ObjectiveTo investigate the ultrasonic changes of liver during various immune periods with different number of CD4+ T lymphocytes in HIV/AIDS patients with chronic viral hepatitis. MethodsThe clinical data of 100 patients with chronic viral hepatitis diagnosed between January 2010 and December 2012 were selected. Among them, 50 simple chronic viral hepatitis patients were designated as the control group, and the other 50 HIV/AIDS patients with chronic viral hepatitis were regarded as the experimental group. Ultrasonographic observation was applied on patients of the experimental group according to different immune period based on the number of CD4+ T lymphocytes. Indexes observed included liver size, the edge of liver, capsule of liver and hepatic parenchymal echo. The cross-check analysis was employed between observed results and clinical laboratory results. ResultsAbnormal changes of the experimental group were shown on the ultrasound observation of liver in different CD4+ T lymphocyte count immune periods, including enlargement of the liver, slightly blunt liver margin, slightly thick capsule, dense and uniform, slightly rough and not so uniform, or rough and not uniform hepatic parenchymal echo. There was no significant difference in ultrasonic changes of liver between the two groups when the CD4+ T cell number was over 300/mm3. However, the difference was significant when the CD4+ T cell number was below 100/mm3. ConclusionLiver abnormalities become more obvious as CD4+ T cell count decreases in HIV/AIDS patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Comprehensive considerations of various liver ultrasound indicators are helpful in clinical evaluation of HIV/AIDS patients with chronic viral hepatitis.
ObjectiveTo investigate the ultrasonic changes of hepatic veins and splenic veins during various immune stages with different CD4+T lymphocyte count. MethodsFifty AIDS/HIV patients with chronic viral hepatitis treated between January 2010 and October 2013 were designated as the case group, and another 50 patients with simple chronic viral hepatitis were regarded as the controls. For patients in the case group, we observed their ultrasonic changes of hepatic and splenic veins during various immune stages with different CD4+T lymphocyte count. The results of observation and clinical laboratory analysis were compared. ResultsAbnormal ultrasonic changes were detected in the liver in various immune stages based on the CD4+T lymphocyte count, and the main manifestations of these changes included unclear portal and splenic vein distal direction, wide diameter, slowed blood flow velocity, and disappearance of fluctuations of blood flow spectrum; and unclear hepatic vein distal direction, low and three-phase, and negative blood flow spectrum with the disappearance of windows were also detected. There were no statistical differences between the case group and the control group when the CD4+T cell count was over 300/mm3, and a few indexes were significantly different when the CD4+T cell count was between 100 and 200/mm3. However, the differences of almost all indexes were significant when the CD4+T cell count was below 100/mm3. ConclusionPatients with HIV/AIDS combined with chronic viral hepatitis have ultrasonographic abnormalities of intrahepatic and splenic veins, which is more obvious as the CD4+T cell count declines. Overall consideration of intrahepatic vein and splenic vein ultrasonic indicators helps clinical assessment of disease development in patients with HIV/AIDS combined with chronic viral hepatitis.
ObjectiveTo summarize diagnostic strategies of unilateral lower limb swelling. MethodThe clinical data of 357 patients hospitalized with unilateral lower limb swelling from March 2013 to October 2014 in our department were analyzed retrospectively. ResultsThree hundred and seven (86.0%) patients were admitted to hospital within 2 weeks since the symptom onset (acute swelling), the most common cause (281 cases) was lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT), other causes included infection (11 cases), hematoma (7 cases), lymphatic obstruction (4 cases), iliac vein compression syndrome (2 cases), pelvic tumor compression (1 case), arteriovenous fistula (1 case). Etiology for chronic swelling contained lower extremity DVT (33 cases), arteriovenous fistula (5 cases), lymphatic obstruction (5 cases), Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (3 cases), pelvic tumor compression (3 cases), iliac vein compression syndrome (1 case). Up to 60.5% (26/43) lower limb swelling which were not due to DVT had histories of misdiagnosis as DVT. Nine cases of lymphatic obstruction were secondary to malignant tumor itself or the sequel of treatment. Three hundred and thirty-eight (94.6%) patients were received lower limb doppler ultrasound, while 308 patients (91.9%) were diagnosed. Fifty-nine patients needed further CT venography (CTV) or CT angiography (CTA), 10 patients were received radionuclide lymphoscintigraphy to be diagnosed. ConclusionsAlthough DVT is the main cause of unilateral lower limb swelling, the lower limb swelling which is not due to DVT is frequently misdiagnosed and belatedly treated. Considering the complexity and reciprocal overlapping for the etiology of lower limbs swelling, developing a appropriate diagnosis strategy is important. Apart from history taking and physical examination, color doppler ultrasound for the lower limb is suggested to be the preferred imaging examination mean. Pelvic cavity screening for occupancy lesions and iliac vein should be evaluated synchronously if possible. For cases which can't be diagnosed by ultrasound, CTV, CTA, or radionuclide lymphoscintigraphy could be important supplement to assist the diagnosis.