Evolution of anti-SARS-CoV-2 immune response in a cohort of French healthcare workers followed for 7 months.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to understand the immune response among healthcare workers (HCWs) following SARS-CoV-2 infection, and to determine the infection prevalence during the first wave of the pandemic among workers in our hospital. METHODS: Determination of the serological status against SARS-CoV-2 (nucleocapsid) was offered to all HCWs. All HCWs with positive SARS-CoV-2 serology were proposed to be included in a longitudinal medical and serological follow-up (anti-spike) for 7months. RESULTS: We included 3062 HCWs; 256 (8.4%) were positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid IgG. Among them, early decrease in the anti-nucleocapsid antibody index was observed between the first (S1) and second (S2) serology samplings in 208 HCWs (84.2%). The initial anti-nucleocapsid IgG index seemed to be related to the HCWs' age. Seventy-four HCWs were included in the 7-month cohort study. Among them, 69 (90.5%) had detectable anti-spike IgG after 7months and 24 (32.4%) reported persistent symptoms consistent with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of serological positivity among HCWs was 6.7%. Infection should be followed by vaccination because of antibody decrease.

Liver fibrosis is not associated with steatosis but with necroinflammation in French patients with chronic hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND: In chronic hepatitis C, it has been suggested that steatosis could accelerate progression of fibrosis. However, results of the few published studies are controversial. AIM: To determine the characteristics (epidemiological, biological, and histological) associated with steatosis and its relationship with liver lesions (grade of necroinflammation and stage of fibrosis) in patients with chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: From November 2000 to July 2001, untreated consecutive adults with chronic hepatitis C admitted for liver biopsy were included in this study. On the day of liver biopsy, a questionnaire for risk factors was completed prospectively, and a blood sample was obtained for laboratory analysis. RESULTS: Our study included 290 patients (143 men, 147 women). Mean body mass index (BMI) was 24 (3.8) kg/m(2). Proportions of patients with genotypes 1 and 3 were, respectively, 48% and 18%. A total of 135 patients (46.6%) had steatosis. Liver steatosis, in multivariate analysis, was associated with hepatitis C virus genotype 3, higher grade of necroinflammation, and higher BMI. There was no significant association between stage of fibrosis and liver steatosis. In multivariate analysis, high stage of fibrosis was associated with male sex, age over 50 years, high BMI, and high grade of necroinflammation. CONCLUSION: In our population of patients with chronic hepatitis C, steatosis does not seem to be an important determinant of liver fibrosis. High grade of necroinflammation is associated with a high stage of fibrosis.