The Diagnostic Value of Serum Leucine Aminopeptidase

Experience with serum leucine aminopeptidase determination in 61 patients led to the following conclusions. The test is no more sensitive than the alkaline phosphatase test in cases of carcinoma of the pancreas. It is elevated in all cases of obstructive and hepatogenous jaundice and serves no useful function in their differentiation. It was a valuable test in cases of calculous biliary tract disease, being more sensitive than either bilirubin or alkaline phosphatase determinations. In three instances of elevated leucine aminopeptidase in disorders apparently not related to the liver or pancreas, laparotomy and autopsy showed involvement of these organs in two.     

Diagnostic Performance of Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography in Malignant Obstructive Jaundice

Malignant obstructive jaundice is caused by tumors arising from the head of the pancreas and biliary tree, or seen due to secondary metastases in the porta hepatis lymph nodes. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is a non-invasive diagnostic technique that can be used for imaging the entire biliary tree and pancreatic duct system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of MRCP in the diagnosis of malignant obstructive jaundice. The methods used involved comparative review of the images obtained by using magnetic resonance imaging and MRCP as well as comparison between MRCP- and pathology-based diagnoses. The accuracy of MRCP-based diagnosis of malignant obstructive jaundice was analyzed. Our data show that the positive rate of anatomical diagnosis and the detection rate of bile ducts on the proximal side of obstruction are 100%. The diagnostic accuracy of malignant obstruction was 82.9%. MRCP was found to have high diagnostic specificity for determining the location and extent of obstruction. We, therefore, concluded that MRCP had significance for clinical diagnosis of malignant obstructive jaundice. The positive rate of localization diagnosis was 100%. Distinguishing the quality of obstruction was also important. The diagnostic accuracy of MRCP for malignant obstructive jaundice was remarkably higher.     

Grey-scale ultrasonography and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography in biliary tract disease.

Fifty-one patients with suspected obstructive jaundice and 14 without jaundice in whom disease of the biliary tract was suspected but infusion cholangiography had been unhelpful were examined by grey-scale ultrasonography and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and the findings analysed retrospectively. Grey-scale ultrasonography distinguished between obstructive and hepatocellular jaundice in 35 out of 46 patients (76%) and indicated the site of the obstruction in 27 (58%) and the cause of the obstruction in 13 (28%). Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography distinguished between obstructive and hepatocellular jaundice in 42 of the patients (91%) and indicated the site of the obstruction in 42 (91%) and the cause in 29 (63%). In the 14 patients without jaundice percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography showed bile-duct stones in one an ampullary stenosis in three. It is concluded that grey-scale ultrasonography and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography are complementary examinations and that ultrasonography should always be undertaken first as it is a non-invasive procedure that may provide the surgeon with all the diagnostic information he requires. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography should be performed when grey-scale ultrasonography has shown dilated bile ducts but failed to provide adequate diagnostic information. Cholangiography is also required when preoperative percutaneous drainage of the bile duct is contemplated. In those patients in whom grey-scale ultrasonography shows non-dilated ducts endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is probably the contract examination of choice.     

CA 19-9 assay in patients with extrahepatic cholestatic jaundice

Serum concentrations of the CA 19-9 tumour marker were determined in 35 patients with histologically proven bilio-pancreatic malignancies associated with obstructive jaundice and in 35 patients with benign extrahepatic jaundice due to choledocholithiasis. At a cut-off level of 37 U/ml the sensitivity of this assay was 82.8%, but the specificity was very low (45.7%). Thus CA 19-9 can not be employed to differentiate between malignant and benign extrahepatic jaundice. Serial samples of CA 19-9 were achieved in 7 patients with benign and in 6 patients with malignant biliary obstruction, before and after the disappearance of jaundice. Serum concentrations of this tumour-antigen returned to normal concurrently with the bilirubin values only in patients with benign obstruction, remaining unchanged in all cases of malignancies. The data suggest that patients with extrahepatic jaundice should be evaluated by other examinations or by collecting serial samples for this assay.     

Pruritic Effect of Bile Salts

The pruritic effect of purified bile salts has been tested by applying them to blister bases. All the salts tested were pruritogens, but the dihydroxy salts (especially unconjugated chenodeoxycholate) were more effective than the trihydroxy salts. This may explain the poor correlation between total serum bile salt concentration and pruritus in obstructive jaundice.     

