Hepatitis B and C viral infections in chronic liver disease: a population based study in Qatar

We investigated the incidence of hepatitis B [HBV] and C [HCV] virus infection among patients with liver disease in Qatar from 2000 to 2005. The grading and staging of HBV and HCV cases were obtained from pathology reports at the principal reference laboratory for Qatar. Of the 915 liver patients studied, 29.4% had HCV and 2.5% had HBV. The incidence of HBV and HCV infection was greater in non-Qataris than Qatari nationals and in males than females, especially for HCV. Most cases were uncomplicated [89.0%] and had no inflammation [76.4%]. The incidence of HCV has been increasing in liver patients in recent years up to a rate of 481 per 1000 patients with liver disease in 2005

Hepatite criptogênica em Salvador-Ba: história natural e peculiaridades clínicas, bioquímicas e histológicas / Criptoganica hepatitis in Salvador, natural history and peculiarities of clinical, biochemical and histological

Hepatite Aguda Criptogênica ou Hepatite Não A-E são as denominações para uma doença clinicamente e histopatologicamente sugestiva de Hepatite Aguda sem definição etiológica. Num período de 8 anos valíamos, em Salvador-Ba, 32 pacientes que preencheram critérios para o diagnóstico de hepatite Aguda Não A-E. Nosso objetivo foi determinar os achados clínicos, bioquímicos e histopatológicos desta doença em nosso meio. Para admitir o diagnóstico de hepatite aguda criptogênica, todos os pacientes foram submetidos a testes sorológicos e biomoleculares para afastar viroses hepatotrópicas conhecidas, além de infecção por EBVjCMV e H5V. Hepatite por droga foi excluída por questionário e hepatite autoimune pela determinação dos autoanticorpos. Doença de Wilson foi excluída nos pacientes com menos de 25 anos. A história Natural da doença revelou cura espontânea em 25 pacientes, enquanto que 7 (sete) deles persistiram com agressão hepatocelular após 6 meses de doença. Destes, 3 (Três) tiveram hepatite crôn ica na biópsia e um apreentava fibrose progressiva. Durante a fase aguda, a media de ALT foi 1.267 UI, a bilirrubina alcançou média 4,Omg% e a ferritina 1393 UI. GBV-C RNA estava presente em 6 pacientes, enquanto que o TTV foi encontrado em 5 pacientes. Hepatite criptogênica na Bahia tem provável etiologia viral por vírus ainda desconhecidos. O curso de doença e o padrão histológico são similares àqueles encontrados na Hepatite Aguda por vírus hepatotópico conhecido. Continuar a busca pela etiologia da doença se faz necessário.

Frequency and transmission mode of hepatitis C virus in Northern Sindh

To study the frequency of hepatitis C and mode of transmission in patients of chronic liver disease [CLD]. Design: A descriptive, non-interventional study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the department of Medicine, Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana over a period of 6-year [January 1997-December 2002]. Patients and The study included 1074 patients of chronic liver disease admitted to the department of medicine due to HCV. Their variables were recorded and analyzed. A total of 1074 patients, comprising of 564 of chronic hepatitis [group I] and 510 of cirrhosis liver [group II] respectively were studied. The male to female ratio was 2:1 in both groups. Anti-HCV antibody was present in 51% in group I and 57% in group II. Use of syringes [62%] was an important risk factor. HCV is a leading cause of CLD. The leading risk factor identified is the use of contaminated syringes

Hepatitis G virus/GB virus C in Brazil. Preliminary report

Hepatitis G virus/GB virus C is a novel flavivirus recently detected in hepatitis non A-E cases. In this study, the presence of this virus in chronic non-B, non-C hepatitis patients was evaluated using GBV-C specific PCR and this virus was detected in one out of thirteen patients. This patient has presented a severe liver failure, has lived for a long time in the Western Amazon basin and no other cause for this clinical picture was reported. The impact of the discovery of this new agent is still under evaluation throughout the world. The study of the prevalence of this virus among chronic hepatitis patients and healthy individuals (as blood donors) will furnish subside to evaluate its real pathogenicity.