Efficacy and Tolerability of Peginterferon Alpha Plus Ribavirin in the Routine Daily Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Patients in Korea: A Multi-Center, Retrospective Observational Study

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of peginterferon plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients under real life setting in Korea. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 758 CHC patients treated with peginterferon plus ribavirin between 2000 and 2008 from 14 university hospitals in the Gyeonggi-Incheon area in Korea. RESULTS: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 was detected in 61.2% of patients, while genotype 2 was detected in 35.5%. Baseline HCV RNA level was > or =6x10(5) IU/mL in 51.6% of patients. The sustained virological response (SVR) rate was 59.6% regardless of genotype; 53.6% in genotype 1 and 71.4% in genotype 2/3. On multivariate analysis, male gender (p=0.011), early virological response (p80% of the planned dose (p<0.001) were associated with SVR. The rate of premature discontinuation was 35.7%. The main reason for withdrawal was intolerance to the drug due to common adverse events or cytopenia (48.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the efficacy of peginterferon and ribavirin therapy in Koreans is better in Koreans than in Caucasians for the treatment of CHC, corroborating previous studies that have shown the superior therapeutic efficacy of this regimen in Asians.

A Case of Esophageal and Gastroduodenal Candidiasis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Candidiasis of the gastrointestinal tract typically occurs in a setting of decreased re- sistance to opportunistic infection, but also occurs in apparently normal individuals. Mucosal lesions in the gastrointestinal tract predominantly involve the esophagus, and gastroduodenal and enteric candidial lesions, which are less frequent, have only infrequently been detected antemortem. A case was experienced involving esophageal and gastroduodenal candidiasis in the patient of hepatocellular carcinoma and spinal metastasis treated with emergent radiotherapy and corticosteroid. He complained of anorexia and dyaphagia in the 4th day of radiotherapy. Endoscopy revealed multiple, large raised, white plaques and patches covering the mid- and distal esophageal mucosa, and several superficial aphthous ulcerations covered with white plaques in the entire stomach, and two deep excavating ulcers at the angle and antrum. The duodenal mucosa was covered with multiple small, white plaques, and a huge penetraing ulcer was seen in the duodenal bulb. Endoscopic biopsy showed budding yeast and pseudohyphae infiltrating through the ulcerated mucosa. Cultures of the same material canfirmed the organism to be Candida albicans. The patient was treated with fluconazole for 2 weeks. The case of esophgeal and gastroduodenal candidiasis is reported with reviiew of relevant literature.

A Case of a Congenital Web of the Common Bile Duct Treated with Balloon Dilatation / 대한소화기내시경학회지

The web of the common bile duct is an extremely rare anomaly and the cause of the obstructive jaundice. We experienced a case of the congenital web of common bile duct in a 42 years old male who complained of jaundice for 10 days prior to admission without choledocholithiasis and cholangitis. An endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed a common bile duct web (transverse, diaphragmatic type) and the diagnosis was confirmed by an endoscopic forcep biopsy. We reported a case of the congenita1 web of the common bile duct which was treated with a stent insertion and balloon dilatation.