Influence of Obstructive Jaundice on Pharmacodynamics of Rocuronium

Background

Anesthetics are variable in patients with obstructive jaundice. The minimum alveolar concentration awake of desflurane is reduced in patients with obstructive jaundice, while it has no effect on pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of propofol. In this study, we investigated the influence of obstructive jaundice on the pharmacodynamics and blood concentration of rocuronium.

Methods

Included in this study were 26 control patients and 27 patients with obstructive jaundice. Neuromuscular block of rocuronium was monitored by acceleromyography. Onset time, spontaneous recovery of the height of twitch first (T1) to 25% of the final T1 value (Duration 25%, Dur 25%), recovery index (RI), and spontaneous recovery of train-of-four (TOF) ratios to 70% were measured. The plasma rocuronium concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chromatography using berberine as an internal standard.

Results

There was no significant difference in onset time between the two groups. The Dur 25%, the recovery index and the time of recovery of the TOF ratios to 70% were all prolonged in the obstructive jaundice group compared with the control group. The plasma concentration of rocuronium at 60, 90 and 120 min after bolus administration was significantly higher in the obstructive jaundice group.

Conclusions

The neuromuscular blockade by rocuronium is prolonged in obstructive jaundice patients, and therefore precautions should be taken in case of postoperative residual neuromuscular block. The possible reason is impedance of rocuronium excretion due to biliary obstruction and increased plasma unbound rocuronium because of free bilirubin competing with it for albumin binding.     

梗阻性黄疸患者经内镜逆行胰胆管造影术后胆道感染的病原菌分布、耐药性及影响因素分析

目的:探讨梗阻性黄疸患者经内镜逆行胰胆管造影(ERCP)术后胆道感染病原菌分布、耐药性以及导致术后胆道感染的影响因素。方法:选择2016年3月至2019年10月我院收治的310例行ERCP治疗的梗阻性黄疸患者,根据ERCP术后是否发生胆道感染将其分为感染组(50例)和未感染组(260例)。检测胆道感染患者病原菌种类及其耐药性,多元Logistic回归分析影响梗阻性黄疸患者ERCP术后胆道感染的影响因素。结果:ERCP术后胆道感染发生率为16.13%,大肠埃希菌、铜绿假单胞菌、粪肠球菌、屎肠球菌是主要致病菌,检出率分别为40.79%、13.16%、9.21%、6.58%。大肠埃希菌、铜绿假单胞菌对头孢类、氨基糖苷类抗生素耐药率高,粪肠球菌、屎肠球菌对利福平、喹诺酮类抗生素耐药率高,大肠埃希菌、铜绿假单胞菌、粪肠球菌、屎肠球菌均对利奈唑胺、亚胺培南敏感。多元Logistic回归分析结果显示,恶性病变、ERCP2次及以上、胆胰管汇流异常、术后胆管引流不畅是梗阻性黄疸患者ERCP术后胆道感染的危险因素(P0.05),术后预防性使用抗生素是保护因素(P0.05)。结论:梗阻性黄疸患者ERCP术后存在一定胆道感染风险,革兰氏阴性菌是主要致病菌,临床应注重对高危因素预防,有必要术后选择敏感抗生素预防性治疗。     

