Hepatitis C virus genotypes among chronic hepatitis C Egyptian patients

Several studies revealed that there is certain geographical distribution of HCV genotypes. The aim of the present study was the detection of hepatitis C virus genotypes among Egyptian patients sufferring from chronic virus C hepatitis. Forty two patients diagnosed as chronic virus C Hepatitis were the subject of this study. The diagnosis was based on history taking, clinical examination, liver function tests, determination of virus C antibodies using second generation enzyme immunoassay [ELA-2]. Confirmatory testing for the anti-HCV seropositive results was done using the third generation line immunoassay. HCV RNA detection was done using PCR. Histopathological examination for liver biopsies was done for 22 cases. Genotypes of HCV were determined by line-probe assay. The results revealed that genotype 4 was found in 85% [36 cases] and coinfections of types 4 and 1 and 4 and 2 in 9.53% [4 cases] and 4.76% [2 cases] respectively. The severity of the disease tended to be worse in patients who had mixed infection

Antiparietal cell antibodies in gastritis associated with chronic liver diseases

Thirty patients with gastritis associated with chronic liver disease and ten normal controls were the subject of this study. Pathologically about 18 were diagnosed as chronic atrophic gastritis, 10 as chronic superficial gastritis, 1 as gastric atrophy and 1 as hypertrophic gastritis. Parietal cell antibodies [PCA] were detected [IFA] in 2 cases with no significant relation

Directed liver biopsy through laparoscope versus blind needle biopsy in endemic hepatosplenomegaly

Thirty male cases diagnosed clinicaly as endemic hepatosplenomegaly and with age incidence ranging between 22-55 years [40 +/- 2.3] were the subject of this study. Comparison between guided liver biopsy through laparoscope and blind liver biopsy using Vim-Silverman needle revealed error in blind needle liver biopsy ammounting to [10%]. One error was made in the diagnosis of bilharzial liver fibrosis as the blind needle biopsy revealed localised connective tissue. Errors were much more in the diagnosis of malignant liver as the blind needle biopsy missed the malignant tissue in two cases

Serum IgG, IgM, IgA, and salivary IgA in leprosy

Thirty six leprotic patients, 18 lepromatous and 18 tuberculoid were chosen for this work. We depended on clinical and bacteriological examination in classification of the cases. A normal control group of twelve individuals was also included in this. The levels of serum IgG, IgM and IgA in normal control group were 1246 +/- 70.97, 118.67 +/- 13.12 and 202.75 +/- 34.05 respectively. In lepromatous leprosy serum immunoglobulins showed highly significant increase [P < 0.001], the levels of IgG, IgM and IgA were 2456.72 +/- 622.5, 219.55 +/- 75 and 379.94 +/- 101.68 respectively. In tuberculoid leprosy the increase was less significant where the level of IgG was 1730.1 +/- 657.33 [P < 0.05], of IgM 198 +/- 78.7 [P < 0.01] and of IgA 304.5 +/- 108.1 [P < 0.01]. As regards salivary IgA the level in normal control group was 13.13 +/- 3.5. It was significantly low in lepromatous [5.47 +/- 3.67, P < 0.00.1 and in tuberculoid leprosy [6.77 +/- 5.4, P < 0.01]

Serum IgG and IgM in acute viral hepatitis

Forty Three patients diagnosed as acute viral hepatitis and 12 normal controls were the subject of this study. Thirty three-were serologically diagnosed as virus B hepatitis and 10 as virus. Hepatitis Viral hepatitis B patients showed higher levels of serum bilirubin [9.9 +/- 5.2 mg percent] and SGPT [126.3 +/- 54 U/L] in comparison to hepatitis A patients in which serum bilirubin was. [8.3 +/- 3.7] and SGPT was [91 +/- 37.6 U/L]. As regards the changes in serum immunoglobulins, the rise in IgG was significantly higher in virus hepatitis B patients [2506 +/- 545 mg percent] as compared with virus A hepatitis patients [1611 +/- 224 mg percent]. On the other hand the level of IgM was significantly higher in virus A hepatitis patients [332 +/- 59 mg percent] in comparison to virus B hepatitis patients [262 +/- 83 mg percent]