Hepatitis C and hepatitis B seroprevalence and associated risk factors in hemodialysis patients in Guilan province, north of Iran

Hepatitis C virus [HCV] and hepatitis B virus [HBV] infection are especially problematic in patients with end-stage renal disease who are undergoing hemodialysis [HD]. To determine the prevalence of HCV and HBV infection in HD population in Guilan, north of Iran. In a cross-sectional study, from May to September 2009, in 11 different hemodialysis units in Guilan province, North of Iran, clinical data such as age, gender, duration of dialysis, HBsAg and anti-HCV antibody of 514 HD patients were recorded. Patients with positive antibodies against HCV were tested for HCV RNA. From 514 patients, 286 [55.64%] were male. 61 [11.9%] patients were anti-HCV-positive and 31 [50.8%] were HCV PCR-positive. There was significant relationship between HCV Ab-positivity with gender and HD duration [p<0.05]. There was significant difference between the mean HD duration in anti-HCV-positive and anti-HCV-negative patients [p<0.05]. Also, significant relationship was found between HCV RNA-positivity with gender and HD duration [p< 0.05]. Seven [1.4%] patients were positive for HBsAg. Two [0.38%] were found positive for both HBsAg and anti-HCV antibody. There is low a prevalence of HCV and HBV in HD patients in our region. The rate can be decreased by HBV vaccination of end-stage renal disease patients before setting chronic HD, antiviral treatment and isolation of infected individuals

Anti CagA antibody among patients with non-cardia gastric cancer in comparison with non-ulcer dyspepsia in an area with high incidence of gastric cancer

To evaluate the correlation between anti CagA antibody [Ab] and presence of gastric cancer. In a descriptive cross-sectional study during October 2003 to October 2005, in the Gastrointestinal Subspeciality Center in Razi Hospital, Rasht, Iran, we assessed anti-Helicobacter Ab immunoglobulin G [IgG] and anti CagA Ab IgG by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] method in 52 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and 57 patients with nonulceric dyspepsia [NUD]. Among 52 patients with gastric cancer, anti-Helicobacter pylori Ab was negative in 13 [25%] and positive in 39 persons [75%]. Among 57 patients with NUD, anti-Helicobacter pylori Ab was negative in 5 [8.5%] and positive in 52 patients [91.2%] [p=0.043]. This significant difference did not remain after logistic regression for adjustment of confounders [p=0.068]. The CagA Ab was positive in 22 [42.3%] patients with cancer and 32 [56.1%] of the NUD group. There was no difference in this regard before [p=0.212] and after [p=0.131] logistic regression analysis. Anti CagA Ab does not have a significant value as an independent predictive factor in gastric adenocarcinoma

Relationship between elevated liver enzyme with iron overload and viral hepatitis in thalassemia major patients in Northern Iran

To determine the relationship between elevated liver enzymes with iron overload and viral hepatitis in thalassemic patients. This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in the thalassemic ward of Tonekabon Hospital, Mazandaran, Northern Iran from 20 April to 20 September of 2006. Patients were studied with respect to age, liver enzymes, anti-hepatitis C virus [anti-HCV] antibody, and hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg], transferrin saturation [TSAT], and blood transfusion index [multiplication of frequency and units of transfusion]. Alanine aminotransferase [ALT] >/= 40 U/L was considered elevated. Sixty-five patients were evaluated [median age 19.51 +/- 8.9 years, range 4-54]. Eleven patients were anti-HCV positive [16.9%]. The mean serum ferritin was significantly higher in patients with ALT >/= 40 [2553.08 micro g/L versus 1783.7750 micro g/L] [p=0.012]. The mean ALT was significantly higher in patients with TSAT >/= 60% [41.26 U/L versus 28.82 U/L] [p=0.021]. The relationship between ALT >/= 40 and anti-HCV positivity was statistically significant. The mean ALT was 60.91 U/L in anti-HCV positive ptients and 39.29 U/L in the negative group [p=0.001]. The mean serum iron and transfusion index were significantly higher in anti-HCV positive versus negative patients [234.0 versus 195.4815; p=0.02], [1693.6 versus 1036.29, p=0.014]. Close association between elevated ALT with iron overload, transfusion index, age, and anti-HCV positivity in thalassemic patients of Tonekabon is recommended to re-evaluate transfusion and Desferal doses and therapies other than blood transfusion