磁共振胰胆管成像联合血清CA125、CA19-9、CEA对良恶性梗阻性黄疸的诊断价值

摘要 目的：研究磁共振胰胆管成像（MRCP）联合血清糖类抗原125（CA125）、糖类抗原19-9（CA19-9）、癌胚抗原（CEA）对良恶性梗阻性黄疸的诊断价值。方法：将医院从2018年1月～2020年2月期间收治的90例良恶性梗阻性黄疸患者纳入研究。将其按照良恶性的差异分为良性梗阻性黄疸51例以及恶性梗阻性黄疸39例。分别对所有患者进行MRCP检测,并分析良恶性梗阻性黄疸MRCP影像学表现特征的差异。此外,采集所有患者清晨空腹静脉血,检测血清CA125、CA19-9、CEA水平并进行对比。通过受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析明确MRCP联合血清CA125、CA19-9、CEA对良恶性梗阻性黄疸的诊断价值。结果：恶性梗阻性黄疸部位为十二指肠乳头区人数占比明显高于良性梗阻性黄疸,而胰头上区、胰头区人数占比均明显低于良性梗阻性黄疸;且恶性梗阻性黄疸梗阻重度扩张人数占比明显高于良性梗阻性黄疸,而梗阻轻度扩张人数占比明显低于良性梗阻性黄疸,差异均有统计学意义（均P＜0.05）。恶性梗阻性黄疸患者血清CA125、CEA水平均明显高于良性梗阻性黄疸患者（均P＜0.05）;而两组血清CA19-9水平对比不明显（P＞0.05）。MRCP联合血清CA125、CA19-9、CEA诊断良恶性梗阻性黄疸的曲线下面积、灵敏度、特异度、约登指数均明显高于MRCP和血清CA125、CA19-9、CEA单独诊断。结论：MRCP联合血清CA125、CA19-9、CEA对良恶性梗阻性黄疸的诊断价值较高,值得临床推广应用。     

Granular cell tumor of the biliary system: a report of 2 cases with cytologic diagnosis on endoscopic brushing

BACKGROUND: Granular cell tumors (GCTs) of biliary system are rare. GCTs show a striking preponderance for young, black females, who generally present with obstructive jaundice. To our knowledge, these are the first 2 reports of GCT of biliary system identifed on endoscopic brushing cytology. CASES: In case 1, a 24-year-old, black woman presented with a 5-month history of pruritus. Radiographic studies demonstrated a mass in the distal common bile duct. Endoscopic biopsy and bile duct brushing were diagnosed as GCT. A Whipple procedure was confirmatory of GCT. In case 2, a 38-year-old, black female presented with a 7-month history of pruritus and jaundice. Radiographic studies showed a stricture of the common hepatic duct at the hilum. Endoscopic brushing cytology of the stricture yielded only a few sheets of granular cells that were missed on initial screening. Suspicion of cholangiocarcinoma prompted surgery, and final histopathology showed GCT. Both patients were well 1 1/2 and 6 years after presentation. CONCLUSION: GCT of the bile duct can be diagnosed on endoscopic brushing and should be considered in the cytologic differential diagnosis in the appropriate clinical settings.     

Pitfalls in the Diagnosis of Jaundice due to Carcinoma of the Pancreas or Biliary Tree

Analysis of 56 patients with obstructive jaundice due to carcinoma of the pancreas or extrahepatic biliary tree showed that unexpected features were present in 25%. Presentation with painless jaundice was uncommon, and the symptoms were more often non-specific, with malaise, anorexia, and vomiting. Abdominal pain was frequent, and the condition was found in young patients. One-fifth presented with serum alkaline phosphatase levels of less than 30 K.A. units. Some had high serum aspartate aminotransferase levels, more characteristic of hepatocellular jaundice. A mathematical model may be helpful in correctly weighting these various criteria.     

Transhepatic Cholangiography

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography is a method of visualizing the biliary tree by the injection of radio-opaque medium through the abdominal wall and liver into an intrahepatic bile duct. The procedure is indicated in the immediate preoperative evaluation of patients with obstructive jaundice of unknown etiology and is usually diagnostic in these cases. It may also be of value in avoiding operation in poor-risk patients with obstructive jaundice. Biliary leak resulting in chemical peritonitis is a complication in about 5% of these procedures. Intraperitoneal hemorrhage is a complication in less than 1%. Death results from the procedure in less than 0.5% of cases. Transhepatic cholangiography during surgical operation is of value in demonstrating obstructive lesions of the bile ducts. However, preoperative percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography is preferred, since it makes possible adequate preparation for technically difficult repairs and resections.     

Differential ultrasonic diagnosis of jaundice

Multiprojection ultrasound investigation was performed in 87 patients with jaundice. Echography was shown to be an effective method of differential diagnosis of parenchymatous and obstructive jaundice. The accuracy of ultrasound introscopy in the detection of parenchymatous jaundice was 84.3%, that in the detection of mechanical jaundice was 100% (the general accuracy being 85.7%). The authors proposed an algorithm for the use of ultrasound tomography, x-ray and clinico-instrumental methods in differential diagnosis of jaundice of different etiology.     

