ABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a 6-month course of ribavirin (Rb) (1200 mg/day) in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Sixty patients with CHB were randomly assigned in a double-blind placebo (Pl) controlled study; 30 patients received oral Rb (1200 mg/day) and 30 received Pl for 24 weeks. Patients were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg); hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg); and hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA-positive, with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels 1.5 times higher than normal values. Clinical evaluations and laboratory tests were carried out at regular intervals; tests included total blood cell count, liver function tests, and HBV serum markers. Baseline and control liver biopsies were carried out. HBeAg seroconversion occurred in 50.0% of the patients in the Rb group (vs 6.6% in the Pl group; P = 0.00019); HBV DNA negativization occurred in 33.3% in the Rb group (vs 6.6% in the Pl group; P = 0.009); and improvement in the necroinflammatory index occurred in 53.3% in the Rb group (vs 23.3% in the Pl group; P = 0.02). The drug was well tolerated; the most important side effect in the Rb group was hemoglobin reduction, which was reversible once the treatment was stopped. Ribavirin was an effective treatment, demonstrated by decreased ALT levels, alleviation of histological damage, seroconversion of HBeAg, and HBV-DNA negativization; Rb may be an alternative agent in the treatment of CHB, without significant side effects.
Subject(s)
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Hepatitis B, Chronic/drug therapy , Ribavirin/therapeutic use , Administration, Oral , Adolescent , Adult , Alanine Transaminase/blood , Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood , Biopsy , DNA, Viral/analysis , Double-Blind Method , Female , Hepatitis B/genetics , Hepatitis B/immunology , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/analysis , Hepatitis B e Antigens/analysis , Hepatitis B, Chronic/enzymology , Hepatitis B, Chronic/pathology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
The possibility of detecting HIV-1 antibodies by an immunoblotting kit is studied in a panel of 125 known specimens of dried blood spotted on filter paper and their corresponding serum samples. No differences were observed in the patterns of bands with both types of samples or in the sensitivity and specificity, where 100% figures were attained, allowing to conclude that the blood specimen taken on filter paper may be used for the detection of HIV-1 antibodies by the DAVIH-BLOT system and may be kept at 4 degrees C during 30 weeks.
Subject(s)
HIV Antibodies/blood , AIDS Serodiagnosis/instrumentation , AIDS Serodiagnosis/methods , Blotting, Western/instrumentation , Blotting, Western/methods , Filtration/instrumentation , Humans , Paper , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
The first cases diagnoses in Cuba as HTLV-I/II seropositives (human T lymphotropic virus) were studied by polymerase chain reaction aimed at differentiating the type of virus causing the infection. 3 kits of primer oligonucleotides were used and the amplification products were detected by hybridization with specific oligoprobes. 100% of the cases were HTLV-I positives. No HTLV-II positivity was found. It was confirmed the presence in Cuba of this retrovirus, even though the seroprevalence is low if it is taken into consideration that the Caribbean is an endemic zone for HTLV-1.
