Stauffer syndrome : a rare paraneoplastic complication of renal cell carcinoma to be kept in mind. Case report and literature survey.

The authors report the case of a 74-years-old woman treated by immunotherapy for a metastatic renal cell carcinoma and having developed an important cholestasis with thrombocytosis, increased CRP, leucocytosis and hypoalbuminemia. Liver remained free of metastases at medical imaging. The diagnosis of a Stauffer syndrome was confirmed by the hepatic biopsy.

[How I treat... choledocholithiasis by retrograde cholangiopancreatography in a patient with gastric bypass].

Performing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in bariatric patients with gastric bypass is often challenging. Many techniques have been described. Recently, Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) - direct transgastric ERCP (EDGE) by using lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) has shown efficacy to reach biliary orifice and perform conventional ERCP with good safety profile and low risk of adverse events.

A multicentre, observational study on demographic and disease characteristics of patients seeking care for chronic hepatitis C in Belgium in 2016.

Background And Study Aims: Direct-acting antivirals provide interferon-free treatments for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus infection. In Belgium, in 2016, access to these agents was limited to patients with advanced liver fibrosis stages F3 and F4. This study is the first to describe Belgium's patient population ineligible for interferon-free treatment.

The Belgian national registry on chronic pancreatitis: A prospective multi-centre study covering more than 800 patients in one year.

Background/objectives: The epidemiology, natural history, complications, and therapeutic management of chronic pancreatitis (CP) are not well described at the national level. This multi-centre prospective observational study involving eight Belgian hospitals aimed to improve the understanding of these aspects of CP in Belgium.

Methods: All patients with a diagnosis of CP based on imaging were eligible for this study.

Evaluation of the efficacy of octreotide LAR in the treatment of Crohn's disease associated refractory diarrhea.

Objectives: Diarrhea is one of the main symptoms of Crohn's disease (CD). It is usually significantly improved with specific CD treatments, loperamide or cholestyramine. However, in some cases, diarrhea becomes refractory.

Intensive Enteral Nutrition Is Ineffective for Patients With Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis Treated With Corticosteroids.

Background & Aims: Severe alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a life-threatening disease for which adequate oral nutritional support is recommended. We performed a randomized controlled trial to determine whether the combination of corticosteroid and intensive enteral nutrition therapy is more effective than corticosteroid therapy alone in patients with severe AH.

Methods: We enrolled 136 heavy consumers of alcohol (age, 18-75 y) with recent onset of jaundice and biopsy-proven severe AH in our study, performed at 18 hospitals in Belgium and 2 in France, from February 2010 through February 2013.

Belgian experience with triple therapy with boceprevir and telaprevir in genotype 1 infected patients who inject drugs.

No data have been reported yet on treatment outcome in persons who inject drugs (PWID) infected with hepatitis C virus treated with boceprevir or telaprevir in combination with peginterferon (Peg IFN) and ribavirin (RBV). Additionally, there are concerns about the safety of boceprevir and telaprevir in some subgroups of patients with hepatitis C (HCV). In a cohort of HCV patients infected with genotype 1 in Belgium, treatment outcome of patients infected due to IV drug use was analyzed and compared with patients who have no history of substance use.

Endoscopic findings in case of incidental colonic uptake in PET-CT how to improve PET-CT specificity?

Unexpected colonic 18FDG focal uptakes (UCFU) in PET CT occur in 1.3-3.3% of cases in retrospective study and are often associated with significant colorectal findings in endoscopy, especially neoplastic lesions.

Three-year results of a multicenter prospective study of transoral incisionless fundoplication.

Background: To date, there are no long-term data on the use of transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) for the treatment of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We sought to prospectively evaluate the long-term safety and durability of TIF in a multi-center setting.

Methods: A longitudinal per protocol (PP) and a modified intention-to-treat (mITT) analysis at 1 and 3 years consisted of symptom evaluation using the GERD health-related quality of life (GERD-HRQL) questionnaire, medication use, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and pH-metry.

Hepatitis C of genotype 2: the role of medical invasive exams.

Background And Aim: Hepatitis C virus genotype 2 is the third in order of frequency in Belgium. The aim of this study was to better define the genotype 2 carriers' epidemiology characteristics.

Methods: In a database comprising 1726 viremic hepatitis C virus patient from the south part of Belgium, the files of 98 genotype 2 carriers were reviewed.

High prevalence of advanced fibrosis in association with the metabolic syndrome in a Belgian prospective cohort of NAFLD patients with elevated ALT. Results of the Belgian NAFLD registry.

Introduction: Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is increasingly recognised as a source of liver related morbidity and mortality. Hard data on epidemiology and natural history are scarce.

Aim: To study demographic and metabolic characteristics of the NAFLD patients seen by Belgian hepatologists.

A randomized, open-label, multicenter study evaluating the efficacy of peginterferon alfa-2a versus interferon alfa-2a, in combination with ribavirin, in naïve and relapsed chronic hepatitis C patients.

Background/aims: A large multicenter trial to compare the efficacy of peginterferon alfa-2a with interferon alfa-2a, in combination with ribavirin, in chronic hepatitis C patients. Efficacy data for prior relapsers are reported because treatment recommendations for this patient population are not well defined.

