Treatment of fulminant hepatic failure. Clinical syndrome and basis of therapy

Acute pancreatitis associated with viral hepatitis: a report of six cases with review of literature

Association of hepatitis viruses with acute pancreatitis in the setting of nonfulminant viral hepatitis is rare. We report six cases of nonfulminant viral hepatitis complicated by acute pancreatitis, including the first documented case of hepatitis E virus (HEV) associated acute pancreatitis. The other five patients had acute viral hepatitis caused by hepatitis A infection. Besides features of viral hepatitis, the presence of typical abdominal pain, high serum amylase, and ultrasound or CT scan features suggested the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. This complication generally developed in the initial phase of the hepatitic illness. All of the patients had mild to moderate pancreatitis that recovered uneventfully with conservative treatment.

Pancreatitis following liver transplantation

Since 1981, when the liver transplantation program was initiated at the University of Pittsburgh, we have been impressed with the prevalence of pancreatitis occurring following liver transplantation in patients transplanted for hepatitis B-related liver disease. To either confirm this clinical impression or refute it, the records of the 27 HbsAg+ patients and those of an additional 24 HbsAg- but HbcAb and/or HbsAb+ patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation were reviewed to determine the prevalence of clinical pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia (biochemical pancreatitis) following liver transplantation (OLTx). Post-OLTx hyperamylasemia occurred significantly more frequently in HbsAg+ patients (6/27) than it did in the HbsAg- patients (0/24) (P less than 0.05). More importantly, clinical pancreatitis occurred in 14% (4/27) of the HbsAg+ patients and 0% (0/24) of the HbsAg- patients. Interestingly, in each case, the pancreatitis was associated with the occurrence of acute hepatitis B infection of the allograft. Based upon these data, we conclude that pancreatitis occurring after liver transplantation is more common in patients transplanted for active viral liver disease caused by hepatitis B than in those with inactive viral liver disease. These observations suggest that pancreatitis occurring in, at least some cases following liver transplantation for viral liver disease, may result from hepatitis B virus infection of the pancreas.

Acute hepatic coma successfully treated by extracorporeal baboon liver perfusions

Two patients in deep hepatic coma due to fulminant viral hepatitis were treated by extracorporeal baboon liver perfusion after failing to respond to medical treatment and three consecutive exchange transfusions. Both patients recovered full consciousness after one liver perfusion, made a complete recovery, and were leading normal lives seven and eight months after treatment. Perfusions were maintained for 13(1/2) and 16(1/2) hours without complication, and neither clinical immunological reactions nor antibaboon serum antibodies developed as a result of treatment.Whereas normal consciousness could be restored only by liver perfusion, both exchange transfusion and liver perfusion were effective in clearing bilirubin and in raising the level of clotting factors. Extracorporeal baboon liver perfusion provides a safe and effective method for the treatment of acute hepatic coma.

Early and intensive therapy of intravascular coagulation in acute liver failure

Four consecutive patients, three with fulminant hepatic failure and one with a severe relapse of serum hepatitis, who showed evidence of intravascular coagulation, were treated intensively with heparin and fresh frozen plasma. Rapid correction of the coagulation disturbance was achieved, and all four patients recovered completely. The necessity for starting such treatment early in the course of the disease and before the onset of major gastrointestinal bleeding is stressed, and it is suggested that intravascular coagulation may act as an intermediary in the pathogenesis of the hepatic necrosis.