[Utility of capsule endoscopy with flexible spectral imaging color enhancement in the diagnosis of small bowel lesions].

Introduction: Capsule endoscopy (CE) is the technique of choice to detect small bowel lesions. Flexible spectral imaging color enhancement (FICE) software has recently been incorporated into the new RAPID 6.0 workstation, which allows three distinct patterns to be visualized in the mucosal structure according to different wavelengths.

[Optimization of ascitic fluid culture in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis].

Introduction And Aims: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is ascitic fluid (AF) infection in the absence of an intraperitoneal source of infection in patients with liver disease and portal hypertension. The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield of microbiological cultures to optimize their collection and systematic implementation in routine clinical practice.

Methods: We analyzed two cohorts: the first consisted of retrospective data from the clinical records of 156 consecutive episodes of SBP from January 2003 to December 2005 (group R), and the second was composed of data collected prospectively from October 2007 to October 2008, consisting of 79 episodes (group P), with systematic inoculation of 10 cc of AF in each blood culture bottle.

[Descriptive study of hepatocellular carcinoma in noncirrhotic liver].

Introduction And Objective: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth leading cause of cancer. In western countries its impact is steadily growing and most of these tumors arise in cirrhotic liver. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and characteristics of HCC developing in noncirrhotic patients.

[Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients over 65 years].

Aims: Our aim was to study the episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in cirrhotic patients older than 65 years. Their clinical characteristics were compared with a cohort of cirrhotic patients with SBP.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on all hospital discharged patients diagnosed with SBP in the period from January 2003 to December 2005, obtaining a total of 158 episodes.

[Upper gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to a jejunal stromal tumor in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1].

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a multisystemic disease with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, complete penetrance and variable expressivity. This disease affects one in every 3,000 individuals and one out of every 200 patients with mental retardation. Gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors is one of the many complications associated with NF1.

[Prognostic value of a spontaneous bacterial peritonitis episode in cirrhotic patients in clinical practice].

Objectives: To assess survival and predictive factors of mortality after an episode of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in cirrhotic patients and to analyze the diagnostic and therapeutic measures used.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 158 consecutive episodes of SBP treated between January 2003 and December 2005. Survival was studied by Kaplan-Meier curves, compared by the log-rank test.

[Acute portal thrombosis in patients with hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin].

The combination of pegylated interferon and ribavirin is the first option treatment for chronic hepatitis C (HCC). Although not frequent, several vascular adverse events, such as Raynaud's phenomenon, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, hemolytic uremic syndrome and central retinal vein occlusion, have been associated with the use of pegylated and standard interferon. We report the cases of two patients with HCC who, while receiving treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin, developed decompensated liver disease.