Gas exchanges and pulmonary vascular abnormalities at different stages of chronic liver disease.

Background: It is unclear whether and to which extent respiratory function abnormalities may complicate the earliest stages of chronic liver disease (CLD). Aim of this study was to compare pulmonary capillary volumes and gas exchange efficiency of CLD patients with and without cirrhosis.

Methods: Sixty-seven participants (mean age 56.

Individualized treatment with combination of Peg-interferon alpha 2b and ribavirin in patients infected with HCV genotype 3.

Background & Aims: The benefit of individualizing treatment for patients with genotype 3 HCV infection on the basis of viral clearance at week 4 (wk4-R) has not been firmly established.

Methods: Four hundred and fourteen patients received Peg-interferon alpha-2b plus 1000-1200 mg of ribavirin daily according with body weight > or <75 kg. Patients were randomized to standard 24 weeks (Std24) or to a 12 or 36 weeks variable treatment duration (Var12/36).

Acute and long-term effects of inhaled iloprost in portopulmonary hypertension.

Portopulmonary hypertension (PoPH) is a serious condition without an established treatment. Drugs used to treat pulmonary hypertension may have detrimental effects on portal hypertension. This study was designed to assess in patients with PoPH the acute effects of inhaled iloprost (iILO) on pulmonary and hepatic hemodynamics and to evaluate the clinical outcome after 12 months of treatment.

Patterns of chronic hepatitis B in Central Italy: a cross-sectional study.

We investigated the patterns of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related disease in a large cohort of HBsAg-positive patients, in Central Italy, by collecting a screening form with demographic, clinical and laboratory data. Overall, 737 HBsAg-positive cases were included (70% male; median age 52 years): 30% were inactive HBsAg carriers, 51% had chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 19% had HBV-related cirrhosis. Patients from non-European Union (EU) countries (n = 65) were significantly younger, had a higher prevalence of HBeAg-positive infection and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) co-infection than patients of Italian origin.

Determinants of relapse after a short (12 weeks) course of antiviral therapy and re-treatment efficacy of a prolonged course in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 2 or 3 infection.

Unlabelled: In hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 2 and 3 patients, the high rate of relapse after 12 to 16 weeks of antiviral therapy is the main concern for shortening treatment duration. This study was undertaken to delineate predictors of relapse after short treatment in patients with undetectable HCV RNA at treatment week 4 (RVR), and to report in RVR patients with relapse the sustained virological response (SVR) after a second 24-week course of therapy. RVR patients received pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) alfa-2b (1.

Individualized treatment duration for hepatitis C genotype 1 patients: A randomized controlled trial.

Unlabelled: It was hypothesized that in hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 patients, variable treatment duration individualized by first undetectable HCV RNA is as effective as standard 48-week treatment. Patients (n = 696) received peginterferon alfa-2a, 180 mg/week, or peginterferon alfa-2b, 1.5 mg/kg/week, plus ribavirin, 1000-1200 mg/day, for 48 weeks (standard, n = 237) or for 24, 48, or 72 weeks if HCV-RNA-negative at weeks 4, 8, or 12, respectively (variable, n = 459).

Assessment of acute pulmonary vascular reactivity in portopulmonary hypertension.

The role of acute pulmonary vasodilator testing in portopulmonary hypertension (PoPH), a current contraindication for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), has not been thoroughly elucidated. The purpose of this work was to analyze the results of acute vasodilator testing with inhaled nitric oxide (NO), to compare them with intravenous epoprostenol (PGI(2)), and to investigate the acute effects of the oral vasodilator isosorbide-5-mononitrate (Is-5-MN), in patients with PoPH. A total of 19 patients with PoPH (male/female = 9/10) were studied.

Peginterferon alfa-2b and ribavirin for 12 vs. 24 weeks in HCV genotype 2 or 3.

Background: We hypothesized that in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 or 3 in whom HCV RNA is not detectable after 4 weeks of therapy, 12 weeks of treatment is as effective as 24 weeks.

Methods: A total of 283 patients were randomly assigned to a standard 24-week regimen of peginterferon alfa-2b at a dose of 1.0 mug per kilogram weekly plus ribavirin at a dose of 1000 mg or 1200 mg daily, on the basis of body weight.

Consensus interferon versus interferon-alpha 2b plus ribavirin in patients with relapsing HCV infection.

Management of HCV infection and related liver disease with treatment currently available lead to a sustained virological response in 20% of patients using interferon (IFN)-alpha mono-therapy and approximately 40-45% in those on combination therapy with ribavirin.The aim of the present investigation was to compare the effect of consensus interferon alphacon-1 (C-IFN), and IFN-alpha 2b plus ribavirin, in patients relapsing after treatment with interferon alone. A total of 112 randomised patients with relapsing HCV infection (M/F=53/59), were treated for 24 weeks with: (A) IFN-alpha 2b starting with 5/6MU/day till negativity of HCV-RNA followed by 3MU every other day, plus ribavirin 15mg/kg/day (n=34); (B) C-IFN 9microg/day (n=40); (C) ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA; sodium salt) 450mg/day (n=37).