Chronic hepatits c

MAIT cells are an abundant innate-like T-cell subset that is defined by the invariant T-cell receptor (iTCR) V-alpha chain Vα7.2-Jα33. Little is currently known about their frequency and function in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and their fate after therapy-mediated HCV elimination by direct acting antivirals (DAA). In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, Hengst et al. [Eur. J. Immunol. 2016. 46: 2204-2210] give important novel insights into the biological role of MAIT cells in a relevant human chronic viral infection by showing that first, MAIT cells are only present at low frequencies in chronic HCV infection; second, circulating MAIT cells in HCV patients also display an altered phenotype; third, they are impaired in their MR-1-dependent effector functions and finally, and maybe most importantly, MAIT-cell frequency and function was not restored after HCV elimination by DAA therapy...

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCV-induced hepatocarcinogenesis is a multistep process resulting from a combination of pathway alterations that are either caused directly by viral factors or immune mediated as a consequence of a chronic state of inflammation. Host genetic variation is now emerging as an additional element that contribute to increase the risk of developing HCC. The advent of direct-acting antiviral agents foresees a rapid decline of HCC rate in HCV patients...

OBJECTIVE: Comparing Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) scores in patients with chronic hepatitis C undergoing double and triple antiviral therapy and analyzing possible factors related to HRQoL. METHOD: HRQoL was assessed using the Short Form 36 and Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire, which were applied at baseline and at weeks 4, 12 and 16 of treatment to 32 patients divided into two groups: double therapy with pegylated interferon (IFN-PEG) and ribavirin, and triple therapy with PEG-IFN, ribavirin and telaprevir...

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to find an association between serum concentration of vitamin D and vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms to achieve a sustained virological response (SVR). METHODS: We conducted a case-control study in which 250 participants were recruited and divided into three groups (100 chronic hepatitis C [CHC] patients who achieved SVR, 100 CHC patients who did not achieve SVR and 50 apparently healthy individuals as controls). Blood samples were collected to measure serum vitamin D concentration, and four VDR polymorphisms (FokI, ApaI, TaqI, and BsmI) were detected using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Patients with chronic hepatitic C (HCV) infection and normal serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels were considered to have mild disease. In Taiwan, these patients were not suggested for interferon (IFN) based therapies. The aim of study is to compare therapeutic outcomes between HCV patients with normal and elevated ALT levels. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study on 3241 HCV patients treated by IFN based therapies. Patients with normal ALT levels were classified as group A (n = 186) while those with elevated ALT levels were group B (n = 3055)...

AIM OF INVESTIGATION: To estimate the role of polymorphic variants of genes IL4 (C-590T), IL4RA (I50V), TNF (G-308A) and SLC1IAI (D543N) in chronic viral hepatitis progression. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Overall 121 patients with chronic viral hepatitis C and B. RESULTS: Study results have demonstrated, that of all investigated polymorphic variants of genes IL4 (C-590T), IL4RA (150V), TNF (G-308A) and SLC11A1 (D543N) in patients with chronic liver diseases of various etiology the <Val/Val> IL4RA gene variant (II50Val) is associated with HBV-infection chronization...

Interferon (IFN)-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) is a proinflammatory chemokine, binding the chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 3 (CXCR3), which is found mainly on activated T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, and plays an important role in T helper (Th) 1 type inflammatory disorders (autoimmune, neoplastic, and infectious diseases). Concerning viral hepatitis, IP-10 appears to be involved on the pathogenesis of liver damage as well as on the extra-hepatic manifestations either protecting or promoting infection, depending on host immune status and genetic background...

UNLABELLED: Patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) exhibit reduced work productivity owing to their disease. Historically, most regimens indicated for CHC genotype 1 (GT1) patients were administered with pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) and/or ribavirin (RBV), which further compromised work productivity during treatment. The aim of this study was to model the impact of LDV/SOF (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir), the first Peg-IFN- and RBV-free regimen for CHC GT1 patients, on work productivity from an economic perspective, compared to receiving no treatment...

BACKGROUND: Most hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission in Egypt is related to medical injections and procedures. To control the spread of HCV, the Egyptian Ministry of Health initiated awareness and education campaigns, strengthened infection control in health-care facilities, and subsidised anti-HCV treatment. We aimed to investigate the effect of these interventions on the spread of HCV by mathematical modelling. METHODS: We developed a mathematical model of HCV transmission in Zawyat Razin, a typical rural community...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Zinc has been found to be low in chronic hepatitis patients. Its level was correlated with response to Interferon/ribavirin therapy in patients infected with hepatitis C genotype 1. In Egypt, inexpensive predictors to treatment response in Hepatitis C genotype 4 infected patients are desperately needed. We aim to explore if pretreatment zinc serum levels correlate with response to pegylated- interferon and ribavirin therapy in Egyptian patients. METHODS: This is an observational prospective study where 57 treatment naive hepatitis C genotype 4 infected patients that were Hepatitis B and Human Immunodeficiency virus negative were recruited in a hospital setting...