Biliary obstruction selectively expands and activates liver myeloid dendritic cells

Obstructive jaundice is associated with immunologic derangements and hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Because dendritic cells (DCs) play a major role in immune regulation, we hypothesized that the immunosuppression associated with jaundice may result from the functional impairment of liver DCs. We found that bile duct ligation (BDL) in mice expanded the myeloid subtype of liver DCs from 20 to 80% of total DCs and increased their absolute number by >15-fold. Liver myeloid DCs following BDL, but not sham laparotomy, had increased Ag uptake in vivo, high IL-6 secretion in response to LPS, and enhanced ability to activate T cells. The effects of BDL were specific to liver DCs, as spleen DCs were not affected. Expansion of liver myeloid DCs depended on Gr-1(+) cells, and we implicated monocyte chemotactic protein-1 as a potential mediator. Thus, obstructive jaundice selectively expands liver myeloid DCs that are highly functional and unlikely to be involved with impaired host immune responses.     

Itch in Liver Disease: Facts and Speculations

Pruritus in hepatobiliary disease is commonly believed to be caused by retention of bile acids with their sequestration in the skin. HOwever, we have recently demonstrated that skin levels of bile acids in patients with cholestasis correlate poorly with pruritus. In this report, we present additional data concerning the relationship of pruritus to bile acid retention: (1) the urinary excretion of sulfated and nonsulfated bile acids was not significantly different in patients with cholestasis who itched compared to those who did not; (2) one patient with itch associated with a liver abscess had normal levels of bile acids in serum, skin, and urine; (3) patients with primary biliary cirrhosis who itched had lower serum bile acid levels than patients with mechanical biliary obstruction who did not itch.These studies support our premise that pruritus in hepatobiliary diseases is not directly related to bile acid retention. They suggest that the type of cholestatic disorder, and not simply the magnitude of the cholestasis, as estimated by the elevation of serum bile acids, is important. We propose that the agent responsible for pruritus is produced in response to cholestasis, possibly through activation of the alternate pathway of bile acid synthesis. Properties of the hypothetical pruritogen are discussed.     

恶性梗阻性黄疸手术治疗研究进展

恶性梗阻性黄疸作为肝胆外科较为常见的疾病,对患者机体的损害较大,而且不利于预后。恶性梗阻性黄疸起病隐匿,患者得到确诊时肿瘤已发展为中晚期,错过了治疗的最佳时机。目前临床主要采用外科手术(根治性及姑息性)、内镜、ERCP、PTCD等治疗方法,随着微创技术达芬奇机器人的发展,对恶性梗阻性黄疸的治疗,特别是高龄患者有了更好的方法,扩大了手术的适应范围。根据患者病情及适应症,可以选择更适合的治疗方法,提出了更为合理的个人规范模式,使患者获益更多。本文对临床治疗恶性梗阻性黄疸的手术治疗的主要方法进行综述,旨在为恶性梗阻性黄疸的临床研究提供参考。     

Two Cases of Thyroid Storm-Associated Cholestatic Jaundice

ObjectiveTo describe the association of the rare and serious complication of jaundice with severe thyrotoxicosis, a potentially lethal endocrine disorder.MethodsWe report the clinical, laboratory, and pathologic findings of 2 cases of severe jaundice (total bilirubin levels: 35.2 mg/dL in case 1 and 42 mg/dL in case 2) associated with thyroid storm in the absence of a history of liver disease, thionamide exposure, or congestive heart failure. We also present other relevant reports available in the literature.ResultsCase 1 was a 38-year-old woman who presented with nausea, vomiting, fatigue, pruritus, and frequent nonbloody diarrhea. She was transferred to our institution because of worsening hyperbilirubinemia. Case 2 was a 35-year-old woman admitted to a community hospital with thyroid storm and jaundice. Upon transfer to our institution, the patient was unconscious, mechanically ventilated, and in atrial fibrillation. In case 2, liver biopsy results revealed diffuse hepatocellular ballooning with intrahepatic cholestasis with mild portal lymphocytic infiltration. Both patients presented with severe cholestatic jaundice in the absence of congestive heart failure; underlying liver disease (infectious or autoimmune); or previous exposure to thionamides, other hepatotoxic agents, or complementary and alternative medications. In both cases, jaundice responded to therapy with antithyroid medications. Both patients eventually underwent thyroidectomy with complete resolution of the jaundice.ConclusionThe data strongly suggest that in these patients, the hepatic dysfunction was primarily due to hyperthyroidism. These cases indicate that the mere presence of hyperbilirubinemia during severe thyrotoxicosis should not per se delay the use of potentially life-saving thionamides once a thorough evaluation for other causes of liver disease has been completed. (Endocr Pract. 2007;13:476-480)     

