Hepatitis B virus e antigen-negative chronic infection. Treatment based on glutamic pyruvic transaminase and hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid cut-off values.

Objectives: To identify glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV-DNA) cut-off values at diagnosis in patients with hepatitis B virus e antigen-negative chronic infection (HBeAg(-)), which may be predictors of clinical course, prognosis and/or the need for antiviral therapy.

Methods: A retrospective and observational cohort study of patients diagnosed with HBeAg(-) chronic infection (2005-2012). A normal GPT cut-off value at diagnosis that predicts abnormal GPT values in the clinical course of the infection, a baseline HBV-DNA cut-off value that predicts an increase in HBV-DNA above 2,000IU/ml, and GPT and HBV-DNA as predictors of the need for treatment were investigated using ROC curves.

Flow cytometry of duodenal intraepithelial lymphocytes improves diagnosis of celiac disease in difficult cases.

Background: Diagnosis of celiac disease is difficult when the combined results of serology and histology are inconclusive. Studies using flow cytometry of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) have found that celiac patients have increased numbers of γδ IELs, along with a decrease in CD3-CD103 + IELs.

Objective: The objective of this article is to assess the role of flow cytometric analysis of IELs in the diagnosis of celiac disease in difficult cases.

Characteristics and course of chronic hepatitis B e antigen-negative infection.

Objective: To describe the epidemiological, analytical and histological characteristics and clinical course of hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers with negative HBe antigen.

Material And Methods: Observational, retrospective cohort study of HBV carriers with negative HBe antigen (2005-2012), with no other causes of liver disease.

Results: One hundred and thirty-eight patients were included, with mean age 40.

[Characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. analysis of a series of 474 patients].

Objective: To determine the clinical, laboratory, serological and histologic characteristics of chronic hepatitis B virus carriers in our environment.

Material And Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed that included chronic AgHBs carriers aged more than 13 years attending our service since January 2000.

Results: A total of 474 patients were included.

[Efficacy and safety of vaccination against hepatitis A and B in patients with chronic liver disease].

Unlabelled: Vaccination to protect against hepatitis A and B should be part of the routine management of patients with chronic liver disease (CLD).

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination in a group of patients with CLD and to assess the presence of factors predictive of response.

Patients And Methods: We performed a prospective, single-center study in 194 patients (123 men, 71 women; mean age, 48.

[Cystic dystrophy of the duodenal wall. An underdiagnosed complication in aberrant pancreas].

Cystic dystrophy of the duodenal wall is an uncommon complication of aberrant pancreas characterized by increased duodenal wall thickness associated with intraparietal cystic lesions. We present the case of a male patient with cystic dystrophy of the duodenal wall, which posed major diagnostic problems due to the difficulty of distinguishing this entity from tumors of the head of the pancreas. Echoendoscopy was useful in establishing the definitive diagnosis, allowing puncture-evacuation of the intracystic contents with resolution of obstructive symptoms.