Sporadic cases of acute autochthonous hepatitis E in Spain.

Background/aims: In industrialized countries hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is rare and its diagnosis is difficult because the utility of available tests is not well established.

Methods: We studied the presence of acute HEV infection markers in a cluster of 11 cases of acute hepatitis with IgG anti-HEV antibodies.

Results: Three cases were confirmed as acute hepatitis E and 8 as presumptive hepatitis E, two as a past HEV infection and one could not be determined.

Usefulness of dried blood samples for quantification and molecular characterization of HBV-DNA.

The purpose of this study was to assess the use of dried blood spot (DBS) samples for hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA quantification, HBV genotyping, and detection of G1896A precore mutants and variants in the YMDD polymerase motif. We studied DBS and serum samples from 82 patients with chronic HBV infection (23 hepatitis B e antigen [HBeAg]-positive and 39 HBeAg-negative), 20 HBeAg-inactive carriers, and 15 HBeAg-negative patients under lamivudine therapy (selected from chronic HBV patients). DBS samples consisted of approximately 20 microL of blood applied to 5-mm paper disks.

Hepatitis C virus Core Antigen as a predictor of non-response in genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C patients treated with peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin.

Background/aims: Chronic hepatitis C patients infected by genotype 1 are the least responsive to combination therapy and therefore monitoring response is important in identifying non-responders quickly, permitting therapy discontinuation and avoiding side effects and costs. We examined the usefulness of measuring total HCV Core Ag in early treatment with peginterferon alpha-2b and ribavirin in genotype 1 patients in the prediction of response and compared the results with those from HCV RNA quantification.

Methods: Two hundred and sixty-eight serum samples from 46 genotype 1 patients receiving combination therapy were examined for HCV Core Ag and quantitative HCV RNA.

Mutations in the basic core promoter region of hepatitis B virus. Relationship with precore variants and HBV genotypes in a Spanish population of HBV carriers.

Background/aims: To determine the prevalence and significance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) basic core promoter (BCP) mutations and to establish their relationship with precore (preC) mutations, HBV genotypes and HBV-DNA levels.

Methods: BCP and preC mutations and genotypes were determined by sequencing.

Results: Genomic analysis was performed in 129 (71%) of 182 patients.

Viral kinetics in genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C patients during therapy with 2 different doses of peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin.

Pegylated interferon (peginterferon) alfa-2b plus ribavirin achieves a higher sustained response rate in patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) than standard combination therapy. This study evaluated HCV kinetics throughout therapy with 2 doses of peginterferon alfa-2b and ribavirin in 55 patients. Twenty-eight patients were randomized to receive a high once-weekly dose of peginterferon alfa-2b (3 microg/kg for 1 week, 1.