Abstract
BackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major health problem in Egypt. It is often complicated by liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension, resulting in gastroesophageal varices, gastropathy, and colopathy. However, there is still lack of data with respect to the prevalence and clinical relevance of colopathy in this kind of liver disease. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of colopathic lesions in HCV-related cirrhotic patients, and to study their associations with the severity of liver disease and manifestations of portal hypertensionPatients and methodsThis cross-sectional study included 60 patients with liver cirrhosis who were submitted to thorough clinical, laboratory, and ultrasonographic examinations. In addition, both upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy were performed to detect portal hypertensive complications including colopathic lesions. According to their severity, colopathic lesions were graded into three grades. Patients with higher colopathic grading (grade 2 and 3) were compared with the remaining participants with respect to the severity of the liver disease and other manifestations of portal hypertension.ResultsThe prevalence of colopathy in cirrhotic patients with underlying HCV etiology was 91%. Patients with higher grades of colopathy were characterized by more severe liver disease. Moreover, they had increased frequency of both esophageal and gastric varices, and prior sclerotherapy or band ligation, as well as more collaterals and gastropathy, and higher grades of esophageal varices.ConclusionColopathic lesions are frequent in patients with HCV-induced cirrhosis. Getting endoscopic treatment for varices is a risk factor for developing higher grades of colopathy. The latter could be considered as a marker of a worse prognosis in patients with HCV cirrhosis.
Highlights
Viral hepatitis has been identified as the seventh leading cause of mortality worldwide [1]
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is estimated to be responsible for nearly half of this mortality owing to its adverse effects on the liver and portal circulation [2]
A total of 31 patients were identified to have the class C Child–Pugh classification, and 39 participants had been previously submitted to endoscopic treatment for esophageal varices in the form of sclerotherapy and/ or band ligation (Table 1)
Summary
Viral hepatitis has been identified as the seventh leading cause of mortality worldwide [1]. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major health problem in Egypt It is often complicated by liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension, resulting in gastroesophageal varices, gastropathy, and colopathy. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of colopathic lesions in HCV-related cirrhotic patients, and to study their associations with the severity of liver disease and manifestations of portal hypertension Patients and methods This cross-sectional study included 60 patients with liver cirrhosis who were submitted to thorough clinical, laboratory, and ultrasonographic examinations. Both upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy were performed to detect portal hypertensive complications including colopathic lesions. Patients with higher colopathic grading (grade 2 and 3) were compared with the remaining participants with respect to the severity of the liver disease and other manifestations of portal hypertension
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