Pegylated interferon alfa-2b pen device and ribavirin treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C: an evaluation of patient satisfaction.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the satisfaction of patients with chronic hepatitis C who used the pegylated interferon α-2b pen device. METHODS: Patients from multiple centers in Greece were recruited to participate in this noninterventional, observational study. Patients received pen device training for at least 6 weeks before treatment and used questionnaires to provide feedback (rating scale: 1-4, negative; 5-7, positive) on training, medication preparation and injection, and appreciation of the device. Results were analyzed with standard statistical analysis and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: In total, 507 patients (mean age, 43.5 years), 77.4% of whom were treatment naive, participated in the study. Overall, 84.2% of patients rated training positively, 67.4% of patients rated medication preparation positively, and 88.3% of patients rated medication injection positively. Appreciation of the pen device treatment method was rated positively by 82.2% of patients. Intravenous drug users were more likely to rate medication injection positively (P=0.0284) and to appreciate this method of drug delivery (P=0.0328) than other patients. Patients with lower levels of education were less likely to rate training positively (P=0.0202) and showed less appreciation for this route of drug delivery (P=0.0341) than other patients. Treatment-naive patients were more likely to provide positive responses about the overall procedure than were treatment-experienced patients (odds ratio: 1.932; P=0.032). Adverse events were reported by 6.4% (29 of 453) of patients. CONCLUSION: Patients were satisfied with the pegylated interferon α-2b pen device; therefore, good treatment adherence is expected with its use.

Intestinal schistosomiasis caused by both Schistosoma intercalatum and Schistosoma mansoni.

A case is presented of intestinal schistosomiasis due to both Schistosoma intercalatum and Schistosoma mansoni in a 30-year-old man from Senegal with discussion of diagnostic approach, species identification and determination of the effect of treatment. The patient was admitted to hospital for investigation of renal failure, arterial hypertension and hypereosinophilia. Repeated stool examinations for ova and parasites were negative. Ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen showed no abnormalities. US of the urinary tract showed kidneys of borderline size with increased echogenicity. Cystoscopy and histopathological examination of bladder biopsy specimens were normal. Flexible colonoscopy revealed numerous nodular lesions in the rectosigmoid region and a few similar lesions in the transverse colon, the histopathological examination of which showed deposition of Schistosoma ova with granuloma formation. Examination of multiple crush biopsy specimens from the rectosigmoid region revealed numerous granulomas formed around Schistosoma eggs which had a terminal spine and were identified as S. intercalatum (longer than Schistosoma haematobium and with a slightly curved terminal spine) and a very few S. mansoni eggs. Crush biopsies from the lesions in the transverse colon showed only S. mansoni eggs. In conclusion, the examination of multiple crush biopsy specimens is a very sensitive and specific technique for species identification of Schistosoma, especially in mixed infections, and for defining the location and extent of the granulomas evoked by each species.

Endoscopic management and long-term follow-up of Dieulafoy's lesions in the upper GI tract.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the short-and long-term effectiveness of different methods of endoscopic treatment for bleeding Dieulafoy's lesions. METHODS: Patients were allocated into 2 groups according to the hemostatic method applied: (1) injection group (epinephrine and/or ethanolamine oleate), and (2) thermal coagulation group (heat probe), either alone or combined with epinephrine injection. The combination of epinephrine and ethanolamine oleate was used in 5 patients, epinephrine alone in 3, ethanolamine oleate alone in one, heat probe and epinephrine in 8, and heat probe alone in 1 patient. RESULTS: Dieulafoy's lesions were found in 18 (1%) of 1750 patients with acute nonvariceal upper GI bleeding. Comorbid conditions were present in 5 (28%) patients. Initial hemostasis was achieved endoscopically in 13 patients (72%) and permanent hemostasis in 17 patients (94%). Bleeding recurred in 5 patients (2 with concomitant disease) in the injection group; 3 were successfully retreated by heat probe coagulation and epinephrine injection, 1 with hemoclip application and 1 by surgery. There was no recurrent bleeding in thermal treatment group. Thermal treatment was significantly superior to injection (p = 0.0029). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic thermal coagulation with or without epinephrine injection should be the initial treatment of choice for Dieulafoy's lesions. Mortality is lowest in patients with no significant comorbidity and an unremarkable medical history.