Fibromax and inflamatory markers cannot replace liver biopsy in the evaluation of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: To evaluate the performance of a non-invasive test (Fibromax™, Ferring Pharmaceutical, Saint-Prex, Switzerland) and inflamatory markers (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, MCP-1) in the diagnosis and staging of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Methods: Patients older than 18 years with steatosis were prospectively evaluated at a tertiary hospital in southern Brazil. Liver biopsy, Fibromax™ test and inflamatory markers (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, MCP-1) were performed.

Whipple's disease: rare disorder and late diagnosis.

Whipple's disease is a rare systemic infectious disorder caused by the bacterium Tropheryma whipplei. We report the case of a 61-year-old male patient who presented to emergency room complaining of asthenia, arthralgia, anorexia, articular complaints intermittent diarrhea, and a 10-kg weight loss in one year. Laboratory tests showed the following results: Hb = 7.