Pegylated interferon α plus ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C: a multicentre independent study supported by the Italian Drug Agency.

Background: Data on the efficacy of Peg-interferon/ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C are mostly derived from treatment of selected patients enrolled in clinical trials. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Peg-interferon/ribavirin therapy in "real world" chronic hepatitis C patients in Italy.

Methods: Independent observational multicentre study including consecutive patients receiving Peg-interferon/ribavirin in the 18 months before (retrospective phase) and after (prospective phase) the start of the study.

LCT-13910C>T polymorphism-associated lactose malabsorption and risk for colorectal cancer in Italy.

Background: The activity of epithelial lactase (LCT) associates with a polymorphism 13910 bp upstream the LCT-encoding gene (LCT-13910C>T). The relationship between LCT-13910C>T polymorphism and risk for colorectal cancer is unclear.

Aims: We examined the relationship between the LCT-13910C>T polymorphism causing lactose intolerance and risk for colorectal cancer/polyps onset in the Italian population.

Osteoporosis: still a typical complication of primary biliary cirrhosis?

Background: Osteoporosis is a recognized complication of primary biliary cirrhosis but it has been suggested that its prevalence may overlap that observed among postmenopausal women.

Aim: To evaluate prevalence and risk factors of osteoporosis in primary biliary cirrhosis.

Patients: A total of 133 female patients (age 53+/-10 years, menopausal status 70%, histological stage I-II 61%, portal hypertension 28%, Mayo Risk Score 4.

Treatment of chronic hepatitis D with thymus-derived polypeptide thymic humoral factor-gamma 2: a pilot study.

Background: Thymic humoral factor-gamma 2 is a thymus-derived synthetic octapeptide, shown to be effective in chronic hepatitis B virus infection; as the latter is needed to support hepatitis D virus, thymic humoral factor-gamma 2 may have a therapeutic role in hepatitis D.

Aim: To evaluate tolerability and efficacy of thymic humoral factor-gamma 2 in chronic hepatitis D.

Methods: Intramuscular thymic humoral factor-gamma 2, 40 microg, was given for 15 consecutive days and twice weekly for 22 additional weeks to adult patients with chronic hepatitis D virus hepatitis.

Sequential versus concomitant administration of ribavirin and interferon alfa-n3 in patients with chronic hepatitis C not responding to interferon alone: results of a randomized, controlled trial.

We conducted a three-arm, randomized trial in 96 patients with chronic hepatitis C who did not respond to interferon alfa to compare treatments. Group 1 (33 patients) received ribavirin alone (1,000 mg/daily for 6 months) followed by interferon alfa n-3 alone (3 MU thrice weekly for 6 months); group 2 (33 patients) received ribavirin plus interferon alfa n-3 for 6 months at the above doses; and group 3 (30 patients) received interferon alfa n-3 alone (3 MU thrice weekly for 6 months). At the end of treatment, 3 patients (10%) in group 1, 13 (41%) in group 2, and 5 (17%) in group 3 had normal alanine transaminase (ALT) levels (group 2 vs.

Serum immunoglobulin M antibody to hepatitis D as a surrogate marker of hepatitis D in interferon-treated patients and in patients who underwent liver transplantation.

The kinetics of the immunoglobulin (Ig) M type antibody to the hepatitis D virus (IgM anti-HD) were investigated in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers with chronic hepatitis D treated with interferon (IFN) and in patients with terminal hepatitis delta virus (HDV) cirrhosis who underwent liver transplantation. The IgM antibody disappeared in each of 8 patients who responded to IFN therapy with the persistent normalization of aminotransferases and with the clearance of serum HBsAg and HDV-RNA. The IgM reactivity did not decline in the 45 treated patients who did not respond to the cytokine or who experienced a relapse after responding while on therapy.

Prolonged treatment (2 years) with different doses (3 versus 6 MU) of interferon alpha-2b for chronic hepatitis type C. Results of a multicenter randomized trial.

Background/aims: To examine the effect of prolonged treatment with different doses of interferon alpha-2b on the relapse rate in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: One hundred and seventy-one patients with non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis C were enrolled in an Italian multicenter trial. All patients were treated for 3 months with 3,000,000 Units (3 MU) of interferon alpha-2b given subcutaneously three times a week (t.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in inflammatory bowel disease: do they recognize different subsets of a heterogeneous disease?

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in a series of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, the discriminatory value of these antibodies in differentiating between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, their antigen specificity and their correlation with epidemiological and clinical variables.

Methods: Serum anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence and immunoblotting using neutrophils isolated from peripheral blood and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) using proteinase 3 and myeloperoxidase as antigens.

Results: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were detected by immunofluorescence in 43 (39.

Heterogeneity of liver-kidney microsomal autoantibodies in chronic hepatitis C and D virus infection.

Background/aims: Anti-liver-kidney microsomal (LKM) autoantibodies occur in a proportion of patients with chronic hepatitis C and D infections. Because of different immunofluorescence patterns, antibodies in hepatitis C and D were termed LKM-1 and LKM-3, respectively. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the different specificities of LKM-1 and LKM-3 antibodies.

[A case of hepatocarcinoma preceded by several years by "isolated" increase in alphafetoprotein].

Hepatocarcinoma (HCC), the most frequent malignant hepatic neoplasia, is sometimes difficult to diagnose at an early stage since the symptoms may be attributed to concomitant hepatic cirrhosis. The assay of alpha-fetoprotein associated with an ultrasound examination of the hepatic parenchyma is an important screening tool for high-risk patients. Ultrasound examination is considered the most sensitive method and alpha-fetoprotein is a supplementary diagnostic tool.