Viral hepatitis and Treponema pallidum prevalence in persons who underwent premarital blood tests in Argentina.

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of different serological markers of hepatitis A, B and C viruses and Treponema pallidum among the adult population of Argentina. To achieve this, adults who attended health services for premarital exams (which are mandatory and includes screening for syphilis) were recruited. A cross-sectional study was designed with a cluster sampling strategy.

Prevalence of primary sclerosing cholangitis in patients with ulcerative colitis and the risk of developing malignancies. A large prospective study.

Background/aim: primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is associated with ulcerative colitis (UC) and seems to be a risk factor for colon cancer. However, taking into account that no data are available in South American population, we analyzed the prevalence of PSC in 1,333 patients with UC and the risk for developing colon cancer.

Material: patients with persistent increases of alkaline phosphatase were studied by cholangiography and liver biopsy.

Efficacy and safety of oral naltrexone treatment for pruritus of cholestasis, a crossover, double blind, placebo-controlled study.

Background/aims: To assess the efficacy and safety of naltrexone for the short and long term treatment of pruritus of cholestasis.

Methods: Twenty patients with pruritus and cholestasis were included. A baseline pruritus score was obtained over 1 week.