Unusual presentation of extra-nodal double-hit follicular lymphoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: To the best of our knowledge, this case represents the first report of an extranodal double-hit follicular lymphoma (DH-FL) as an intestinal polypoid lesion. CASE PRESENTATION: A 72-year-old woman presents with constipation. Colonoscopy reveals a sessile polypoid lesion of the colon bearing morphological, immunohistochemical and molecular hallmarks of DH-FL. Complete clinical staging and bone marrow biopsy showed no signs of disseminated disease. The patient, after two years of follow-up is still free of disease confirming the indolent behaviour of this limited lesion. CONCLUSIONS: A synoptic view at all the features of the patient and not merely at the molecular hallmarks of a disease are essential to establish the correct clinical approach.

Fatigue in primary biliary cirrhosis: a possible role of comorbidities.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Fatigue is considered to be a specific manifestation of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Recent reports have, however, questioned these findings. Considering the high rate of comorbidities in PBC patients and the fact that fatigue is a multifactorial symptom, we hypothesized that it might also be due to nonhepatic causes. Our aim was to evaluate fatigue in PBC patients and its relationship with comorbidities and depression. METHODS: We enroled 49 Italian PBC patients (44 women; mean age: 58.9 years, range: 21-73 years) and 30 matched healthy controls, who completed the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS), Modified FIS (MFIS), Fatigue Severity Score (FSS) and Rand Medical Outcomes Study Depression Screener. Comorbidities and several clinical and biochemical data were investigated. Linear regression, analysis of variance and post-hoc analysis were applied. RESULTS: Fatigue was higher in patients than in controls (FIS: 33 vs. 24; MFIS: 24 vs. 14; FSS: 3.3 vs. 1.9). Physical domain was significantly different in all the three questionnaires (FIS: P=0.05; MFIS: P=0.002; FSS: P=0.0002). Comorbidities (38% of patients) were independently associated with higher fatigue scores (FIS: 45; MFIS: 32; FSS: 3.3). Depressed patients (30%) were more fatigued, even if not always significantly (FIS: 43; MFIS: 29; FSS: 3.5), than controls and patients with no depression. Patients without comorbidities or depression (51%) did not have higher fatigue than controls (FIS: 20; MFIS: 17; FSS: 2.4). CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue in patients with PBC was higher, but not always significantly, than in healthy controls. Comorbidities and depression might have played a role in its pathogenesis. Our data arouse doubts about the specificity of fatigue in PBC and the pathogenetic role of liver impairment.

Pegylated interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin in the retreatment of interferon-ribavirin nonresponder patients.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Inadequate data are available about retreatment of nonresponders to interferon (IFN) and ribavirin. Thus, this study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of a 48-week therapy with pegylated IFN-alpha-2b plus high-dose ribavirin in patients who have failed to respond to the combination. Treatment up to 48 weeks also in patients who have failed to clear hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA by week 24 was also evaluated. METHODS: One hundred forty-one patients who previously did not respond to IFN and ribavirin, 86% with genotype 1 or 4 infection, 52% with high viral load (>800.000 IU/mL), 22% with cirrhosis, were retreated with pegylated IFN-alpha-2b 1.5 microg/kg per week and ribavirin 1000-1200 mg/day for 48 weeks and followed up for 24 weeks. RESULTS: By intent-to-treat analysis, 20% of patients achieved a sustained virologic response (SVR). SVR of genotype 1 patients was 19%. Independent predictors of SVR were low gamma-glutamyltransferase levels (OR, 22.9; 95% CI: 6.6-79.6) and low viral load (OR, 3.8; 95% CI: 1.1-12.6). Twelve (23%) out of 51 patients who were HCV RNA positive after 24 weeks of therapy achieved a late virologic response (after week 24) and 5 (10%) of them, all with genotype 1, achieved an SVR. Genotype was not associated with response (P = .2) or with early response (P = .3). CONCLUSIONS: Retreatment with pegylated IFN-alpha-2b and ribavirin of multi-experienced and "difficult to treat" nonresponder patients produced a very promising SVR. Accurate selection of patients, such as those with low viral load and low gamma-glutamyltransferase levels, and prolongation of therapy beyond 24 weeks also in HCV RNA-positive patients may further increase the rate of SVR.

