BACKGROUND/AIMS: Dilutional hyponatremia associated with liver cirrhosis is caused by impaired free water clearance. Several studies have shown that serum sodium levels correlate with survival in cirrhotic patients. Little is known, however, regarding the relationship between the degree of dilutional hyponatremia and development of cirrhotic complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the serum sodium level and the severity of complications in liver cirrhosis. METHODS: Data of inpatients with cirrhotic complications were collected retrospectively. The serum sodium levels and severity of complications of 188 inpatients were analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of dilutional hyponatremia, classified as serum sodium concentrations of < or =135 mmol/L, < or =130 mmol/L, and < or =125 mmol/L, were 20.8%, 14.9%, and 12.2%, respectively. The serum sodium level was strongly associated with the severity of liver function impairment as assessed by Child-Pugh and MELD scores (p<0.0001). Even a mild hyponatremia with a serum sodium concentration of 131-135 mmol/L was associated with severe complications. Sodium levels less than 130 mmol/L indicated the existence of massive ascites (OR, 2.685; CI, 1.316-5.477; p=0.007), grade III or higher hepatic encephalopathy (OR, 5.891; CI, 1.490-23.300; p=0.011), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (OR, 2.562; CI, 1.162-5.653; p=0.020), and hepatic hydrothorax (OR, 5.723; CI, 1.889-17.336; p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Hyponatremia, especially serum levels < or =130 mmol/L, may indicate the existence of severe complications associated with liver cirrhosis
Adult ; Aged ; Ascites/blood/etiology ; Biological Markers/blood ; Female ; Hepatic Encephalopathy/blood/etiology ; Humans ; Hydrothorax/blood/etiology ; Hyponatremia/blood/*etiology/mortality ; Kaplan-Meiers Estimate ; Liver Cirrhosis/blood/*complications/mortality/physiopathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritonitis/blood/etiology ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sodium/*blood ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of bacterial translocation (BT) in patients with cirrhosis after liver transplantation and analyze the effect of BT on bacterial infection after the surgery.

METHODSMesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), portal vein blood, and peripheral blood were collected during the liver transplantation for microbiological culture from 78 patients with cirrhosis. And meanwhile, all related clinical data were analyzed to investigate the risk factors of BT and its relationship with post-liver transplantation infections.

RESULTSBT was occurred in 8 of 78 cirrhotic patients (10.3%) and positive-rate of MLN culture was 5/8. Gram-negative aerobic bacillus was the main causative bacterium of BT (5/9), followed by Gram-positive aerobic enterococcus (22.2%, 2/9). Total bilirubin level in patients with BT was significantly higher than that in patients without BT.

CONCLUSIONSIt suggests that hyperbilirubinemia is the only risk factor for BT, and BT is associated with an increased infectious rate after liver transplantation.

Adult ; Bacterial Infections ; blood ; etiology ; Bacterial Translocation ; Female ; Humans ; Intestines ; microbiology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; microbiology ; surgery ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritonitis ; etiology ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; microbiology ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a gram-negative bacillus that has become increasingly recognized as an important nosocomial pathogen, particularly in individuals with severe debilitation or immunosuppression. S. maltophilia is also characterized by its resistance to multiple antibiotics. S. maltophilia peritonitis in CAPD (continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis) patients is associated with a poor prognosis and loss of CAPD catheter. No report concerning this entity has been presented in Korea. Therefore, we describe and discuss five cases of the S. maltophilia infection associated with CAPD in three patients with peritonitis and two with exit-site infections. METHODS: We performed a retrospective search for episodes of S. maltophilia infections related to CAPD in our renal unit. The baseline levels of hemoglobin, albumin, cholesterol, BUN and creatinine were compared with age, sex and, if possible, the underlying disease-matched controls. RESULTS: All the patients with S. maltophilia peritonitis had diabetes mellitus as the underlying disease. The individual patients also had other significant combined morbidities, such as panhypopituitarism, COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cerebrovascular accident and myocardial infarction. The level of hemoglobin in these patients was significantly lower than in the controls, and the mean values of serum albumin, creatinine and BUN were also low. CONCLUSION: Immune dysfunction due to uremia, anemia, malnutrition, other comorbidities (e.g. diabetes mellitus), and also, an indwelling peritoneal catheter may be predisposing factors for the S. maltophilia infection in CAPD patients. Once the S. maltophilia infection is diagnosed in CAPD patient, the patient should be treated based on the understanding of this particular organism.
Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Biological Markers/blood ; Diabetes Complications/therapy ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Female ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/blood/drug therapy/etiology/*microbiology ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory/*adverse effects ; Peritonitis/blood/drug therapy/etiology/*microbiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; *Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ; Treatment Failure