Abstract: The authors describe a case of monoclonal gammopathy occurring about six months after a visceral leishmaniasis. A literature survey suggests that strong antigenic stimulation caused by visceral leishmaniasis can induce monoclonal gammopathy in a predisposed subject.
Abstract: Acute pancreatitis is a pancreatic inflammation that recognises Salmonella typhi among its aetiological agents. In this article the authors describe two cases of acute pancreatitis secondary to typhoid fever, evolving towards complete recovery. These two cases, besides confirming that Salmonella typhi can be responsible for acute pancreatitis, remind us that during typhoid fever, amylase enzyme test should be always assessed. Moreover, salmonella infection must also be considered in cases of non-alcoholic or non-lithiasic pancreatitis.
Abstract: The authors describe a retrospective study conducted on 46 patients with acute viral hepatitis, searching for cardiac disorders. These disorders appeared in about 43% of cases, only with benign evolution. The most frequent alterations are electrocardiographic disorders, followed by conduction blocks, axis deviations and arrhythmias. Acute pericarditis was also described, associated with HCV infection. The viral agents most frequently involved are HBV and HCV, followed by cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus. In conclusion, the incidence of cardiac manifestations during viral acute hepatitis is rather high, but with benign evolution.
Abstract: The authors describe a clinical case in which they found the unusual combination of acute hepatitis caused by HCV and pericarditis in a young person, resulting in complete recovery from the pericarditis but in a deterioration of the chronic HCV. A close examination of the literature on this subject revealed that, although no similar case was recorded, an aetiological relationship between the hepatitis C virus and pericarditis cannot be excluded since an HCV infection often gives rise to extra-hepatic cardiac problems.
Abstract: AIM: Authors, describing a clinical case of hepatic hydrothorax in absence of ascites, analyse the disease physiopathology and their therapeutic options. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Case report of a mixed aethiology (HCV and alcohol) hepatic cirrhosis, with pleural effusion, without ascites. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic hydrothorax without ascites is an uncommon complication of cirrhosis with portal hypertension. Treatment could be pharmacological, with diuretics administration, or operating. A simple and cheap method is thoracentesis. If hydrothorax relapses, most effective method is transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.
