In this developmental study of patients attending rheumatology clinics, the generation of pain during blood pressure testing was strongly associated with the diagnosis of FM. This robust linkage probably reflects a tautologic phenomenon. A sine qua nonelement for FM diagnosis is the presence of tender points in discrete anatomic sites. These tender points in turn reflect a state of generalized mechanical allodynia that can be locally elicited by the cuff pressure during blood pressure testing. Sphygmomanometry is a simple bedside test that may be useful in the recognition of patients with FM. Blood pressure testing is a universal procedure in all clinical environments. Based on our results, we suggest searching for FM features in any person who has sphygmomanometry-evoked allodynia.

There are several conditions that can lead to portal vein thrombosis (PVT), including including infection, malignancies, and coagulation disorders. Anew condition of interest is protein C and S deficiencies, associated with hypercoagulation and recurrent venous thromboembolism. We report the case of a non-cirrhotic 63-year-old male diagnosed with acute superior mesenteric vein thrombosis and PVT and combined deficiencies in proteins C and S, recanalized by short-term low molecular heparin plus oral warfarin therapy.

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Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) corresponds to the earliest stage of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). MHE does not present clinically detectable neurological-psychiatric abnormalities but is characterized by imperceptible neurocognitive alterations detected during routine clinical examination via neuropsychological or psychometrical tests. MHE may affect daily activities and reduce job performance and quality of life. MHE can increase the risk of accidents and may develop into overt encephalopathy, worsening the prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis. Despite a lack of consensus on the therapeutic indication, interest in finding novel strategies for prevention or reversion has led to numerous clinical trials; their results are the main objective of this review. Many studies address the treatment of MHE, which is mainly based on the strategies and previous management of overt HE. Current alternatives for the management of MHE include measures to maintain nutritional status while avoiding sarcopenia, and manipulation of intestinal microbiota with non-absorbable disaccharides such as lactulose, antibiotics such as rifaximin, and administration of different probiotics. This review analyzes the results of clinical studies that evaluated the effects of different treatments for MHE.

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