Hepatitis c virus among different social classes at El-Minia governorate; intra familial spread and psychosocial effects

The aim of the study was to evaluate the intra- familial spread of hepatitis C virus among different social classes and the psychosocial effects in patients with hepatitis C. Fifty patients with chronic hepatitis C were studied. They were classified into A, B and C classes according to their social levels based on the educational degrees, the jobs and the monthly income. All patients answered a questionnaire, which was specifically designed to evaluate the psychosocial effects of HCV infection. This questionnaire included the post infection mode of dealing with the family contacts, friends and colleagues, feelings, behavioral changes, personality changes, and psychosomatic disorders. On the other hand, the family contacts of the patients were subjected to anti HCV antibodies to evaluate the intra-familial spread and positive cases were subjected to HCV RNA [PCR] to reflect the existing viremia. The results showed that there was a significant increased incidence of HCV among the lower social classes. The intra-familial spread of HCV was evaluated among the family members of the 50 patients of the study. The overall positive anti HCV ratio was 8.42 [16/190] and all such positive familial contacts were tested for PCR to reflect the existing viremia. The total number of the positive spouses was 12 cases [24.5%] [five husbands and seven wives] of the total cases. The incidence of the positivity of spouses was significantly increased with the duration of marriage. The total number of sons was 75 of whom three were positive for HCV antibodies by ELISA, one of them showed a negative PCR. On the other hand, the total number of daughters was 66 of whom only one was infected with no significant difference between sons and daughters. Also, there were negative psychosocial effects on the patients reflected by the prevalent psychosomatic disorders

Vascular endothelial growth factor level in chronic liver diseases

Ninety individuals [76 males and 14 females] were classified into four groups. G1 [control group] included 20 healthy individuals, G2 [chronic hepatitis group] included 20 patients, G3 [liver cirrhosis group] included 30 patients and G4 included 20 patients with HCC. All groups were subjected to clinical examination, abdominal ultrasonography, complete blood picture, HCV antibodies, HRs Ag and function tests [total and direct bilirubin, total plasma proteins and albumin, prothrombin time and concentration and liver enzymes AST, ALT and ALP]. Patients of G3 and G4 were classified according to Child Pugh classification into A, B and C. Upper endoscopic examination was done for 36/50 patients with chronic hepatitis or HCC. Circulating VEGF levels were determined by ELISA. There was statistically higher significant levels of circulating VEGF in G1, G2 and G3 than in the controls. There was a statistically significant higher level of circulating VEGF in G4 than in G3 and G4 and a statistically negative significant correlation between VEGF levels and platelet count in G2. There were no significant correlation between VEGF and the grade of esophageal varices in G3 and G4 and no significant correlation between VEGF and upper GIT bleeding or spider naevi [vascular skin changes] in G2. A statistically significant correlation was found between VEGF and degree of hepatic dysfunction

Low avidety IgG antibodies in diagnosis of recent human Schistosomasis

One hundred and thirty schoolchildren from a schistosomiasis endemic area in Sharqia Governorate were selected on parasitological findings. Seventy persons were negative on the first screen and turned positive after three months of the screening [recently infected]. Stool examination, ELISA [IgG and IgM], low avid IgG and circulating antigens were performed for all patients and controls. ELISA detected IgM in all cases. IgG and circulating antigens were in 90% of schistosomiasis patients. Low avidity IgG detected in 85.71% of recent cases. The specificity of ELISA appeared to be >99%. The IgM/IgG ratio was >1 in patients with recent infection. The percentage of fall of OD readings of IgG after addition of six molar urea was high among cases with recent infection. Low avid IgG appears to be good and valuable in diagnosis of recent schistosomiasis in man