Virological and clinical aspects of HBV-HCV coinfection in HIV positive patients.

In a long-term follow-up study the clinical and virological presentation of HBV/HCV coinfection in anti-HIV positive patients was evaluated. Plasma HBV-DNA, HCV-RNA, and HIV-RNA were determined by PCR in 5 HBsAg/anti-HCV/anti-HIV positive patients, in 4 HBsAg/anti-HIV positive patients and in 82 anti-HCV/anti-HIV positive patients first observed at a Unit of Infectious Diseases in Naples (Italy) from 1990 to 2000 (follow up 6-16 years). All five hepatitis B and C coinfected patients showed reciprocal inhibition of viral replication on admission and during the follow up.

Anti-HCV IgG avidity index in acute hepatitis C.

Background: The diagnosis of acute hepatitis C (AHC) is based on seroconversion to positive anti-HCV, which is usually not clinically possible.

Objective: To determine if avidity of anti-HCV IgG can be used for the diagnosis of AHC infection.

Study Design: We enrolled 40 consecutive patients with AHC, 16 drug addicts (IVDA) with exacerbation of chronic hepatitis C (IVDA e-CHC group), 21 non-IVDA with exacerbation of chronic hepatitis C (IVDA-free e-CHC group) and 40 with chronic hepatitis C (CHC group).

Impact of occult hepatitis B virus infection in HIV patients naive for antiretroviral therapy.

Objective: To study the impact of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in 115 consecutive anti-HIV-positive, hepatitis B surface antigen-negative patients, naive for antiretroviral treatment.

Methods: Of these 115, 86 patients were followed for at least 6 months (range 6-36) with serial determinations of HIV RNA and HBV DNA by polymerase chain reaction and other laboratory tests.

Results: Of the 86 patients having a follow-up, plasma HBV DNA was detected in 17 (19.

Hepatitis C virus superinfection in hepatitis B virus chronic carriers: a reciprocal viral interaction and a variable clinical course.

Background: The virological and clinical impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) superinfection in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers has been poorly characterized.

Objective: To evaluate the viral interaction, clinical presentation and course of the disease in four HBsAg/HBV-DNA positive chronic hepatitis patients who developed acute HCV infection.

Study Design: To evaluate clinical, virological and laboratory data for at least 6 months from the onset of acute HCV infection in patients with chronic HBV infection.

Diagnosis of hepatitis C virus related acute hepatitis by serial determination of IgM anti-HCV titres.

Background/aims: We investigated whether serial determination of IgM to HCV core protein (HCV IgM) may be useful to identify acute hepatitis C (AHC) and to distinguish this disease from reactivation of chronic hepatitis C (r-CHC).

Methods: We enrolled 35 consecutive patients with AHC identified by seroconversion to anti-HCV and 31 consecutive patients who had been anti-HCV positive for at least six months at the time of reactivation. Titres of HCV IgM were calculated as Index values by a commercially available enzyme immunoassay.

Liver histology in patients with HBsAg negative anti-HBc and anti-HCV positive chronic hepatitis.

The liver histology of 68 consecutive anti-HCV/HCV-RNA positive chronic hepatitis patients who were HBsAg/anti-HBs negative, anti-HBc positive (Case bC group) was compared with that of 68 anti-HCV/HCV-RNA positive chronic hepatitis patients who were HBsAg/anti-HBc negative (control C group). The patients were pair-matched by age (+/-5 years), sex, and risk factors for the acquisition of parenteral infection. Case bC group showed a significantly higher mean fibrosis score (2.

Helicobacter spp. and liver diseases.

To test whether Helicobacter species play a role in the enhancement of liver necro-inflammation and fibrosis and in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we sought DNA sequences of Helicobacter species in liver specimens from patients with viral-related chronic hepatitis, HCC or metastatic liver carcinoma. We enrolled 28 consecutive patients with ultrasound evidence of hepatic nodule(s) on their first liver biopsy: 21 had histological evidence of HCC (Group I) and 7 of metastatic liver carcinoma (Group II). In the same period we observed 27 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis on their first liver biopsy (Group III).

Hepatitis viruses and HIV infection in the Naples area.

In 189 anti-HIV positive subjects (130 males and 59 females; median age 32 years, range 17-57) we evaluated the prevalence of patients with hepatitis infections, the role of parenteral and sexual risk factors on the acquisition of these infections and the reciprocal influence between HIV and HCV infections. HCV infection was detected in 53.9% of cases and HBV infection in 8.

HAV replication in acute hepatitis with typical and atypical clinical course.

The correlation between the length of viremia as detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the clinical course of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection was studied. Sixty-six consecutive patients with acute hepatitis A who were admitted to hospital in two infectious disease units in southern Italy were enrolled: 57 had a self-limited course of the disease (typical course), 4 a prolonged course, and 5 relapsing hepatitis. Plasma HAV RNA was sought by RT-PCR, using primers made at 5'-NTR of HAV, designed to amplify a 273-bp fragment and detected by 2% agarose gel and by hybridization with a specific biotinylated probe.

Acute hepatitis B and C virus coinfection: a virological and clinical study of 3 cases.

We report the virological interaction in, clinical presentation of, and course of disease observed in 3 male injection drug users with acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection. In all 3 cases, HBV infection presented first and quickly resolved. Diagnosis of acute HBV/HCV coinfection requires a long follow-up period with careful observation.

HBV superinfection in hepatitis C virus chronic carriers, viral interaction, and clinical course.

We enrolled 44 patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) acute infection, 21 anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive for at least 1 year (case BC group), 20 anti-HCV-negative (control B group), and 3 with HBV/HCV acute concurrent infection. For each case BC, a subject with chronic HCV infection alone was selected (control C group). At the first observation, 85.