Patients And Methods: This study was a multicenter, prospective, randomized clinical trial.

Effectiveness and tolerability of pegylated interferon alfa-2b in combination with ribavirin for treatment of chronic hepatitis C: the PegIntrust study.

Background And Study Aims: Large international clinical trials conducted in the past 5 years rapidly improved the treatment of chronic hepatitis C; however, it is unclear whether the advances seen in clinical trials are being paralleled by similar improvements in routine clinical practice. PegIntrust is a Belgian community-based trial evaluating the sustained virological response.

Patients And Methods: Observational study of 219 patients receiving pegylated interferon alfa-2b (1.

Antireflux transoral incisionless fundoplication using EsophyX: 12-month results of a prospective multicenter study.

Background: A novel transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) procedure using the EsophyX system with SerosaFuse fasteners was designed to reconstruct a full-thickness valve at the gastroesophageal junction through tailored delivery of multiple fasteners during a single-device insertion. The safety and efficacy of TIF for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were evaluated in a prospective multicenter trial.

Methods: Patients (n = 86) with chronic GERD treated with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) were enrolled.

[Clinical case of the month. Hepatitis B reactivation in an Ag HBs negative patient].

A 66-year-old man, Ag HBs negative, suffering from glomerulonephritis was treated with prednisone. Hepatitis B reactivation was observed after increasing and regression of corticotherapy. Pathogenesis, efficient therapy and prevention of reactivation of hepatitis B will be reviewed.

Atypical symptoms of GORD in Belgium: epidemiological features, current management and open label treatment with 40 mg esomeprazole for one month.

Unlabelled: Frequency of atypical symptoms in patients suffering from gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is not well known, and the optimal management of such symptoms has not been well established. Our aims were to set up an observatory of these atypical symptoms of GORD in Belgium and to study the efficacy of one month treatment with esomeprazole 40 mg.

Patients And Methods: Gastroenterologists participating in this observational survey were asked to register every new outpatient with symptoms of GORD during a period of 20 consecutive working days.

HCV genotype 4 in Belgium: three distinct patterns among patients from European and African origin.

Background: Considered uncommon in western countries some years ago, hepatitis C virus of genotype 4 is now spreading in some areas of Europe. This is assumed to be due to immigration from a region of high prevalence for this genotype and to propagation among drug users. In the south of Belgium, genotype 4 currently accounts for 10% of hepatitis C virus patients and its prevalence is increasing with time.

Hepatitis C virus genotype 5 in southern belgium: epidemiological characteristics and response to therapy.

Data are scarce on patients infected with hepatitis C virus of genotype 5, due to the low prevalence of this genotype around the world. To better define the characteristics of these patients, we reviewed the files of 16 genotype 5 patients. Mean age was 38 +/- 14.

Evolution over a 10 year period of the epidemiological profile of 1,726 newly diagnosed HCV patients in Belgium.

In order to evaluate the future burden of hepatitis C, there is a need to quantify the evolution with time of some crucial parameters such as disease frequency and age, modes of infection and infecting genotypes of patients presenting for the first time at consultation. The yearly evolution of these parameters was analyzed retrospectively in a cohort of 1,726 patients living in Belgium, who were diagnosed as hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) between 1992 and 2002. The epidemiological profile of HCV patients showed significant changes during this period.

Treatment of acute hepatitis C with interferon alpha-2b: early initiation of treatment is the most effective predictive factor of sustained viral response.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of early interferon alpha-2b in non-post-transfusion acute hepatitis C virus: a prospective study with historical comparison.

Patients: Group A: 28 patients prospectively treated for acute hepatitis C virus with daily regimen of interferon 5 million units for 2 months. Group B: historical series of 16 patients with untreated acute hepatitis C virus.

Daily induction combination treatment with alpha 2b interferon and ribavirin or standard combination treatment in naive chronic hepatitis C patients. A multicentre randomized controlled trial.

The standard treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C is a 6-12-month combination therapy with interferon alpha and ribavirin. Induction treatment could result in a faster early decline of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) load and a better response rate. Naive chronically infected HCV patients (n = 454) were randomized into two arms to receive either induction treatment with interferon alpha 2b 5 million units (MU) subcutaneously (s.

[Value of MRCP for detection of choledocholithiasis in symptomatic patients: one-year experience with a standardized high resolution breath-hold technique].

In our institution, MRCP is actually replacing diagnostic ERCP. This study is addressing its accuracy in the diagnosis of symptomatic choledocholithiasis. 137 MRCP were performed in patients with upper abdominal pain and biological anomalies (n = 48), pain with cholelithiasis at sonography (n = 69) or non-alcoholic acute pancreatitis (n = 20) on a 1.

The BioEnterics Intragastric Balloon (BIB): how to use it.

Background: The authors have been using the new saline-filled BioEnterics intragastric balloon (BIB) since 1995.

Methods: By now, more than 650 BIBs have been implanted on our Unit.

Results: Because of close collaboration between the engineers and the users, and after several modifications, an easy-to-use balloon is available.

[Prevalence and treatment of Helicobacter pylori in gastro-duodenal ulcers. An experience in Liege].

Between April 1998 and July 1999, we prospectively investigated 152 patients with gastric or duodenal ulcer and we observed concomitant H. pylori infection in 72.8% and 78.