Hyperhomocysteinemia and hypercoagulability in primary biliary cirrhosis.

AIM: To assess the hypercoagulability in PBC and its relationship with homocysteine (HCY) and various components of the haemostatic system. METHODS: We investigated 51 PBC patients (43F/8M; mean age: 63+/-13.9 yr) and 102 healthy subjects (86 women/16 men; 63+/-13 yr), and evaluated the haemostatic process in whole blood by the Sonoclot analysis and the platelet function by PFA-100 device. We then measured HCY (fasting and after methionine loading), tissue factor (TF), thrombin-antithrombin complexes (TAT), D-dimer (D-D), thrombomodulin (TM), folic acid, vitamin B6 and B12 plasma levels. C677T 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism was analyzed. RESULTS: Sonoclot RATE values of patients were significantly (P<0.001) higher than those of controls. Sonoclot time to peak values and PFA-100 closure times were comparable in patients and controls. TAT, TF and HCY levels, both in the fasting and post-methionine loading, were significantly (P<0.001) higher in patients than in controls. Vitamin deficiencies were detected in 45/51 patients (88.2%). The prevalence of the homozygous TT677 MTHFR genotype was significantly higher in patients (31.4%) than in controls (17.5%) (P<0.05). Sonoclot RATE values correlated significantly with HCY levels and TF. CONCLUSION: In PBC, hyper-HCY is related to hypovitaminosis and genetic predisposing factors. Increased TF and HCY levels and signs of endothelial activation are associated with hypercoagulability and may have an important role in blood clotting activation.

A randomized trial of consensus interferon in combination with ribavirin as initial treatment for chronic hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of the present, open-labeled, randomized study was to determine the efficacy and safety of different doses of consensus interferon plus ribavirin in the initial treatment of chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: One hundred and one genotype 2/3 patients were randomized to receive 9 mcg (group A, n=48) or 18 mcg (group B, n=53) of consensus interferon thrice weekly plus ribavirin (1000/1200 mg/daily) for 24 weeks and 92 genotype 1 patients to receive 9 mcg (group C, n=47) or 18 mcg (group D, n=45) of consensus interferon plus ribavirin for 48 weeks. RESULTS: In an intention-to-treat analysis, the sustained virologic response at 24-week follow-up was 69% and 66% for group A and B (P=0.77) and 40% and 36% for group C and D (P=0.63). The overall sustained response was 67% and 38% in patients with genotype 2/3 and 1, respectively. Among genotype 1 patients the sustained virologic response was 39% and 41% for high or low baseline viremia levels. CONCLUSIONS: Higher consensus interferon dose does not increase sustained virologic response. Naive genotype 1 patients may achieve significant response rate of approximately 40% if treated with 9 mcg of consensus interferon plus ribavirin for 48 weeks.

Helicobacter pylori cag pathogenicity island is associated with reduced expression of interleukin-4 (IL-4) mRNA and modulation of the IL-4delta2 mRNA isoform in human gastric mucosa.

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-4delta2 mRNA gastric expression was evaluated in healthy subjects and patients who did not have ulcers but were infected with Helicobacter pylori with or without the cag pathogenicity island (cag PAI). IL-4 mRNA was physiologically expressed by gastric epithelium and negatively influenced by H. pylori. Also, nonepithelial cells in the lamina propria of H. pylori-infected patients expressed IL-4 mRNA, whereas IL-4delta2 mRNA was found only in cag PAI-negative patients. Thus, gastric IL-4 takes part in the local immune response to H. pylori.