[The clinical and hemostasiological features of chronic hepatitides of different genesis].

AIM: To comparatively characterize clinical, biochemical, and hemostasiological parameters in patients with chronic alcoholic hepatitis (CAH) and chronic mixed hepatitis (CMH), i.e. CAH + chronic hepatitis C. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty-three patients (mean age 39.05±4.95 years) with chronic hepatitides of different etiology, who underwent general clinical, biochemical, and hemostasiological studies, were examined. RESULTS: The frequency and duration of major clinical symptoms were maximally pronounced in the patients with CMH. Aspartate aminotransferase concentrations were significantly decreased only in the patients with CAH, remaining at higher levels in CMH. The activity of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase was twice higher in CAH. In the patients of both groups, the total concentration of nitrates and nitrites was recorded within the normal range and the activity of von Willebrand factor was significantly higher than normal. The aggregation of platelets and erythrocytes in the patients of all the groups was significantly lower than that in the healthy individuals, but differed at different disease stages. CONCLUSION: CMH was ascertained to have a more severe course. The hemostatic system did not significantly depend on the etiology of hepatitis, but was variable in different periods of various hepatitides.

[Decline of antibodies to hepatitis C virus during antiviral therapy].

The goal of this study was to investigate interrelationship between changes in anti-hepatitis C virus antibody and response to antiviral therapy. The comparative quantitative analysis of antibodies to individual structural and nonstructural viral proteins was done during two years in three patient groups: initial responders, non-responders and a reference group (without therapy). All patients in the treated groups exhibited decrease in the analyzed antibodies to HCV proteins, but with different patterns. The first statistically significant difference in the decrease of virus-specific antibody between initial responders and non-responders was observed within the first three months of therapy beginning. Some treated patients demonstrated decrease in antibody levels to HCV proteins after the end of therapy.

[Anti-virus response and interferon, cytokine systems in patients with chronic hepatitis C].

AIM: Determination of interferon and cytokine indices in patients with chronic virus hepatitis C. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The significance of interferon and cytokine indices in patients with chronic viral hepatitis C (VHC) as criteria of efficacy of antiviral therapy was studied in 81 patients with chronic VHC. RESULTS: High efficacy of interferon and ribamidil preparations against HCV is shown. Correlations between interferon and cytokine indices confirmed development of immune response by a Th1-type in responders. CONCLUSION: Interferon and cytokine profiles before the treatment and in its course are proposed as criteria of antivirus treatment efficacy in chronic VHC patients.

[Comparative efficacy of various methods of laser therapy in patients with acute viral hepatitis B]. / Sravnitel'naia otsenka éffektivnosti razlichnykh sposobov primeneniia lazeroterapii u bol'nykh virusnym gepatitom B.

AIM: To study response to laser therapy in different modes and effects on hemocoagulation in patients with acute viral hepatitis B (AVHB). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Of 173 patients with AVHB, 87 received only basic therapy, 28 patients received placebo (no laser radiation, only signal of the timer) and 58 patients were exposed to laser radiation (32 of them intravenously and 26 supravenously). A course consisted of 10-12 sessions, laser radiation per 1 procedure 300 and 30 mJ, respectively. In addition to routine examinations, hemocoagulation was studied (platelet aggregation and desaggregation, electrocogulogram). RESULTS: Intoxication, hemorrhagic phenomena, jaundice, infusion therapy, hospital stay were shorter in AVHB patients exposed to laser therapy. Mode of action (intra- or supravenous) was insignificant. CONCLUSION: Laser therapy normalizes hemostasis and platelet function. Clinical effectiveness of laser was the same in both modes.