Evaluation of the therapeutic response of hepatitis C in coinfected patients (HIV/HCV): a study of cases from a hospital for chronic liver diseases in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic response of hepatitis C in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). METHODS: A retrospective study of 20 patients coinfected with HIV-1/HCV who were treated in the outpatient liver clinic at the Sacred House of Mercy Foundation Hospital of Pará (Fundação Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Pará - FSCMPA) from April 2004 to June 2009. Patients were treated with 180µg PEG interferon-α2a in combination with ribavirin (1,000 to 1,250mg/day) for 48 weeks. The end point was the sustained virological response (SVR) rate (HCV RNA negative 24 weeks after completing treatment). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 40±9.5 years, of which 89% (n=17) were male, and the HCV genotypes were genotype 1 (55%, n=11/20), genotype 2 (10%, n=2/20) and genotype 3 (35%, n=7/20). The mean CD4+ lymphocyte count was 507.8, and the liver fibrosis stages were (METAVIR) F1 (25%), F2 (55%), F3 (10%) and F4 (10%). The early virological response (EVR) was 60%, the end-of-treatment virological response (EOTVR) was 45% and the SVR was 45%. CONCLUSIONS: The median HCV viral load was high, and in 85% of cases in which highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was used, none of the patients with F3-F4 fibrosis responded to treatment. Of the twenty patients treated, 45% achieved SVR and 45% achieved EOTVR. Studies that include cases from a wider region are needed to better evaluate these findings.

Infecções pelos vírus das hepatites B e C e o carcinoma hepatocelular na Amazônia oriental / Hepatitis B and C virus infection and the hepatocellular carcinoma in the east Amazon, Brazil

Com o objetivo de contribuir para um melhor conhecimento do envolvimento das infecções pelos vírus das hepatites B e C, na etioepidemiologia do CHC na Amazônia Oriental, estudou-se 36 pacientes em Belém-PA. Foram avaliados marcadores sorológicos e a pesquisa do HBV-DNA e HCV-RNA pela reação em cadeia da polimerase. Observou-se etilismo em 33,3% e cirrose em 83,3%. Marcadores sorológicos das infecções pelo HBV e HCV foram encontrados respectivamente em 88,9% e 8,3%. O HBsAg foi encontrado em 58,3%; anti-HBc em 86%; anti-HBe em 85,7; HBeAg em 9,5%; anti-HBc IgM em 57,1%. O HBV-DNA foi detectado em 37,7% e em 65% dos HBsAg positivos; o HCV-RNA em 8,5% e em 100% dos anti-HCV positivos. AFP esteve alterada em 88,9% e acima de 400ng/ml em 75% dos casos. Conclui-se que a infecção pelo HBV parece ter importância na etiologia do CHC e ressalta-se a importância de implementar programas de vacinação e detecção precoce do tumor.

In order to contribute to a better understanding of the possible role of hepatits B and C in the etiopathogenis of HCC in the East Amazon, there were studied 36 patients in Belém/PA. Serological hepatitis markers were evaluated and polymerase chain reaction assays were used to detect HBV-DNA and HCV-RNA. Alcohol abuse was observed in 33.3% and cirrhosis in 83.3%. In 88.9% of the sample, one or more hepatitis B markers were positive. Also, 8.3% those patients had anti-HCV simultaneously positive. The HBsAg serological test was positive in 58.3%; anti-HBc in 86%; anti-HBe in 85.7%; anti-HBe in 9.5%; IgM anti-HBc in 57.1%. The HBV DNA was found in 37.7% and in 65% of the HBsAg positive. The HCV RNA was detected in 8.5% and in 100% of' the patients positive to anti-HCV. The AFP was above the normal value in 88.9% of patients, with levels up to 400ng/ml in 75% of them. In conclusion, hepatitis B virus infection seems to be important in the etiology of HCC and improving measures such immunization and screening in the risk population should be emphasyzed.

Hepatite autoimune entre hepatopatas crônicos de um hospital geral, Belém-PA / Autoimmune hepatitis within the chronic liver diseases of the Hospital Geral, Belém-Pa

A hepatite Autoimune (HAI) é uma doença hepática infreqüente, porém seu diagnóstico preciso e precoce permite uma melhora substancial no prognóstico dos pacientes acometidos desta enfermidade. Objetivando encontrar a taxa de incidência de HAI entre os hapatopatas crônicos atendidos no programa de hepatopatias do Hospital da FSCMP, foram avaliados 459 pacientes no período de janeiro de 1993 a julho de 1998, sendo diagnosticados 12 (2,6 por cento) como portadores de HAI, sendo 11 do sexo feminino. A idade média era de 20,7 anos, em duas pacientes havia o antecedente de hepatite viral aguda A precedendo o quadro. A icterícia foi vista em 91 por cento (11/12) dos casos e a hepatomegalia esteve presente em 50 por cento (6/12) pacientes. Cinco já possuiam varizes esofagianas. Em 50 por cento (4/8), os auto-anticorpos encontrados foram a ANA e/ou AML. O histopalógico demonstrava hepatite crônica com atividade severa, sendo em seis com evoluçäo cirrogênica. Em 9/12 (75 por cento) o sistema de "score" era superior ou igual a 15 pontos, portanto com diagnóstico definitivo antes do tratamento. Conclui-se que neste estudo, a HAI corresponte a uma pequena parcela das etiologias de doença hepática em nosso meio, mais relacionada a mulheres jovens, do tipo 1, forma clássica, e em 51 por cento (6/11) observou-se uma atividade histológica grave com evoluçäo para cirrose hepática