We've read with great interest the article entitled "Determination of hepatitis C virus genotypes among hepatitis C patients in Eastern Black Sea Region, Turkey" by Buruk et al. published in Mikrobiyol Bul 2013; 47(4): 650-7. In that study, the authors described the determination and distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in Eastern Black Sea Region comprehensively. According to the current information, the determination of HCV genotypes is the most important factor for the management of therapy and virus-related complications, such as chirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma...

Telaprevir, a protease inhibitor, was recently approved for management of Chronic Hepatits C (CHC) due to HCV genotype 1. Various RCTs have demonstarted increased incidence of cutaneous adverse effects with use of Telaprevir. Herein, we report two cases of drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) secondary to Telaprevir use.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Hepatitic C infection (HCV) is a systemic, generalised disease with the prevalence of inflammation in the liver. The aim of this study was to determine the success of treatment for chronic hepatitis C with pegilated interferon alfa 2a and ribavirin in injecting drug users. METHODS: This a 5-year follow-up study included 30 patients [63.3% men and 36.7% women, average age 30.2 years (SD 7.1 years)] injecting drug users in one-year abstinence, with chronic hepatitis C, treated with the pegilated interferon alpha 2a and ribavirin...

OBJECTIVE: To observe any change in value of aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index from the baseline and to compare it with the Hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid at 12 weeks after the start of interferon-based treatment in patients with Hepatitis C. METHODS: The prospective study, conducted at the Department of Medicine, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Hospital, Jamshoro, Pakistan, from September 2009 to March 2010, included 158 consecutive, chronic patients of Hepatitis C with grade > or = 2 fibrosis on liver biopsy, or having aspartate aminotransferase/Platelet ratio index of > 1...

Comparative analysis of adverse hematologic effects in 135 patients with with chronic hepatits C on combined antiviral therapy of pegylated and "short lived" forms of alpha-interferon in combination with ribavirin was investigated. As a result of the comparison, the response to antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with daily administration of simple interferon-alpha in hematologic data is similar in patients undergoing treatment with pegylated drugs.

Questions of diagnostics, feature of clinic, treatment and preventation of active virus hepatites with parenteral mechanism of transmission of an infection (hepatites B, C, D, G) which make up a significant number of all acute virus hepatites are considered. A wide circulation, features of modern diagnostics and frequency of progress of chronic forms define a problem of diagnostics and treatment of a virus hepatites, as one of important for domestic healthcare. Data about the importance and features serological markers of viruses of a hepatites B, C, D, G, are presented and their clinical interpretation is analyzed...

SYMPTOMS: A 40 year old, disoriented, HIV- and Hepatitis B positive male patient was admitted with 40.3 °C. Clinically he presented a sinustachycardia (160/min) and hypotension (70/60 mmHg). INVESTIGATIONS/DIAGNOSIS: Laboratory analyses showed elevated infection parameters, azotemia, proteinuria and thrombopenia. CD(4+)T-helper cells: 320/µl (32 %), HIV RNA: <40 copies/ml, Hepatitis B DNA: 20800 copies/ml. Hantavirus serology (immunofluorescence antibody assay): 1:2048; serotype Puumala...

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency causes accumulation of mutant alpha-1 antitrypsin molecules in hepatocytes, and is attributed to severe liver injury even in heterozygous state. However, there is a question as to whether alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is only a cause of liver injury or has a worsening effect on the underlying liver disease. We aimed to determine the role of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency in the ongoing chronic hepatitic process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-four patients with the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis by liver biopsy (36 chronic hepatitis B virus, 8 chronic hepatitis C virus, 7 non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, 2 primary biliary cirrhosis, and 1 autoimmune hepatitis) and 51 age- and sex-matched control subjects chosen from among healthy blood donors were included in the study...

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a promising tumor marker for hepatocellular carcinoma; HCC. IL-6 may help to identify a subset of HCC patients with low alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, and may serve as complementary tumor marker, however, this has to be clarified. This study assesses the value of measuring serum level of interleukin-6 in patients with chronic liver disease and HCC, and evaluates its sensitivity and specificity in comparison to AFP in early diagnosis of HCC. Seventy five patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) with or without HCC and 25 healthy controls were included...

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most common disease indication for liver transplantation (LT). Outcomes are compromised by near universal recurrence of HCV. A prospective multi-center randomized study to evaluate immunosuppressive strategies in HCV+ transplant recipients provided the opportunity to assess impact of live donor (LD) LT. Two hundred and ninety-five patients undergoing LT for HCV (260 deceased donor [DD] recipients/35 LD recipients), randomized to three regimens, were followed for two yr for patient and graft survival and rate and severity of recurrent HCV...