A diagnostic score for the prediction of spontaneous resolution of acute hepatitis C virus infection.

Background & Aims: IL28B polymorphisms, jaundice, decline in HCV-RNA, IP-10, and gender have been proposed to be indicative of spontaneous clearance of acute hepatitis C virus infection. The aim of this study was to define a score enabling the discrimination of patients with spontaneous clearance of HCV from those with development of viral persistence and need for early antiviral treatment.

Methods: 136 patients (74 male; 35 ± 15 years) were analyzed.

Serum level of IP-10 increases predictive value of IL28B polymorphisms for spontaneous clearance of acute HCV infection.

Background & Aims: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL28B and serum levels of interferon γ inducible protein 10 (IP-10) predict outcomes of antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C. We associated IL28B SNPs rs12979860 and rs8099917, along with serum levels of IP-10, with outcomes of patients with acute hepatitis C (AHC).

Methods: We studied 120 patients with AHC (64 male; 37 ± 16 years old) and 96 healthy individuals (controls).

Impact of IL28B on treatment outcome in hepatitis C virus G1/4 patients receiving response-guided therapy with peginterferon alpha-2a (40KD)/ribavirin.

Unlabelled: The IL28B genotype is the most important pretreatment predictor of treatment outcome in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The impact of the rs12979860 genotype on relapse was retrospectively evaluated in genotype 1/4 patients who received response-guided therapy with peginterferon alpha-2a 180 μg/week plus ribavirin 1,000/1,200 mg/day in a large, randomized, multicenter study. Patients with a rapid virologic response (RVR: hepatitis C virus [HCV] RNA <50 IU/mL) at week 4 were treated for 24 weeks; those with a slow virologic response (no RVR but undetectable HCV RNA or ≥ 2-log(10) decrease at week 12) were randomized to 48 (group A) or 72 weeks of treatment (group B).

Bleeding Dieulafoy lesions of the small bowel: a systematic study on the epidemiology and efficacy of enteroscopic treatment.

Background: Dieulafoy lesions consist of aberrant submucosal arteries, which can cause severe GI bleeding. The predominant location of Dieulafoy lesions is the upper GI tract.

Objective: To our best knowledge, this is the first systematic study on the frequency of bleeding from Dieulafoy lesions in the small bowel and the efficacy of enteroscopic therapy regarding primary hemostasis and long-term follow-up.

Impact of IL28B genotype on the early and sustained virologic response in treatment-naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background & Aims: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene that encodes interleukin (IL)-28B predict response of patients with chronic hepatitis C to antiviral therapy. We investigated the roles of polymorphisms rs12979860 and rs8099917 on the early virologic response of treatment-naïve patients.

Methods: SNPs were identified by real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of samples from 682 patients (genotype [GT]1=372, GT2/3=208, GT4=102) who were treated with 180 μg pegylated interferon-α2a and 400 or 800 mg (GT2/3, depending on the protocol) or 1000-1200 mg (GT1/4) ribavirin/day.