HBV-DNA levels in HBsAg-positive blood donors and its relationship with liver histology.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The clinical meaning of viremia, especially at low levels, in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients remains unknown. The objective of the present study was to determine serum HBV-DNA levels and its relationship with liver histology in HBsAg-positive blood donors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 78 blood donors, with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HBeAg evaluation and quantitative determination of HBV-DNA by polymerase chain reaction (Amplicor, HBV Monitor, Roche; lower limit of sensitivity 1,000 copies/mL). Liver biopsy was obtained from all patients with detectable viremia irrespective of ALT and HBV-DNA levels. RESULTS: Among 78 blood donors, serum HBV-DNA was detected in 47 (60%) patients; 39 (83%) were males; mean age 37.6+/-10.4 years; 31 (66%) were HBeAg-negative, and ALT was elevated in 26 (55%). The median of HBV-DNA levels was 24,000 copies/mL and 31 (40%) subjects had no detectable serum HBV-DNA. Although the histologic lesions were mild in the majority of patients, HBV-DNA levels were significantly higher in patients with chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis when compared with patients without histologic liver disease (25,260,000 vs. 9480 copies/mL; P<0.001). There was a significant correlation between HBV-DNA levels and necroinflammatory score (r=0.59) and fibrosis (r=0.50); however, in the subset of HBeAg-negative patients with HBV-DNA levels below 30,000 copies/mL, 25% presented histologic disease related to HBV. CONCLUSIONS: Most HBsAg-positive blood donors show low viral load. There is a significant association between viral replication and liver damage; however, low HBV-DNA levels do not exclude the presence of histologic disease.

Distribuiçäo de grupos sangüíneos do sistema ABO em doadores de sangue com lesöes intertriginosas em pés / Distribution of blood groups of ABO system in blood donors with intertrigc injuries in feet

Investigou-se a possível correlaçäo entre dermatofitoses e grupos sangüíneos do sistema ABO. Neste trabalho säo relatados resultados preliminares obtidos em 308 doadores de sangue saudáveis, sendo que 107 com lesöes intertriginosas em pés e 201 sem lesöes. Para análise estatística dos dados foi utilizado o teste do Qui Quadrado, näo se observando nenhuma diferença significativa entre os dois grupos

Leucemia linfoblástica aguda: análise e resultados terapêuticos em 21 casos em populaçäo näo-pediátrica / Acute lymphoblastic leukemia: report of 21 cases in non-pediatric population

Säo analisados os parâmetros clínicos e hematológicos de 21 casos de leucemia linfóide aguda acompanhadas no período de maio de 1979 a março de 1983. O índice de remissäo completa obtido foi de 60%. A percentagem de recaídas até a presente data é de 33,3%. Procurando melhorar estes índices, é proposto um protocolo mais agressivo, incluindo uma intensificaçäo precoce e modificaçäo no esquema de manutençäo, obedecendo à atual orientaçäo seguida pelos principais grupos cooperativos que vêm se dedicando ao problema da LLA no adulto