[Still's disease or systemic lupus erythematosus in a young adult patient--diagnostic doubts].

Systemic lupus erythematosus and Still's disease are chronic autoimmune disorders of unknown etiology. Symptomatology of these diseases may be similar causing diagnostic difficulties. Long-term observation and immunological studies are essential to identify the definite disorder.

[Pegylated interferon-alfa 2a with ribavirin in chronic viral hepatitis C (final report)].

Unlabelled: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of peginterferon alfa-2a [40KD] (Peg-IFNalpha-2a) plus ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C in an open-label programme in a routine clinical setting in Poland. Patients received Peg-IFNalpha-2a 180mg/week plus ribavirin 800-1200 mg/d for 48 weeks. Sustained virological response (SVR) was defined as undetectable HCV RNA (<50IU/mL) at the end of follow-up (week 72).

HFE gene mutations in Polish patients with disturbances of iron metabolism: an initial assessment.

Hereditary hemochromatosis is one of the most frequent genetic disorders in Europeans, but its prevalence in Poland is still unknown. The aim of the study was an initial assessment of the prevalence of C282Y and H62D HFE gene mutations and their influence on the course of chronic hepatitis C. Forty-one patients were admitted to the Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Gdansk in 2000-2004 because of chronic liver diseases with accompanying disturbances in iron metabolism.

[Detection of HCV-RNA in liver tissue does not correlate with inflammatory process and fibrosis activity in chronic hepatitis C].

The significance of HCV-RNA presence in the liver tissue in chronic hepatitis C activity or prognosis has not yet been clearly explained. Therefore, we have examined the relationship between the presence of HCV-RNA in the liver and selected parameters of disease activity and liver damage. A group of 48 chronically HCV infected patients (7-63 years old, mean 39 years) was evaluated.

[Peginterferon alpha-2b in patients with chronic hepatitis C].

150 adult patients were assigned pegylated interferon alpha-2b (once weekly 1.5 microg/kg) plus ribavirin (800-1200 mg depending on bodyweight). The treatment lasted 52 weeks and was completed by 139 persons (92.

Preliminary assessment of utility of radiofrequency ablation technique in treatment of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with hepatic cirrhosis.

Background: Primary hepatocellular carcinoma very often develops in the cirrhotic liver. Surgical treatment of cirrhotic patients is associated with considerable risk. Even partial resection of the liver carries the risk of liver failure in such patients.

Disturbances of iron metabolism in chronic liver diseases.

Background: Systematic biochemical and histopathological studies carried out in patients with diagnosed chronic liver diseases (cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma) confirm the important pathogenetic role of commonly occurring accumulation of iron deposits, and not only in the classic form of hemochromatosis. The reports concern the pathologic role of iron storage in the liver often accompanying metabolic disturbance syndrome including obesity, type II diabetes and hypertension. The aim of the study was preliminary assessment of the incidence of iron metabolism disturbances in the population of patients with chronic liver diseases.

Presence of HCV RNA in hepatic tissue and effectiveness of treatment with interferon and ribavirin.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the prognostic value of HCV RNA detection in hepatic tissue for the response to treatment with interferon alfa (IFN) and ribavirin (RIB) in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Patients And Methods: A group of 55 patients infected with HCV was examined before the commencement of treatment with IFN and RIB. In all of them HCV RNA was detected in the serum.