Association of Allergic Symptoms with Dengue Infection and Severity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

The relationship between the severity of dengue infection and allergy is still obscure. We conducted an electronic search across 12 databases for relevant articles reporting allergic symptoms, dengue infection, and dengue classification. These studies were categorized according to dengue severity and allergy symptoms, and a meta-analysis was performed by pooling the studies in each category. Among the included 57 articles, pruritus was the most common allergic sign followed by non-specified allergy and asthma(28.6%, 13%, and 6.5%, respectively). Despite the reported significant association of dengue with pruritus and total Ig E level(P \ 0.05), in comparison with non-dengue cases and healthy controls, there was no association between the different severe dengue group with pruritus, skin allergy, food allergy or asthma. However,removing the largest study revealed a significant association between asthma with dengue hemorrhagic fever(DHF) rather than dengue fever(DF). In comparison with DF, DHF was associated with Ig E positivity. Furthermore, specific-Ig E level was higher in secondary DF rather than primary DF. There was a possible association between allergy symptoms and dengue severity progression. Further studies are needed to clarify this association.     

Cholestyramine in uraemic pruritus.

In a patient with longstanding severe uraemic pruritus who was undergoing chronic haemodialysis cholestyramine caused the pruritus to disappear completely within a few days. A four-week randomised controlled double-blind study was therefore performed in 10 other patients with uraemic pruritus who were on chronic haemodialysis. The pruritus improved considerably in four of the five treated patients, whereas only one of those treated with placebo experienced relief. The patient who had no relief while on cholestyramine showed a considerable improvement when the dose subsequently doubled. One of the five patients receiving cholestyramine experienced mild and easily reversible constipation, and another suffered nausea. Neither of these complications prevented the patients from continuing treatment. Cholestyramine seems to be useful in treating uraemic pruritus, although it is not known how it acts.     

Analysis of 3-sulfated and nonsulfated bile acids by one-step solvolysis and high performance liquid chromatography

A facile solvolysis procedure of 3-sulfated bile acid was devised using trifluoroacetic acid, tetrahydrofuran, and methanol. The sulfate esters were completely solvolyzed within only 2 hr by the present method. The clinical utility of the solvolysis procedure and high performance liquid chromatography using immobilized 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was demonstrated in the analysis of bile acids in serum of patients with obstructive jaundice. The quantities of 3-sulfated bile acids were calculated from the difference in the amount of bile acids before and after solvolysis. A significantly large proportion of 3-sulfated glycochenodeoxycholic acid, i.e., 21.9 to 31.3% of total glycochenodeoxycholic acid, was found in the serum of patients with obstructive jaundice. Thus, the present method permits simultaneous quantitation of 3-sulfated as well as nonsulfated bile acids in biological samples.     

S-腺苷蛋氨酸对梗阻性黄疸患者术后肝功能及营养状况影响的临床研究

目的：探讨S-腺苷蛋氨酸对梗阻性黄疸患者术后肝功能及营养状况的影响。方法：选择2010年8月至2012年7月我院肝胆病区收治的90例梗阻性黄疸患者为研究对象,随机分为S-腺苷蛋氨酸治疗组（48例）和对照组（42例）,比较和分析静脉滴注S-腺苷蛋氨酸对梗阻性黄疸患者术后第5d、10d肝功能及营养指标的影响。结果：术后5d、10d,两组患者血总胆红素、直接胆红素、谷丙转氨酶、1．谷氨酰转肽酶、碱性磷酸酶水平较术前1d显著降低,且组内比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,治疗组以上指标的下降程度较对照组更明显,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。术后第10d,两组患者的血白蛋白、前白蛋白、转铁蛋白水平较术后第5d显著改善（P〈0．05）;术后第5、10d,两组组间血白蛋白、前白蛋白、转铁蛋白水平比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：梗阻性黄疸患者术后应用腺苷蛋氨酸能促进黄疸消退,加快胆红素的排泄和肝功能的恢复,有利于患者营养状况的改善。