Gastroent Hepat Barc
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Pain management in patients with liver cirrhosis is a real challenge and is often inadequate due to a lack of therapeutic efficacy or the high incidence of adverse effects. The focus of treatment differs depending on whether the pain is acute or chronic and involves understanding the causative pathophysiological mechanism. Analgesics should be started with the minimum effective dose and should be titrated slowly with avoidance of polypharmacy. ⋯ The use of antidepressants such as amitriptyline can be considered in some patients. Interventional techniques are a valuable tool in moderate to severe pain, since they allow a reduction in drug therapy and consequently its adverse effects. Psychological treatment, physical therapy and rehabilitation should be considered as part of multimodality therapy in the management of chronic pain.
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Gastroent Hepat Barc · Jun 2013
[Biomarkers of acute kidney injury: a « trending topic » in cirrhosis].
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an ominous event in the natural history of cirrhosis. The differential diagnosis of this entity is hampered by the absence of specific biomarkers of tubular damage in cirrhosis. The clinical usefulness of such biomarkers is determined by their effectiveness in the diagnosis of AKI and their ability to provide critical information to ameliorate clinical outcomes and survival. ⋯ Currently, biomarkers are an area of intense research in nephrology. Emerging genomic and proteomic technologies have revealed novel plasma and urinary biomarkers of AKI. The present article discusses the most promising candidate biomarkers with potential application in cirrhosis, such as NGAL, KIM-1, cystatin-C, IL-18, L-FABP, N-acetyl glucosaminidase and netrin-1, are discussed below.
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Gastroent Hepat Barc · Nov 2012
[Development of indicators to evaluate colorectal cancer prevention programs in the high-risk population: the experience of a high-risk colorectal cancer clinic].
In 2006, the High-Risk Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Clinic was set up in Barcelona, a new healthcare model aimed at individuals and/or patients with an increased risk of developing CRC. The aim of this study was to develop a set of indicators to evaluate CRC prevention programs in the high-risk population and to implement them in the CRC to confirm their feasibility and validity in identifying areas for improvement. ⋯ The robustness and importance of the proposed set of indicators is supported by the wide participation of experts from distinct specialties and the adequate agreement reached. The present study serves to identify areas for improvement in the program. Periodic measurement of these indicators will allow the changes produced in this program and their utility to be evaluated and will aid assessment of other CRC prevention programs in the high-risk population.