36.84% of previous NR achieved sustained virological resposnse. Regarding non gentotype-1 population 57.14% achieved SVR and among them 70% were naive. Considering sustained virological response, baseline Phase Angle values showed no statistical difference between the groups (p>0.05).Regarding virological response at treatment week 24, Phase Angle values showed no statistical difference between the groups Phase angle was not associated with virological response at treatment week 24 (OR:1.423; CI95%: 0.328-6.172; p: 0.637). The variation of phase angle during the 24 weeks of treatment was associated with virological response at 24 week (OR:1.099; CI95%:1.027-1.176; p:0.006). Conclusion. Our findings suggest that PhA was not associated neither with virological response at treatment week 24 to sustained virological response. However, its variation (delta) within 24 weeks of treatment was associated with virological response at tw24.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

BODY COMPOSITION IN PATIENTS WITH CROHN’S DISEASE AND ULCERATIVE COLITIS

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND The nutritional status of individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases is directly related to the severity of the disease and is associated with poor prognosis and the deterioration of immune competence. OBJECTIVE To assess the nutritional status and the body composition of outpatients with inflammatory bowel diseases. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted with clinical and nutritional assessment of patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Patients were classified according to the clinical activity through Crohn’s Disease Activity Index and Mayo Score. Nutritional assessment consisted of anthropometric measurements of current weight, height, mid-arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness and thickness of adductor policis muscle, with subsequent calculation of BMI, arm muscle circumference and the mid-arm muscle area (MAMA). The phase angle (PhA) and lean and fat mass were obtained with the use of electrical bioimpedance. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test or Fisher exact test, ANOVA and t-test. RESULTS We evaluated 141 patients of which 54 (38.29%) had Crohn’s disease and 87 (61.70%) ulcerative colitis. The mean age was 43.98 (±15.68) years in Crohn’s disease and 44.28 (±16.29) years for ulcerative colitis. Most of the patients were in clinical remission of the disease (Crohn’s disease: 88.89%; ulcerative colitis: 87.36%). Regarding the nutritional classification using BMI, it was found that 48.15% of Crohn’s disease patients were eutrophic and 40.74% were overweight or obese; among patients with ulcerative colitis, 52.87% were classified as overweight or obese. When considering the triceps skinfold, it was observed in both groups a high percentage of overweight and obesity (Crohn’s disease: 75.93%; ulcerative colitis: 72.42%). Crohn’s disease patients showed the most affected nutritional status according to the nutritional variables when compared to patients with ulcerative colitis (BMI: 24.88 kg/m² x BMI: 26.56 kg/m², P=0.054; MAMA: 35.11 mm x MAMA: 40.39 mm, P=0.040; PhA: 6.46° x PhA: 6.83°, P=0.006). CONCLUSION Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases have a high prevalence of overweight and obesity. Crohn’s disease patients had more impaired anthropometric and body composition indicators when compared to patients with ulcerative colitis

Association between phase angle, anthropometric measurements, and lipid profile in HCV-infected patients

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between phase angle, anthropometric measurements, and lipid profile in patients chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus. METHODS: A total of 160 consecutive patients chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus and who received treatment at the hepatitis C outpatient unit of our hospital from April 2010 to May 2011 were prospectively evaluated. Bioelectrical impedance analysis, anthropometric measurements, and serum lipid profile analysis were performed. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were excluded. A total of 135 patients with a mean age of 49.8±11.4 years were studied. Among these patients, 60% were male. The phase angle and BMI means were 6.5±0.8° and 26.5±4.8 kg/m2, respectively. Regarding anthropometric variables, mid-arm circumference, mid-arm muscle circumference, and arm muscle area had a positive correlation with phase angle. In contrast, when analyzing the lipid profile, only HDL was inversely correlated with phase angle. However, in multiple regression models adjusted for age and gender, only mid-arm circumference (p = 0.005), mid-arm muscle circumference (p = 0.003), and arm muscle circumference (p = 0.001) were associated with phase angle in hepatitis C virus-infected patients. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, phase angle is positively correlated with anthropometric measures in our study. However, there is no association between phase angle and lipid profile in these patients. Our results suggest that phase angle is related to lean body mass in patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus

Redução do MELD em paciente em lista de transplante hepático após o uso de aminoácidos de cadeia ramificada: relato de caso

Liver cirrhosis (LC) is a disease with high mortality rates and its only definitive treatment is the orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Unfortunately, not all patients have access to OLT and many of them end up dying on the transplant waiting list. The use of branched chain amino acids (BCAA) is widely known as an effective treatment for improving the quality of life of these patients. For the first time, in this paper we documented a great improvement of clinical and laboratorial tests of a patient treated with BCAA, which allowed him to be out of the transplant waiting list. In addition to the increase of the MELD score, the patient achieved restabilization of body weight and recovery of the quality of life registered by the SF-36 questionnaire.A cirrose hepática (CH) é uma doença com altas taxas de mortalidade e que apresenta, como único tratamento definitivo, o transplante hepático (TH). Infelizmente, nem todos os pacientes têm acesso ao TH e muitos acabam morrendo ainda na lista de transplante. O uso de aminoácidos de cadeia ramificada (AACR) já é amplamente conhecido como tratamento eficaz para a melhora da qualidade de vida destes pacientes. Neste relato, pela primeira vez, documentou-se uma grande melhora clínica e laboratorial em um paciente após o tratamento com AACR, que permitiu ao paciente sair inclusive da lista de transplante. Além da diminuição do escore MELD, houve reestabilização do peso corporal e melhora da qualidade de vida, documentada pelo questionário SF-36

Handgrip strength as a predictor of bone mineral density in cirrhotic outpatients

Osteoporosis is well recognized as a cirrhosis complication; however, most studies assessing this condition included only patients on liver transplantation lists with an elevated rate of bone diseases. While general population studies show that handgrip strength is clearly associated with bone mineral density, until now this tool has not been applied to cirrhotic patients in relation to their bone condition. This study aimed to evaluate whether handgrip strength, bone and liver tests may be useful as predictors of bone disease in cirrhotic outpatients. 129 subjects were included (77 men and 52 women). Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry was applied to evaluate lumbar-spine and femoral-neck T scores. Osteoporosis/osteopenia rates were 26.3%/35.6% in the lumbar spine and 6.9%/41.8% in the femoral neck, respectively. Model selections were based on backward procedures to find the best predictors of low T scores. For lumbar spine, only low handgrip strength and high parathyroid hormone levels were clearly related to low T scores. For femoral neck, only age was associated with low T scores. Handgrip strength may serve as an effective predictor of low lumbar spine T score among cirrhotic outpatients. As cirrhosis affects the lumbar spine more than the femoral neck, these results suggest that handgrip strength should be tested in all cirrhotic patients as a first indicator of bone health. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved